Fort McDowell is an unincorporated community in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States.

[1] Some Native Americans of the region chose to seek refuge in the surrounding mountains rather than conform to the constraints of reservation life.

Their presence, however, caused fear and unrest for nervous settlers, and thus a military outpost (Camp Verde) was deemed necessary to protect trade routes within the region.

In addition to the Salt and Verde rivers, Fort McDowell was in close proximity to a number of trails important to the Apache of central Arizona, and the installation conducted numerous military exercises against the Tonto Apache and others.

Originally named Camp Verde, the fort was thought to be able to withstand an onslaught from these so-called 'renegades', but in fact, the structures failed to survive the heavy summer monsoon rains, washing away not long after being built.