Graham County
County
Graham County Courthouse in Safford
Graham County Courthouse in Safford
Map of Arizona highlighting Graham County
Location within the U.S. state of Arizona
Map of the United States highlighting Arizona
Arizona's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°00′33″N 109°53′07″W / 33.009166666667°N 109.88527777778°W / 33.009166666667; -109.88527777778
Country United States
State Arizona
FoundedMarch 10, 1881
Named forMount Graham
SeatSafford
Largest citySafford
Area
 • Total4,641 sq mi (12,020 km2)
 • Land4,623 sq mi (11,970 km2)
 • Water19 sq mi (50 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total38,533
 • Estimate 
(2021)
39,050 Increase
 • Density8.3/sq mi (3.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
Congressional districts2nd, 6th
Websitewww.graham.az.gov
The Large Binocular Telescope on the summit ridge of the Pinaleno Mountains, Graham County.

Graham County is a county in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2020 census, the population was 38,533,[1] making it the third-least populous county in Arizona. The county seat is Safford.[2]

Graham County composes the Safford, Arizona Micropolitan Statistical Area.

The county is home to several organizations including Eastern Arizona College and the Mount Graham International Observatory, which includes one of the world's largest and most powerful telescopes. Graham County is also home to the Arizona Salsa Trail and the annual Salsa Fest.[3]

Graham County contains part of the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation.

History

Joseph Knight Rogers, an early settler in the area, and a member of the Arizona Territorial Legislature, is known as the father of Graham County. He introduced the bill in the territorial legislature creating Graham County.[4] Graham County was created from southern Apache County and eastern Pima County on March 10, 1881.[5] Initially, the county seat was located in the city of Safford but was later moved to Solomonville in 1883. This change was undone in 1915, returning the county seat to Safford.[6]

Graham County is named after the mountain by the same name which was named after Lt. Col James Duncan Graham, and was the first Arizona county to break the tradition of naming counties for Native Americans.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,641 square miles (12,020 km2), of which 4,623 square miles (11,970 km2) is land and 19 square miles (49 km2) (0.4%) is water.[7] The county has various mountain peaks including Mount Graham, which is the highest mountain in the Pinaleno Mountains.

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18905,670—
190014,162149.8%
191023,99969.5%
192010,148−57.7%
193010,3732.2%
194012,11316.8%
195012,9857.2%
196014,0458.2%
197016,57818.0%
198022,86237.9%
199026,55416.1%
200033,48926.1%
201037,22011.1%
202038,5333.5%
2021 (est.)39,050[8]1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010–2020[1]
Roper Lake, south of Safford.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 33,489 people, 10,116 households, and 7,617 families living in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (2.7 people/km2). There were 11,430 housing units at an average density of 2 units per square mile (0.77 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 67.1% White, 1.9% Black or African American, 15.0% Native American, 0.6% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 13.4% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. 27.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.4% reported speaking Spanish at home, while 6.4% speak a Southern Athabaskan language.[13]

There were 10,116 households, out of which 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.47.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 30.1% under the age of 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 112.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.1 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,668, and the median income for a family was $34,417. Males had a median income of $30,524 versus $20,739 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,139. About 17.7% of families and 23.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.2% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 37,220 people, 11,120 households, and 8,188 families living in the county.[14] The population density was 8.1 inhabitants per square mile (3.1 inhabitants/km2). There were 12,980 housing units at an average density of 2.8 units per square mile (1.1 units/km2).[15] The racial makeup of the county was 72.1% white, 14.4% American Indian, 1.8% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 8.2% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 30.4% of the population.[14] In terms of ancestry, 16.1% were English, 9.2% were German, 6.9% were Irish, and 4.3% were American.[16]

Of the 11,120 households, 41.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 26.4% were non-families, and 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.50. The median age was 31.6 years.[14]

The median income for a household in the county was $41,683 and the median income for a family was $48,005. Males had a median income of $41,732 versus $25,990 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,644. About 15.9% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.3% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.[17]

Politics

In its early days Graham County was a solidly Democratic county. It voted for the Democratic nominee in every presidential election from 1912 to 1952, being one of only four Western counties outside New Mexico to support James M. Cox in 1920, and one of only five to support John W. Davis in 1924. Since the 1950s, however, Graham has become a reliable Republican county, usually rivaling Mohave and Yavapai as the most Republican in Arizona, and sometimes, as in 2004 and 2000, being the “reddest” of all the state's counties. No Democratic presidential nominee has carried Graham County since Lyndon B. Johnson – against Arizona native Barry Goldwater – did so in 1964, though Bill Clinton, who carried significant national rural appeal as a Democrat in the 1990s, came close in 1996.

