Central, AZ

Central is a quiet, close-knit community tucked along the Gila River in southeastern Arizona's Upper Gila Valley. With fewer than a thousand residents, it offers a peaceful rural atmosphere with plenty of wide-open space. The towering peaks of Mount Graham rise dramatically to the south, giving locals incredible mountain views right from their front porches.

ATTRDexter Perkins / CC0

First settled by farming families in the 1880s, the area has deep agricultural and pioneer roots. It was even the original site of the academy that eventually became Eastern Arizona College just down the road. Today, Central is ideal for anyone looking for a slower pace of life, with landmarks like the Gila Valley Arizona Temple nearby and the shopping, dining, and schools of Thatcher and Safford only minutes away.