Pima County, Arizona


Pima County is a county in the south central region of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2010 census, the population was 980,263, making it Arizona's second-most populous county. The county seat is Tucson, where nearly all of the population is centered. The county is named after the Pima Native Americans who are indigenous to this area.
Pima County includes the Tucson, Arizona Metropolitan Statistical Area.
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. Tucson, Arizona's second largest city, is a major commercial and academic center. Other urban areas include the Tucson suburbs of Marana, Oro Valley, Sahuarita, and South Tucson, a large ring of unincorporated urban development, and the growing satellite town 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.

History

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

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.

Topographic features

The Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan is Pima County's plan for desert conservation.

Demographics

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 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. There were 366,737 housing units at an average density of 40 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 75.07% White, 3.03% Black or African American, 3.22% Native American, 2.04% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 13.30% from other races, and 3.21% from two or more races. 29.34% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 22.80% reported speaking Spanish at home.
There were 332,350 households out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.70% were married couples living together, 11.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.20% were non-families. 28.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.40% 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 24.60% under the age of 18, 10.90% from 18 to 24, 28.40% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,758, and the median income for a family was $44,446. Males had a median income of $32,156 versus $24,959 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,785. About 10.50% of families and 14.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.40% of those under age 18 and 8.20% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 980,263 people, 388,660 households, and 243,167 families living in the county. The population density was. There were 440,909 housing units at an average density of. 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.
The largest ancestry groups were:
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.
The median income for a household in the county was $45,521 and the median income for a family was $57,377. Males had a median income of $42,313 versus $33,487 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.

Metropolitan Statistical Area

The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Pima County as the Tucson, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area. 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.
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, the 53rd most populous combined statistical area and the 59th most populous primary statistical area of the United States as of July 1, 2012.

Government, policing, and politics

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 jurisdiction.

Board of Supervisors and elected positions

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

Pima County sheriff

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

Politics

YearRepublicanDemocraticOthers
201639.7% 167,42853.3% 224,6617.0% 29,551
201245.6% 174,77952.5% 201,2511.9% 7,143
200846.2% 182,40652.2% 206,2541.6% 6,180
200446.6% 171,10952.6% 193,1280.9% 3,255
200043.3% 124,57951.3% 147,6885.4% 15,373
199639.4% 104,12152.2% 137,9838.5% 22,448
199234.5% 97,03645.7% 128,56919.9% 55,879
198850.3% 117,89948.5% 113,8241.2% 2,750
198456.9% 123,83042.1% 91,5851.0% 2,197
198049.8% 93,05534.4% 64,41815.8% 29,584
197649.8% 77,26445.9% 71,2144.3% 6,583
197245.4% 73,15434.9% 56,22319.7% 31,733
196850.6% 49,47940.7% 39,7868.7% 8,501
196446.4% 46,95553.4% 54,1200.2% 203
196052.4% 46,73447.3% 42,1710.3% 239
195662.5% 39,29837.4% 23,5360.1% 51
195260.2% 32,11339.8% 21,237
194847.6% 16,96849.7% 17,6922.7% 965
194445.4% 10,85054.4% 13,0060.2% 57
194040.1% 9,44559.6% 14,0350.4% 82
193632.7% 6,07965.9% 12,2491.4% 262
193234.7% 6,15262.4% 11,0612.9% 514
192856.9% 6,63542.7% 4,9760.4% 42
192442.2% 3,55930.7% 2,59427.1% 2,286
192058.0% 3,39242.0% 2,455
191653.2% 2,61642.2% 2,0794.6% 227
191219.6% 35338.4% 69342.0% 758

Communities

Cities

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Pima County.
† county seat
RankCity/Town/etc.Population Municipal typeIncorporated
1† Tucson520,116City1775
2Casas Adobes66,795CDP
3Catalina Foothills50,796CDP
4Oro Valley41,011Town1974
5Marana34,961Town1977
6Drexel Heights27,749CDP
7Sahuarita25,259Town1994
8Green Valley21,391CDP
9Tanque Verde16,901CDP
10Flowing Wells16,419CDP
11Tucson Estates12,192CDP
12Vail10,208CDP
13Picture Rocks9,563CDP
14Valencia West9,355CDP
15Catalina7,569CDP
16Avra Valley6,050CDP
17Corona de Tucson5,675CDP
18South Tucson5,652City1940
19Three Points5,581CDP
20Summit5,372CDP
21Rincon Valley5,139CDP
22Ajo3,304CDP
23Sells2,495CDP
24Arivaca Junction1,090CDP
25Littletown873CDP
26Arivaca695CDP
27Pimaco Two682CDP
28Santa Rosa628CDP
29Elephant Head612CDP
30Pisinemo321CDP
31Topawa299CDP
32Nelson259CDP
33San Miguel197CDP
34Gu Oidak188CDP
35Why167CDP
36Ali Chuk161CDP
37Maish Vaya158CDP
38Anegam151CDP
39Cowlic135CDP
40Ali Chukson132CDP
41Wahak Hotrontk114CDP
42South Komelik111CDP
43Rillito97CDP
44Haivana Nakya96CDP
45Chiawuli Tak78CDP
46Ali Molina71CDP
47Charco52CDP
48Ventana49CDP
49Ko Vaya46CDP
50Summerhaven40CDP
51Nolic37CDP
52Ak Chin30CDP
53Comobabi8CDP
54Willow Canyon1CDP

Tourist attractions

Yearly Events