Handsome Gelding

According to a legend, the city's unusual name resulted from a marathon poker game between Corydon E. Cooley and Marion Clark. The two men were equal partners in a 100,000-acre (400 km 2) ranch; however, the partners determined that there was not enough room for both of them in their settlement, and agreed to settle the issue over a game of "Seven Up" (with the winner taking the ranch and the loser leaving). After the game seemed to have no winner in sight, Clark said, "If you can show low, you win." In response, Cooley turned up the deuce of clubs (the lowest possible card) and replied, "Show low it is." As a tribute to the legend, Show Low's main street is named "Deuce of Clubs" in remembrance. In 2002, a large forest fire, the Rodeo-Chediski fire, threatened the city and forced an evacuation.