Three Points dates to 1882, and 1 of its places is on the National Register
More historic than 27% of U.S. towns · #48 of 140 in Arizona. What drives it
Most of Three Points was built recently: 0.5% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1988. Its Register listing is the Robles Ranch House. Below: maps from 1941 on and the census since 2000.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Three Points is more historic than 27% of U.S. towns, #48 of 140 in Arizona. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.
C
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Three Points’ 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 Three Points’ 1.9 sits above most of its state (65% of Arizona towns have fewer) while its 1 listings outnumber those of 51% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikipedia alone; no second source gives 1882.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from D to C+. The pre-1940 share (±0.7 points) is firm at this size.
Founding year: Wikipedia (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 Three Points’ past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Three Points, also known as Robles Junction, was founded in 1882. Bernabe S. Robles, who was born in 1857, in Baviácora, Sonora, Mexico. His family relocated to Tucson in 1864, where he grew up. After spending sometime in Florence, Arizona, he returned to Tucson and accepted a mail route to Gunsight, Arizona, near Ajo. It was during this time he located what is now called Robles Pass, near Cat (Back) Mountain, while searching for a shorter route to Gunsight. In 1882, he had his brother Jesús homesteaded 160 acres at what is now Robles Junction/Three Points. The brothers dug a well to set up a watering stop and stage station so Bernabe could water his horses along his mail route. He eventually gave up his mail route, and moved to the former watering stop/stage station, which at that point was called the Robles Ranch. He and his family ran the ranch for many years, even after the family h…
Old hamlets and crossroads still carry their names on the map.
Hamlets and corners on the map
Robles Junction
Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
Questions about Three Points’ history
What year was Three Points founded?
In 1882, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. the census of 2000 counted 5,273 people here.
How does Three Points rank for history?
Three Points is more historic than 27% of U.S. towns, #48 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.
What is on the National Register in Three Points?
One place: the Robles Ranch House (listed 2010).
How old are the homes in Three Points?
0.5% of Three Points’ homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate), against a typical 0.4% for an Arizona town; the median home was built in 1988.
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 Wikimedia Commons (6), the National Register of Historic Places (1), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) 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.
2021
2016
2010
2010
2009
2009
