Willcox, Arizona

{{Infobox settlement

| name =

| official_name = Willcox

| settlement_type = City

| image_skyline = Dos_Cabezas_from_Haskel.jpg

| image_caption = View of Dos Cabezas peaks from downtown Willcox

| imagesize = 250px

| image_flag = Flag of Willcox, Arizona.gif

| image_map = Cochise County Arizona Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Willcox Highlighted 0483090.svg

| mapsize = 250px

| map_caption = Location of Willcox in Cochise County, Arizona

| image_map1 =

| mapsize1 =

| map_caption1 =

| pushpin_map = USA#Arizona

| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States##Location in Arizona

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_type1 = State

| subdivision_type2 = County

| subdivision_name = United States

| subdivision_name1 = Arizona

| subdivision_name2 = Cochise

| established_title = Founded

| established_date = 1880

| established_title2 = Incorporated

| established_date2 = 1915

| government_type =

| leader_title = Mayor

| 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 = 16.27

| area_total_sq_mi = 6.28

| area_land_km2 = 15.92

| area_land_sq_mi = 6.15

| area_water_km2 = 0.35

| area_water_sq_mi = 0.13

| elevation_ft = 4170

| elevation_footnotes =

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_est =

| pop_est_as_of =

| pop_est_footnotes =

| population_footnotes =

| population_total = 3213

| population_metro =

| population_density_km2 = 201.76

| population_density_sq_mi = 522.52

| timezone = MST (no DST)

| utc_offset = −7

| coordinates = {{coord|32|14|40|N|109|49|55|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}

| timezone_DST =

| utc_offset_DST =

| postal_code_type = ZIP Codes

| postal_code = 85643-85644

| area_code = 520

| area_code_type = Area code

| blank_name = FIPS code

| blank_info = 04-83090

| blank1_name = GNIS feature ID

| blank1_info = 2412266{{GNIS|2412266}}

| website = {{URL |https://willcox.az.gov/}}

| footnotes =

}}

Willcox is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States. The city is located in the Sulphur Springs Valley, a flat and sparsely populated drainage basin dotted with seasonal lakes. The city is surrounded by Arizona's most prominent mountain ranges, including the Pinaleño Mountains and the Chiricahua Mountains.

Six of Arizona's ten largest mountains are located within a 70-mile radius including Mount Graham (31 miles north), which is Arizona's most prominent mountain, Chiricahua Peak (42 miles southeast), Mount Lemmon (57 miles west), Miller Peak (65 miles southwest), Mica Mountain (41 miles west), and Mount Wrightson (70 miles southwest). Scores of birds, including sandhill cranes, winter in the area, with some migrating from as far away as Siberia. A very large dry lakebed, the Willcox Playa, is located five miles south of the city. It is the remnant of the Ice Age-era Lake Cochise.

Willcox's high desert climate gives it large diurnal temperature variation, making it ideal for wine cultivation.

History

Originally known as "Maley", the town was founded in 1880 as a whistlestop on the Southern Pacific Railroad because of its position approximately halfway between El Paso, Texas and Phoenix, Arizona. It was renamed in honor of a visit by General Orlando B. Willcox in 1889. In the early 20th century, Willcox was a national leader in cattle production. Agriculture remains important to the local economy, but Interstate 10 has replaced the railroad as the major transportation link, and much of the economy is now tied to the highway, which runs immediately north of the town.

Willcox is the birthplace of Rex Allen, known as "The Arizona Cowboy", who wrote and recorded many songs, starred in several Westerns during the early 1950s and in the syndicated television series Frontier Doctor (1958–1959). Parts of the 1993 American neo-noir film Red Rock West starring Nicolas Cage, Lara Flynn Boyle, J. T. Walsh and Dennis Hopper were filmed in Willcox.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} A short film documentary called "Lonesome Willcox" released in 2018 documented the town's country music radio station KHIL.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}

Willcox became Arizona's second federally designated wine growing region in 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/travel/arizona/2016/09/13/willcox-wins-federal-designation-unique-arizona-wine-region/90094172/|title=Feds call Willcox unique Arizona wine region|first=Richard|last=Ruelas|website=azcentral}}

Geography

Willcox is located in northern Cochise County, in the Sulphur Springs Valley.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}} Interstate 10 serves the city with three exits and leads {{convert|35|mi}} southwest to Benson and {{convert|74|mi}} east to Lordsburg, New Mexico. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|16.3|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|15.9|km2|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.3|km2|order=flip}}, or 2.13%, is water.

