Description
Formed by Big Sandy and Santa Maria Rivers in sec 8, T11N, R12W, Gila and Salt River Mer, flows W to the Colorado River (US-T121).
History
Named for William Shereley Williams (1787-1849), itinerant preacher, plainsman and mountain man, who was killed by Ute Indians. The river was named 'Rio de San Andres' in 1604 by Juan Mateode Onate. The stream was called 'Rio Azul' by Jacobe Sedelmayr in 1744. By 1851, the stream was called Bill Williams Fork by Lieutenant Lorenzo Sitgreaves and local trappers (AZ-T101).