Graham County, Arizona

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Graham County

| state = Arizona

| seal =

| named for = Mount Graham

| coordinates = {{coord|33.04|N|109.78|W|region:US-AZ_type:adm2nd|display=inline,title}}

| founded year = 1881

| founded date = March 10

| seat wl = Safford

| largest city wl = Safford

| area_total_sq_mi = 4641

| area_land_sq_mi = 4623

| area_water_sq_mi = 19

| area percentage = 0.4%

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_total = 38533

| pop_est_as_of = 2023

| population_est = 39525 {{increase}}

| population_density_sq_mi = auto

| time zone = Mountain

| website = https://www.graham.az.gov/

| ex image = GrahamCountyCourthouse.jpg

| ex image cap = Graham County Courthouse in Safford

| district = 2nd

| district2 = 6th

}}

File:LBT Pinaleno Mountains.40936.JPG on the summit ridge of the Pinaleno Mountains, Graham County]]

Graham County is a county in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2020 census, the population was 38,533,{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/grahamcountyarizona/PST045221 |access-date=September 27, 2022 |publisher=United States Census Bureau }} making it the third-least populous county in Arizona. The county seat is Safford.{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties }}

Graham County composes the Safford, Arizona Micropolitan Statistical Area.

The county is home to several organizations including Eastern Arizona College and the Mount Graham International Observatory, which includes one of the world's largest and most powerful telescopes. Graham County is also home to the Arizona Salsa Trail and the annual Salsa Fest.{{Cite web |title=Arizona Salsa Trail - HOME |url=http://www.salsatrail.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114070739/http://www.salsatrail.com/ |archive-date=November 14, 2013 |access-date=November 30, 2013 }}

Graham County contains part of the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation.

History

Joseph Knight Rogers, an early settler in the area, and a member of the Arizona Territorial Legislature, is known as the father of Graham County: he introduced the bill in the territorial legislature creating it.{{Cite web |date=April 21, 2004 |title=Rogers called father of county |url=http://www.eacourier.com/articles/2004/04/21/news/leisure/leisure08.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717165448/http://www.eacourier.com/articles/2004/04/21/news/leisure/leisure08.txt |archive-date=July 17, 2011 }} The new county was created from southern Apache County and eastern Pima County on March 10, 1881.{{Cite web |title=Arizona Cultural Inventory Project |url=http://cip.azlibrary.gov/Collection.aspx?CollID=1202 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315232211/http://cip.azlibrary.gov/Collection.aspx?CollID=1202 |archive-date=March 15, 2014 |access-date=July 14, 2013 }} Initially, the county seat was located in the city of Safford but was later moved to Solomonville in 1883. This change was undone in 1915, returning the county seat to Safford.Walker, Henry (1986). "Historical Atlas of Arizona", p.32. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman. {{ISBN|978-0806120249}}.

Graham County is named after the mountain of the same name which was, in turn, named after Lt. Col James Duncan Graham. The county was the first in Arizona to break the tradition of naming counties for Native Americans.{{citation needed|date = September 2024}}

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|4641|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|4623|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|19|sqmi}} (0.4%) is water.{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_04.txt |access-date=August 23, 2015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |archive-date=January 26, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126040915/http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_04.txt |url-status=live }} The county has various mountain peaks including Mount Graham, which is the highest mountain in the Pinaleno Mountains.

=Adjacent counties=

Cochise County — south
Pima County — southwest
Pinal County — west
Gila County — northwest
Navajo County — north
Apache County — north
Greenlee County — east

=National protected areas=

Coronado National Forest (part)
Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area (part)

=Major highways=

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1890= 5670

|1900= 14162

|1910= 23999

|1920= 10148

|1930= 10373

|1940= 12113

|1950= 12985

|1960= 14045

|1970= 16578

|1980= 22862

|1990= 26554

|2000= 33489

|2010= 37220

|2020= 38533

|estyear=2023

|estimate=39525

|estref={{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html |access-date=March 28, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |archive-date=April 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407074341/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html |url-status=live }}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=May 18, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |archive-date=July 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701194652/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |url-status=live }}
1790–1960{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |access-date=May 18, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library |archive-date=May 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530033223/https://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |url-status=live }} 1900–1990{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/az190090.txt |access-date=May 18, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |archive-date=February 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222140038/http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/az190090.txt |url-status=live }}
1990–2000{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |access-date=May 18, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau }} 2010–2020

