Pima County ( ) is a

county A county () is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesL. Brookes (ed.) '' Chambers Dictionary''. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2005. in some nations. The term is derived from the Old French denoti ...

in the south central region of the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...

Arizona Arizona is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States, sharing the Four Corners region of the western United States with Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. It also borders Nevada to the nort ...

, one of 15 counties in the state. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,043,433, making it Arizona's second-most populous county. The

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...

Tucson Tucson (; ; ) is a city in Pima County, Arizona, United States, and its county seat. It is the second-most populous city in Arizona, behind Phoenix, Arizona, Phoenix, with a population of 542,630 in the 2020 United States census. The Tucson ...

, where most of the population is centered. The county is named after the Pima Native Americans, also known as

Akimel O'odham The Akimel O'odham (Oʼodham language, O'odham for "river people"), also called the Pima, are an Indigenous people of the Americas living in the United States in central and southern Arizona and northwestern Mexico in the states of Sonora and Ch ...

, 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 The Southwestern United States, also known as the American Southwest or simply the Southwest, is a geographic and cultural list of regions of the United States, region of the United States that includes Arizona and New Mexico, along with adjacen ...

. 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 Saguaro National Park is a List of national parks of the United States, national park of the United States in southeastern Arizona. The park consists of two separate areas—the Tucson Mountain District (TMD), about west of Tucson, Arizona, T ...

. The vast majority of the county population lies in and around the city of

, filling much of the eastern part of the county with urban development. As Arizona's second-largest city, Tucson is a major commercial and academic center. Other urban areas include the Tucson suburbs of Marana, Oro Valley, Sahuarita, South Tucson, and 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 The Gadsden Purchase ( "La Mesilla sale") is a region of present-day southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico that the United States acquired from Mexico by the Treaty of Mesilla, which took effect on June 8, 1854. The purchase included lan ...

from

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

in 1853. The original county consisted of all of Arizona Territory east of longitude 113° 20' and south of the

Gila River The Gila River (; O'odham ima Keli Akimel or simply Akimel, Quechan: Haa Siʼil, Maricopa language: Xiil) is a tributary of the Colorado River flowing through New Mexico and Arizona in the United States. The river drains an arid watershed of ...

. 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 United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, 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 10 (I-10) is the southernmost transcontinental highway in the Interstate Highway System of the United States. It is the fourth-longest Interstate in the country at , following I-90, I-80, and I-40. It was part of the origina ...

* Interstate 19 * Historic U.S. Route 80 * Arizona 77

State Route 77 * Arizona 83

State Route 83 * Arizona 85

State Route 85 * Arizona 86

State Route 86 * Arizona 210

State Route 210 * Arizona 989

State Route 989

Adjacent counties and municipalities

* Yuma County – west *

Maricopa County Maricopa County () is a county in the south-central part of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2020 census the population was 4,420,568, or about 62% of the state's total, making it the fourth-most populous county in the United States and ...

– 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) * Pima County Historic Courthouse

Las Cienegas National Conservation Area (part) * Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument *

Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan

The Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan (SDCP) is Pima County's plan for desert conservation. The SDCP addresses natural and cultural resources, ranches, endangered species compliance and wildlife corridors.

Demographics

2020 census

2010 census

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

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.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 843,746 people, 332,350 households, and 212,039 families living in the county. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

was . There were 366,737 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 75.1%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 3.0%

Black Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 3.2% Native American, 2.0% Asian, 0.1%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

, 13.3% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. 29.3% of the population were

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

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 Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

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 Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the county was $19,785. About 10.5% of families and 14.7% 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 19.4% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

Metropolitan Statistical Area

The

United States Office of Management and Budget The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is the largest office within the Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOP). The office's most prominent function is to produce the president's budget, while it also examines agency pro ...

has designated Pima County as the Tucson, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area. The

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 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 George Stanley McGovern (July 19, 1922 – October 21, 2012) was an American politician, diplomat, and historian who was a U.S. representative and three-term U.S. senator from South Dakota, and the Democratic Party (United States), Democ ...

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 James Earl Carter Jr. (October 1, 1924December 29, 2024) was an American politician and humanitarian who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party ...

, 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 Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...

became the first Republican since

Bob Dole Robert Joseph Dole (July 22, 1923 – December 5, 2021) was an American politician and attorney who represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996. He was the Party leaders of the United States Senate, Republican Leader of th ...

in 1996 to fail to win 40% of the county's vote. However, Trump won 41.7% of the county's vote in his third presidential run in 2024.

Communities

Pima County Incorporated and Unincorporated areas

Cities

* South 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 A summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. The topographic terms acme, apex, peak (mountain peak), and zenith are synonymous. The term (mountain top) is generally used only for ...

* 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 Helvetia () is a national personification of Switzerland, officially , the Swiss Confederation. The allegory is typically pictured in a flowing clothing, with a spear and a shield emblazoned with the Flag of Switzerland, Swiss flag, and commo ...

* Hahuul Kawuch Vay, Arizona *

Kentucky Kentucky (, ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the ...

* Pantano * Redington * San Rafael * Total Wreck * Twin Buttes *

List of ghost towns in Arizona This is a partial list of ghost towns in Arizona in the United States. Most ghost towns in Arizona are former mining boomtowns that were abandoned when the mines closed. Those not set up as mining camps often became mills or supply points suppor ...

County population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 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:
Text list
/ref> Unified: *

Ajo Unified School District Ajo School District 15 And 103 is a public school district in Pima County, Arizona, United States. Schools * Ajo High School * Ajo Elementary School References External links * School districts in Pima County, Arizona {{Arizo ...

* Amphitheater Unified School District * Catalina Foothills Unified School District * Flowing Wells Unified School District *

Indian Oasis-Baboquivari Unified School District Baboquivari Unified School District (BUSD) is a school district with its headquarters in Sells, a census-designated place in unincorporated Pima County, Arizona, United States. The school district was known as the Indian Oasis-Baboquivari Unif ...

* Marana Unified School District * Sahuarita Unified School District * Sunnyside Unified School District * Tanque Verde Unified School District *

Tucson Unified School District Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) is the largest school district of Tucson, Arizona, in terms of enrollment. Dr. Gabriel Trujillo is the superintendent, appointed on September 12, 2017, by the Governing Board. As of 2016, TUSD had more tha ...

* 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 Tucson Gem and Mineral Show Tucson Rodeo

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

County Designated Historic Landmarks

* Ferguson House, Hacienda Del Bosquito, Desert Treasures, Designated 2018 * Harrenstein House, Designated 2018 * Viewpoint, Christina and Earl J. Johnson House, Designated 2021 * Jacobson House, Designated 2022

Notes

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