Tuba City () is an unincorporated town and

census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counte ...

Coconino County, Arizona Coconino County is a County (United States), county in the North Central Arizona, North-Central part of the U.S. state of Arizona. Its population was 145,101 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The county seat is Flagstaff, Arizon ...

, on the

Navajo Nation The Navajo Nation (), also known as Navajoland, is an Indian reservation of Navajo people in the United States. It occupies portions of northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, and southeastern Utah. The seat of government is located in ...

, United States. It is the second-largest community in Coconino County. The population of the

(CDP) was 8,611 at the 2010 census. It is the most populous community within the

, and the site of the headquarters of the Western Navajo Agency. The

Hopi The Hopi are Native Americans who primarily live in northeastern Arizona. The majority are enrolled in the Hopi Tribe of Arizona and live on the Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona; however, some Hopi people are enrolled in the Colorado ...

village of Moenkopi lies directly to its southeast. A Hopi minority also live in Tuba City; the majority are Navajo. European Americans associated with

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Restorationism, restorationist Christianity, Christian Christian denomination, denomination and the ...

named the town in honor of chief Tuuvi, a

man from

Oraibi Oraibi, also referred to as Old Oraibi, is a Hopi village in Navajo County, Arizona, United States, in the northeastern part of the state. Known as Orayvi by the native inhabitants, it is on Third Mesa on the Hopi Reservation near Kykotsmov ...

. He converted to the Mormon faith and allowed their migrants to settle in this area. The Navajo name for this community, ', translates as "tangled waters". It likely refers to the many below-ground springs that are the source of several reservoirs. Tuba City is located within the Painted Desert near the western edge of the

. Tuba City is located approximately from the eastern entrance to

Grand Canyon National Park Grand Canyon National Park is a List of national parks of the United States, national park of the United States located in northwestern Arizona, the 15th site to have been named as a national park. The park's central feature is the Grand Canyo ...

and approximately from Flagstaff.

History

Ansel Adams - National Archives 79-AA-R02

The Tuba City area was the territory of indigenous peoples for thousands of years. The community was first documented by Spanish explorers: Father

Francisco Garcés Francisco Hermenegildo Tomás Garcés (April 12, 1738 – July 18, 1781) was a Spanish Franciscan friar who served as a missionary and explorer in the colonial Viceroyalty of New Spain. He explored much of the southwestern region of North Amer ...

visited the area in 1776, and recorded that the

were cultivating crops. European-American migrants came as part of the

Mormon movement The Latter Day Saint movement (also called the LDS movement, LDS restorationist movement, or Smith–Rigdon movement) is the collection of independent church groups that trace their origins to a Christian Restorationist movement founded b ...

to the West in the late 19th century. They named the town after ''Tuuvi'', a Hopi man who converted to

Mormonism Mormonism is the theology and religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement of Restorationism, Restorationist Christianity started by Joseph Smith in Western New York in the 1820s and 1830s. As a label, Mormonism has been applied to va ...

circa 1870. He had invited the Mormons to settle near his village of Moenkopi without requiring them to gain individual permission. The Tuba City Trading Post was established in 1870. It dealt with the Navajo and

Paiute Paiute (; also Piute) refers to three non-contiguous groups of Indigenous peoples of the Great Basin. Although their languages are related within the Numic group of Uto-Aztecan languages, these three languages do not form a single subgroup and th ...

who came to the area for the natural springs, as well as the Hopi already in the area. European-American Mormon emigrants claimed to found Tuba City in 1872. In 1956,

uranium Uranium is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol U and atomic number 92. It is a silvery-grey metal in the actinide series of the periodic table. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons. Ura ...

began to be mined near Tuba City. The regional office for the Rare Metals Corporation was established here, which founded a mill for processing. The Atomic Energy Commission had an office here as well.Amy Maestas
"Tuba City, Arizona"

