Pima County, Arizona

Pima County ( ) is a county in the south central region of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,043,433, making it Arizona's second-most populous county. The county seat is Tucson, where most of the population is centered. The county is named after the Pima Native Americans who are indigenous to this area.

Pima County includes the entirety of the Tucson Metropolitan Statistical Area, and it is the third largest metropolitan area in the Southwestern United States.

Pima County contains parts of the Tohono O'odham Nation, as well as all of the San Xavier Indian Reservation, the Pascua Yaqui Indian Reservation, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Ironwood Forest National Monument and Saguaro National Park.

The vast majority of the county population lies in and around the city of Tucson (2021 city population: 543,242), filling much of the eastern part of the county with urban development. Tucson, Arizona's second largest city, is a major commercial and academic center. Other urban areas include the Tucson suburbs of Marana (population 44,792), Oro Valley (population 44,350), Sahuarita (population 29,318), and South Tucson (population 5,643), a large ring of unincorporated urban development, and the growing satellite town Green Valley. The rest of the county is sparsely populated; the largest towns are Sells, the capital of the Tohono O'odham Nation, and Ajo in the county's far western region.

History

Pima County, one of the four original counties in Arizona, was created by the 1st Arizona Territorial Legislature with land acquired through the Gadsden Purchase from Mexico in 1853. The original county consisted of all of Arizona Territory east of longitude 113° 20' and south of the Gila River. Soon thereafter, the counties of Cochise, Graham and Santa Cruz were carved from the original Pima County.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.02%) is water.

Topographic features

* Mountains of Pima County
* Fresnal Canyon

Major highways

* Interstate 10
* Interstate 19
* Historic U.S. Route 80
* State Route 77
* State Route 83
* State Route 85
* State Route 86
* State Route 210
* State Route 989

Adjacent counties and municipalities

* Yuma County – west
* Maricopa County – north
* Pinal County – north
* Graham County – northeast
* Cochise County – east
* Santa Cruz County – southeast east and south
* Altar, Sonora, Mexico – south
* Caborca, Sonora, Mexico – south
* General Plutarco Elías Calles, Sonora, Mexico – south
* Sáric, Sonora, Mexico – south

National protected areas

* Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge
* Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge (part)
* Coronado National Forest (part)
* Ironwood Forest National Monument (part)
* Las Cienegas National Conservation Area (part)
* Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
* Saguaro National Park

Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan

The Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan (SDCP) is Pima County's plan for desert conservation.

Demographics

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 843,746 people, 332,350 households, and 212,039 families living in the county. The population density was 92 people per square mile (35/km²). There were 366,737 housing units at an average density of 40 per square mile (15/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 75.1% White, 3.0% Black or African American, 3.2% Native American, 2.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 13.3% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. 29.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 22.8% reported speaking Spanish at home.

There were 332,350 households, out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.6% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,758, and the median income for a family was $44,446. Males had a median income of $32,156 versus $24,959 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,785. About 10.5% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.4% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 980,263 people, 388,660 households, and 243,167 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 440,909 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 74.3% white, 3.5% black or African American, 3.3% American Indian, 2.6% Asian, 0.2% Pacific islander, 12.3% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 34.6% of the population.

The largest ancestry groups were:

* 30.8% Mexican
* 16.2% German
* 10.6% Irish
* 9.9% English
* 4.5% Italian
* 3.1% French
* 2.8% American
* 2.7% Polish
* 2.4% Scottish
* 1.8% Scotch-Irish
* 1.7% Norwegian
* 1.6% Dutch
* 1.6% Swedish
* 1.1% Russian

Of the 388,660 households, 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.4% were non-families, and 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.06. The median age was 37.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,521 and the median income for a family was $57,377. Males had a median income of $42,313 versus $33,487 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,093. About 11.2% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.6% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.

Metropolitan Statistical Area

The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Pima County as the Tucson, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area. The United States Census Bureau ranked the Tucson, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area as the 53rd most populous metropolitan statistical area of the United States as of July 1, 2012.

The Office of Management and Budget has further designated the Tucson, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area as a component of the more extensive Tucson-Nogales, AZ Combined Statistical Area, the 53rd most populous combined statistical area and the 59th most populous primary statistical area of the United States as of July 1, 2012.

Government, policing, and politics

Pima County is governed by a five-member Board of Supervisors who set ordinances and run services for the areas that do not fall within any city or town's jurisdiction.

In Arizona, counties are creatures of the state, and do not have charters of their own. The county Board of Supervisors acts under powers delegated by state law, mainly related to minor ordinances and revenue collection. With few exceptions, these powers are narrowly construed. The state legislature devotes considerable time to local matters, with legislative approval required for many of the most basic local issues.

