Cave Creek backs away from ‘Most Western Town’ fight
Nov 6, 2013, 5:00 AM | Updated: 5:00 am
PHOENIX — For months, Cave Creek and Scottsdale feuded over the title, “The West’s Most Western Town” that Scottsdale has held since 1947.
Threats of legal action were made. The idea of a quick-draw shooting contest was suggested to settle the matter.
After the kerfuffle, Cave Creek has backed down from the fight and came up with its own title. The Cave Creek Council has pulled the trigger on the new town title “Where The Wild West Lives.”
State Historian Marshall TrImble backed Scottsdale’s hand during the feud and calls Cave Creek “claim jumpers” for trying to declare themselves the “West’s Most Western Town.”
“[Cave Creek] needed to make up their own motto,” he said. “Both sides should be happy now. Cave Creek is a neat little place but not what you would call cowboy western except during Wild West Days.”
Trimble admitted he may be a bit partial.
“My grandparents came to Scottsdale in the 1920s and I came here in the 1960s.”
Trimble said it likely isn’t Cave Creek or Scottsdale that is the most western town. It’s probably not even in Arizona.
“It’s probably someplace in Montana where horses outnumber motorcycles.”