Paulden is an unincorporated community of 3,400-plus people scattered throughout rolling hills about five miles north of Chino Valley.

The Pownall family built the first combined home/grocery store/gas station in 1924. Their daughter Ruth married L.B. "Gil" Gilpin and she and other family members ran the post office for years. They named the community after Ruth's brother, Paul, who tragically died at a young age, and the "den" in Paulden from his friend's name, Tom Dryden, a son in another early family in the community.

The community has fewer than 10 businesses.

The Paulden Volunteer Fire Department was founded in 1995 and currently has 11 volunteer fire fighters, three EMT's, two engines and a water tender. The department earned a grant and built Paulden's first fire department, which doubles as a community center, in 1999.

Residents formed the Paulden Area Community Organization  in July 2001 with a board that meets the first  Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the fire department building at 24050 Marblehead, just off Big Chino Rd, to discuss community issues.

Meetings are open to the public.

The first school, Paulden Elementary School, A public charter school, opened in fall 2000. The school is located at 24850 Naples, off Big Chino Rd.

 * Info provided by Prescott Az Directory