Maricopa County, Arizona
Maricopa County is located in the south-central part of the U.S. state of Arizona. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated its population was 4,485,414 as of 2019, making it the state's most populous county, and the fourth-most populous in the United States, containing more than half the population of Arizona. It is more populous than 23 states. The county seat is Phoenix, the state capital and fifth-most populous city in the United States.
Maricopa County is the central county of the Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Maricopa County was named after the Maricopa Native Americans. There are five Native American Reservations located in the county. The largest are the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and the Gila River Indian Community.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. Maricopa County is one of the largest counties in the United States by area, with a land area greater than that of four states. From west to east, it stretches and from north to south. It is by far Arizona's most populous county, encompassing well over half of the state's residents. It is the largest county in the United States to have a capital city.Adjacent counties
- La Paz County – west
- Yuma County – west
- Pima County – south
- Pinal County – southeast
- Gila County – east
- Yavapai County – north
National protected areas
- Sonoran Desert National Monument
- Tonto National Forest
Demographics
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,072,149 people, 1,132,886 households, and 763,565 families living in the county. The population density was 334 people per square mile. There were 1,250,231 housing units at an average density of 136/sq mi. The racial makeup of the county was 77.4% White, 3.7% African American, 1.9% Native American, 2.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 11.9% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. 29.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 19.1% reported speaking Spanish at home.There were 1,132,886 households, out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.21.
The population was spread out, with 27.0% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 19.80% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $45,358, and the median income for a family was $51,827. Males had a median income of $36,858 versus $28,703 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,251. About 8.0% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 3,817,117 people, 1,411,583 households, and 932,814 families living in the county. The population density was. There were 1,639,279 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 73.0% white, 5.0% black or African American, 3.5% Asian, 2.1% American Indian, 0.2% Pacific islander, 12.8% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 29.6% of the population. The largest ancestry groups were:- 25.6% Mexican
- 16.2% German
- 10.6% Irish
- 9.7% English
- 5.2% American
- 5.1% Italian
- 2.8% Polish
- 2.8% French
- 2.0% Scottish
- 1.9% Norwegian
- 1.8% Swedish
- 1.6% Dutch
- 1.5% Scotch-Irish
- 1.0% Russian
The median income for a household in the county was $55,054 and the median income for a family was $65,438. Males had a median income of $45,799 versus $37,601 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,816. About 10.0% of families and 13.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.8% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
According to data provided by the United States Census Bureau in October 2015 and collected from 2009-2013, 73.72% of the population aged five years and over spoke only English at home, while 20.32% spoke Spanish, 0.56% spoke Chinese, 0.47% Vietnamese, 0.41% Tagalog, 0.37% Arabic, 0.36% German, 0.30% French, 0.25% Navajo, 0.21% Korean, 0.20% Hindi, 0.15% Italian, 0.14% Persian, 0.13% Russian, 0.13% Serbo-Croatian, 0.12% Telugu, 0.12% Polish, 0.11% Syriac, 0.11% Japanese, 0.11% spoke Romanian, and 0.10% spoke other Native North American languages at home.
Religion
In 2010 statistics, the largest religious group in Maricopa County was the Diocese of Phoenix, with 519,950 Catholics worshipping at 99 parishes, followed by 242,732 LDS Mormons with 503 congregations, 213,640 non-denominational adherents with 309 congregations, 93,252 AG Pentecostals with 120 congregations, 73,207 SBC Baptists with 149 congregations, 35,804 Christian churches and churches of Christ Christians with 29 congregations, 30,014 ELCA Lutherans with 47 congregations, 28,634 UMC Methodists with 55 congregations, 18,408 LCMS Lutherans with 34 congregations, and 15,001 PC-USA Presbyterians with 42 congregations. Altogether, 39.1% of the population was claimed as members by religious congregations, although members of historically African-American denominations were underrepresented due to incomplete information. In 2014, the county had 1,177 religious organizations, the fifth most out of all US counties.Government, policing, and politics
Government
The governing body of Maricopa County is its Board of Supervisors. The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors consists of five members chosen by popular vote within their own districts. Currently, the Board consists of four Republicans and one Democrat. Each member serves a four-year term, with no term limits.Maricopa County sheriff
