More historic than 12% of U.S. towns · #81 of 140 in Arizona. What drives it
Most of Heber-Overgaard was built recently: 0.0% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1989. Below: maps from 1961 on and the census since 1990.
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1890.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Heber-Overgaard’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Heber-Overgaard is more historic than 12% of U.S. towns, #81 of 140 in Arizona. Its age holds the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.
D
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Heber-Overgaard’s overall grade.
Few Arizona towns list much on the Register (a typical Arizona town has 0.1 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Heber-Overgaard’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (29% of Arizona towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1883.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from D− to C−. The pre-1940 share (±0.4 points) is firm at this size.
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Heber-Overgaard’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
In March 1873, Mormon pioneers from Utah were sent to the Little Colorado River area under the direction of Horton D. Height. In 1876, a large group of these settlers established four settlements on the Little Colorado River, which they named Brigham City, Sunset, Obed, and Allen's Camp (Joseph City). In Allen's Camp, a dam had been built on the Little Colorado River in April, but high waters in July washed it out. By August, many settlers had returned to Utah. Eight married couples and six single men were all that remained in Allen's Camp. By 1882, the Obed settlement had collapsed and both Brigham City and Sunset were near collapse due to several years of drought. John Bushman, of Allen's Camp, was sent by Lot Smith, then president of the Little Colorado Stake, to scout the forests to the south in anticipation of relocation. Dry farming in the forested mountains was thought to be easi…
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Heber-Overgaard. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1961Heber sheet · 1:62,500
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Heber-Overgaard.
People over time
Heber-Overgaard, census by census
Between 1,581 and 2,898 people in every census since 1990.
4 censuses, 1990–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Heber-Overgaard’s Wikipedia page.
Famous people
Famous people close to Heber-Overgaard
Nobody well known was born in Heber-Overgaard itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.
Old hamlets and crossroads still carry their names on the map.
Heber
1890–today
Overgaard
1938–today
18901960today
Hamlets and corners on the map
HeberOvergaard
US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
Questions about Heber-Overgaard’s history
What year was Heber-Overgaard founded?
In 1883, according to Wikidata. Heber-Overgaard’s post office opened in 1890, and the census of 1990 counted 1,581 people here.
How does Heber-Overgaard rank for history?
Heber-Overgaard is more historic than 12% of U.S. towns, #81 of 140 in Arizona. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
How old are the homes in Heber-Overgaard?
0.0% of Heber-Overgaard’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate), against a typical 0.4% for an Arizona town; the median home was built in 1989.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From the Library of Congress (1), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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