St. David, Arizona

{{Infobox settlement

|official_name = St. David, Arizona

|settlement_type = CDP

|image_skyline =

|imagesize =

|image_caption =

|image_map = Cochise County Incorporated and Unincorporated areas St David highlighted.svg

|mapsize = 250px

|map_caption = Location in Cochise County and the state of Arizona

|image_map1 = Detailed map of Benson, Arizona.png

|mapsize1 = 250px

|map_caption1 = Detailed location (pink), shown in relation to Benson (yellow)

|pushpin_map = USA

|pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States

|subdivision_type = Country

|subdivision_type1 = State

|subdivision_type2 = County

|subdivision_name = United States

|subdivision_name1 = Arizona

|subdivision_name2 = Cochise

|established_title = Founded

|established_date = 1877

|government_type =

|leader_title =

|leader_name =

|unit_pref = Imperial

|area_footnotes = {{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_04.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 29, 2021}}

|area_total_km2 = 15.71

|area_total_sq_mi = 6.06

|area_land_km2 = 15.67

|area_land_sq_mi = 6.05

|area_water_km2 = 0.04

|area_water_sq_mi = 0.01

|elevation_ft = 3642

|elevation_footnotes =

|population_as_of = 2020

|population_footnotes =

|population_total = 1639

|population_metro =

|population_density_km2 = 104.61

|population_density_sq_mi = 270.95

|timezone = MST (no DST)

|utc_offset = -7

|coordinates = {{coord|31|53|40|N|110|13|35|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}

|website =

|timezone_DST =

|utc_offset_DST =

|postal_code_type =

|postal_code =

|area_code =

|blank_name = FIPS code

|blank_info = 04-62280

|blank1_name = GNIS feature ID

|blank1_info = 2409227{{GNIS|2409227}}

|footnotes =

}}

St. David or Saint David is a census-designated place (CDP) in Cochise County, Arizona, United States. The population was 1,699 at the 2010 census.{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=04:0483090:0434120:0407380:0420330:0422080:0443570:0446070:0446840:0448310:0452230:0456400:0466845:0462280|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140330181211/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=04:0483090:0434120:0407380:0420330:0422080:0443570:0446070:0446840:0448310:0452230:0456400:0466845:0462280|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 30, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search|author=Website Services & Coordination Staff(WSCS)|access-date=December 28, 2014}}

History

St. David was established as a result of the Mormon Battalion having earlier passed through the San Pedro River valley in 1846. One of the founders of St. David, Philemon C. Merrill, was a member of the battalion.{{cite news |url= http://www.bensonnews-sun.com/articles/2008/12/10/news/news01.txt |title= Retracing history: Mormon Battalion's journey revisited |last= Bernal |first= Adam |date= December 10, 2008 |newspaper= San Pedro Valley News-Sun |access-date= February 15, 2010}} The Mormon settlers of 1877 were part of a group that originally was to settle Lehi, Arizona.{{cite web |url= http://www.mesalibrary.org/about_mesa/mesahistory/lehi.aspx |title= A Brief History of Mesa, Arizona: Lehi Settlement and Fort Utah |publisher= mesalibrary.org |access-date= February 15, 2010 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120222180538/http://www.mesalibrary.org/about_mesa/mesahistory/lehi.aspx |archive-date= February 22, 2012 }} The town was named after David Patten Kimball.{{cite news|title=T. S. Kimball, Pioneer, Dies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9001614/ts-kimball-obit-1939/ |newspaper=Arizona Republic |date=October 30, 1939 |page=4 |via = Newspapers.com|access-date = September 4, 2022}} The early St. David settlers played an important role in establishing the subsequent surrounding settlements, such as Fort Huachuca and Tombstone, as they did much of the logging in the Huachuca Mountains to provide lumber for the construction of those locations.{{cite news |url= http://www.bensonnews-sun.com/articles/2009/02/24/news/news09.txt |title= Popular costume ball set Saturday |last= Kartchner |first= Sue |date= February 24, 2009 |newspaper= San Pedro Valley News-Sun |access-date= February 15, 2010 |archive-date= February 22, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120222233659/http://www.bensonnews-sun.com/articles/2009/02/24/news/news09.txt |url-status= dead }}

As a tight-knit Mormon community, St. David managed better than other small towns in Cochise County during the Great Depression.{{cite news |url= http://www.willcoxrangenews.com/articles/2008/09/03/news/news10.txt |title= For Sale – This Place – And Cow |last= Rogers |first= W. Lane |date= September 2, 2008 |newspaper= Arizona Range News |access-date= February 15, 2010}}