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office provides court protection, administers the county jail, and patrols the unincorporated areas of the county plus incorporated towns by contract.Politics
Maricopa County has a long history of being a Republican Party stronghold. While the city of Phoenix leans towards the Democratic Party, along with some other small areas within the county, the rest of it tends to vote heavily Republican, making it one of the more conservative urban counties in the country. Every Republican presidential candidate has carried Maricopa County since 1948. This includes the 1964 presidential run of native son Barry Goldwater, who would not have carried his own state had it not been for a 21,000-vote margin in Maricopa County. It is currently the largest county in the country to vote Republican. Since 1964, Democrats have only kept the margin within single digits three times–in 1992, 1996, and 2016.Year | Republican | Democratic | Others |
2016 | 47.7% 747,361 | 44.8% 702,907 | 7.5% 117,566 |
2012 | 54.3% 749,885 | 43.6% 602,288 | 2.1% 28,786 |
2008 | 54.4% 746,448 | 43.9% 602,166 | 1.7% 22,756 |
2004 | 56.9% 679,455 | 42.3% 504,849 | 0.9% 10,657 |
2000 | 53.2% 479,967 | 42.9% 386,683 | 3.9% 35,049 |
1996 | 47.2% 386,015 | 44.5% 363,991 | 8.2% 67,426 |
1992 | 41.1% 360,049 | 32.6% 285,457 | 26.4% 231,326 |
1988 | 64.9% 442,337 | 33.9% 230,952 | 1.2% 8,229 |
1984 | 72.0% 411,902 | 27.1% 154,833 | 1.0% 5,538 |
1980 | 65.0% 316,287 | 24.6% 119,752 | 10.4% 50,795 |
1976 | 61.7% 258,262 | 34.5% 144,613 | 3.8% 15,966 |
1972 | 69.3% 244,593 | 27.0% 95,135 | 3.8% 13,272 |
1968 | 59.1% 162,262 | 31.4% 86,204 | 9.5% 26,185 |
1964 | 53.9% 143,114 | 46.0% 122,042 | 0.1% 170 |
1960 | 59.4% 127,090 | 40.6% 86,834 | 0.1% 135 |
1956 | 63.0% 92,140 | 36.9% 54,010 | 0.1% 191 |
1952 | 60.6% 77,249 | 39.4% 50,285 | |
1948 | 46.3% 36,585 | 51.3% 40,498 | 2.4% 1,909 |
1944 | 43.4% 24,853 | 56.2% 32,197 | 0.4% 208 |
1940 | 38.9% 22,610 | 60.4% 35,055 | 0.7% 414 |
1936 | 28.7% 13,671 | 67.3% 32,031 | 4.0% 1,908 |
1932 | 34.1% 15,086 | 64.6% 28,601 | 1.3% 593 |
1928 | 62.3% 20,089 | 37.6% 12,146 | 0.1% 34 |
1924 | 44.7% 10,611 | 38.6% 9,177 | 16.7% 3,970 |
1920 | 56.2% 11,336 | 43.8% 8,825 | |
1916 | 39.3% 5,747 | 52.1% 7,634 | 8.6% 1,259 |
1912 | 11.3% 642 | 46.0% 2,606 | 42.7% 2,421 |
Despite its apparent political leanings, Maricopa County voted against Proposition 107 in the 2006 election. This referendum, designed to ban gay marriage and restrict domestic partner benefits, was rejected by a 51.6–48.4% margin within the county, and statewide by a similar margin. Two years later, however, a majority of county residents voted to pass the ultimately successful state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. The amendment was later overruled by the Supreme Court's 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which declared that same-sex marriage is a fundamental right in the United States.
Unlike cities and towns in Arizona, counties are politically and legally subordinate to the state and do not have charters of their own. The Board of Supervisors acts in the capacity of executive authority for the county within the statutes and powers prescribed by Arizona state law. The state legislature devotes considerable time to local matters, with limited discretion granted to the Board of Supervisors on minor ordinance and revenue collection issues. Chair of the Board is held by one member for a period of one year, and is selected by the Board members themselves through public hearing.
The County Sheriff, County Attorney, County Assessor, County Treasurer, Superintendent of Schools, County Recorder, Constables, Justices of the Peace, and Clerk of the Superior Court are all elected by the people. Retentions of Superior Court Judges are also determined by popular vote.
The county's dominant political figure for over two decades was Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who had dubbed himself "America's Toughest Sheriff" and gained national notoriety for his flamboyant and often controversial practices and policies.
As Maricopa County is home to almost 60 percent of the state's population, it dominates Arizona's politics. For example, in the 2018 Senate election, Democrat Kyrsten Sinema carried the county en route to becoming the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in Arizona since 1988. She won the county by over 60,000 votes, which would have been more than enough to give her the victory; she won statewide by 55,900 votes. Eight of the state's nine congressional districts include at least some portion of the county, and five of the districts have their population center located there. Most of the state's most prominent elected officials live in the county as well.
Elected officials
United States Congress
Board of Supervisors
Elected county officials
†Member was originally appointed to the office.Education
- Maricopa County Library District operates the county libraries in Maricopa County.
- The Maricopa County School Superintendent is charged with the general conduct and supervision of the public school system in Maricopa County. The Superintendent is one of six county-wide elected officials, elected by the voters of Maricopa County every four years. Since the inception of the office, there have been thirteen Maricopa County School Superintendents. The incumbent, Steve Watson, took office January 1, 2017.
