| La Paz County, Arizona | |
Location in the state of Arizona |
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Arizona's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | January 1, 1983 |
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| Seat | Parker |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
4,513.36 sq mi (11,690 km²) 4,499.95 sq mi (11,655 km²) 13.40 sq mi (35 km²), 0.30% |
| Population - (2010) - Density |
20,489 4/sq mi (1.7/km²) |
| Website | www.co.la-paz.az.us |
La Paz County is a county in the western part of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2010 census its population was 20,489. The county seat is Parker. The name of the county is the Spanish word for the peace, and is taken from the early settlement (now ghost town) of La Paz along the Colorado River.
La Paz County was established in 1983 after voters approved separating the northern portion of Yuma County, making it the first and only county to be established after Arizona became a state in 1912. The county did not have a large enough tax base to begin supporting a separate county government immediately and had to rely on state money at first. As a result Arizona laws were changed to make splitting other existing counties much more difficult.
The Colorado River Indian Reservation is located in the western portion of the county. Part of the reservation extends westward into San Bernardino and Riverside Counties in California.
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According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 4,513.36 square miles (11,689.5 km2), of which 4,499.95 square miles (11,654.8 km2) (or 99.70%) is land and 13.40 square miles (34.7 km2) (or 0.30%) is water.[1]
Avi Suquilla Airport (FAA LID: P20) is a public use airport located one nautical mile (1.8 km) east of the central business district of Parker, a town in La Paz County. It is owned by the Colorado River Indian Tribes.
| Historical populations | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1990 | 13,844 |
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| 2000 | 19,715 | 42.4% | |
| 2010 | 20,489 | 3.9% | |
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Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 19,715 people, 8,362 households, and 5,619 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 15,133 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 74.15% White, 0.79% Black or African American, 12.53% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 9.35% from other races, and 2.68% from two or more races. 22.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.90% reported speaking Spanish at home [1].
There were 8,362 households out of which 21.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.20% were married couples living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.80% were non-families. 26.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.79.
In the county the population was spread out with 21.10% under the age of 18, 6.10% from 18 to 24, 20.40% from 25 to 44, 26.60% from 45 to 64, and 25.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 105.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $25,839, and the median income for a family was $29,141. Males had a median income of $26,642 versus $20,965 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,916. About 13.60% of families and 19.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.50% of those under age 18 and 12.90% of those age 65 or over.
There are a variety of flora and fauna associated with La Paz County.[3] The endangered California Fan Palm, Washingtonia filifera has a small number of grove occurrences within the county.[4]
| San Bernardino County, California | Mohave County | Yavapai County | ||
| Riverside County, California | Maricopa County | |||
| La Paz County, Arizona | ||||
| Imperial County, California | Yuma County |
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