Shumway, AZ

Tucked into Arizona's Silver Creek Valley, Shumway is a quiet rural spot about six miles south of Taylor. The community got its start in the late 1870s when pioneer Charles Shumway set up a grist mill along the water. Thanks to the steady flow of the creek, early homesteaders were able to grow orchards and crops, creating a pastoral pocket of land that still holds onto its open, agricultural feel today.

A standout local landmark is the restored 1900 red-brick schoolhouse, which used to host everything from Sunday services and town dances to election voting. While kids now head up the road to Taylor for classes and residents pop into Snowflake or Show Low for shopping, Shumway itself stays peaceful and low-key. It appeals to folks looking for acreage, mountain-valley views, and a relaxed pace of life.