In 1848, long before the Arizona Rangers were formed, the gold rush fueled the largest migration in American history.
Pioneers moved west into a vast, uninhabited land. Mining towns like Tombstone, Bisbee and Prescott would not appear until decades later.
Native Indians from multiple tribes ruled this land.
They did not invite or welcome these strangers, and they fought to preserve their way of life.
The United States Congress created the Arizona Territory in February of 1863.
The Arizona Territory remained lawless for the next 40 years, while the rest of the country joined the Union and became civilized.
With no state or federal law enforcement, the Arizona Territory was the last of the badlands, the last safe haven for hardened criminals.
Outlaws from all over the country migrated to the Territory. Massacres, robbery, rustling and murder were commonplace.
Many of the town Marshall's were outlaws too.
In the 1890's, the Territorial Governor petitioned the USCongress to allow the Arizona Territory to join the United States.
Congress denied the request. There was simply too much crime and corruption. The Governor needed to clean up the Territory. This would be no easy task.
The Arizona Rangers were formed in 1901 to rid the territory of crime and corruption.
Many were former Texas Ranger's or Roosevelt's Rough Riders. They were well trained, paid and equipped.
Governor Nathan O. Murphy gave the Ranger's extra power and protection, creating laws specifically designed to help them do their jobs.
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Normally punishable by death, the Rangers were permitted to steal a horse if needed.
(see statute below)
The Rangers were Arizona's first law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the entire Territory.
For the next 8 years, they hunted the most dangerous outlaws, in one of the most dangerous areas in the country. They were very effective.
By 1908, most of the outlaws were apprehended, killed or had fled into Mexico. The Rangers were no longer needed "Partisan politics, not ruthlessoutlaw gangs, brought about thedemiseof theRangersthefollowingyear. On February15, 1909, theRangerswere disbanded".
Arizona became the 48th State.
Forever etching the Rangers as an important part of Arizona's history.
In 1957, some of the original members of the Arizona Rangers brought the organization back to life. Our primary purpose was to honor and preserve the rich history of the Arizona Rangers.
The most common historical mistake ties the origins of the Arizona Rangers to similar sounding groups that were formed in 1860 -1862. In fact, there is no connection, direct or indirect, to the 1860-1862 Rangers. Here are t he fact s:
In 1860-1862: The Arizona Territory did not even exist when the "Ranger" groups were formed in 1860-1862. It was known as the "New Mexico Territory".
The "Ranger" groups formed between 1860-1862 were created by a self-proclaimed Provisional Governor of the self-proclaimed Provisional Territory of Arizona.
Provisional Governor Lew is S. Ow ings
The Provisional Arizona Territory: - Was never recognized by the United States and was not a territory of the United States.
- Provisional Governor Lewis S. Owings was not a Governor within the United States.
- in March 1861, the provisional Arizona territory seceded from the Union and joined the Confederate States of America.
- It was not even part of the United States when the Territory of Arizona was created in 1863.
When the Arizona Territory was created in 1863. none of the "confederate" 1860-1862 Ranger groups existed anymore.
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