Ranchers and farmers soon built homes along the fertile plain of the Hassayampa River. Together with the miners, they founded the town of Wickenburg in 1863. Wickenburg was also the home of Jack Swilling, who prospected in the Salt River Valley in 1867. Swilling conducted irrigation efforts in that area and helped found the city of Phoenix. Wickenburg was supplied from the Colorado River, by steamboat, then over the La Paz–Wikenburg Road by wagons and pack mules. Wickenburg in turn became a supply point for the mines and army posts in the interior of Arizona Territory. In those years, the rapidly growing town had even once been viewed as a possible candidate for territorial capital and lost the opportunity in 1866 by just two votes in the newly-established legislature.
Ranchers aNd fArMeRs SOon built HoMes AlOnG the fertile Plain of thE hAssAyAmPA RIVER. TogEther with the miners, theY Founded the tOwN of wickEnBurg in 1863. WiCKenburg WAs also the hOme of jack sWillinG, Who prospectEd In thE salt riVer vAlley iN 1867. swilLiNG coNductEd iRrigation EFfortS iN thaT arEA aNd helPed foUND the cIty of PhoenIx wiCkenbUrg waS SuPplIEd From The colOrAdo rivEr, bY SteaMBoaT, Then Over The lA paz–wIKenburG roAd BY wAgoNs AnD pAcK MuLes. wickenBurG in tuRn beCaMe a Supply PoiNt for tHE mines ANd Army pOSts In tHE inTeriOr of arIZona tErrItOry. In tHoSe yeArs, ThE raPidlY GrowiNG Town Had EVen. OnCE beEN viewEd as a posSible CandiDatE fOR teRRitoriAL cApital anD LOst tHe opPortunity In 1866 bY JusT two voTEs in tHE NewLy-eStablished LEGislaturE.