Williams Police (Coconino County)

Northern Arizona, a land of pine-covered hills
and volcanic mountains, has been home to many Native
American tribes for over a thousand years. Early
Spanish explorers searching for the Seven Cities of
Cibola, around 1540, discovered the Grand Canyon and
these local tribes. The Hopi pueblos to the north of
Williams became part of the Mission system of the
Spanish during their quest to bring Christianity to
the Southwest. In the early 1800's the American fur
trade extended into Arizona by trappers known as
"Mountain Men". One of the most experienced of these
early visitors was William Sherley Williams.
"Old Bill" trapped all over the western states but
enjoyed retreating to this area that was later named
after him. Discovery of gold in New Mexico in 1928
caused the exploration of the mountainous areas of
Arizona.