Coconino County, Arizona

Coconino County is a county in the North-Central part of the U.S. state of Arizona. Its population was 145,101 at the 2020 census. The county seat is Flagstaff. The county takes its name from ''Cohonino'', a name applied to the Havasupai people. It is the second-largest county by area in the contiguous United States, behind San Bernardino County, California. It has , or 16.4% of Arizona's total area, and is larger than the nine smallest states in the U.S.

Coconino County comprises the Flagstaff metropolitan statistical area, Grand Canyon National Park, the federally recognized Havasupai Nation, and parts of the federally recognized Navajo, Hualapai, and Hopi nations. As a result, its relatively large Native American population makes up nearly 30% of the county's total population; it is mostly Navajo, with smaller numbers of other tribes.

The county was the setting for George Herriman's early 20th-century ''Krazy Kat'' comic strip.

History

After European Americans completed the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad in 1883, the region of northern Yavapai County began to undergo rapid growth. The people of the northern reaches had tired of the rigors of traveling to Prescott to conduct county business. They believed that they should have their own county jurisdiction, so petitioned in 1887 for secession from Yavapai and creation of a new Frisco County. This did not take place, but Coconino County was formed in 1891 and its seat was designated as Flagstaff.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which are land and (0.2%) are covered by water. It is the largest county by area in Arizona and the second-largest county in the United States (excluding boroughs in Alaska) after San Bernardino County in California. It has more land area than each of the following states: Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

The highest natural point in the county, as well as the entire state, is Humphreys Peak at . The Barringer Meteor Crater is located in Coconino County.

Adjacent counties

* Mohave County – west
* Yavapai County – south
* Gila County – south
* Navajo County – east
* San Juan County, Utah – northeast
* Kane County, Utah – north

Indian reservations

Coconino County has of federally designated Indian reservations, second in scale only to Apache County. In descending order of area within the county, the reservations are the Navajo, Hualapai, Hopi, Havasupai, and Kaibab. The Havasupai Reservation is the only one that lies entirely within the county's borders.

National protected areas

* Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest (part)
* Coconino National Forest (part)
* Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (part)
* Grand Canyon National Park (part)
* Kaibab National Forest (part)
* Prescott National Forest (part)
* Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
* Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
* Walnut Canyon National Monument
* Wupatki National Monument

Demographics

2020 census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, 134,421 people, 46,711 households, and 29,656 families were living in the county. The population density was . The 63,321 housing units had an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 61.7% White (55.2% non-Hispanic White), 27.3% American Indian, 1.4% Asian, 1.2% African American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 5.2% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 13.5% of the population. The largest ancestry groups were:

* 23.2% Navajo
* 14.5% German
* 11.3% Mexican
* 9.9% English
* 9.6% Irish
* 3.6% Italian
* 2.7% American
* 2.2% Swedish
* 2.1% Scottish
* 2.0% French
* 1.9% Norwegian
* 1.9% Polish
* 1.8% Scotch-Irish
* 1.3% Dutch

Of the 46,711 households, 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.5% were not families, and 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.69, and the average family size was 3.26. The median age was 31.0 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $49,510 and for a family was $58,841. Males had a median income of $42,331 versus $31,869 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,632. About 11.6% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.5% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, 116,320 people, 40,448 households, and 26,938 families were living in the county. The population density was . The 53,443 housing units averaged . The racial makeup of the county was 63.1% White, 28.5% Native American, 1.0% African American, 0.8% Asian, 4.2% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. About 10.9% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. Around 18.6% reported speaking Navajo at home, while 6.6% spoke Spanish.

Of the 40,448 households, 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were not families. About 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.5% 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 3.36.

In the county, the age distribution was 28.7% under 18, 14.4% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 7.0% who were 65 or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,256, and for a family was $45,873. Males had a median income of $32,226 versus $25,055 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,139. About 13.1% of families and 18.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.3% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

* Flagstaff (county seat)
* Page
* Sedona (mostly in Yavapai County)
* Williams

Towns

* Fredonia
* Tusayan

Census-designated places

* Bellemont
* Bitter Springs
* Blue Ridge
* Cameron
* Doney Park
* Forest Lakes
* Fort Valley
* Grand Canyon Village
* Greenehaven
* Kachina Village
* Kaibab Estates West
* Kaibito
* LeChee
* Leupp
* Moenkopi
* Mormon Lake
* Mountain View Ranches
* Mountainaire
* Munds Park
* Oak Creek Canyon
* Parks
* Red Lake
* Supai
* Timberline-Fernwood
* Tolani Lake
* Tonalea
* Tuba City
* Valle
* Winslow West (mostly in Navajo County)