Board of Supervisors and elected positions

The Pima County Board of Supervisors is responsible for steering public policy in the region. The five-member board provides direction to the County Administrator, Jan Lesher, and the county's various departments as they work to ensure safe communities, nurture economic development, sustainably manage natural resources and protect public health. In addition to overseeing the delivery of a host of municipal services, from roads to parks and libraries and law enforcement, board members also are responsible for approving the county budget. Elected to four-year terms, board members also set the amount of taxes to be levied.

Along with the Board of Supervisors the Arizona State Constitution allows for 7 other county elected officials.

Pima County sheriff

The Pima County Sheriff's Department provides court protection, administers the county jail, provides coroner service, and patrols the unincorporated parts of Pima County. It is the seventh largest sheriff's department in the nation. Incorporated towns within the county with municipal police departments are Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley, and Sahuarita.

Politics

Being home to a major population center and a major research university, Pima County is one of the most reliably Democratic counties in Arizona. After voting Democratic through 1930s and 1940s, it swung to Republican following major population increase after World War II, becoming a Republican-leaning county. However, in 1964, it rejected Arizona's native son Barry Goldwater by seven points, who won statewide by one point. However, despite the county's Republican lean, Democrats would not win 40% of the vote only twice - in 1972, when George McGovern lost in a 49-state landslide and due to a balloting error in the county, the Socialist Workers Party came a distant third with 18% of the vote; and in 1980, when Jimmy Carter, being largely insensitive to Western states' issues, also lost many votes to independent John B. Anderson. Following Bill Clinton's plurality victory by 12 points in 1992, all Democrats since 1996 have won the county by a majority and no Republican has come closer than six points in recapturing the county. In both 2016 and 2020, Donald Trump became the first Republican since Bob Dole in 1996 to fail to win 40% of the county's vote.

Communities

Cities

* South Tucson
* Tucson (county seat)

Towns

* Marana (Partially in Pinal County)
* Oro Valley
* Sahuarita

Census-designated places

* Ajo
* Ak Chin
* Ali Chuk
* Ali Chukson
* Ali Molina
* Anegam
* Arivaca
* Arivaca Junction
* Avra Valley
* Casas Adobes
* Catalina
* Catalina Foothills
* Chiawuli Tak
* Charco
* Comobabi
* Corona de Tucson
* Cowlic
* Drexel Heights
* Elephant Head
* Flowing Wells
* Green Valley
* Gu Oidak
* Haivana Nakya
* J-Six Ranchettes
* Kleindale
* Ko Vaya
* Littletown (former)
* Maish Vaya
* Nelson
* Nolic
* Picture Rocks
* Pimaco Two
* Pisinemo
* Rillito
* Rincon Valley
* San Miguel
* Santa Rosa
* Sells
* South Komelik
* Summerhaven
* Summit
* Tanque Verde
* Three Points
* Topawa
* Tucson Estates
* Tucson Mountains
* Vail
* Valencia West
* Ventana
* Wahak Hotrontk
* Why
* Willow Canyon

Indian communities

* Pascua Yaqui
* San Xavier
* Tohono O'odham (part)

Other communities

* Drexel-Alvernon
* East Sahuarita
* Kentucky Camp
* Lukeville
* Redington
* Sasabe
* Tortolita

Ghost towns

* Achi
* Ahan Owuch
* Ak Chut Vaya
* Allen
* Cerro Colorado
* Helvetia
* Hahuul Kawuch Vay, Arizona
* Kentucky
* Pantano
* Redington
* San Rafael
* Total Wreck
* Twin Buttes
* List of ghost towns in Arizona

County population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Pima County.

† county seat

Education

School districts with territory in the county, no matter how slight (even if the schools and administration are in other counties), include:
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Unified:

* Ajo Unified School District
* Amphitheater Unified School District
* Catalina Foothills Unified School District
* Flowing Wells Unified School District
* Indian Oasis-Baboquivari Unified School District
* Marana Unified School District
* Sahuarita Unified School District
* Sunnyside Unified School District
* Tanque Verde Unified School District
* Tucson Unified School District
* Vail Unified School District

Elementary:

* Altar Valley Elementary School District
* Continental Elementary School District
* Empire Elementary School District
* Redington Elementary School District
* San Fernando Elementary School District

Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and Blind is based in Tucson.

Tourist attractions

Annual events

* Pima County Fair

Locations of Interest

* Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
* Old Tucson Studios
* Arizona Historical Society (museum)
* Tucson Gem & Mineral Show
* Titan Missile Museum
* Pima Air and Space Museum
* Mission San Xavier del Bac

See also

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Pima County, Arizona
* Pima County Sheriff's Department
* John G.F. Speiden - Jay Six Ranch
* Federal Correctional Complex, Tucson

References

External links

Official website
*

Pima County Government Departments

{{Authority Control

Arizona placenames of Native American origin
1864 establishments in Arizona Territory
Populated places established in 1864