County in Arizona, United States
County in Arizona
Gila County ( HEE-lə) is a county in the central part of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2020 census, the population was 53,272.[1] The county seat is Globe.[2]
Gila County comprises the Payson, Arizona micropolitan statistical area which is included in the greater Phoenix–Mesa, AZ combined statistical area.
Gila County contains parts of Fort Apache Indian Reservation and San Carlos Indian Reservation.
The county was formed from parts of Maricopa and Pinal counties 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.
Popular theory holds 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 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, an infamous assassin, was known to have taken part as a killer for hire, but it is unknown which side employed him. Both sides suffered fatalities. No one was ever charged or prosecuted.[citation needed]
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, for family members to be notified of their arrests and to confront their accusers and to not be punished more harshly than adults who are convicted of the same crime, especially if an adult's penalty for the crime would be less than that accorded a juvenile convict.[8]
Pinto Creek Bridge on US 60
The "Most Beautiful Bridge" plaque, on the Pinto Creek Bridge.
According to the United States 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.[9]
As of the census of 2010, there were 53,597 people, 22,000 households, and 14,294 families living in the county.[18] The population density was 11.3 inhabitants per square mile (4.4 inhabitants/km2). There were 32,698 housing units at an average density of 6.9 units per square mile (2.7 units/km2).[19] 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.[18] In terms of ancestry, 17.4% were German, 13.3% were English, 11.4% were Irish, and 3.4% were American.[20]
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.[18]
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.[21]
As of the census of 2000, there were 51,335 people, 20,140 households, and 14,098 families living in the county. The population density was 11 people per square mile (4.2 people/km2). There were 28,189 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 77.8% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 12.9% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 6.6% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. 16.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 9.8% reported speaking Spanish at home, while 6.3% speak Western Apache.[22]
There were 20,140 households, out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% 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 25.1% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 22.3% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.2 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 12.6% of families and 17.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.9% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.
Historically, Gila County was a Democratic-leaning county in largely-Republican Arizona – for example, it voted for Adlai Stevenson II in 1952, Hubert Humphrey in 1968 and (very narrowly in a three-way contest) for John W. Davis in 1924. In much of the "dealignment" period from 1960 to 1980, when Arizona was the only state never carried by a Democrat, Gila was the second most-Democratic county in Arizona, behind massively unionized Greenlee. Only during very large Presidential landslides was Gila County carried by Republicans before 2000: indeed, apart from Ronald Reagan in 1980 and Richard Nixon in 1972, no Republican before 2000 ever carried the county by more than seven percentage points.
Since 2000, however, like Greenlee County, Gila County has trended heavily towards the Republican Party, with Hillary Clinton’s 2016 performance being the worst ever by a Democratic presidential nominee at the time. Moreover, Barack Obama did worse here in 2008 than John Kerry did in 2004, one of a few non-Ozark or non-Appalachian counties where this occurred (possibly due to Arizona Senator John McCain's presence on the ballot).
Gila County was covered in the papers[23] as the site of a confluence between politics and public health as the conservatism of the county (with Democrat Joe Biden losing by 34 points in the 2020 presidential election[24])
The county was one of two in Arizona to vote against 2024 Arizona Proposition 139, which established a right to abortion in the state's constitution, along with neighboring Graham County.[25]
The following public-use airports are located in the county:
Map of the incorporated and major unincorporated areas in Gila County. Also shown are borders for Indian reservations in the county.The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Gila County.[28][29]
† county seat
Rank City/Town/etc. Population (2010 Census) Municipal type Incorporated 1 Payson 15,301 Town 2 † Globe 7,532 City 1875 (founded) 3 San Carlos 4,038 CDP 4 Central Heights-Midland City 2,534 CDP 5 Star Valley 2,310 Town 2005 6 Pine 1,963 CDP 7 Miami 1,837 Town 8 Claypool 1,538 CDP 9 Tonto Basin 1,424 CDP 10 Peridot 1,350 CDP 11 Canyon Day 1,209 CDP 12 Six Shooter Canyon 1,019 CDP 13 Strawberry 961 CDP 14 Wheatfields 785 CDP 15 Mesa del Caballo 765 CDP 16 Icehouse Canyon 677 CDP 17 Young 666 CDP 18 Hayden (partially in Pinal County) 662 Town 19 Gisela 570 CDP 20 Round Valley 487 CDP 21 Pinal 439 CDP 22 Winkelman (partially in Pinal County) 353 Town 23 Cedar Creek 318 CDP 24 Tonto Village 256 CDP 25 Dripping Springs 235 CDP t-26 Beaver Valley 231 CDP t-26 Top-of-the-World 231 CDP 27 East Globe 226 CDP 28 Oxbow Estates 217 CDP 29 Deer Creek 216 CDP 30 East Verde Estates 170 CDP 31 Christopher Creek 156 CDP 32 Whispering Pines 148 CDP 33 Carrizo 127 CDP 34 Copper Hill 108 CDP 35 Freedom Acres 84 CDP 36 Rye 77 CDP 37 Jakes Corner 76 CDP 38 Cutter 74 CDP 39 Washington Park 70 CDP 40 Geronimo Estates 60 CDP 41 Rock House 50 CDP 42 Hunter Creek 48 CDP 43 Kohls Ranch 46 CDP 44 Flowing Springs 42 CDP 45 Mead Ranch 38 CDP 46 El Capitan 37 CDP 47 Roosevelt 28 CDP 48 Haigler Creek 19 CDP 49 Bear Flat 18 CDPSchool districts include:
Unified school districts:[30]
Elementary school districts:[30]
33°47′28″N 110°50′11″W / 33.79111°N 110.83639°W / 33.79111; -110.83639
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