Fort Thomas, Arizona takes its name from Camp Thomas, a 19th-century military outpost that once anchored this stretch of the Gila River roughly 25 miles east of Safford. Today it's a quiet agricultural community defined by open farmland, ranching traditions, and easy access to some of the region's wildest scenery — Aravaipa Canyon, Mount Turnbull, and Hot Well Dunes are all a short drive away. Fort Thomas offers a rare combination for the Gila Valley: frontier history and true backcountry access in the same small town.
