Originally located in Dona Ana County in New Mexico Territory, the area that eventually became Graham County, Arizona, was part of a vast high desert landscape that stretched all the way to the Colorado River. In 1881, the Arizona legislature broke from the tradition of naming counties after local Native American tribes when it carved Graham County out of Pima and Apache Counties and named it for the 10,516-foot Mount Graham, the highest peak in the area. The last refuge of the legendary Native American war leader Geronimo, the region also boasts some of southeastern Arizona's most beautiful topography, including the Santa Teresa Range, Mount Turnbull, the Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness, Roper Lake, the Pinaleno Range, and the Gila River. Today more than 33,000 residents call Graham County home."