Pima County, Arizona (original) (raw)

County in Arizona, United States

County in Arizona

Pima County
County
Pima County Courthouse
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Arizona
Arizona's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°03′55″N 111°49′15″W / 32.06528°N 111.82083°W / 32.06528; -111.82083
Country	United States
State	Arizona
Founded	November 9, 1864
Named for	Pima people
Seat	Tucson
Largest city	Tucson
Area
• Total	9,189 sq mi (23,800 km2)
• Land	9,187 sq mi (23,790 km2)
• Water	2.1 sq mi (5 km2) 0.02%
Population (2020)
• Total	1,043,433
• Estimate (2023)	1,063,162
• Density	110/sq mi (44/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
Congressional districts	6th, 7th
Website	www.pima.gov

Pima County Fair, 2007

Pima County ( PEE-mə) 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,[1] making it Arizona's second-most populous county. The county seat is Tucson,[2] where most of the population is centered. The county is named after the Pima Native Americans, also known as Tohono O'odham, 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, 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.

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.[3] Soon thereafter, the counties of Cochise, Graham and Santa Cruz were carved from the original Pima County.[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 9,189 square miles (23,800 km2), of which 9,187 square miles (23,790 km2) is land and 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2) (0.02%) is water.[5]

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.[6]

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	5,716	—
1880	17,006	197.5%
1890	12,673	−25.5%
1900	14,689	15.9%
1910	22,818	55.3%
1920	34,680	52.0%
1930	55,676	60.5%
1940	72,838	30.8%
1950	141,216	93.9%
1960	265,660	88.1%
1970	351,667	32.4%
1980	531,443	51.1%
1990	666,880	25.5%
2000	843,746	26.5%
2010	980,263	16.2%
2020	1,043,433	6.4%
2023 (est.)	1,063,162	[7]	1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]1990–2000[11] 2010–2020[1]

As of the census of 2010, there were 980,263 people, 388,660 households, and 243,167 families living in the county.[12] The population density was 106.7 inhabitants per square mile (41.2 inhabitants/km2). There were 440,909 housing units at an average density of 48.0 units per square mile (18.5 units/km2).[13] 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.[12]

The largest ancestry groups were:[14]

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.[12]

The median income for a household in the county was 45,521andthemedianincomeforafamilywas45,521 and the median income for a family was 45,521andthemedianincomeforafamilywas57,377. Males had a median income of 42,313versus42,313 versus 42,313versus33,487 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.[15]

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 (36 people/km2). There were 366,737 housing units at an average density of 40 units per square mile (15 units/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.[16]

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,andthemedianincomeforafamilywas36,758, and the median income for a family was 36,758,andthemedianincomeforafamilywas44,446. Males had a median income of 32,156versus32,156 versus 32,156versus24,959 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.

Metropolitan Statistical Area

[edit]

The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Pima County as the Tucson, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area.[17] 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.[18]

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,[17] the 53rd most populous combined statistical area and the 59th most populous primary statistical area of the United States as of July 1, 2012.[18][19]

Government, policing, and politics

[edit]

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

[edit]

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,[20] 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.

District	Name	First elected	Area(s) represented	Official Website
Democratic	District 1	Rex Scott	2020	Oro Valley, Marana, Catalina Foothills
Democratic	District 2	Matt Heinz	2020	Tucson, Sahuarita, South Tucson
Democratic	District 3	Dr. Sylvia Lee	2023	Tucson, Marana, Three Points, Sahuarita
Republican	District 4	Steve Christy	2016	Tucson, Vail, Summerhaven, Green Valley
Democratic	District 5	Adelita Grijalva	2020	Tucson, Sahuarita, Green Valley

[21]

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

Office	Name	First elected	References
Democratic	Assessor	Suzanne Droubie	2020
Democratic	County Attorney	Laura Conover	2020
Democratic	County Recorder	Gabriella Cázares-Kelly	2020
Democratic	County School Superintendent	Dustin Williams	2016
Democratic	Sheriff	Chris Nanos	2020
Republican	Treasurer	Beth Ford	2000
Democratic	Clerk of Superior Court	Gary Harrison	2020

Pima County sheriff

[edit]

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.[29] Incorporated towns within the county with municipal police departments are Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley, and Sahuarita.

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 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;[30] 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. However, Trump won 41.7% of the county's vote in his third presidential run in 2024.