An influx of non-Mormons, principally from Oklahoma and Texas, took place when St. David became the site for Civilian Conservation Corps Camp SCS-19-A from 1935 to 1940. Works included soil erosion and flood control projects.{{cite web |url= http://wordhunting.com/stdavid.html |title= CCC Company 3840 |author= Sharon E. Hunt |access-date= February 15, 2010}}

The first natural gas lines brought into Cochise County were brought into St. David.{{cite news |url= http://www.bensonnews-sun.com/articles/2007/01/31/news/news3.txt |title= Pioneer, newspaper publisher dies |last= Grimes |first= Thelma |date= January 30, 2007 |newspaper= San Pedro Valley News-Sun |access-date= February 15, 2010}}

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of {{convert|5.3|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

The portion of Arizona State Route 80 that runs east-west through town uses the earlier Patten Street alignment, with the center of town located at the intersection of Patten and Miller Lane.

The main crossings of the San Pedro River in St. David are at Dragoon Wash to the north west and Escalante Crossing to the south.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CRIyAQAAMAAJ |title=San Pedro River Riparian Management Plan, Cochise County: Environmental Impact Statement |date=1989 |language=en}} The latter was known as upper crossing and was the site of a stagecoach station.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RnhxDwAAQBAJ |title=Voices Past Part Two |date=2017 |publisher=Benson Historical Museum |isbn=9781387236589 |page=94 }}

=Climate=

St. David has a semi-arid climate (Köppen: BSk) with cool winters, hot summers, and large diurnal temperature variation throughout the year.

{{Weather box

|location = St. David, Arizona, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1944–present

