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 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.
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.