Transportation
Major highways
- Interstate 8
- Interstate 10
- Interstate 17
- U.S. Route 60
- Historic U.S. Route 80
- U.S. Route 93
- Loop 101
- Loop 202
- Loop 303
- State Route 51
- State Route 71
- State Route 74
- State Route 85
- State Route 87
- State Route 143
- State Route 347
Air
Other airports located in the county include:
- Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in Mesa
- Scottsdale Municipal Airport in Scottsdale
- Deer Valley Airport in Deer Valley Village in Phoenix
- Chandler Municipal Airport in Chandler
- Phoenix Goodyear Airport in Goodyear
- Glendale Municipal Airport in Glendale
- Buckeye Municipal Airport in Buckeye
- Falcon Field in Mesa
- Gila Bend Municipal Airport in Gila Bend
- Wickenburg Municipal Airport in Wickenburg
Rail
In terms of passenger rail, greater Phoenix is served by a light rail system. The county has no other passenger rail transport as Amtrak's Sunset Limited, which served Phoenix until June 2, 1996, has its closest stop in Maricopa in neighboring Pinal County. The train connects Maricopa to Tucson, Los Angeles, and New Orleans three times a week. However it does not stop in Phoenix itself.
Communities
Cities
- Avondale
- Buckeye
- Chandler
- El Mirage
- Glendale
- Goodyear
- Litchfield Park
- Mesa
- Peoria
- Phoenix
- Scottsdale
- Surprise
- Tempe
- Tolleson
Towns
- Carefree
- Cave Creek
- Fountain Hills
- Gila Bend
- Gilbert
- Guadalupe
- Paradise Valley
- Queen Creek
- Wickenburg
- Youngtown
Ghost towns
- Agua Caliente
- Alma
- Angel Camp
- Marinette
- Nothing
- Vulture City
Census-designated places
- Aguila
- Anthem
- Arlington
- Citrus Park
- Gila Crossing
- Kaka
- Komatke
- Maricopa Colony
- Morristown
- New River
- Rio Verde
- San Tan Valley
- St. Johns
- Sun City
- Sun City West
- Sun Lakes
- Theba
- Tonopah
- Wintersburg
- Wittmann
Unincorporated communities
- Ahwatukee
- Chandler Heights
- Circle City
- Co-op Village
- Desert Hills
- Fort McDowell
- Higley
- Laveen
- Liberty
- Mobile
- Palo Verde
- Rainbow Valley
- Sunflower
- Tortilla Flat
- Waddell
Native American communities
- Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation
- Gila River Indian Community
- Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community
- Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation
County population ranking
† county seat
Rank | City/Town/etc. | Population | Population | Municipal type | Incorporated |
1 | Phoenix † | 1,445,632 | 1,626,078 | City | 1881 |
2 | Mesa | 439,041 | 496,401 | City | 1878 |
3 | Chandler | 236,123 | 253,458 | City | 1920 |
4 | Scottsdale | 217,385 | 249,950 | City | 1951 |
5 | Glendale | 226,721 | 246,709 | City | 1910 |
6 | Gilbert | 208,453 | 242,354 | Town | 1920 |
7 | Tempe | 161,719 | 185,038 | City | 1894 |
8 | Peoria | 154,065 | 168,181 | City | 1954 |
9 | Surprise | 117,517 | 134,085 | City | 1960 |
10 | Avondale | 76,238 | 84,025 | City | 1946 |
11 | Goodyear | 65,275 | 79,858 | City | 1946 |
12 | Buckeye | 50,876 | 68,453 | City | 1929 |
13 | Queen Creek | 26,361 | 39,184 | Town | 1990 |
14 | Sun City | 37,499 | -- | CDP | |
15 | El Mirage | 31,797 | 35,216 | City | 1951 |
16 | Sun City West | 24,535 | -- | CDP | |
17 | Fountain Hills | 22,489 | 24,583 | Town | 1989 |
18 | Anthem | 21,700 | -- | CDP | |
19 | New River | 14,952 | -- | CDP | |
20 | Paradise Valley | 12,820 | 14,293 | Town | 1961 |
21 | Sun Lakes | 13,975 | -- | CDP | |
22 | Wickenburg | 6,363 | 7,409 | Town | 1909 |
23 | Tolleson | 6,545 | 7,205 | City | 1929 |
24 | Youngtown | 6,156 | 6,760 | Town | 1960 |
25 | Guadalupe | 5,523 | 6,525 | Town | 1975 |
26 | Litchfield Park | 5,476 | 6,009 | City | 1987 |
27 | Cave Creek | 5,015 | 5,622 | Town | 1986 |
28 | Citrus Park | 4,028 | -- | CDP | |
29 | Carefree | 3,363 | 3,783 | Town | 1984 |
30 | Gila Bend | 1,922 | 2,069 | Town | 1962 |
31 | Rio Verde | 1,811 | -- | CDP | |
32 | Komatke | 821 | -- | CDP | |
33 | Aguila | 798 | -- | CDP | |
34 | Wittmann | 763 | -- | CDP | |
35 | Maricopa Colony | 709 | -- | CDP | |
36 | Gila Crossing | 621 | -- | CDP | |
37 | St. Johns | 476 | -- | CDP | |
38 | Morristown | 227 | -- | CDP | |
39 | Arlington | 194 | -- | CDP | |
40 | Theba | 158 | -- | CDP | |
41 | Kaka | 141 | -- | CDP | |
42 | Wintersburg | 136 | -- | CDP | |
43 | Tonopah | 60 | -- | CDP |