''Inside Outside Southwest''
, July 2008, The mill closed in 1966, before environmental regulations were passed to protect the local people and resources. Reclamation of the millsite and tailings pile was completed in 1990 because the tailings had high radioactive content and were environmentally hazardous waste products that had to be cleared. The Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation hospital is located in Tuba City. It is a non-profit, Native American-run health care corporation that employs 1,200 people. The next nearest hospital is in Flagstaff. In 2023, the Tuba City Entrepreneurship Hub opened, sponsored by Change Labs, a Native-led nonprofit supporting entrepreneurship on tribal land through free work spaces for entrepreneurs, vendors, and artists within Native communities. It features community gardens raised by local farmers in the Change Labs program.

Geography and climate

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 CDP has a total area of , all land. Geologically, Tuba City is sited about the

Glen Canyon Group The Glen Canyon Group is a geologic group of formations that is spread across the U.S. states of Nevada, Utah, northern Arizona, north west New Mexico and western Colorado. It is called the Glen Canyon Sandstone in the Green River Basin of Co ...

from the

early Jurassic The Early Jurassic Epoch (geology), Epoch (in chronostratigraphy corresponding to the Lower Jurassic series (stratigraphy), Series) is the earliest of three epochs of the Jurassic Period. The Early Jurassic starts immediately after the Triassic� ...

(about 180–210 Ma) and on modern superficial

Quaternary The Quaternary ( ) is the current and most recent of the three periods of the Cenozoic Era in the geologic time scale of the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS), as well as the current and most recent of the twelve periods of the ...

deposits. It is located within the Painted Desert near the western edge of the Navajo Nation. The town is served by

U.S. Route 160 U.S. Route 160 (US 160) is a east–west United States Numbered Highway in the Midwestern and Western United States. The western terminus of the route is at US 89 west of Tuba City, Arizona. The eastern terminus is at US 67 and Missour ...

, near the junction with

Arizona State Route 264 State Route 264 (SR 264) is a state highway in northeastern Arizona, that runs from a junction with US 160 near Tuba City to the New Mexico state line at Window Rock, where the highway continues as New Mexico State Road 264 (NM 264). ...

. Tuba City is located approximately from the eastern entrance to

and approximately from Flagstaff. Arizona does not observe

Daylight Saving Time Daylight saving time (DST), also referred to as daylight savings time, daylight time (Daylight saving time in the United States, United States and Daylight saving time in Canada, Canada), or summer time (British Summer Time, United Kingdom, ...

, but the Navajo Nation does within its boundaries. In practice elements of Tuba City vary in practices: tribal offices and schools observe DST, while most private businesses conform to state practice and do not. Tuba City is located in the

rain shadow A rain shadow is an area of significantly reduced rainfall behind a mountainous region, on the side facing away from prevailing winds, known as its leeward side. Evaporated moisture from body of water, bodies of water (such as oceans and larg ...

of the

Mogollon Rim The Mogollon Rim ( or or ) is a topography, topographical and geological feature cutting across Northern Arizona, the northern half of the U.S. state of Arizona. It extends approximately , starting in northern Yavapai County, Arizona, Yavapa ...

, which keeps out moisture from the

Gulf of California The Gulf of California (), also known as the Sea of Cortés (''Mar de Cortés'') or Sea of Cortez, or less commonly as the Vermilion Sea (''Mar Vermejo''), is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean that separates the Baja California peninsula from ...

. It has a cold

desert climate The desert climate or arid climate (in the Köppen climate classification ''BWh'' and ''BWk'') is a dry climate sub-type in which there is a severe excess of evaporation over precipitation. The typically bald, rocky, or sandy surfaces in desert ...

(

Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Bernd Köppen (1951–2014), German pianist and composer * Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan * Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author ...

''BWk'') with hot, dry summersthough less hot than Phoenixand cold, dry winters. Frosts are normal from October to April. The majority of winters do not have measurable snowfall due to the dryness of the air descending from mountains to the south.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census there were 8,072 people, 2,550 housing units, and 2,428 families in the CDP. The population density was 899.5 inhabitants per square mile. The racial makeup of the CDP was 5.0%

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 ...

