Santa Maria Mountains
Encyclopedia
The Santa Maria Mountains are a 16-mi (26 km) long mountain range
in central-northwest Arizona
, and in northwest Yavapai County
. The range lies in a region of mesa
s and mountain ranges in the northwest of Arizona's transition zone
. The Santa Maria Mountains lie east of the transition zone's northwest perimeter, the parallel Aquarius
and Mohon Mountains.
The townsite of Tucker, Arizona lies 8 mi east, and is located just west of Chino Valley, AZ
. Tucker lies in the center-east of the small Williamson Valley.
On the range's northwest, Sawmill and Johnson Flats merge west into the Mohon Mountains. Southwest are other various ridges and mesas, that are all part of smaller mountain areas just northeast of the mining district of Bagdad
.
is adjacent north of Hyde Creek Mountain.
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
in central-northwest Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, and in northwest Yavapai County
Yavapai County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*89.3% White*0.6% Black*1.7% Native American*0.8% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.5% Two or more races*5.0% Other races*13.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
. The range lies in a region of mesa
Mesa
A mesa or table mountain is an elevated area of land with a flat top and sides that are usually steep cliffs. It takes its name from its characteristic table-top shape....
s and mountain ranges in the northwest of Arizona's transition zone
Arizona transition zone
The Arizona transition zone, or Transition zone is a diagonal northwest-by-southeast region across central Arizona. The region is a transition from the higher elevation Colorado Plateau to the northeast in Northeast Arizona and the Basin and Range region of southwest and south regions of lower...
. The Santa Maria Mountains lie east of the transition zone's northwest perimeter, the parallel Aquarius
Aquarius Mountains
The Aquarius Mountains are a 45-mi long mountain range in southeast Mohave County, Arizona. The range lies in the northwest of the Arizona transition zone, and at the southwest of the Coconino Plateau, a subsection of the Colorado Plateau....
and Mohon Mountains.
The townsite of Tucker, Arizona lies 8 mi east, and is located just west of Chino Valley, AZ
Chino Valley, Arizona
Chino Valley is a town in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. According to the Census Bureau, the population of the town is 10,817.-Geography:...
. Tucker lies in the center-east of the small Williamson Valley.
Description
The Santa Maria Mountains are northwest-southeast trending and attached to a smaller range on its south, the Cornell Mountains. The small Chino Valley north-trending tributary Williamson Valley Wash and Valley, border the range's east. Numerous hills, peaks, mesas, and flats are in the region. North Fork Creek and Juniper Mesa-(part of southeast Juniper Mountains), border north. Tailholt Mesa, borders southeast, east of the Cornell Mountains.On the range's northwest, Sawmill and Johnson Flats merge west into the Mohon Mountains. Southwest are other various ridges and mesas, that are all part of smaller mountain areas just northeast of the mining district of Bagdad
Bagdad, Arizona
Bagdad is a copper mining community and census-designated place in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States, in the western part of the state. It is one of only two remaining company towns in Arizona...
.
Mountain peaks
Various peaks are in the range. The northwest area has Bear Mountain, Janes Butte, and Dairy Mountain, 7165 feet (2,184 m). The center-south of the range is at Granite Knob, 6625 feet (2,019 m). Bald Mountain, 5900 feet (1,798 m), is northeast; just southwest, closer to the Cornell Mountains, is the range highpoint, Hyde Creek Mountain, 7272 feet (2,217 m). The Apache Creek WildernessApache Creek Wilderness
Apache Creek Wilderness is a wilderness area under the jurisdiction of the Chino Valley District of the Prescott National Forest in the U.S. state of Arizona. Established in 1984, the Wilderness contains rolling hills of juniper and pinyon pine, outcroppings of granite, three natural springs, and...
is adjacent north of Hyde Creek Mountain.