Florence, Arizona

Florence, Arizona
Town

Early commercial buildings in Downtown Florence.

Location in Pinal County and the state of Arizona
Coordinates: 33°2′19″N 111°23′13″W / 33.03861°N 111.38694°WCoordinates: 33°2′19″N 111°23′13″W / 33.03861°N 111.38694°W
Country United States
State Arizona
County Pinal
Government
 • Mayor Tom Rankin
Area
 • Total 8.3 sq mi (21.5 km2)
 • Land 8.3 sq mi (21.5 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation 1,490 ft (454 m)
Population (2010)[1]
 • Total 25,536
 • Estimate (2013)[2] 25,428
 • Density 2,054.6/sq mi (793.2/km2)
Time zone MST (no DST) (UTC-7)
ZIP codes 85132, 85128, 85179
Area code(s) 520
FIPS code 04-23760
Website http://www.florenceaz.gov/

Florence (O'odham: S-auppag) is a town in and the county seat of Pinal County, Arizona, United States.[3] The population was 25,536 at the 2010 census. It is sixty-one miles southeast of Phoenix.

The oldest functioning Arizona State Prison complex, the Florence complex, is located in the town, and its preserved Main Street and open desert scenery was the setting of the major motion picture Murphy's Romance.

There are a total of 9 prisons from the county, state, federal and two private prisons. There are 3 state prisons located in Florence.

Florence is considered the hub of Pinal County filled with historic buildings and rich history.

Florence is home to the annual "Country Thunder" music festival.[4]

Geography and climate

Florence is located at 33°2′32″N 111°23′4″W / 33.04222°N 111.38444°W (33.042204, −111.384521).[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 8.3 square miles (21 km2), all land. The city has the typical hot desert climate of lowland Arizona, with brutal summers and warm winters.

Climate data for Florence, Arizona (1971 to 2000)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 89
(32)		 92
(33)		 99
(37)		 105
(41)		 115
(46)		 118
(48)		 119
(48)		 118
(48)		 117
(47)		 112
(44)		 97
(36)		 91
(33)		 119
(48)
Average high °F (°C) 66.3
(19.1)		 70.4
(21.3)		 74.5
(23.6)		 82.6
(28.1)		 91.2
(32.9)		 100.8
(38.2)		 102.4
(39.1)		 100.8
(38.2)		 96.8
(36)		 86.9
(30.5)		 74.3
(23.5)		 66.1
(18.9)		 84.42
(29.12)
Average low °F (°C) 38.3
(3.5)		 40.8
(4.9)		 44.3
(6.8)		 49.8
(9.9)		 58.3
(14.6)		 67.3
(19.6)		 75.5
(24.2)		 74.6
(23.7)		 68.5
(20.3)		 56.9
(13.8)		 44.3
(6.8)		 38.6
(3.7)		 54.77
(12.65)
Record low °F (°C) 11
(−12)		 18
(−8)		 20
(−7)		 23
(−5)		 32
(0)		 35
(2)		 54
(12)		 50
(10)		 41
(5)		 30
(−1)		 14
(−10)		 16
(−9)		 11
(−12)
Average rainfall inches (mm) 1.07
(27.2)		 1.06
(26.9)		 1.16
(29.5)		 0.41
(10.4)		 0.26
(6.6)		 0.17
(4.3)		 0.93
(23.6)		 1.22
(31)		 0.90
(22.9)		 0.90
(22.9)		 0.75
(19)		 1.22
(31)		 10.05
(255.3)
Avg. rainy days (≥ 0.01 inch) 4.7 4.5 4.2 1.9 1.5 0.7 3.5 4.8 2.7 2.9 2.7 3.4 37.5
Source: National Climatic Data Center[6]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1880902—
18901,48664.7%
1910807—
19201,16143.9%
19301,31813.5%
19401,3834.9%
19501,77628.4%
19602,14320.7%
19702,1731.4%
19803,39156.1%
19907,510121.5%
200017,054127.1%
201025,53649.7%
Est. 201325,428−0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
2013 Estimate[2]

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 17,054 people, 2,226 households, and 1,540 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,056.2 people per square mile (794.3/km²). There were 3,216 housing units at an average density of 387.7 per square mile (149.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 57.12% White, 9.17% Black or African American, 4.42% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 26.79% from other races, and 1.64% from two or more races. 35.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,226 households out of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the town the population was spread out with 7.6% under the age of 18, 14.8% from 18 to 24, 50.1% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 482.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 582.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $36,372, and the median income for a family was $41,959. Males had a median income of $25,545 versus $28,279 for females. The per capita income for the town was $11,278. About 6.1% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

Two Arizona Department of Corrections prisons are in Florence.[9] They are Arizona State Prison Complex – Eyman and Arizona State Prison Complex – Florence.[10][11] ASPC-Eyman includes the male death row, and ASPC-Florence includes the State of Arizona execution chamber.[12]

World War II history

Located just north of Florence during World War II was a large prisoner of war camp for German and Italian prisoners of war, mainly captured during the North Africa campaign.[13] Japanese Americans arrested as "enemy aliens" after the U.S. entered the war were also interned at the site.[14] McFarland State Historic Park in downtown Florence has a display and information on this period of Arizona history.

Historical district

Pinal County Courthouse in 2005. The courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Florence is one of the oldest towns in the county, and is regarded as a National Historic District with over 25 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Developments

Florence is the location of the 2nd Anthem development in the state of Arizona being built by Pulte and Del Webb. It is located six miles to the northwest of downtown historic Florence.

Florence is also the site for the proposed Coyote Canyon theme park.[15]

Points of interest

Poston Butte in Florence, Arizona with Poston's pyramidal tomb at the peak.

References

  1. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2014-08-05.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2014-08-05.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. ↑ http://www.countrythunder.com/ct_2003/assets/07web/az/mainaz.html
  5. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. ↑ "FLORENCE, AZ" (PDF). Weather.com. 2011. Retrieved 2013-03-31.
  7. ↑ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved August 5, 2014.
  8. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  9. ↑ "Town Boundaries." Town of Florence. Retrieved on August 16, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Arizona State Prison Complex – Eyman." Arizona Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 16, 2010.
  11. ↑ "Arizona State Prison Complex – Florence." Arizona Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 16, 2010.
  12. ↑ "Death Row Information and Frequently Asked Questions." Arizona Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 16, 2010.
  13. ↑ "Camp Florence Days", a book and blog by a WWII guard at the Florence POW camp.
  14. ↑ "Florence (detention facility)" Densho Encyclopedia (accessed 17 Jun 2014)
  15. ↑ http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/126500

External links