, settlement_type =

City A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...

, image_skyline = Casa Grande-Casa Grande Union High School-1920-2.jpg , imagesize = 250px , image_caption = Historic Casa Grande Union High School which now serves as the Casa Grande City Hall. , image_map = Pinal County Arizona Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Casa Grande Highlighted 0410530.svg , mapsize = , map_caption = Location of Casa Grande in Pinal County, Arizona. , image_map1 = , mapsize1 = , map_caption1 = , pushpin_map = USA , pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States , coordinates = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = United States , subdivision_type1 = State , subdivision_type2 = County , subdivision_name1 = Arizona , subdivision_name2 = Pinal , established_title = Founded , established_date = 1879 , government_type = , leader_title = City Manager , leader_title1 = Mayor , leader_name1 = Craig McFarland , leader_title2 = Mayor Pro Tempore , leader_name2. = Bob Huddleston , area_magnitude = , area_total_km2 = 290.10 , area_total_sq_mi = 112.01 , area_land_km2 = 290.10 , area_land_sq_mi = 112.01 , area_water_km2 = 0.00 , area_water_sq_mi = 0.00 , elevation_m = 426 , elevation_ft = 1398 , population_total = 53658 , population_as_of =

2020 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, COVID- ...

, population_density_km2 = 184.96 , population_density_sq_mi = 479.06 , population_metro = , postal_code_type = ZIP codes , postal_code = 85122, 85194, 85130, 85193 , area_code =

520 __NOTOC__ Year 520 ( DXX) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. In the Roman Empire, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Rusticus and Vitalianus (or, less frequently, ye ...

, unemployment_rate = , website = http://www.casagrandeaz.gov , footnotes = , pushpin_label = Casa Grande , leader_title3 = City Council , leader_name3 = Dick Powell,
Matt Herman,
Lisa Navarro Fitzgibbons,
Donna McBride,
Bob Huddleston,
Jeff Lavender , timezone =

MST The Master of Studies or Master in Studies (M.St. or MSt; ) is a postgraduate degree at the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of St Andrews, the Australian National University, University of Dublin and the University of Ne ...

(no DST) , utc_offset = −7 , blank_name = FIPS code , blank_info = 04-10530 , blank1_name = GNIS feature ID , blank1_info = , unit_pref = Imperial , area_footnotes = , pop_est_as_of = , pop_est_footnotes = , population_est = , population_footnotes = Casa Grande ( O'odham: ''Wainom Wo:g'') is a city in Pinal County, approximately halfway between Phoenix and Tucson in the U.S. state of Arizona. According to U.S. Census estimates, the population of the city is 55,653 as of 2020. It is named after the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, which is actually located in Coolidge. "Casa Grande" is Spanish for "big house". Among resident English speakers, there is no consensus on how to pronounce the city's name.

History

Casa Grande was founded in 1879 by The Carter Family during the Arizona mining boom, specifically due to the presence of the Southern Pacific Railroad. In January 1880, the community of Terminus, meaning "end-of-the-line," was established despite consisting of just five residents and three buildings."Casa Grande History"
, retrieved September 10, 2013 In September 1880, railroad executives renamed the settlement Casa Grande, after the

Hohokam Hohokam () was a culture in the North American Southwest in what is now part of Arizona, United States, and Sonora, Mexico. It existed between 300 and 1500 AD, with cultural precursors possibly as early as 300 BC. Archaeologists disagree about ...

ruins at the nearby Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. Casa Grande grew slowly, and suffered several setbacks both in 1886 and 1893, when fires ravaged the town, destroying all wooden housing structures within it. When the mining boom slowed in the 1890s, the town was nearly abandoned, but with the advent of agriculture, the town remained alive and well, and was eventually incorporated in 1915. One of the founding fathers of Casa Grande was Thompson Rodney Peart. Peart Road, Peart Park, and the Peart Center, all of which are notable fixtures of Casa Grande, are named after him. Casa Grande was home to a collective farm society which was part of the

Farm Security Administration The Farm Security Administration (FSA) was a New Deal agency created in 1937 to combat rural poverty during the Great Depression in the United States. It succeeded the Resettlement Administration (1935–1937). The FSA is famous for its small but ...

