Redington is a ghost town in Arizona’s San Pedro Valley, originally settled in 1875 by the Redfield family. You’ll find it nestled between the Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains, where settlers once battled Apache raids, flash floods, and food scarcity. The town earned notoriety for having the highest per capita murder rate in Southern Arizona during the late 1800s. Today, weathered buildings and mining remnants tell tales of frontier perseverance amid natural reclamation.
Key Takeaways
- Redington was founded in 1875 by the Redfield brothers in Arizona’s San Pedro Valley, transitioning from a homestead to a regional hub.
- The ghost town faced Apache attacks, deadly outlaw activity, and had the highest per capita murder rate in Southern Arizona during the late 1800s.
- Severe flooding along the San Pedro River repeatedly destroyed crops and contributed to Redington’s abandonment by the 1920s.
- Today, Redington features weathered abandoned buildings, mining remnants, and deteriorated general stores reflecting its once-bustling nature.
- Located between the Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains, its geographic isolation complicated access and economic development throughout its history.
From Redfield to Redington: The Founding Years
While the rugged terrain of what would become Redington, Arizona had been traversed by indigenous peoples for centuries, its formal settlement began in 1875 when Henry and Lem Redfield established a homestead in the San Pedro Valley.
These brothers from New York faced challenging settlement dynamics, including Apache attacks and food scarcity, yet persevered where others had failed.
The Redfield brothers endured harsh frontier conditions that defeated many settlers before them.
When applying for postal service in 1879, they encountered bureaucratic resistance to their preferred name “Redfield.” The government mandated “Redington” instead, forever altering the community’s identity.
This name change coincided with critical community evolution as the area transformed from isolated homestead to regional hub. Much like Fort Bowie’s strategic location, Redington’s position in the valley made it an important stopover for travelers and traders moving through the territory. The community endured a period of significant violence and lawlessness in the late 1800s. The Redfields’ ranch became instrumental in the area’s development, linking their frontier outpost to Tucson’s expanding sphere of influence and establishing foundations for territorial growth.
Life on the Frontier: Early Survival Challenges
You’d face constant food insecurity at Redington as pioneers struggled to maintain stable food sources in the harsh Arizona Territory.
Flash flooding from the San Pedro River repeatedly destroyed crucial crops, exacerbating already difficult agricultural conditions.
These devastating floods forced early settlers to rebuild their agricultural operations while simultaneously managing dwindling food reserves and limited access to supply routes. Settlers eventually adopted dry farming techniques to better cope with the unpredictable climate. The area remained sparsely populated until the 1880s when Arizona experienced 318.7% population growth.
Food Scarcity Struggles
For settlers arriving in Redington during the early frontier period, obtaining food represented a fundamental challenge that shaped their daily existence and survival strategies.
Isolated by mountainous terrain and connected to Tucson by often impassable roads, your ancestors faced constant food insecurity requiring resourcefulness and adaptability.
Food preservation became essential when traversing these precarious conditions:
- Initial survival depended on a single bag of corn and occasional wild game
- Supply routes through Oracle (70 miles) or Benson (100 miles) required when main routes failed
- Apache raids forced prioritization of security over agricultural development
- Ranching emerged as more reliable than farming in the arid landscape
- Community isolation necessitated self-reliant food procurement methods
This harsh reality of scarcity forged resilient pioneers who balanced hunting, limited farming, and livestock management against the backdrop of frontier lawlessness. Periodic road washouts following heavy rains further complicated food deliveries and access to neighboring settlements. Similar to many Arizona ghost towns, Redington’s population significantly decreased after its initial settlement as residents struggled to maintain sustainable food sources in the challenging environment.
Flooding Destroys Crops
Although settlers in Redington established tenuous agricultural footholds along the San Pedro River, their livelihood repeatedly faced catastrophic disruption from the region’s unpredictable and violent flood cycles.
When floodwaters surged, they deposited layers of sand and debris across cultivated fields, suffocating crops and rendering soil temporarily barren. Your carefully planted seeds and growing plants would be uprooted by the torrent, washing away months of labor in hours.
The flood impact extended beyond immediate crop loss—arroyos up to 20 feet deep carved through the landscape, eroding precious topsoil and permanently altering the terrain’s agricultural viability. The severe flooding in September 1887 caused significant crop damage throughout the Lower San Pedro River area.