Other communities

* Big Springs
* Gray Mountain
* Happy Jack
* Jacob Lake
* Marble Canyon
* North Rim
* Rare Metals
* Robbers Roost
* Ryan
* Winona

Ghost towns

* Canyon Diablo
* House Rock
* Two Guns

Indian reservations

* Havasupai Indian Reservation
* Hopi Reservation
* Hualapai Indian reservation
* Kaibab Indian Reservation
* Navajo Nation

County population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Coconino County.
† county seat

Politics

Coconino County has trended towards the Democratic Party in modern times after being a Republican stronghold between the 1950s and 1980s. It was won by every Republican presidential nominee between 1952 and 1988; however, no Republican since George H. W. Bush in 1988 has managed to come within 6% of reclaiming the county. It is the only county from any state west of the Mississippi Riverapart from Black Belt Madison Parish, which is directly adjacent to that riverthat voted for Barry Goldwater in 1964 but has since voted for the Democratic nominee in the eight most recent presidential elections.
The Flagstaff area is a Democratic stronghold, along with all the Indian Reservations (though some of these saw Republican trends in 2024), and the city of Sedona also leans Democratic. The Havasupai Reservation is the most Democratic area in the county, having voted close to 90% Democratic in the 2024 election. The cities of Williams and Page and surrounding areas, on the other hand, trend Republican.

Economy

Grand Canyon Airlines and Air Grand Canyon are headquartered on the grounds of Grand Canyon National Park Airport in Tusayan.Our Location
." Grand Canyon Airlines. Retrieved on October 3, 2009.

In 2017, the largest employers in Coconino County were:

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, in 2019 the employment of Coconino County in the following sectors was:

Transportation

Flagstaff in Coconino County is a major highway junction, with Interstate 40 extending to the east and the west (connecting with Williams and Winslow, Arizona, for example), and with Interstate 17 extending south from Flagstaff to Phoenix and Maricopa County. U.S. Routes 89 and 180 extend north from Flagstaff and connect it with the Grand Canyon National Park.

The Grand Canyon National Park Airport is a public airport located in Tusayan, near the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Flagstaff Pulliam Airport is a public airport located south of the central business district of Flagstaff, it is mostly used for general aviation but is also served by two commercial airlines.

There is a Greyhound Bus Lines station in Flagstaff, with regular service east–west along Interstate 40, and also north–south service to Phoenix along Interstate 17.

Amtrak has a passenger railroad stations in Flagstaff and formerly in Williams, with daily service on the Southwest Chief to the east towards Chicago, and to the west towards Los Angeles.

The Grand Canyon Railway, a tourist railroad, links Williams with the canyon's South Rim in the Grand Canyon National Park and has service every day except Christmas.

The Mountain Line provides public transportation bus service in the Flagstaff area.

Major highways

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Education

School districts include:

K-12:

* Ash Fork Joint Unified School District
* Flagstaff Unified School District
* Fredonia-Moccasin Unified School District
* Grand Canyon Unified School District
* Page Unified School District
* Sedona-Oak Creek Unified School District - Established in 1991
* Tuba City Unified School District
* Williams Unified School District

Elementary:
* Chevelon Butte School District
* Maine Consolidated School District

According to Coconino County's parcel viewer, some reservation areas are in the "Unorganized School District #00". According to Arizona law, an unorganized school district is one that does not have a high school. The 2010 U.S. Census school district map for Coconino County shows areas in the Havasupai and Hualapai reservations as being in "School District Not Defined". Areas not in school districts are under the jurisdiction of the respective County Superintendent of Schools.

Charter schools:
* Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy
* Northland Preparatory Academy

Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)-operated and affiliated tribal schools

* Greyhills Academy High School
* Havasupai Elementary School (BIE-operated)
* Kaibeto Boarding School (BIE-operated)
* Leupp Schools, Inc.
* Tuba City Boarding School (BIE-operated)

Tertiary education:
* Coconino County Community College
* Diné College Tuba City Center
* Northern Arizona University

See also

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Coconino County, Arizona
* USS ''Coconino County'' (LST-603)

References

External links

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Coconino County profile
a
Arizona Department of Commerce

Geologic Map of the Eastern Quarter of the Flagstaff 30ʹ x 60ʹ Quadrangle, Coconino County, Northern Arizona
United States Geological Survey

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Arizona placenames of Native American origin
1891 establishments in Arizona Territory
Populated places established in 1891