Somerton is a city in
Yuma County,
Arizona
Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
, United States. As of the
2010 census the population was 14,287.
It is part of the
Yuma Metropolitan Statistical Area
In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally incorporated as a city or tow ...
.
Somerton was established in 1898 and incorporated in 1918. Somerton's economy is based on
agriculture
Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people ...
, medical services, and tourism.
Somerton community profile
from Arizona Department of Commerce
Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States. It is the list of U.S. states and territories by area, 6th largest and the list of U.S. states and territories by population, 14 ...
, updated 3/2/16
Geography
Somerton is located at (32.597258, -114.712242).United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of th ...
, the city has a total area of , all land.
Demographics
At the 2000 census, there were 7,266 people in 1,818 households, including 1,652 families, in the city. The population density was . There were 1,967 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup
A race is a categorization of humans based on shared physical or social qualities into groups generally viewed as distinct within a given society. The term came into common usage during the 1500s, when it was used to refer to groups of variou ...
of the city was 44.5% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.3% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 51.1% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. 95.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 1,818 households 59.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.9% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 9.1% were non-families. 7.8% of households were one person and 4.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.99 and the average family size was 4.21.
The age distribution was 38.9% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 14.4% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% 65 or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.
The median household income was $26,544 and the median family income was $27,944. Males had a median income of $21,619 versus $16,677 for females. The per capita income for the city was $7,960. About 24.0% of families and 26.6% of the population were below the poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 31.8% of those under age 18 and 27.9% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Somerton is served by the Somerton Elementary School District, the Crane Elementary School District, and the Yuma Union High School District. PPEP TEC High Schools's José Yepez Learning Center is located in Somerton.
Events
Somerton has an annual Tamale Festival that benefits students from the area who will be attending Arizona State University. More than 20,000 visitors attend the festival each year. The festival is put together by The El Diablito Arizona State University
Arizona State University (Arizona State or ASU) is a public research university in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, ASU is one of the largest public universities by enrollment in the ...
(ASU) Alumni chapter. The chapter was established by ASU graduates who have returned to work and live in the Yuma/Somerton/San Luis areas.
Transportation
Somerton is served by Yuma County Area Transit
The Yuma County Area Transit (YCAT) system is a public transportation system based in Yuma County, Arizona. Since 1990 the agency has grown from a new transit service offering paratransit to the current mix of fixed-route and demand-responsiv ...
, which connects with Greyhound
The English Greyhound, or simply the Greyhound, is a breed of dog, a sighthound which has been bred for coursing, greyhound racing and hunting. Since the rise in large-scale adoption of retired racing Greyhounds, the breed has seen a resurgenc ...
in Yuma.
Images of Somerton
References
External links
Somerton photo gallery
at Flickr
Flickr ( ; ) is an American image hosting and video hosting service, as well as an online community, founded in Canada and headquartered in the United States. It was created by Ludicorp in 2004 and was a popular way for amateur and profession ...
Somerton Named NerdWallet's 5th City on the Rise in Arizona
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Cities in Yuma County, Arizona
Cities in Arizona
Populated places established in 1898
1898 establishments in Arizona Territory