"Fall Scene in Sunflower area ( on the road to Payson) by M. Paul Jarrett

Sunflower Valley, Arizona
El.: c. 3300’ Loc.: Maricopa 2, G-2.3
Sunflower Valley was so named because of the masses of
sunflowers growing there. It was in this valley that Capt.
George B. Sanford camped on November 15, 1866

The sunflower Creek referred to in newspaper dispatches
in 1875 may well have been in this valley. The newspaper
writer stated that he found white families camped there,
but that all the men were over on “Tonto Creek looking
for eligible places to locate ranches.” The correspondent
also noted that the women were badly frightened because
a horse returned to camp shot full of arrows and a man had
come in to advise the women to leave immediately despite
the fact that their menfolk were elsewhere. The writer of
the dispatch said that the horse was not attacked by Indians,
however, but by a member of the “Indian ring,” which wanted
to prevent settlement in the area.

In later years the Sunflower Ranch was established in the
valley. There was also a store and post office at Sunflower.

P.O. est. April 28, 1943. Walter B Davis, p.m. Discont. April 30, 1949

ref.: Barnes; 52, V, 197; Weekly Arizona miner, October 1, 1875,
2:2; 85, p. 439; 87, p. 281. Maps: E-20; GD-11 ( Sunflower Ranch ) .