. According to historian David Leighton, during World War II, from 1942 to 1945, a Japanese-American relocation camp was set up outside of Casa Grande, known as the Gila River War Relocation Center. Two notable people that were interned there were future actor Pat Morita and baseball player Kenichi Zenimura, who constructed a baseball field and set up a league in the relocation camp. Casa Grande is home to Francisco Grande Hotel & Golf Resort, former spring training location for the San Francisco Giants. Then owner, Horace Stoneham, began developing the property in 1959. The first exhibition game was played in Casa Grande in 1961, with Willie Mays hitting a home run. The San Francisco Giants no longer play at Francisco Grande, but the pool in a baseball bat and ball shape remains in memory of the past ballgames. During the

Cold War The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because the ...

, Casa Grande was the location of the Casa Grande Photogrammetric Test Range. These targets consisted of concrete arrows located in and to the south of the city, which calibrated aerial cartographic cameras. Casa Grande has also played a prominent role in semi-pro and collegiate baseball. The Casa Grande Cotton Kings, who were founded in 1948, qualified to play in the National Baseball Congress World Series ten straight times by winning Arizona state championships in the 1940s and 1950s, and were reactivated in the 2000s. They are now members of the

Pacific Southwest Baseball League The Pacific Southwest Collegiate Baseball League is a Collegiate summer baseball, collegiate summer baseball league. The PSWL was a member of the National Baseball Congress. The PSWL League Champion represented the league annually at the National ...

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Casa Grande has a total area of , all land.

Climate

Casa Grande has a hot desert climate ( Köppen climate classification BWh), typical for the Sonoran Desert. The city experiences long, extremely hot summers and brief winters consisting of mild afternoons and chilly evenings. The area averages only of rain per year. The coolest month on average is December, with highs averaging , and lows typically averaging around . The lowest temperature ever recorded in Casa Grande was . July is the warmest month of the year, with an average high of and an average low of . The highest temperature ever recorded in the city was . Along with the rest of southern Arizona, the community is prone to dust storms and in the summer months is affected by the North American Monsoon, which brings high winds and heavy rain.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 48,571 people, 22,400 households, and 6,547 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 11,041 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 49.9% non-Hispanic White, 4.27% Black or African American, 4.91% Native American, 1.17%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 21.09% from other races, and 3.56% from two or more races. 39.13% of the population were Hispanic or

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race. There were 8,920 households, out of which 37.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 21.7% 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 2.80 and the average family size was 3.24. In the city, the population was spread out, with 30.9% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males. The median income for a household in the city was $36,212, and the median income for a family was $40,827. Males had a median income of $34,858 versus $23,533 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,917. About 12.4% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.2% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Casa Grande-Southern Pacific Railroad Depot-1925

The economy of Casa Grande was historically based on rural, agricultural industries, such as cotton and dairy farms. Over time, the city has become home to many Phoenix or Tucson urbanites who own homes in Casa Grande. Most residents either commute north to work in the Phoenix metropolitan area, or to the south, to work in Tucson. This trend has contributed to growth in the service industry of Casa Grande. Many new businesses such as restaurants, gas stations, and retail outlets are opening throughout the city in order to keep up with demand from the growing population. A retail shopping mall operates in southern Casa Grande. Phase one of The Promenade at Casa Grande opened on November 16, 2007. Built by Westcor and the Pederson Group, it is similar to

Desert Ridge Marketplace Desert Ridge Marketplace is a super-regional shopping mall located just off the Loop 101 and Tatum Boulevard in North Phoenix, Arizona. It was built by Vestar Development Co. and opened in December 2001. The mall has a gross leasable area In ar ...