United States presidential election results for Graham County, Arizona[18][19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 10,749 71.52% 4,034 26.84% 246 1.64%
2016 8,025 65.34% 3,301 26.88% 955 7.78%
2012 8,076 67.84% 3,609 30.31% 220 1.85%
2008 8,376 69.40% 3,487 28.89% 206 1.71%
2004 7,467 69.65% 3,185 29.71% 68 0.63%
2000 6,007 62.16% 3,355 34.72% 302 3.13%
1996 4,222 45.42% 3,938 42.36% 1,136 12.22%
1992 4,169 42.98% 3,391 34.96% 2,139 22.05%
1988 5,120 59.18% 3,407 39.38% 125 1.44%
1984 5,247 62.35% 3,080 36.60% 89 1.06%
1980 4,765 59.85% 2,801 35.18% 395 4.96%
1976 3,659 52.59% 3,050 43.83% 249 3.58%
1972 3,575 60.15% 1,863 31.35% 505 8.50%
1968 2,327 47.21% 1,726 35.02% 876 17.77%
1964 2,655 48.82% 2,783 51.18% 0 0.00%
1960 2,491 54.35% 2,091 45.63% 1 0.02%
1956 2,384 58.55% 1,688 41.45% 0 0.00%
1952 2,191 49.90% 2,200 50.10% 0 0.00%
1948 1,209 35.71% 2,139 63.17% 38 1.12%
1944 1,151 32.43% 2,393 67.43% 5 0.14%
1940 1,161 26.94% 3,130 72.62% 19 0.44%
1936 680 15.54% 3,541 80.94% 154 3.52%
1932 718 19.81% 2,867 79.09% 40 1.10%
1928 1,238 43.27% 1,615 56.45% 8 0.28%
1924 813 33.17% 1,252 51.08% 386 15.75%
1920 1,062 45.72% 1,261 54.28% 0 0.00%
1916 497 22.02% 1,597 70.76% 163 7.22%
1912 103 9.74% 540 51.09% 414 39.17%

Communities

Locations of incorporated and unincorporated areas as well as Indian reservations in Graham County.

City

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Linarite specimen from the old Grand Reef mine near Klondyke.

Ghost towns

Indian communities

County population ranking

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

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Population (2010 Census) Municipal type Incorporated
1 † Safford 9,566 City
2 Thatcher 4,865 Town
3 Swift Trail Junction 2,935 CDP
4 Pima 2,387 Town
5 Bylas 1,962 CDP
6 Cactus Flats 1,518 CDP
7 Peridot (Partially in Gila County) 1,350 CDP
8 Central 645 CDP
9 San Jose 506 CDP
10 Solomon 426 CDP
11 Fort Thomas 374 CDP
12 Bryce 175 CDP

Notable people

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Arizona Salsa Trail - HOME". Archived from the original on November 14, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Rogers called father of county". April 21, 2004. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Arizona Cultural Inventory Project". Archived from the original on March 15, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
  6. ↑ Walker, Henry (1986). "Historical Atlas of Arizona", p.32. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman. ISBN 978-0806120249.
  7. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Language Map Data Center".
  14. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  16. ↑ "DP02 Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  17. ↑ "DP03 Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of United States Presidential Elections". Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  19. ↑ Scammon, Richard M. (compiler); America at the Polls: A Handbook of Presidential Election Statistics 1920–1964; pp. 42–44 ISBN 0405077114
  20. ↑ "2010 U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
  21. ↑ "2010 Census Block Maps - Geography - U.S. Census Bureau". Archived from the original on December 29, 2014. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
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