01/31/2026
Have you ever wondered where the names Springerville, Eagar, and Round Valley came from?
𝑹𝑶𝑼𝑵𝑫 𝑽𝑨𝑳𝑳𝑬𝒀: Early Spanish-speaking settlers called this area Valle Redondo, which is translated as Round Valley, because it is a bowl-shaped valley created by the action of the surrounding volcanoes and the Little Colorado River.
The name of Round Valley for this area does not exist on any map or official designation, but locals often use this name as a recognition that Springerville and Eagar actually function as a geographic unit, although not as a political unit. Our schools are named “Round Valley” because they are made up of students from several local towns.
𝑬𝑨𝑮𝑨𝑹: In approximately 1887 Eagar was settled by brothers, John Thomas Eagar, Joel Eagar, William Eagar and another family named Robertson.
The first postmaster, Emma Goldsbrough Udall, wanted to name the town “Union” because she believed that the town would be joined with other towns such as Amity and Springerville; however, the US postmaster general rejected the name. Emma then submitted the name Eagarville to honor the Eagar brothers. That name was changed by the postmaster general to “Eagar.”
Note the spelling of Eagar
𝑺𝑷𝑹𝑰𝑵𝑮𝑬𝑹𝑽𝑰𝑳𝑳𝑬: was named after Henry Springer, who established a store here, but probably never actually lived here. Springer was born in Bavaria and moved to the United States in the 1850s. Eventually he moved into Santa Fe, New Mexico where he ran a hotel and then moved to Albuquerque where he established 3 stores and a business manufacturing blankets and was a part owner in a freight hauling venture. Springer became active in New Mexico politics.
In 1873 Springer came to this area to establish a business selling his blankets to the Army at Fort Apache. Springer built a store to sell other merchandise and also became involved in a venture in this area to grow barley for Fort Apache which failed for some reason which is lost in history.
It is reported that the failure of the barley venture brought the economic downfall of Springer.
⚲ The Heritage Museum in Springerville
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