VITAL STATISTICS
VITAL STATISTICS
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COMMUNITY PROFILE
Courtesy of the Arizona State Department of Commerce Heber-Overgaard is located in northeastern Arizona's Navajo County. Situated in the Sitgreaves National Forest north of the Mogollon Rim, the elevations of these twin communities range from 6,435 feet in Heber to 6,620 feet in Overgaard. Both are unincorporated. The communities are reached from Phoenix by taking state Highway 87 north to Payson, or from Winslow by taking state Highway 87 south to Payson, then continuing east via state Highway 260. During the Mormon migration in 1876 and 1877, the Little Colorado River settlements were established. James E. Shelley and Sanford Porter, Jr. founded Heber in 1883. Heber was named after Heber J. Grant, a prominent member of the Mormon Church. The post office in Heber was established in 1890 by James E. Shelley. Overgaard, adjoining Heber, was originally called Oklahoma Flat and was later named after the first sawmill owner. The post office in Overgaard was established in 1938. Principal Economic Activities... Economic activities are varied; retirement and tourism are an important part of the economy. Proximity to the Sitgreaves National Forest provides recreational opportunities, and timber is harvested for Precision Pine Sawmill and Stone Container Paper Mill. A mulch plant processes forest by-products. Service businesses provide employment and services for the predominant retirement community. Government and schools also contribute to the local economy. Retail trade is increasing. Construction is also a major factor in the area's gradually expanding economy. Scenic Attractions... The Heber-Overgaard area is surrounded by many year-round recreational opportunities and points of scenic interest. Immediately south of Heber-Overgaard is the Mogollon Rim, a steep escarpment ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 feet from the base to the highest plateau. The Rim divides the northern plateau region from the lower central and southern areas. The Rim offers many exceptional views and numerous man-made lakes ideal for boating and other water sports. Hunting for elk, deer, turkey, antelope and bear is permitted. Fishing, in nearby trout streams, is popular. There are also extensive picnic and camping facilities available within the area. Other scenic attractions in the area include Chevelon Canyon Dam, the Canyon Creek Fish Hatchery, Chevelon Butte, and the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. The 200-acre Mogollon Lake three miles east of Overgaard is in the planning stages. Ed.: If you'd like an idea of what things look like around the area, take a cyber-stroll thru any one of the Galleries in the RIMages section of the site. Click the button and enjoy! 
POPULATION...
Heber-Overgaard LABOR FORCE...
GROWTH INDICATORS...
PROPERTY TAX RATE PER $100 ASSESSED VALUATION...
Note1: School district participates in the Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology (NAVIT) Note2: Property tax in Arizona is based on assessed valuation which is 10 percent of market value for residential property. Average tax rate on homes in Arizona before exemptions and rebates is 1.3% of market value. Community Facilities... Heber-Overgaard offers many community facilities including a library, 40-acre park, and many athletic facilities: baseball, football and Little League fields; basketball, volleyball, tennis and racquet ball courts; and a golf course. COMMUNICATION. In addition to communication resources from the rest of the state, Heber-Overgaard has a weekly newspaper, The Pine Graphics Weekly, receives several radio stations from Holbrook, Show Low and Flagstaff, has 12 television channels available on cable, and one from Flagstaff. Local internet dial-up services are also available. EDUCATIONAL. Heber/Overgaard has two elementary school, junior high and high school. Student enrollment is approximately 551. Northland Pioneer College, a state-accredited community college, serves Navajo County. The college has centers located in Winslow, Snowflake, Heber and Show Low. The main administrative and service campus is in Holbrook. Areas of study include occupational programs, with business, health, home economics and technical trade courses; and, transfer programs including business, fine arts and social sciences. Northern Arizona University, in partnership with Northland Pioneer College, offers undergraduate and graduate programs; for information, call (928) 367-1152. MEDICAL. The community has one doctor, a dentist, an optometrist and three ambulances available. Hospital services are also available in Show Low (36 miles away), Holbrook (47 miles away) and Payson (50 miles away). A fully equipped health center is currently in the planning stages. FINANCIAL. There are two local financial institutions in Heber-Overgaard. Navajo County businesses are eligible for assistance in financing fixed assets through the Finance and Administration Division of the Arizona Department of Commerce. Information on private activity bonds within the county may be obtained from the same source or from the Industrial Development Authority of the County of Navajo, 819 West Florida, Holbrook, Arizona 86025. GOVERNMENTAL. The community is governed by the Navajo County Board of Supervisors and served by the county deputies, Department of Public Safety, and the sheriff's posse. The fire department has 40 volunteers, 15 EMTs, three paramedics and five IMETs. AIRPORT. Residents of Heber-Overgaard have access to public airports in Show Low 36 miles southeast, or Taylor, 29 miles northeast.
UTILITIES... LODGING AND MEETING FACILITIES. There are two motels with 56 units available in the area, and four meeting facilities with the largest seating up to 300, three with seating for 50 or less. Several RV parks and cabin rentals are available. The 42-unit Best Western Sawmill Inn was completed in September 1995. Weather Statistic, averages*...
This profile was prepared by the Arizona Department of Commerce
Communications Division in cooperation with local sources.
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