}}

File:Roper1-kmf.JPG, south of Safford]]

=2020 census=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+Graham County, Arizona – Racial and ethnic composition
{{nobold|Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.}}

!Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)

!Pop 2000{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Graham County, Arizona |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US04009&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}

!Pop 2010{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Graham County, Arizona |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US04009&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}

!{{partial|Pop 2020}}{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Graham County, Arizona |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US04009&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}

!% 2000

!% 2010

!{{partial|% 2020}}

White alone (NH)

|18,488

|19,483

|style='background: #ffffe6; |20,398

|55.21%

|52.35%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |52.94%

Black or African American alone (NH)

|602

|633

|style='background: #ffffe6; |453

|1.80%

|1.70%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.18%

Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)

|4,819

|5,074

|style='background: #ffffe6; |5,143

|14.39%

|13.63%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |13.35%

Asian alone (NH)

|182

|193

|style='background: #ffffe6; |169

|0.54%

|0.52%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.44%

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)

|10

|49

|style='background: #ffffe6; |16

|0.03%

|0.13%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.04%

Other race alone (NH)

|28

|33

|style='background: #ffffe6; |102

|0.08%

|0.09%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.26%

Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)

|306

|435

|style='background: #ffffe6; |824

|0.91%

|1.17%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.14%

Hispanic or Latino (any race)

|9,054

|11,320

|style='background: #ffffe6; |11,428

|27.04%

|30.41%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |29.66%

Total

|33,489

|37,220

|style='background: #ffffe6; |38,533

|100.00%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

=2010 census=

As of the census of 2010, there were 37,220 people, 11,120 households, and 8,188 families living in the county.{{Cite web |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US04009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213014739/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US04009 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=January 20, 2016 |publisher=United States Census Bureau }} The population density was {{convert|8.1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|inhabitants |inhabitants|}}. There were 12,980 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2.8|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}.{{Cite web |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US04009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213161757/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US04009 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=January 20, 2016 |publisher=United States Census Bureau }} The racial makeup of the county was 72.1% white, 14.4% American Indian, 1.8% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 8.2% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 30.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 16.1% were English, 9.2% were German, 6.9% were Irish, and 4.3% were American.{{Cite web |title=DP02 Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US04009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213022809/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US04009 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=January 20, 2016 |publisher=United States Census Bureau }}

Of the 11,120 households, 41.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 26.4% were non-families, and 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.50. The median age was 31.6 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,683 and the median income for a family was $48,005. Males had a median income of $41,732 versus $25,990 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,644. About 15.9% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.3% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.{{Cite web |title=DP03 Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US04009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213025714/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US04009 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=January 20, 2016 |publisher=United States Census Bureau }}

=2000 census=

As of the census of 2000, there were 33,489 people, 10,116 households, and 7,617 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people}}. There were 11,430 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 67.1% White, 1.9% Black or African American, 15.0% Native American, 0.6% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 13.4% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. 27.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.4% reported speaking Spanish at home, while 6.4% speak a Southern Athabaskan language.{{Cite web |title=Language Map Data Center |url=http://www.mla.org/map_data_results%26state_id%3D4%26county_id%3D9%26mode%3Dgeographic%26order%3Dr |access-date=January 16, 2007 |archive-date=June 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620135158/http://www.mla.org/map_data_results%26state_id%3D4%26county_id%3D9%26mode%3Dgeographic%26order%3Dr |url-status=live }}

There were 10,116 households, out of which 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.47.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 30.1% under the age of 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 112.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.1 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,668, and the median income for a family was $34,417. Males had a median income of $30,524 versus $20,739 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,139. About 17.7% of families and 23.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.2% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

In its early days Graham County was a solidly Democratic county. It voted for the Democratic nominee in every presidential election from 1912 to 1952, being one of only four Western counties outside New Mexico to support James M. Cox in 1920, and one of only five to support John W. Davis in 1924. Since the 1950s, however, Graham has become a reliable Republican county, usually rivaling Mohave and Yavapai as the most Republican in Arizona, and sometimes, as in 2004 and 2000, being the “reddest” of all the state's counties. No Democratic presidential nominee has carried Graham County since Lyndon B. Johnson – against Arizona native Barry Goldwater – did so in 1964, though Bill Clinton, who carried significant national rural appeal as a Democrat in the 1990s, came close in 1996.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