= Notable Mountains =

Mountain	Height (base to peak)	Rank (Arizona)	Rank (US Lower 48)	Miles from Willcox	Peak Elevation	Mountain Range
class="wikitable"
Mount Graham	6,340	1	20	30	10,720	Pinaleño Mountains
Mount Lemmon	5,177	3	54	56	9,157	Catalina Mountains
Chiricahua Peak	5,149	4	55	40	9,759	Chiricahua Mountains
Miller Peak	5,011	5	57	63	9,466	Huachuca Mountains
Mica Mountain	4,604	7	77	40	8,664	Rincon Mountains
Mount Wrightson	4,591	8	78	69	9,453	Santa Rita Mountains
Dos Cabezas Peaks	3,244	19	-	11	8,354	Dos Cabezas Mountains
Bassett Peak	3,133	23	-	30	7,663	Galiuro Mountains
Apache Peak	2,899	29	-	45	7,711	Whetstone Mountains
Mount Glenn	2,899	29	-	21	7,519	Dragoon Mountains

Climate

Willcox's high elevation gives it a milder climate than the nearby Valley of the Sun and Sonoran Desert. It also receives more rainfall than Tucson and Phoenix due to the summer monsoon rains and thus it has a cold semi-arid climate (Koppen: BSk).

{{Weather box

|location = Willcox, Arizona, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1903–present

|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 81

|Feb record high F = 88

|Mar record high F = 94

|Apr record high F = 99

|May record high F = 105

|Jun record high F = 112

|Jul record high F = 110

|Aug record high F = 108

|Sep record high F = 105

|Oct record high F = 101

|Nov record high F = 91

|Dec record high F = 81

|Jan avg record high F = 72.6

|Feb avg record high F = 77.2

|Mar avg record high F = 83.7

|Apr avg record high F = 90.1

|May avg record high F = 97.5

|Jun avg record high F = 104.7

|Jul avg record high F = 104.9

|Aug avg record high F = 101.6

|Sep avg record high F = 98.6

|Oct avg record high F = 92.7

|Nov avg record high F = 82.2

|Dec avg record high F = 73.4

|year avg record high F = 106.3

|Jan high F = 61.3

|Feb high F = 64.9

|Mar high F = 71.9

|Apr high F = 78.7

|May high F = 87.2

|Jun high F = 96.6

|Jul high F = 96.1

|Aug high F = 93.6

|Sep high F = 90.4

|Oct high F = 81.7

|Nov high F = 70.5

|Dec high F = 60.2

|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 44.9

|Feb mean F = 48.4

|Mar mean F = 54.1

|Apr mean F = 60.2

|May mean F = 68.4

|Jun mean F = 77.7

|Jul mean F = 80.8

|Aug mean F = 79.1

|Sep mean F = 73.8

|Oct mean F = 63.3

|Nov mean F = 52.4

|Dec mean F = 44.2

|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 28.4

|Feb low F = 31.8

|Mar low F = 36.2

|Apr low F = 41.6

|May low F = 49.7

|Jun low F = 58.8

|Jul low F = 65.5

|Aug low F = 64.6

|Sep low F = 57.3

|Oct low F = 44.9

|Nov low F = 34.3

|Dec low F = 28.2

|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 17.2

|Feb avg record low F = 20.3

|Mar avg record low F = 24.5

|Apr avg record low F = 29.7

|May avg record low F = 37.7

|Jun avg record low F = 47.7

|Jul avg record low F = 56.3

|Aug avg record low F = 56.5

|Sep avg record low F = 46.3

|Oct avg record low F = 30.7

|Nov avg record low F = 21.1

|Dec avg record low F = 16.6

|year avg record low F = 13.9

|Jan record low F = -1

|Feb record low F = 2

|Mar record low F = 6

|Apr record low F = 9

|May record low F = 18

|Jun record low F = 27

|Jul record low F = 42

|Aug record low F = 41

|Sep record low F = 30

|Oct record low F = 15

|Nov record low F = 8

|Dec record low F = -7

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 1.02

|Feb precipitation inch = 0.93

|Mar precipitation inch = 0.66

|Apr precipitation inch = 0.22

|May precipitation inch = 0.34

|Jun precipitation inch = 0.45

|Jul precipitation inch = 2.62

|Aug precipitation inch = 2.48

|Sep precipitation inch = 1.21

|Oct precipitation inch = 0.68

|Nov precipitation inch = 0.70

|Dec precipitation inch = 1.09

|year precipitation inch = 12.40

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 5.2

|Feb precipitation days = 5.0

|Mar precipitation days = 3.3

|Apr precipitation days = 1.8

|May precipitation days = 2.0

|Jun precipitation days = 2.5

|Jul precipitation days = 10.2

|Aug precipitation days = 10.8

|Sep precipitation days = 6.2

|Oct precipitation days = 3.6

|Nov precipitation days = 3.2

|Dec precipitation days = 5.1

|Jan snow inch = 0.6

|Feb snow inch = 0.6

|Mar snow inch = 0.1

|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 = 0.2

|Dec snow inch = 0.2

|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 0.3

|Feb snow days = 0.5

|Mar snow days = 0.3

|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 = 0.1

|Dec snow days = 0.3

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00029334&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 = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Willcox, AZ

|access-date = May 6, 2023

}}

|source 2 = National Weather Service

{{cite web

|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=twc

|publisher = National Weather Service

|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Tucson

|access-date = May 6, 2023

}}

Economy

Willcox's primary industries are agriculture, wine production, and tourism.

