Cave Creek and Carefree share both a geographic border and Hohokam history. Today, Carefree and Cave Creek are known as affluent communities, but the area’s earliest inhabitants were the Hohokam, a Native American group who settled in the Black Mountain and desert foothills area around 750 A.D.

The Hohokam were an agrarian society that practiced hunting, gathering, and irrigation farming. The remains of their dwellings, known as “pit houses,” have been discovered in various locations, with the best-preserved example at the Sears-Kay ruin near Seven Springs, northeast of Black Mountain. These pit houses were built with a rock-wall base and topped with a roof made from long branches covered in thatch.

• 1870 – Military road built between Ft. McDowell and Ft. Whipple
• 1880s – Miners and cattle ranchers settled in the area
• Early 1900s – Land south of Black Mountain open for homesteading
• 1946 – Electricity and telephone service came to the area
• 1952 – Cave Creek Road paved from Phoenix
• 1986 – Cave Creek incorporated as a town to avoid annexation by Phoenix
• 2000 – Spur Cross Ranch designated as a conservation area

The Town of Cave Creek has a council/manager form of government. Legislative policy is set by the elected council and administered by the council-appointed Town Manager. The Town Council consists of a directly-elected mayor and six council members.

Cave Creek is home to a relatively affluent population, which supports high-end retail, boutique shops, art galleries, and fine dining. The demand for luxury services and products creates opportunities for businesses catering to a more upscale clientele.

The town also has a rich equestrian tradition, with many residents participating in horse-related activities. The town’s culture and landscape make it ideal for equestrian businesses, including horse ranches, training facilities, tack shops, and stables. Equestrian events and rodeos also draw visitors and support related businesses.

Hospitality, retail, construction, and residential services are significant in the Town of Cave Creek.

Major Cave Creek thoroughfares provide access to nearby communities, recreational areas, and the Metro Phoenix region.

Cave Creek Road: Primary north-south route that runs through the heart of the town and continues south into Phoenix.

North Scottsdale Road: North-South route that merges into Tom Darlington Drive as it enters nearby Carefree, connecting Cave Creek to Scottsdale.

AZ State Route 74 (Carefree Highway): East-west route just south of Cave Creek, connecting to Interstate 17 in Phoenix.