Graham County, Arizona

Infobox U.S. County
county = Graham County
state = Arizona




map size = 150
founded = 1881
seat = Safford | area_total_sq_mi =4641
area_water_sq_mi =12
area percentage = 0.25%
census yr = 2000
pop = 33489
density_km2 =3
web = www.graham.az.gov/
|

Graham County is located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2000 census its population was 33,489. The county seat is Safford. The county is part of the Safford Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Graham County contains part of the San Carlos Indian Reservation.

History

Graham County was created from southern Apache County and eastern Pinal County on March 10 1881. [http://cip.lib.az.us/index.cfm?event=ViewCollection&oid=382&cid=0&collection=1202]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,641 square miles (12,020 km²), of which, 4,629 square miles (11,990 km²) of it is land and 12 square miles (31 km²) of it (0.25%) is water. The county has various mountain ranges including the Pinaleno Mountains.

Adjacent counties

* Cochise County, Arizona - south
* Pima County, Arizona - southwest
* Pinal County, Arizona - west
* Gila County, Arizona - northwest
* Navajo County, Arizona - north
* Apache County, Arizona - north
* Greenlee County, Arizona - east

National protected area

* Coronado National Forest (part)

Major Highways

*
*
*

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 33,489 people, 10,116 households, and 7,617 families residing in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (3/km²). There were 11,430 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 67.11% White, 1.87% Black or African American, 14.95% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 13.35% from other races, and 2.14% from two or more races. 27.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.38% reported speaking Spanish at home, while 6.35% speak a Southern Athabaskan language [http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=4&county_id=9&mode=geographic&order=r] .

There were 10,116 households out of which 39.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.20% were married couples living together, 13.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.70% were non-families. 20.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.90% 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 30.10% under the age of 18, 12.00% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 18.70% from 45 to 64, and 11.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 112.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.10 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 17.70% of families and 23.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.20% of those under age 18 and 13.60% of those age 65 or over.

In 2005 53.7% of Graham County's population was non-Hispanic whites. African-Americans now constituted 2.2% of the population. 16.3% of the population was Native Americans. 27.8% of the population was Latino.

Communities

City

*Safford

Towns

*Pima
*Thatcher

Census-designated places

*Peridot
*Swift Trail Junction

Other communities

*Bonita
*Bylas
*Central
*Eden
*Fort Thomas
*Klondyke
*Solomonville
*Spenazuma

ee also

* USS "Graham County" (LST-1176)

References

External links

* [http://www.graham.az.gov/ Graham County official website]
* [http://visitgrahamcounty.com/ Graham County visitor information]
* [http://www.graham-chamber.com/ Graham County Chamber of Commerce]