Fort Defiance, Arizona
Fort Defiance is a community of 3,351 people in Apache County, Arizona.
Why visit Fort Defiance
Townapedia lists 1 place to eat and 1 attraction in and around town.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 88°F; December lows average 14°F.
Weather in Fort Defiance
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Fort Defiance
Fort Defiance (Navajo: Tséhootsooí [tsʰéhòːtsʰòː.í]) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Apache County, Arizona, United States. It is also located within the Navajo Nation. The population was 3,624 at the 2010 census.
From the Wikipedia article Fort Defiance, Arizona (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Restaurants and cafes1
Manning's That's A Burger
Fast food · Burger · 0.8 mi
Mo-Sa 06:30-22:00
Churches and places of worship3
Gas and EV charging2
History
The land on which Fort Defiance was eventually established was first noted by the U.S. military when Colonel John Washington stopped there on his return journey from an expedition to Canyon de Chelly. Fort Defiance was established on September 18, 1851, by Col. Edwin V. Sumner to create a military presence in Diné bikéyah (Navajo territory). Sumner broke up the fort at Santa Fe for this purpose, creating the first military post in what is now Arizona. He left Major Electus Backus in charge.
From the History section of Fort Defiance, Arizona on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Schools, colleges and libraries13
Tsehootsooi Intermediate Learning Center
School · 0.6 mi
Navajo Route 7, Fort Defiance
Tsehootsooi Primary Learning Center
School · 1.2 mi
Navajo Route 7, Fort Defiance
Healthcare2
Nihi Dine'é Bá Wellness Center
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.5 mi
Navajo Route 12, Fort Defiance
Map of Fort Defiance
22 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 45°F | 14°F | 1.0 in |
| Feb | 49°F | 19°F | 0.9 in |
| Mar | 58°F | 24°F | 0.7 in |
| Apr | 65°F | 29°F | 0.5 in |
| May | 74°F | 36°F | 0.6 in |
| Jun | 85°F | 45°F | 0.3 in |
| Jul | 88°F | 55°F | 1.8 in |
| Aug | 85°F | 52°F | 1.9 in |
| Sep | 79°F | 43°F | 1.3 in |
| Oct | 68°F | 31°F | 0.9 in |
| Nov | 56°F | 21°F | 0.8 in |
| Dec | 46°F | 14°F | 0.8 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Window Rock Ap (6 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Apache County has had 11 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 2025-05-14: Greer Fire (Fire)
- 2021-09-13: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 2020-04-04: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2011-06-02: Wallow Fire (Fire)
- 2010-03-18: Severe Winter Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Gallup Municipal Airport (GUP) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 22 miles away.
- Window Rock 5 mi south, about 9 min by car
- St. Michaels 6 mi south, about 10 min by car
- Navajo 11 mi north, about 18 min by car
- Sawmill 11 mi northwest, about 17 min by car
- Rock Springs 16 mi southeast, about 25 min by car
- Twin Lakes 17 mi east, about 28 min by car
- Yah-ta-hey 17 mi southeast, about 28 min by car
- Tohatchi 19 mi east, about 30 min by car
- Gallup 24 mi southeast, about 39 min by car
- Chinle 40 mi northwest, about 1 h by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Fort Defiance, overview from south, Nyttend, Public domain
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.