(223 people), 1.2%

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 ...

(28), 91.8% Native American (7,488), 0.0% Asian (118), 0.2%

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 ...

(6), and 0.7% from

two or more races Multiracial Americans, also known as mixed-race Americans, are Americans who have mixed ancestry of two or more races. The term may also include Americans of mixed-race ancestry who self-identify with just one group culturally and socially (cf. t ...

(176). Those of

Hispanic or Latino ''Hispanic'' and '' Latino'' are ethnonyms used to refer collectively to the inhabitants of the United States who are of Spanish or Latin American ancestry (). While many use the terms interchangeably, for example, the United States Census Bureau ...

origin made up 5.6% (147). The median age was 34.5 years old. 10.9% of the population were 65 or older, with 7.2% between the ages of 65 and 74, 3.2% between the ages of 75 and 84, and 0.6% were 85 or older. 1.5% of the population were foreign born. 26.7% of the population were under 18, and 6.6% were under 5. The gender makeup was 54.1% female and 45.9% male. The median household income was $57,045, with families having $58,750, married couples had $86,979, and non-families had $41,875. 23.1% of the population were in poverty. The per capita income was $20,287.

2015 census

As of the census of 2015, there were 9,722 people, 2,360 households, and 1,675 families residing in the CDP. The population density was . There were 2,465 housing units at an average density of . The racial make-up of the CDP was 76.2% Native American, 8.4%

, 0.3%

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 ...

, 0.8% Asian, <0.1%

, 0.6% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. 14.4% 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. There were 2,360 households, out of which 52.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 26.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.7% were non-families. 15.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.00 and the average family size was 4.49. In the CDP, the age distribution of the population shows 42.8% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 15.7% from 45 to 64, and 4.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males. Tuba City's median household income is $47,091, and the median income for a family was $37,813. Males had a median income of $29,280 versus $26,855 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 CDP was $14,140. About 23.1% of families and 28.2% 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 33.0% of those under age 18 and 44.8% of those age 65 or over.

Attractions

* The Explore Navajo Interactive Museum, opened in 2007, is located next to the historic Tuba City Trading Post. * The

Hopi tribe The Hopi are Native Americans in the United States, Native Americans who primarily live in northeastern Arizona. The majority are enrolled in the Hopi Tribe of Arizona and live on the Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona; however, some Hopi ...

's Tuuvi Travel Center opened in 2008, a complex that cost $6.3 million. The Hopi Nation plan a $100 million "Gateway to Hopiland" nearby. Tuba City Chapter House on Navajo Nation.jpg, Tuba City

Chapter House A chapter house or chapterhouse is a building or room that is part of a cathedral, monastery or collegiate church in which meetings are held. When attached to a cathedral, the cathedral chapter meets there. In monasteries, the whole communi ...

of the

. Tuba City Dinosaur Track.jpg, Dinosaur track in Tuba City Coal Mine Canyon sunset.jpg, Coal Mine Canyon at sunset Hahonogeh sunrise.jpg, Moonrise at Coal Mine Canyon

Transportation

The town is served by

, near the junction with

. It is served by the Tuba City Airport.. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective August 25, 2011.

Navajo Transit System The Navajo Transit System (NTS) is a public transportation system that serves and operates on the Navajo Nation. The system currently operates 17 routes throughout the Navajo Nation and within Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.Bigwater, Lee. (2014). N ...

provides connections to Flagstaff and Fort Defiance.

Senom Transit provides connections to Moenkopi. Express provides connecting service to

Page Page most commonly refers to: * Page (paper), one side of a leaf of paper, as in a book Page, PAGE, pages, or paging may also refer to: Roles * Page (assistance occupation), a professional occupation * Page (servant), traditionally a young m ...

