Yuma County, Arizona

Yuma County, Arizona
Yuma County Courthouse
Map of Arizona highlighting Yuma County
Location in the state of Arizona
Map of the United States highlighting Arizona
Arizona's location in the U.S.
Founded November 9, 1864
Seat Yuma
Largest city Yuma
Area
 • Total 5,519 sq mi (14,294 km2)
 • Land 5,514 sq mi (14,281 km2)
 • Water 5.1 sq mi (13 km2), 0.09%
Population (Est.)
 • (2014) 203,247
 • Density 36/sq mi (14/km²)
Congressional district 4th
Time zone Mountain: UTC-7
Website www.yumacountyaz.gov

Yuma County is a county located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2010 census, its population was 195,751.[1] The county seat is Yuma.[2]

Yuma County comprises the Yuma, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The county's southwestern Colorado River border forms a 4-state division between southeast California and southwest Arizona, and northeast Baja California state, Mexico with northwest Sonora state.

History

Yuma County was the one of four original Arizona Counties created by the 1st Arizona Territorial Legislature. The county territory was defined as being west of longitude 113° 20' and south of the Bill Williams River.[3] Its original boundaries remained the same until 1982, when La Paz County was created from its northern half. The original county seat was the city of La Paz until 1871 when it was moved to Arizona City, later renamed Yuma in 1873[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,519 square miles (14,290 km2), of which 5,514 square miles (14,280 km2) is land and 5.1 square miles (13 km2) (0.09%) is water.[5] The lowest point in the state of Arizona is located on the Colorado River in San Luis in Yuma County, where it flows out of Arizona and into Sonora in Mexico.

Because of its location along the U.S.-Mexico border, large numbers of illegal aliens entering the United States illegally pass through Yuma county. From October to July 2005, some 124,400 illegal foreign nationals were apprehended in the area, a 46% increase on the previous year (Economist, August 27, 2005).

Yuma County is in the west, and northwestern regions of the north-south Sonoran Desert that extends through Sonora state Mexico to the border of northern Sinaloa state. West of the county across the Colorado River in southeast California is the Colorado Desert, (a northwestern subregion of the Sonoran Desert). North of the county, with La Paz County the regions merge into the southeastern Mojave Desert. Southwest of Yuma County, is the entirety of Northwest Mexico, at the north shoreline of the Gulf of California, and the outlet of the Colorado River into the Colorado River Delta region, now altered with lack of freshwater inputs. Notable mountains in Yuma County include the Gila Mountains and the Tule Mountains.

Adjacent counties and municipalities

Major highways

National protected areas

Government

Of the several departments and services of Yuma County government,[6] the Board of Supervisors is the governing body of the county and a number of special districts. The Board adopts ordinances, establishes programs, levies taxes, appropriates funds, appoints certain officials, and zones property and regulates development in the unincorporated area. In addition, members of the Board represent the County on numerous intergovernmental agencies.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18701,621—
18803,21598.3%
18902,671−16.9%
19004,14555.2%
19107,73386.6%
192014,90492.7%
193017,81619.5%
194019,3268.5%
195028,00644.9%
196046,23565.1%
197060,82731.6%
198090,55448.9%
1990106,89518.0%
2000160,02649.7%
2010195,75122.3%
Est. 2014203,2473.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2014[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 195,751 people residing in the county. 70.4% were White, 2.0% Black or African American, 1.6% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 20.8% of some other race and 3.8% of two or more races. 59.7% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

As of the 2000 census, there were 160,026 people, 53,848 households, and 41,678 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile (11/km²). There were 74,140 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 68.3% White, 2.2% Black or African American, 1.6% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 23.6% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. 50.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 43.7% reported speaking Spanish at home .

There were 53,848 households out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.3% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.6% were non-families. 18.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the county the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 102.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,182, and the median income for a family was $34,659. Males had a median income of $27,390 versus $22,276 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,802. About 15.5% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.9% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Map of Yuma County showing incorporated and unincorporated areas as well as Indian reservations in the county.

Cities

Town

Census-designated places

Other communities

County Population Ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Yuma County.[11][12]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Population (2010 Census) Municipal type Incorporated
1 † Yuma 93,064 City 1914
2 Fortuna Foothills 26,265 CDP
3 San Luis 25,505 City 1979
4 Somerton 14,287 City
5 Avenue B and C 4,176 CDP
6 Wellton 2,882 Town 1970
7 Donovan Estates 1,508 CDP
8 Martinez Lake 798 CDP
9 Gadsden 678 CDP
10 Rancho Mesa Verde 625 CDP
11 Tacna 602 CDP
12 Orange Grove Mobile Manor 594 CDP
13 El Prado Estates 504 CDP
14 Dateland 416 CDP
15 Wall Lane 415 CDP
16 Drysdale 272 CDP
17 Wellton Hills 258 CDP
18 Padre Ranchitos 171 CDP
19 Buckshot 153 CDP
20 Aztec 47 CDP

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Wagoner, Jay J. (1970). Arizona Territory 1863-1912: A Political history. Tucson: University of Arizona Press. p. 58. ISBN 0-8165-0176-9.
  4. ↑ Walker, Henry (1986). "Historical Atlas of Arizona", p.32. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman. ISBN 978-0-8061-2024-9
  5. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. ↑ http://www.yumacountyaz.gov | Yuma County, Departments and Services
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  11. ↑ http://www.census.gov/2010census/
  12. ↑ http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/maps/block/2010/

External links

 Imperial County, California La Paz County
Municipality of Mexicali Maricopa County
Pima County
   Yuma County, Arizona  
State of Sonora, Mexico

Coordinates: 32°47′13″N 113°58′58″W / 32.78694°N 113.98278°W