The Arizona Power Company (TAPCO) steam power plant is located three miles north of Clarkdale, Arizona. It was built to expand the Childs and Irving power plants to meet the increasing demand for electrical power created by the rapid growth of mining operations in neighboring Jerome, and the new smelter that was constructed in Clarkdale to process the immense payloads pulled daily from the copper mines. Jerome at the time was the largest copper mine in Arizona Territory. The Childs and Irving power plants were the first power plants constructed, built on Fossil Creek that is located between Camp Verde and Strawberry. Not only was mining on the rise, so was the population. Clarkdale was the first planned developed area in Arizona, otherwise known as the first “company town”. The town offered all of the modern amenities of the day to enrich the lives of the miners. To promote a happy and productive lifestyle of the employees and their families of the United Verde Mine. The town of Clarkdale was owned and named after the Montana native William A. Clark. TAPCO’s main building and smoke stack are still standing today on its original spot, next to the Verde River. As a local, it’s an immediately recognizable icon of the area. Not only is it visible from Sycamore Canyon Rd. the Verde Valley Rail Road passes it along the way while taking tourists to Perkinsville. TAPCO played a large roll in the expansion of the Verde Valley through generating electricity by steam power from the Verde River. Enjoy taking the time to learn more of the history of TAPCO.