Education

The area is served by the

Tuba City Unified School District The Tuba City Unified School District is the school district headquartered in Tuba City, Arizona. It operates a Tuba City High School Tuba City High School is a high school in Tuba City, Arizona, under the jurisdiction of the Tuba City Unif ...

, as well as several tribal/federal schools within the area, including

Tuba City High School Tuba City High School is a high school in Tuba City, Arizona, under the jurisdiction of the Tuba City Unified School District. History It was established in 1959 and is now one of two high schools in Tuba City. It directly adjoins Greyhills A ...

Bureau of Indian Education The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) is a division of the U.S. Department of the Interior under the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs that directs and manages education functions. Formerly known as the Office of Indian Education Programs ...

(BIE) schools include: * Greyhills Academy High School (tribal) * Tuba City Boarding School (Bureau-operated) established 1906 Moencopi Day School (tribal) is in nearby Moenkopi. Tertiary institutions include

Diné College Diné College is a public tribal land-grant college based in Tsaile, Arizona, serving the Navajo Nation. It offers associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, academic certificates, and one master's degree. History Diné College opened in 196 ...

Tuba City Center

Notable people

Ethel Branch Ethel Branch is an American attorney and politician. A member of the Navajo Nation, Branch was the 11th and 13th Attorney General of the Navajo Nation. Early life and education Branch was born in Tuba City, Arizona and was raised on her fami ...

, attorney and politician * Mary Morez, artist, was born near Tuba City *

Jonathan Nez Jonathan Nez (born May 26, 1975) is a Navajo politician who served as the 9th President of the Navajo Nation from 2019 to 2023. He previously served as Vice President and as a Navajo Nation Council delegate. Earlier in his career, Nez served as ...

, ninth President of the

Lori Piestewa Lori Ann Piestewa ( ; December 14, 1979 – March 23, 2003) was a United States Army soldier killed during the Iraq War. A member of the Quartermaster Corps, she died in the same Iraqi attack in which fellow soldiers Shoshana Johnson and Piestewa ...

, a soldier in the

US Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of the United Stat ...

, was killed in southern

Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...

in 2003. In honor of her, Squaw Peak in Phoenix was renamed

Piestewa Peak Piestewa Peak ( ; , formerly Squaw Peak), at is the second highest point in the Phoenix Mountains, after Camelback Mountain, and the third highest in the city of Phoenix, Arizona. It is located in the Piestewa Peak Recreation Area within the ...

in 2008 * Sunshine Sykes, a federal judge on the

Central District of California The United States District Court for the Central District of California (in case citations, C.D. Cal.; commonly referred to as the CDCA or CACD) is a federal trial court that serves over 19 million people in Southern and Central California, m ...

* Aaron Yazzie, a mechanical engineer at NASA's

Jet Propulsion Laboratory The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a Federally funded research and development centers, federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) in La Cañada Flintridge, California, Crescenta Valley, United States. Founded in 1936 by Cali ...

, was born in Tuba City *

Quannah Chasinghorse Quannah ChasingHorse is an American model, activist, and actress. She is Sicangu Lakota and Hän Gwich'in and has appeared on the 2020 ''Teen Vogue'' list of Top 21 under 21. Career ChasingHorse was interested in modeling and fashion from a you ...

, a model, indigenous rights activist, and climate change activist, was born in Tuba City

References

External links

Arizonan.com profile

Moenave Dinosaur Tracks
near Tuba City. From

Atlas Obscura ''Atlas Obscura'' is an United States, American-based travel and exploration company. It was founded in 2009 by author Joshua Foer and documentary filmmaker/author Dylan Thuras. It catalogs unusual and obscure travel destinations via professiona ...

Tuba City Unified School District – local photos

Local news
{{Authority control Census-designated places in Coconino County, Arizona Census-designated places in Arizona Populated places established in 1872 Populated places on the Navajo Nation 1872 establishments in Arizona Territory Chapters of the Navajo Nation