This agricultural decline contributed directly to Redington’s abandonment by the 1920s. Like many mining towns throughout Arizona, each successive flood made recovery more difficult, destroying irrigation systems and making farming increasingly untenable in a frontier settlement already challenged by isolation.
Deadly Reputation: Apache Threats and Outlaws
During the territorial period, you’d find Redington residents living under constant threat from Apache raids, which intensified after events like the Camp Grant Massacre sparked cycles of violent retaliation.
The geographical vulnerability of settlements near Redington Pass made them prime targets for Apache war parties seeking to defend their lands or avenge military incursions. Tucson citizens had displayed particular disregard for Apaches, using the dehumanizing phrase “nits make lice” to justify violence against entire communities, including children. The massacre that occurred at dawn on April 30, 1871 resulted in approximately 140 Apache deaths, primarily women and children.
Concurrently, the area’s remote mountain corridors and sparse law enforcement attracted outlaws who exploited the chaos of Apache conflicts, creating a lawless environment where both settlers and native populations suffered.
Apache Raids Terror
The rugged terrain surrounding Redington became a strategic advantage for Apache raiders who terrorized settlers throughout the 1860s and 1870s, establishing a deadly reputation that would define the area’s early history.
Apache warfare tactics demonstrated remarkable cultural resilience against overwhelming military forces, utilizing the landscape as both weapon and shelter.
- Raiding parties operated from remote strongholds like Cochise Stronghold, making pursuit nearly impossible.
- Leaders such as Cochise and Delche coordinated resistance through strategic relocations and ambushes.
- Natural features like canyons provided perfect ambush positions against vulnerable settlers.
- Frequent camp movements upstream enhanced survival while maintaining tactical advantage.
- Retaliatory cycles culminated in devastating events like the Camp Grant Massacre (1871).
This ruthless guerrilla warfare campaign protected Apache sovereignty while instilling fear among those encroaching on their ancestral territories.
Notorious Outlaw Haven
Following the gradual decline of Apache raids, Redington’s violent reputation persisted through its emergence as a notorious haven for outlaws seeking refuge in its remote, rugged landscape.
Historical records confirm Redington had the highest per capita murder rate in Southern Arizona during the late 1800s.
You’ll find Redington Pass’s outlaw legends deeply rooted in documented stagecoach robberies, including the deadly 1883 heist on the Florence-Globe route.
The area’s criminal hideouts facilitated frequent ambushes, with geography offering ideal attack positions against vulnerable travelers.
Even Wyatt Earp pursued suspects through this treacherous corridor following the Kinnear & Company stagecoach murders.
Despite law enforcement’s persistent efforts to patrol the region, outlaws continued exploiting the isolated terrain.
This violent legacy endures in regional folklore, cementing Redington Pass as a symbol of frontier lawlessness in Southern Arizona’s history.
The Wild West’s Bloodiest Small Town
While many frontier settlements earned reputations for lawlessness, Redington, Arizona distinguished itself as particularly violent even by Wild West standards.
You’d have witnessed homicide rates comparable to notorious cattle towns like Dodge City, where your odds of being murdered reached as high as 1 in 61 over a decade. Violent encounters typically erupted from personal disputes, with saloon fights fueled by alcohol serving as flashpoints.
The settlement’s bloodiest characteristics stemmed from:
- Economic competition over cattle and land ownership
- High concentration of transient male workers
- Minimal law enforcement presence
- Personal disputes escalating to deadly confrontations
- Vigilante justice replacing formal legal proceedings
This statistical violence wasn’t unique to Redington, but rather represented the extreme end of a frontier pattern where isolation and underdeveloped legal infrastructure created persistent cycles of deadly conflict.
Stagecoach Routes and Notable Robberies
As settlements throughout the American Southwest expanded in the late 1800s, Redington’s strategic position within the San Pedro Valley made it an essential waypoint along evolving stagecoach networks that connected Tucson to smaller communities across Southern Arizona.
Stagecoach operations through Cebadilla Pass (later Redington Pass) reduced travel distances dramatically—from 100 miles to just 30 miles between Tucson and Redington. Companies like Kearns and Griffith maintained competitive routes, sometimes lowering fares to as little as $3 between Benson and Tombstone.
However, the convenience came with considerable risk. Following Apache pacification in the 1880s, robbery incidents became the primary threat, with outlaws targeting vulnerable coaches on remote stretches.
Redington’s notorious reputation for violence—claiming more killings per capita than similarly-sized towns—made its stagecoach routes among the most dangerous in the territory, especially after military presence diminished during the Civil War.