Major employers in Willcox include Riverview LLP, NatureSweet greenhouse, Northern Cochise Community Hospital, Valley Telephone Cooperative, the Border Patrol, Safeway, and Willcox Unified School District.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}

The wine industry employs over 400 people in the region. The agricultural producers in the area employ many hundreds of workers as well.

=Wine country=

The Willcox wine region produces 74 percent of the wine grapes grown in the state of Arizona.{{cite web|title=Wines of Wilcox|url=http://www.willcoxwines.com/|website=Wines of Wilcox|publisher=Wines of Wilcox|access-date=August 10, 2015}} Willcox is the largest-grape growing region in Arizona and grows more wine grapes than any other region in the state{{Cite web|url=http://willcoxwines.com/about.html|title=About Wines of Willcox – Events and Adventures in Arizona Wine Country|website=willcoxwines.com|access-date=October 11, 2019}} and offers a wide variety of wines to choose from. Grape varietals grown include Petite Sirah, Malvasia Bianca, Sangiovese, Chenin blanc, Syrah, Colombard, Sauvignon blanc, Corvina, Merlot, Malbec, Tannat, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Mourvèdre.

Arts, events, culture

Willcox has two festival seasons in the spring and fall.

Spring events include the Willcox Wine Country Spring Festival, which takes place the third weekend of May, and the Willcox West Fest in April.{{cite web |url=https://visitwillcox.az.gov/faq |website=Visit Willcox |access-date=April 30, 2020|title=Willcox Arizona Tourism – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Tourism in Willcox, Arizona }}

Fall events include Rex Allen Days, which is a multi-day event that takes place the first weekend in October, the Willcox Wine Country Fall Festival, which takes place the 3rd weekend of October, the Willcox Flyer Bike Ride, which takes place the first Saturday of September, and the BoulderDash 13k/30k, which takes place in mid-October.{{cite web |title=5th Annual BoulderDash 13K/30K Trail Run |url=http://www.rocamotionevents.com/inaugural-boulder-dash-13k30k/ |website=rocamotionevents.com |publisher=Roca Motion |access-date=March 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808155130/http://www.rocamotionevents.com/inaugural-boulder-dash-13k30k/ |archive-date=August 8, 2020 |language=en}}

Winter festivals include the Christmas Light Parade and Craft Fair in December, and Wings Over Willcox Birding Festival which takes place over Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend.

Rex Allen Days was started in 1951 to honor Rex Allen. The event includes the annual parade, rodeos, fairs, car show and more.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rexallendays.org/|title=Rodeo {{!}} Willcox {{!}} Rex Allen Days|website=radsite|language=en|access-date=October 11, 2019}}

Willcox Wine Country's two festivals are usually the third weekends of May and October. The event grows in size every year and includes live music and multiple arts and crafts vendors. Willcox Wine Festivals is listed as one of the top 10 wine festivals in North America.{{Cite web|url=https://tucsonfoodie.com/2019/10/08/willcox-wine-country-fall-festival-2019/|title=15 Arizona wineries pour into Willcox Wine Country Fall Festival|date=October 8, 2019|website=Tucson Foodie|language=en-US|access-date=October 11, 2019}}

Willcox West Fest celebrates Willcox's cowboy culture which is still active today through generations of ranching families. The event consists of a rodeo and a chuck wagon cook-off and usually occurs in April.

[https://azburners.org/ Saguaro Man] is the official AZ Burners regional Burning Man gathering celebrating different arts including fire arts. The event happens at the end of April each year on their land southeast of the city.

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1890= 396

|1910= 1632

|1920= 905

|1930= 806

|1940= 884

|1950= 1266

|1960= 2441

|1970= 2568

|1980= 3243

|1990= 3122

|2000= 3733

|2010= 3757

|2020= 3213

|align-fn=center

|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 of 2000, there were 3,733 people, 1,383 households, and 947 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|622.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 75.0% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 1.6% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 17.6% from other races, and 4.2% from two or more races. 41.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The median income for a household in the city was $24,334. 21.6% of families and 27.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.6% of those under age 18 and 24.6% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}

Seventeen miles north of Willcox on what was once the York ranch, there are now miles of apple orchards and pistachio groves.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

Media

KHIL "Classic Country" 1250 AM and 98.1 FM has served the region since 1958. The Herald has listings and news for all of Cochise county including Willcox.

Notable people

Rex Allen (1920–1999), film and television actor, singer and songwriter
Ted DiBiase (born 1954), American former professional wrestler
Warren Earp (1855-1900), youngest of the Earp brothers, buried here.
Lilly McElroy (born 1980), photographer
Tanya Tucker (born 1958), American country music artist, spent early childhood in Willcox
Chalky Wright (1912–1957), boxing champion in International Boxing Hall of Fame