Arizona's 8th congressional district
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Arizona's 8th congressional district encompasses the extreme southeastern of the state. It includes all of Cochise County, Arizona and parts of Pima, Pinal, and Santa Cruz counties.
It is currently represented by Gabrielle Giffords, a Democrat. George W. Bush received 53% of the vote in this district in 2004. The district has a Cook Partisan Voting Index score of R +1.
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[edit] Statistics
- Population (2000): 641,329
- Male 49.1%, Female 50.9%
- Median age: 39.1
- Median Household Income: $40,656
- Racial Composition: 83.7% White, 3.1% Black, 2.1% Asian, 1.0% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 6.9% Other, 18.2% Hispanic (of any race)
[edit] Recent results
[edit] 2006
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | Gabrielle Giffords | 114,794 | 54.1 | |
| Republican Party | Randy Graf | 89,609 | 42.2 | |
| Libertarian Party | David Nolan | 4,025 | 1.9 | |
[edit] 2004
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican Party | Jim Kolbe | 183,363 | 60.4 | |
| Democratic Party | Eva Bacal | 109,963 | 36.2 | |
| Libertarian Party | Robert Anderson | 10,443 | 3.4 | |
[edit] 2002
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican Party | Jim Kolbe | 112,872 | 63 | |
| Democratic Party | Mary Judge Ryan | 60,536 | 34 | |
| Libertarian Party | Joe Duarte | 5,520 | 3 | |
[edit] Historical representation
| Congress | Representative |
|---|---|
| 108th-109th (2003-2007) | Jim Kolbe[1] |
[edit] Geography
The geography of District 8 can best be described as mountains and wide valleys. The district is considered to be high desert grasslands with elevations from 3500 to 6000 feet. Several mountain ranges run through the district with the highest peak in the Chiricahua Mountains at 9,796 feet. Southeast Arizona is at an ecological crossroads where habitats and species from the Sierra Madre of Mexico, the Rocky Mountains, and the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts can all be found. The abrupt rise of mountains from the surrounding grasslands creates unique habitats harboring rare species and communities of plants and animals. The area has a semi-arid climate with moderate winters and very warm summers. Precipitation rarely exceeds one inch in any month other than July, August, and September, when high intensity, but short-lived thunderstorms and monsoons can occur.
[edit] Main Industries
Primary job fields of the people in the district include: agriculture, ranching, livestock, mining, and tourism which make up the base of the economy in my district. The main irrigated crops are cotton, wheat, corn, grain, sorghum, alfalfa hay, apples, peaches, cherries, grapes, pistachios, pecans, lettuce, chilis, and other vegetables. The area has a multitude of U-pick vegetable farms and orchards, including several organic farms. Greenhouse tomato and cucumber operations have been completed in the past few years with good success. In suburban and urban areas, Wal-Marts are the most abundant superstores.
[edit] School Report
In the district, there is Cochise College, a 2-year college. The University of Arizona is within a couple miles of the district border, the largest college in Arizona, located in Pima County. 4% of the people have completed less than 9th grade; 8% between 9th and 12th grade; but have not received a diploma. 22% are high school graduates; 28% have some college but no degree; 8% have an Associate’s degree; 18% have a Bachelor’s degree; and 12% have a Graduate or professional degree.
[edit] Historical Overview
In the late 1800s, Apache chief Cochise and a band of Chiricahuas built their stronghold on the Dragoon range of mountains. Similar to a European robber-baron of the 'Middle Ages, the tribe would swoop down on those who passed along on the plains below and robbed and murdered mercilessly. So bold was Cochise in his depredations, and such terror did he inspire in the hearts of all, that no one dared venture within striking distance of the raids of the terrible mountain bandits. Cochise, after a few decades, was eventually starved out of his stronghold and happily hanged. Anything like an attempt to settle up the area was made very late compared with neighboring regions. The district, containing a county now called by his name, developed when its varied and valuable resources were found in the 1870s. The discovery of mines in 1878 in the Tombstone district spurred much growth in the area.
[edit] Tourism/Recreation
Tourism is a big industry; it has numerous natural wonders, national forests, parks, and conservation areas. There are multiple caverns which have daily tours, and canyons available for visitation. National parks and reserves for hiking, camping, fishing and boating can be found throughout the region. There are also Apache historical sites, war memorials, museums, tour trains, and mine tours. Golfing is very popular, and there are multiple golf courses across the district.
[edit] Issues
Issues that Gabrielle Giffords feels strongly about:
On Immigration: Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007- This provides for more effective border and employment enforcement, prevention of illegal immigration, and the reformation and rationalize avenues for legal immigration, and for other purposes.
On the Environment: CLEAN Energy Act of 2007- This reduces our Nation's dependency on foreign oil by investing in clean, renewable, and alternative energy resources, the promotion of new emerging energy technologies, developing greater efficiency, and investing in alternative energy.
On Education: College Student Relief Act of 2007: This amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reduce interest rates for student borrowers.
[edit] References
- Demographic information at census.gov
- 2004 Election data at CNN.com
- 2002 Election data from CBSNews.com
- Cochise County Page
- Arizona Genealogy
- Apache Tribe
- Giffords House Website
| Arizona's congressional districts |
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| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 (Territory) See also: Arizona's past & present Representatives, Senators, and Delegations All U.S. districts - Apportionment - Redistricting - Gerrymandering - Maps |
