Nestled among the pine trees of eastern Arizona, Show Low is a small mountain town known for its beautiful scenery, outdoor recreation and abundant wildlife.
But for many visitors, it’s the town’s unusual name that raises the biggest question.
Arizona has its fair share of oddly named cities and towns scattered across the state. Chloride, Strawberry, Nothing, Tortilla Flat and Why are all part of that unusual list.
Many may wonder what led early settlers to give Arizona communities such unusual names. But the truth is that many of these catchy names have stories as unique as the names themselves, offering a glimpse into Arizona’s past.
Here’s the story behind Show Low, the town that got its name from a poker game.
Why is Show Low called Show Low?
According to local lore, two early settlers, Marion Clark and Corydon Cooley, homesteaded a swath of land in the White Mountains in 1870.
However, they later had a falling out and decided there wasn’t enough room for both of them. To dissolve their partnership and settle who would keep the land and who would move on, they decided to play a card game.
They played a poker marathon long into the night. A weary Clark finally told Cooley, “Show low, and you take the ranch.”
Cooley turned over the two of clubs and said, “Show low it is,” winning the land and providing the name for the future town. The local legend also explains why the main drag through Show Low is called Deuce of Clubs.
With nearly 12,000 residents and a trade area population of around 150,000, Show Low is now the largest city in the White Mountains and one of the fastest-growing cities in northern Arizona, according to official community demographics data.
Reporting by Laura Daniella Sepulveda, Arizona Republic