The county was one of two in Arizona to vote against 2024 Arizona Proposition 139, which established a right to abortion in the state's constitution, along with neighboring Gila County.{{cite web |title=2024 General Election Signed Canvass |url=https://apps.azsos.gov/election/2024/ge/canvass/20241105_GeneralCanvass_Signed.pdf#page=5 |website=Arizona Secretary of State |access-date=December 31, 2024}}

{{PresHead|place=Graham County, Arizona|source={{Cite web |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of United States Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ |access-date=June 11, 2011 |archive-date=July 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709214827/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ |url-status=live }}}}

Communities

Image:Graham County Incorporated and Unincorporated areas.svg and unincorporated areas as well as Indian reservations in Graham County]]

=City=

Safford (county seat)

=Towns=

=Census-designated places=

=Unincorporated communities=

File:Linarite-290594.jpg specimen from the old Grand Reef mine near Klondyke]]

=Ghost towns=

=Indian communities=

San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation

=County population ranking=

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Graham County.{{Cite web |title=2010 U.S. Census website |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.2010.html |access-date=February 10, 2013 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |archive-date=May 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170522200920/https://census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.2010.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=2010 Census Block Maps - Geography - U.S. Census Bureau |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/maps/block/2010/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229025439/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/maps/block/2010/ |archive-date=December 29, 2014 |access-date=December 7, 2017 }}

† county seat

class="wikitable sortable"
Rank !City/Town/etc. !Population (2010 Census) !Municipal type !Incorporated
style="background:#ffff54;" \| 1 \| † Safford \| 9,566 \| City \|
style="background:#bfb;" \| 2 \| Thatcher \| 4,865 \| Town \|
style="background:#dbe9f4;" \| 3 \| Swift Trail Junction \| 2,935 \| CDP \|
style="background:#bfb;" \| 4 \| Pima \| 2,387 \| Town \|
style="background:#dbe9f4;" \| 5 \| Bylas \| 1,962 \| CDP \|
style="background:#dbe9f4;" \| 6 \| Cactus Flats \| 1,518 \| CDP \|
style="background:#dbe9f4;" \| 7 \| Peridot (Partially in Gila County) \| 1,350 \| CDP \|
style="background:#dbe9f4;" \| 8 \| Central \| 645 \| CDP \|
style="background:#dbe9f4;" \| 9 \| San Jose \| 506 \| CDP \|
style="background:#dbe9f4;" \| 10 \| Solomon \| 426 \| CDP \|
style="background:#dbe9f4;" \| 11 \| Fort Thomas \| 374 \| CDP \|
style="background:#dbe9f4;" \| 12 \| Bryce \| 175 \| CDP \|

class="wikitable sortable"

Rank

!City/Town/etc.

!Population (2010 Census)

!Municipal type

!Incorporated

style="background:#ffff54;"

| 1

| † Safford

| 9,566

| City

style="background:#bfb;"

| 2

| Thatcher

| 4,865

| Town

style="background:#dbe9f4;"

| 3

| Swift Trail Junction

| 2,935

| CDP

style="background:#bfb;"

| 4

| Pima

| 2,387

| Town

style="background:#dbe9f4;"

| 5

| Bylas

| 1,962

| CDP

style="background:#dbe9f4;"

| 6

| Cactus Flats

| 1,518

| CDP

style="background:#dbe9f4;"

| 7

| Peridot (Partially in Gila County)

| 1,350

| CDP

style="background:#dbe9f4;"

| 8

| Central

| 645

| CDP

style="background:#dbe9f4;"

| 9

| San Jose

| 506

| CDP

style="background:#dbe9f4;"

| 10

| Solomon

| 426

| CDP

style="background:#dbe9f4;"

| 11

| Fort Thomas

| 374

| CDP

style="background:#dbe9f4;"

| 12

| Bryce

| 175

| CDP

Notable people

Charles Stevens, Apache/Mexican actor
Lynda Carter, actress/singer
Charles Dudley (né Heaslip) born Fort Grant, film actor and make-up artist
Sarah Yeiser Mason, Academy Award-winning screenwriter
Spencer W. Kimball, former President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was raised in Thatcher, and lived and operated a business in Safford between 1927 and 1943.