(an outdoor shopping center in northeast Phoenix). The Promenade at Casa Grande is an outdoor mall, built on a patch of desert, and contains nearly a million square feet. An additional $11 million was spent by the city to fund the reconstruction of the Florence Blvd./I-10 freeway overpass. Ehrmann Commonwealth Dairy operates a major dairy processing facility in the town that opened in 2013 and employs about 110 people.

Top Employers

According to Casa Grande's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

Electric Cars

On November 29, 2016, officials from the state and the Lucid Motors car company announced a $700 million manufacturing plant will be constructed in Casa Grande that will employ up to 2,000 workers by 2022. The LUCID Electric Car plant opened up for operation in November 2020.

News

* Casa Grande Valley Newspapers Inc.

Fire Department

The Casa Grande Fire Department (CGFD), ISO Class 2, provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the City of Casa Grande The Casa Grande Fire Department operates out of 4 Fire Stations and an Administrative Headquarters at the Public Safety Building. CGFD is serving 109.65 square miles with over 60,000 residents.

Library

The Casa Grande Public Library provides the standard services of access to reading materials, as well as some special services, including a volunteer reading club for elementary school, internet access, and a talking book program. The main library is , provides 75,000 volumes, and provides 38 public access computers with internet access. The Vista Grande Public Library, a branch of the Casa Grande Library System, opened in the summer of 2009.

City Court

The Casa Grande

Municipal Court City court or municipal court is a court of law with jurisdiction limited to a city or other municipality. It typically addresses "violations of city ordinances and may also have jurisdiction over minor criminal cases...and over certain civil cases ...

is the judicial branch of Casa Grande City government and accepted 6,609 filings, conducted 2,486 arraignments and held 156 civil, criminal and jury trials in Fiscal Year 2006–2007.

Notable people

Eduardo C. Corral Eduardo C. Corral is an American poet and MFA Assistant Professor in the Department of English at NC State University. His first collection, ''Slow Lightning'', published by Yale University Press, was the winner of the 2011 Yale Younger Series Po ...

, award-winning poet and teacher *

Fred Enke Fred August Enke (July 12, 1897 – November 2, 1985) was an American football and basketball player, coach of football, basketball, baseball, and golf, and college athletics administrator. The Rochester, Minnesota native coached basketball for ...

, University of Arizona basketball, football and golf coach * Fred Enke, Jr., professional football quarterback and cotton farmer *

Pablo Francisco Pablo Ridson Francisco (born January 4, 1974) is an American comedian, actor and writer. He started his career doing improv in Tempe, Arizona. Career In the 1990s, he appeared on ''MADtv'' as a featured player. His stand-up act was introduced ...

, stand-up comedian *

Pedro E. Guerrero Pedro E. Guerrero (September 5, 1917 – September 13, 2012) was an American photographer known for his extraordinary access to Frank Lloyd Wright. He was a sought-after architectural photographer in the 1950s. In a career shift that was part seren ...

, photographer *

Joe Jonas Joseph Adam Jonas (born August 15, 1989) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He rose to fame as a member of the pop rock band the Jonas Brothers, alongside his brothers Kevin Jonas, Kevin and Nick Jonas, Nick. The group released their ...

, pop singer, musician, actor, and dancer * Joy Oladokun, singer-songwriter *

Lewis Storey Lewis Gerald Storey (born February 11, 1950) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He was nominated for Top New Male Vocalist of the Year by the Academy of Country Music, won several Songwriters Guild of America awards, and has collabor ...

, singer-songwriter * Michael Sullivan *

Alex Torres Alex is a given name. It can refer to a shortened version of Alexander, Alexandra, Alexis. People Multiple * Alex Brown (disambiguation), multiple people * Alex Gordon (disambiguation), multiple people * Alex Harris (disambiguation), multiple ...

