Originally the location of a Native American village known as Santa Cruz in the 18th century, the area was later settled around the time the railroad came through in 1881, and developed further when the local railroad station was built in 1882. It was originally known as Junction City, then Kendall, then Fairbanks, and was formally founded as Fairbank on May 16, 1883 on the same day that the local Post Office opened.    Fairbank was named for the Chicago Investor Nathaniel K. Fairbank.   In 1890 the San Pedro River flooded.  The town rebuilt and survived.

   In 1920 a new Fairbank School was build replacing the original wooden one that had burnt down, the schoolhouse was built of gypsum block manufactured in nearby Douglas, Az.     The school house has been restored and now serves as a museum.

© Kathy Weiser/Legends of America, updated July, 2010