United States presidential election results for Pima County, Arizona[31]

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third party(ies)
No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	214,669	41.68%	292,450	56.78%	7,908	1.54%
2020	207,758	39.79%	304,981	58.41%	9,435	1.81%
2016	167,428	39.71%	224,661	53.28%	29,551	7.01%
2012	174,779	45.61%	201,251	52.52%	7,143	1.86%
2008	182,406	46.20%	206,254	52.24%	6,180	1.57%
2004	171,109	46.56%	193,128	52.55%	3,255	0.89%
2000	124,579	43.31%	147,688	51.34%	15,373	5.34%
1996	104,121	39.36%	137,983	52.16%	22,448	8.49%
1992	97,036	34.47%	128,569	45.68%	55,879	19.85%
1988	117,899	50.28%	113,824	48.54%	2,750	1.17%
1984	123,830	56.90%	91,585	42.09%	2,197	1.01%
1980	93,055	49.75%	64,418	34.44%	29,584	15.82%
1976	77,264	49.83%	71,214	45.93%	6,583	4.25%
1972	73,154	45.41%	56,223	34.90%	31,733	19.70%
1968	49,479	50.61%	39,786	40.70%	8,501	8.70%
1964	46,955	46.36%	54,120	53.44%	203	0.20%
1960	46,734	52.43%	42,171	47.31%	239	0.27%
1956	39,298	62.49%	23,536	37.43%	51	0.08%
1952	32,113	60.19%	21,237	39.81%	0	0.00%
1948	16,968	47.63%	17,692	49.66%	965	2.71%
1944	10,850	45.37%	13,006	54.39%	57	0.24%
1940	9,445	40.09%	14,035	59.57%	82	0.35%
1936	6,079	32.70%	12,249	65.89%	262	1.41%
1932	6,152	34.70%	11,061	62.40%	514	2.90%
1928	6,635	56.94%	4,976	42.70%	42	0.36%
1924	3,559	42.17%	2,594	30.74%	2,286	27.09%
1920	3,392	58.01%	2,455	41.99%	0	0.00%
1916	2,616	53.15%	2,079	42.24%	227	4.61%
1912	353	19.57%	693	38.41%	758	42.02%

Map of the incorporated and unincorporated cities and towns in Pima County. Also shown are the borders for the Indian Reservations in the county.

Astronaut photo of the open-pit copper mines adjacent to Green Valley, 2010. North is to the left.

South Tucson
Tucson (county seat)
Marana (partially in Pinal County)
Oro Valley
Sahuarita

Census-designated places

[edit]

County population ranking

[edit]

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Pima County.[32][33]

† county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Population (2010 Census)	Municipal type	Incorporated
1	† Tucson	520,116	City	1775
2	Casas Adobes	66,795	CDP
3	Catalina Foothills	50,796	CDP
4	Oro Valley	41,011	Town	1974
5	Marana	34,961	Town	1977
6	Drexel Heights	27,749	CDP
7	Sahuarita	25,259	Town	1994
8	Green Valley	21,391	CDP
9	Tanque Verde	16,901	CDP
10	Flowing Wells	16,419	CDP
11	Tucson Estates	12,192	CDP
12	Vail	10,208	CDP
13	Picture Rocks	9,563	CDP
14	Valencia West	9,355	CDP
15	Catalina	7,569	CDP
16	Avra Valley	6,050	CDP
17	Corona de Tucson	5,675	CDP
18	South Tucson	5,652	City	1940
19	Three Points	5,581	CDP
20	Summit	5,372	CDP
21	Rincon Valley	5,139	CDP
22	Ajo	3,304	CDP
23	Sells	2,495	CDP
24	Arivaca Junction	1,090	CDP
25	Littletown	873	CDP
26	Arivaca	695	CDP
27	Santa Rosa	628	CDP
28	Elephant Head	612	CDP
29	Kleindale	500	CDP
30	Pisinemo	321	CDP
31	Topawa	299	CDP
32	Nelson	259	CDP
33	San Miguel	197	CDP
34	Gu Oidak	188	CDP
35	Why	167	CDP
36	Ali Chuk	161	CDP
37	Maish Vaya	158	CDP
38	Anegam	151	CDP
39	Cowlic	135	CDP
40	Ali Chukson	132	CDP
41	Wahak Hotrontk	114	CDP
42	South Komelik	111	CDP
43	Rillito	97	CDP
44	Haivana Nakya	96	CDP
45	Chiawuli Tak	78	CDP
46	Ali Molina	71	CDP
47	Charco	52	CDP
48	Ventana	49	CDP
49	Ko Vaya	46	CDP
50	Summerhaven	40	CDP
51	Nolic	37	CDP
52	Ak Chin	30	CDP
53	J-Six Ranchettes	20	CDP
54	Comobabi	8	CDP
55	Willow Canyon	1	CDP