Nothing, Arizona

The locals told travelers it "got named by a bunch of drunks."{{cite book | last = Peterson | first = Dale | title = Storyville, USA | publisher = University of Georgia Press | location = Athens | year = 2001 | isbn = 0-8203-2303-9 | page = [https://archive.org/details/storyvilleusa0000pete_b3y7/page/238 238] | url = https://archive.org/details/storyvilleusa0000pete_b3y7/page/238 }} Nothing has frequently been noted on lists of unusual place names.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=29zh3dIgmv8C&pg=PR11 | title=Welcome to Horneytown, North Carolina, Population: 15: An insider's guide to 201 of the world's weirdest and wildest places | publisher=Adams Media | author=Parker, Quentin | year=2010 | pages=xi | isbn=9781440507397 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

The settlement was established in 1977 by Richard "Buddy" Kenworthy,{{Cite web|title=Arizona Town Has Just About Nothing Going On {{!}} The Seattle Times|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19930815&slug=1716054|access-date=2021-08-27|website=archive.seattletimes.com}} located {{convert|118|mi}} northwest of Phoenix,[http://www.travelintelligence.net/php/articles/art.php?id=1000322 Nothing, Arizona] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200125/http://www.travelintelligence.net/php/articles/art.php?id=1000322 |date=2007-09-27 }} by Andrew Eames, from travelintelligence.net and {{convert|23|mi}} south of Wikieup, the "rattlesnake capital of Arizona."{{Cite web|title=A trip to Bagdad Arizona |url=https://www.desertusa.com/desert-arizona/bagdad-arizona.html|access-date=2021-08-27|website=www.desertusa.com}} It is west of Bagdad at milepost 148½ on U.S. Route 93 (the Joshua Forest Scenic Parkway) between Wickenburg and Kingman, on the route from Las Vegas to Phoenix.{{Cite web|title=Forgotten Wagners|url=http://deuceofclubs.com/w/forgotten/forgotten022.htm|access-date=2021-08-27|website=deuceofclubs.com}}

The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) installed one of four motorist call boxes on U.S. 93 at Nothing.[http://www.us93corridor.com/safety.htm Motorist Assist Patrol] U.S. 93 Corridor {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410054734/http://www.us93corridor.com/safety.htm |date=2009-04-10 }}

The town sign read:[https://www.newscientist.com/backpage.ns?id=mg19025502.700 A town called Nothing] by Dmitry Knyazev, From issue 2550 of New Scientist magazine, 06 May 2006, page 88[http://www.tonymorganlive.com/tony_morgan_one_of_the_si/2005/05/10_advantages_o.html 10 Advantages of Doing Ministry Without a Ministry Strategy] by Tony Morgan, May 31, 2005

{{Cquote|Town of Nothing Arizona. Founded 1977. Elevation 3269ft.
The staunch citizens of Nothing are full of Hope, Faith, and Believe in the work ethic. Thru-the-years-these dedicated people had faith in Nothing, hoped for Nothing, worked at Nothing, for Nothing.}}

At its height, Nothing had a population of four. The settlement contained a gas station and small convenience store.{{cite book|author=Will Shiers|title=Roadside Relics: America's Abandoned Automobiles|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r4BFyl9Qjw8C&pg=PA64|date=6 November 2010|publisher=MBI Publishing Company|isbn=978-1-61060-114-6|page=64}}

Nothing was abandoned by May 2005 when Kenworthy moved on from the settlement, and by August 2008, the disused gas station was beginning to collapse.{{Cite web|title=Nothing, AZa|url=https://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/87|access-date=2021-08-27|website=www.roadsideamerica.com|language=en}} An attempted revival of Nothing occurred at some time after August 2008 when Nothing was purchased by Mike Jensen.{{cite web|url=http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/dining/articles/2009/04/29/20090429nothing.html|title=Pizza chef has high hopes for his roadside attraction|last=Ruelas|first=Richard|date=29 April 2009|work=The Arizona Republic|publisher=Gannett|access-date=2009-04-30}} By April 2009, Jensen had opened his pizza business, run from a portable oven, with hopes of reopening the mini-mart and creating accommodations for RVs.

In April 2011, Nothing was marked as abandoned once again. The building has fresh boards in the windows, and no sign of inhabitance or any activity.

In 2016, Century 21 Real Estate ran a "Give Dad Nothing" promotion where a free 24-hour lease to a piece of property at Nothing, Arizona could be secured for June 19, 2016 (Father's Day) only.{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/nothing-arizona-fathers-day_us_575ec4a5e4b00f97fba8db64|title=You Can Literally Give Dad 'Nothing' For Father's Day|last=Cave|first=James|date=13 June 2016|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=2016-06-19}} The promotion was done with the participation of the current property owner{{cite web|url=http://www.today.com/parents/real-estate-company-offers-chance-give-dad-nothing-father-s-t97071|title=Real estate company offers the chance to give Dad 'Nothing' this Father's Day|last=Peters|first=Terry|date=8 June 2016|work=Today|publisher=NBC News|access-date=2016-06-19}} and included a downloadable "Certificate of Nothing" and gift card.

{{reflist}}

• {{cite web |title=Nothing, Arizona |format=Video 3:13 |date=3 Mar 2020 |website=YouTube: Sidetrack Adventures |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdyijoE7MqE}}
• [http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tips/getAttraction.php3?tip_AttractionNo==87 Roadsideamerica.com – Nothing, Arizona] (visitor stories)
• [http://www.digitaljournalist.org/issue0307/gg08.html photo of Nothing, Arizona with Richard Kenworthy] from digitaljournalist.org
• [http://www.gamineral.org/rr06_wickenburg-az_burro_ck.html Field Collecting: Wickenburg Area] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060928063100/http://www.gamineral.org/rr06_wickenburg-az_burro_ck.html |date=2006-09-28 }} photos of Nothing, Arizona
• [http://www.tmwork.com/main/Show$Id=1111.html Nothing (AZ)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416022902/http://www.tmwork.com/main/Show$Id=1111.html |date=2012-04-16 }} Black-and-white photo portfolio
• [http://www.us93corridor.com/map.htm South US 93 – US 93 Corridor Map and Attractions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070418161819/http://www.us93corridor.com/map.htm |date=2007-04-18 }} ADOT map showing location of Nothing

{{Mohave County, Arizona}}

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Category:Ghost towns in Arizona

Category:Former populated places in Mohave County, Arizona

Category:Roadside attractions in Arizona

Category:Populated places established in 1977

Category:1977 establishments in Arizona