|width = auto

|single line = yes

|collapsed = yes

|Jan record high F = 84

|Feb record high F = 90

|Mar record high F = 93

|Apr record high F = 99

|May record high F = 108

|Jun record high F = 112

|Jul record high F = 110

|Aug record high F = 110

|Sep record high F = 105

|Oct record high F = 99

|Nov record high F = 91

|Dec record high F = 84

|year record high F = 112

|Jan avg record high F = 75.4

|Feb avg record high F = 79.0

|Mar avg record high F = 85.6

|Apr avg record high F = 91.8

|May avg record high F = 99.2

|Jun avg record high F = 105.4

|Jul avg record high F = 105.6

|Aug avg record high F = 102.4

|Sep avg record high F = 99.2

|Oct avg record high F = 93.9

|Nov avg record high F = 83.1

|Dec avg record high F = 76.6

|year avg record high F = 107.0

|Jan high F = 64.7

|Feb high F = 68.0

|Mar high F = 74.4

|Apr high F = 81.4

|May high F = 89.7

|Jun high F = 99.0

|Jul high F = 97.5

|Aug high F = 95.2

|Sep high F = 92.0

|Oct high F = 84.2

|Nov high F = 73.3

|Dec high F = 64.4

|year high F = 82.0

|Jan mean F = 45.9

|Feb mean F = 49.1

|Mar mean F = 54.8

|Apr mean F = 61.2

|May mean F = 69.2

|Jun mean F = 78.3

|Jul mean F = 81.7

|Aug mean F = 80.0

|Sep mean F = 75.1

|Oct mean F = 64.6

|Nov mean F = 53.5

|Dec mean F = 45.7

|year mean F = 63.3

|Jan low F = 27.1

|Feb low F = 30.1

|Mar low F = 35.3

|Apr low F = 41.0

|May low F = 48.7

|Jun low F = 57.7

|Jul low F = 65.9

|Aug low F = 64.8

|Sep low F = 58.1

|Oct low F = 45.1

|Nov low F = 33.6

|Dec low F = 26.9

|year low F = 44.5

|Jan avg record low F = 16.8

|Feb avg record low F = 19.4

|Mar avg record low F = 23.5

|Apr avg record low F = 29.9

|May avg record low F = 38.0

|Jun avg record low F = 47.1

|Jul avg record low F = 56.8

|Aug avg record low F = 58.1

|Sep avg record low F = 48.4

|Oct avg record low F = 31.9

|Nov avg record low F = 21.1

|Dec avg record low F = 16.3

|year avg record low F = 13.5

|Jan record low F = 6

|Feb record low F = 4

|Mar record low F = 10

|Apr record low F = 18

|May record low F = 26

|Jun record low F = 37

|Jul record low F = 46

|Aug record low F = 48

|Sep record low F = 35

|Oct record low F = 20

|Nov record low F = 10

|Dec record low F = -7

|year record low F = -7

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 0.80

|Feb precipitation inch = 0.63

|Mar precipitation inch = 0.57

|Apr precipitation inch = 0.19

|May precipitation inch = 0.17

|Jun precipitation inch = 0.29

|Jul precipitation inch = 2.56

|Aug precipitation inch = 2.79

|Sep precipitation inch = 1.64

|Oct precipitation inch = 0.65

|Nov precipitation inch = 0.51

|Dec precipitation inch = 0.88

|year precipitation inch = 11.77

|Jan snow inch = 0.2

|Feb snow inch = 0.0

|Mar snow inch = 0.0

|Apr snow inch = 0.0

|May snow inch = 0.0

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.0

|Oct snow inch = 0.0

|Nov snow inch = 0.0

|Dec snow inch = 0.0

|year snow inch = 0.2

|Jan precipitation days = 3.8

|Feb precipitation days = 4.3

|Mar precipitation days = 2.8

|Apr precipitation days = 1.6

|May precipitation days = 1.6

|Jun precipitation days = 2.4

|Jul precipitation days = 10.2

|Aug precipitation days = 11.3

|Sep precipitation days = 5.3

|Oct precipitation days = 2.7

|Nov precipitation days = 2.7

|Dec precipitation days = 3.9

|year precipitation days = 52.6

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 inch

|Jan snow days = 0.1

|Feb snow days = 0.0

|Mar snow days = 0.0

|Apr snow days = 0.0

|May snow days = 0.0

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.0

|Nov snow days = 0.0

|Dec snow days = 0.1

|year snow days = 0.2

|unit snow days = 0.1 inch

|source 1 = NOAA{{cite web |url=https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=twc |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title=NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data |access-date=December 14, 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00020683&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title=Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020 |access-date=December 14, 2022}}

}}

Demographics

{{US Census population

|2000= 1744

|2010= 1699

|2020= 1639

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2016}}

}}

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, there were 1,744 people, 666 households, and 462 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|327.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 892 housing units at an average density of {{convert|167.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 93.0% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 3.0% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. 9.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 666 households, out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the CDP, the age distribution of the population shows 28.3% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 18.2% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 24.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.6 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $30,840, and the median income for a family was $32,292. Males had a median income of $31,641 versus $21,339 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $12,872. About 8.7% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.6% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education

In 1878 a one-room schoolhouse was built from stone, but it was destroyed in the 1887 Sonora earthquake. The 500-pound bell from that schoolhouse is now on display at the current school.{{cite news |url= http://www.bensonnews-sun.com/articles/2005/04/13/news/news3.txt |title= St. David school bell site dedicated |last= Grimes |first= Thelma |date= April 13, 2005 |newspaper= San Pedro Valley News-Sun |access-date= February 15, 2010}} In 1938 a brick schoolhouse was built, it still stands today and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is one of the oldest standing structures in the area. The St. David School District is also the oldest in the San Pedro Valley.{{Citation needed|date=April 2009}} The annual San Pedro Valley Fair has been held at the St. David High School since 1934.{{cite news |url= http://www.bensonnews-sun.com/articles/2008/08/28/news/news11.txt |title= San Pedro Valley Fair has long history |last= Higgenbotham |first= Ron |date= August 27, 2008 |newspaper= San Pedro Valley News-Sun |access-date= February 15, 2010}} In 2008 St. David held a celebration its 130 anniversary during the 75th San Pedro Valley Fair with a Town Reunion at the St. David School.{{cite news |url= http://www.bensonnews-sun.com/articles/2008/08/27/news/news05.txt |title= St. David reunion, fair top festivities |last= Bernal |first= Adam |date= August 27, 2008 |newspaper= San Pedro Valley News-Sun |access-date= February 15, 2010}} Another popular cultural event held at the school is the annual 1880s Historic Costume Ball, which is patterned after a typical postbellum Indian War-era military ball.

Transportation

Benson Area Transit provides transportation to Benson two days a week.{{Cite web| title = BAT Fixed Route Service| access-date = January 27, 2020| url = https://www.cityofbenson.com/index.asp?SEC=17CB4219-09DD-4B3F-9D0E-4B37343292E1&Type=B_BASIC| archive-date = December 28, 2018| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181228184522/https://www.cityofbenson.com/index.asp?SEC=17CB4219-09DD-4B3F-9D0E-4B37343292E1&Type=B_BASIC| url-status = dead}}