Gila County, Arizona

Gila County, Arizona
Gila County Courthouse in Globe
Seal
Location in the state of Arizona
Arizona's location in the U.S.
Founded	February 8, 1881
Seat	Globe
Largest town	Payson
Area
• Total	4,795 sq mi (12,419 km2)
• Land	4,758 sq mi (12,323 km2)
• Water	38 sq mi (98 km2), 0.8%
Population (est.)
• (2014)	53,119
• Density	11/sq mi (4/km²)
Congressional districts	1st, 4th
Time zone	Mountain: UTC-7
Website	www.gilacountyaz.gov

Gila County is a county in the central part of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2010 census its population was 53,597.^[1] The county seat is Globe.^[2]

Gila County comprises the Payson, AZ Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Gila County contains parts of Fort Apache Indian Reservation and San Carlos Indian Reservation.

History

The county was formed from parts of Maricopa County and Pinal County on February 8, 1881.^[3] The boundary was then extended eastward to the San Carlos River by public petition in 1889. The original county seat was in the mining community of Globe City, now Globe, Arizona.

Popular theory says that the word Gila was derived from a Spanish contraction of Hah-quah-sa-eel, a Yuma word meaning "running water which is salty".^[4]

In the 1880s, a long range war broke out in Gila County that became the most costly feud in American history, resulting in an almost complete annihilation of the families involved. The Pleasant Valley War (also sometimes called the Tonto Basin Feud or Tonto Basin War) matched the cattle-herding Grahams against the sheep-herding Tewksburys. Once partisan feelings became tense and hostilities began, Frederick Russell Burnham, who later became a celebrated scout and the inspiration for the boy scouts, was drawn into the conflict on the losing side.^[5][6] Burnham shot many men in the feud, and was himself nearly killed by a bounty hunter.^[7] Tom Horn, a famous assassin, was also known to have taken part as a killer for hire, but it is unknown as to which side employed him, and both sides suffered several murders to which no suspect was ever identified. In the 1960s, it was home of Gerald Gault, who was the subject of the 1967 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, in re Gault, that stated juveniles have the same rights as adults when arrested to be notified of the charges against them, the rights to attorneys and to confront their accusers.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,795 square miles (12,420 km²), of which 4,758 square miles (12,320 km²) is land and 38 square miles (98 km²) (0.8%) is water.^[8]

Adjacent counties

• Yavapai County - northwest
• Maricopa County - west
• Pinal County - south
• Graham County - southeast
• Navajo County - east, northeast
• Coconino County - north

National protected areas

• Coconino National Forest (part)
• Tonto National Forest (part)
• Tonto National Monument

Demographics

2000 census

As of the census^[14] of 2000, there were 51,335 people, 20,140 households, and 14,098 families residing in the county. The population density was 11 people per square mile (4/km²). There were 28,189 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 77.82% White, 0.38% Black or African American, 12.92% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 6.59% from other races, and 1.80% from two or more races. 16.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 9.84% reported speaking Spanish at home, while 6.29% speak Western Apache.^[15]

There were 20,140 households out of which 26.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.10% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.00% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.10% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 22.30% from 25 to 44, 26.40% from 45 to 64, and 19.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,917, and the median income for a family was $36,593. Males had a median income of $31,579 versus $22,315 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,315. About 12.60% of families and 17.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.90% of those under age 18 and 7.90% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 53,597 people, 22,000 households, and 14,294 families residing in the county.^[16] The population density was 11.3 inhabitants per square mile (4.4/km²). There were 32,698 housing units at an average density of 6.9 per square mile (2.7/km²).^[17] The racial makeup of the county was 76.8% white, 14.8% American Indian, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 5.3% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 17.9% of the population.^[16] In terms of ancestry, 17.4% were German, 13.3% were English, 11.4% were Irish, and 3.4% were American.^[18]

Of the 22,000 households, 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.0% were non-families, and 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 47.9 years.^[16]

The median income for a household in the county was $37,580 and the median income for a family was $46,292. Males had a median income of $41,698 versus $30,023 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,600. About 11.6% of families and 18.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.4% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.^[19]

Transportation

Major highways

• U.S. Route 60
• U.S. Route 70
• State Route 77
• State Route 87
• State Route 188
• State Route 260

Airports

The following public-use airports are located in the county:

• Payson Airport in Payson, Arizona
• San Carlos Apache Airport near Globe, Arizona

Communities

Map of the incorporated and major unincorporated areas in Gila County. Also shown are borders for Indian reservations in the County.

City

• Globe (county seat)

Towns

• Hayden (partly in Pinal County)
• Miami
• Payson
• Star Valley
• Winkelman (partly in Pinal County)

Census-designated places

Other communities

• Coffeepot
• Dagger
• Inspiration
• Punkin Center

County population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Gila County.^[20][21]

† county seat

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Gila County, Arizona
• Needle's Eye Wilderness

References

External links

• Geographic data related to Gila County, Arizona at OpenStreetMap
• County website

	Yavapai County	Coconino County	Navajo County
	Maricopa County		Navajo County
		Gila County, Arizona
		Pinal County	Graham County

Municipalities and communities of Gila County, Arizona, United States County seat: Globe City Globe Towns Hayden‡ Miami Payson Star Valley Winkelman‡ CDPs Bear Flat Beaver Valley Canyon Day Carrizo Cedar Creek Central Heights-Midland City Christopher Creek Claypool Copper Hill Cutter Deer Creek Dripping Springs East Globe East Verde Estates El Capitan Freedom Acres Flowing Springs Geronimo Estates Gisela Haigler Creek Hunter Creek Icehouse Canyon Jakes Corner Kohls Ranch Mead Ranch Mesa del Caballo Oxbow Estates Peridot‡ Pinal Pine Rock House Roosevelt Round Valley Rye San Carlos Six Shooter Canyon Strawberry Tonto Basin Tonto Village Top-of-the-World‡ Washington Park Wheatfields Whispering Pines Young Unincorporated communities Aztec Lodge Coffeepot Dagger Inspiration Punkin Center Indian reservations Fort Apache‡ San Carlos Apache‡ Ghost towns Bellevue Christmas McMillenville Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

State of Arizona Phoenix (capital) Topics Index Climate Delegations Geography Government History World War II Museums Music People Transportation Visitor attractions Society Culture Crime Demographics Economy Education Politics Regions Arizona Strip Arizona Sun Corridor Coconino Plateau Colorado Plateau Grand Canyon Kaibab Plateau Mogollon Plateau Mogollon Rim Mojave Desert Monument Valley North Central Arizona Northeast Arizona Northern Arizona Oak Creek Canyon Phoenix Metropolitan Area Safford area San Francisco Volcanic Field Sonoran Desert Southern Arizona (Traditional Arizona) Transition zone Verde Valley White Mountains Counties Apache Cochise Coconino Gila Graham Greenlee La Paz Maricopa Mohave Navajo Pima Pinal Santa Cruz Yavapai Yuma Cities Chandler Flagstaff Gilbert Glendale Kingman Lake Havasu City Mesa Peoria Phoenix Prescott Scottsdale Sierra Vista Tempe Tucson Yuma

Coordinates: 33°47′28″N 110°50′11″W / 33.79111°N 110.83639°W / 33.79111; -110.83639