, guitarist

Education

The following schools are located in Casa Grande. Public Elementary * Cottonwood Elementary School * Saguaro Elementary School * Evergreen Elementary School * Ironwood Elementary School * Cholla Elementary School * Palo Verde Elementary School * Mesquite Elementary School * Desert Willow Elementary School * McCartney Ranch Elementary School Public Middle School * Casa Grande Middle School * Cactus Middle School * Villago Middle School Public High School *

Casa Grande Union High School Casa Grande Union High School is a high school in Casa Grande, Arizona. It is part of the Casa Grande Union High School District. The original high school and gym, now used as the Casa Grande City Hall, are listed on the National Register of Hist ...

Desert Winds High School Desert Winds High School was an intervention/retention high school in Casa Grande, Arizona. There are two sessions in the school: Credit Recovery and Alternative. Credit Recovery meets in the morning, and the alternative school meets in the aftern ...

Vista Grande High School Vista Grande High School is a high school in Casa Grande, Arizona started in 2009. It is part of the Casa Grande Union High School District. It was opened to relieve continuing enrollment growth at Casa Grande Union High School, which had swelled ...

Charter High School * Pinnacle Charter High School * Casa Verde High School * ASU Preparatory Academy, Casa Grande *

Mission Heights Preparatory High School Mission Heights Preparatory High School (MHPHS) is a public charter high school in Casa Grande, Arizona, United States. It was established in 2011 and is operated by The Leona Group. For athletics, it is a member of the Canyon Athletic Associati ...

* PPEP TEC High School Charter Schools * Grande Innovation Academy * Legacy Traditional School Private * St Anthony of Padua Catholic School (Private) * Logos Christian Academy (Private) Colleges * Central Arizona College * Northern Arizona University (Extended Learning Campus)

Transportation

These highways serve Casa Grande. * I-8 (AZ)

Interstate 8 Interstate 8 (I-8) is an Interstate Highway in the southwestern United States. It runs from the southern edge of Mission Bay at Sunset Cliffs Boulevard in San Diego, California, almost at the Pacific Ocean, to the junction with I-10, ...

Interstate 10 Interstate 10 (I-10) is the southernmost cross-country highway in the American Interstate Highway System. I-10 is the fourth-longest Interstate in the United States at , following I-90, I-80, and I-40. This freeway is part of the originally pl ...

the proposed Interstate 11 would begin in Casa Grande and end in Las Vegas, Nevada * Arizona 287

Arizona State Route 287 State Route 287, also known as SR 287, is a predominantly east–west state highway in central Arizona. Originally, this highway number only applied to Florence-Coolidge Highway; the branch to Casa Grande was added later. Route description S ...

Arizona State Route 84 State Route 84, also known as SR 84, is a east–west highway in south-central Arizona, with its western terminus at Exit 151 of Interstate 8 and its eastern signed terminus at its junction with State Route 387 and State Route 287 in Casa ...

Arizona State Route 387 State Route 387, also known as SR 387, is a state highway in south-central Arizona, United States traveling from State Route 87 west of Coolidge west to Interstate 10, then south to its junction with State Route 84 and State Route 287 in Ca ...

The City of Coolidge operates Central Arizona Regional Transit (CART), which provides transportation between Florence, Coolidge, Central Arizona College and Casa Grande. Greyhound serves Casa Grande from a stop in Eloy. The closest major airports to Casa Grande are

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a civil–military public airport east of downtown Phoenix, in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. It is Arizona's largest and busiest airport, and among the largest commercial airports in th ...

and

Tucson International Airport Tucson International Airport is a civil-military airport owned by the City of Tucson south of downtown Tucson, in Pima County, Arizona, United States. It is the second busiest airport in Arizona, after Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airp ...

. Casa Grande Shuttle provides an

airport shuttle An airport bus, or airport shuttle bus or airport shuttle is a bus used to transport people to and from, or within airports. These vehicles will usually be equipped with larger luggage space, and incorporate special branding. They are also comm ...

to Sky Harbor.

References

External links

City of Casa Grande — Official site

Casa Grande Valley Historical Society — Official site

{{authority control Cities in Arizona Phoenix metropolitan area Cities in Pinal County, Arizona Populated places established in 1879 Populated places in the Sonoran Desert Mining communities in Arizona