Geographic Isolation Between Mountain Ranges
Nestled between the imposing Santa Catalina Mountains to the west and the rugged Rincon Mountains to the east, Redington developed in a geographic pocket that simultaneously protected and isolated it from the broader Arizona Territory.
The natural saddle formation, once known as Cebadillo, created a transportation corridor that couldn’t overcome the constraints of its geographic barriers.
You’ll appreciate how these mountain pass conditions shaped the settlement’s development:
- Redington Road’s impassability often forced a 70-mile detour through Oracle
- When Oracle became impassable, a 100-mile journey via Benson remained the only option
- The 1,310-meter elevation presented formidable challenges for regular transport
- Unpaved conditions persisted, requiring 2.5 hours to travel just 42 miles
- Agricultural success remained contingent on overcoming these isolation factors
The Long Road to Tucson: Transportation Challenges
Despite its proximity to Tucson—a mere 42 miles on modern maps—Redington’s inhabitants faced extraordinary transportation challenges that transformed a straightforward journey into a formidable undertaking.
You’d navigate a historic route once known as Cebadillo, which underwent significant transportation evolution from indigenous trail to stagecoach thoroughfare.
When military authorities closed this lifeline in 1895, you’d face 70 to 100-mile detours via Oracle or Benson, severely hampering the economic impact of local agriculture.
The road’s precarious condition—narrow, steep, and often impassable during inclement weather—isolated the community, disrupted supply chains, and complicated access to medical care.
Not until the 1930s, when New Deal programs funded reconditioning efforts, did conditions improve.
Today, this challenging route remains a reflection of the resilience of those who traversed it through centuries of settlement.
What Remains: The Ghost Town Today
The ghost town of Redington today stands as a tribute to the perseverance that once defined its transportation challenges.
What you’ll encounter are weathered abandoned buildings and mining remnants gradually reclaimed by the desert landscape. The structural artifacts represent Arizona’s boom-and-bust mining heritage, with crumbling adobe walls and foundations telling silent stories of economic aspiration.
- Deteriorated general stores and hotels frame the once-bustling thoroughfares
- Visible mine shafts and equipment offer glimpses into industrial practices
- Preservation varies between maintained historical sites and naturally decaying structures
- Access requires permits in some areas, protecting fragile historical integrity
- Desert flora steadily reclaims the human footprint, symbolizing nature’s inevitable resurgence
These remnants serve both as historical education and archaeological study sites, documenting a chapter of frontier ambition now surrendered to time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Did the Redfield Brothers Choose This Specific Location?
You chose this location for its strategic position between mountains, historical significance as a travel corridor, fertile soil, and natural protection, despite the region’s notorious lawlessness and challenges.
Are There Any Surviving Original Buildings From the 1870S Settlement?
Based on available information, you’ll find limited original architecture from the 1870s remaining. Documentation of preservation efforts is scarce, leaving uncertainty about which structures truly survived Redington’s early settlement period.
What Happened to Descendants of Redington’s Founding Families?
You’ll find many Redfield descendants maintained ranching traditions in the region, while others dispersed. The Bayless family, through Jack Smallhouse, continued operating local ranches into 1995, preserving their family history and descendant stories.
Did Any Famous Outlaws Besides Those Mentioned Hide in Redington?
You’ll find no significant evidence of other famous outlaws in Redington beyond those mentioned, though local legends persist about hidden treasures left by unnamed fugitives passing through this lawless frontier sanctuary.
Can Visitors Access the Ghost Town Site Without Special Permission?
Coincidentally, ghost town access at Redington requires no special permission. You’re free to explore via Redington Pass Road under standard visitor guidelines from Coronado National Forest and BLM management.
References
- http://friendsofredingtonpass.org/history.html
- https://www.arizonahighways.com/article/arizona-ghost-towns
- https://www.visittucson.org/blog/post/8-ghost-towns-of-southern-arizona/
- http://kissackadventures.blogspot.com/2021/08/the-ghost-town-of-redington.html
- https://www.legendsofamerica.com/az-patagoniaghosts/
- https://www.islands.com/1740327/get-away-from-all-strange-arizona-ghost-town-famed-unusual-name-nothing/
- https://www.ghosttowns.com/states/az/redington.html
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q18D1sHH2Cc
- https://kids.kiddle.co/Redington
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redington
