Tuba City, Arizona

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Tuba City, Arizona
settlement_type = CDP

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imagesize = 300px
image_caption = Tuba City cornfield, 1941. Photo by Ansel Adams
image_

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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in Coconino County and the state of Arizona


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = Arizona
subdivision_name2 = Coconino
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
established_date =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 23.1
area_total_sq_mi = 8.9
area_land_km2 = 23.1
area_land_sq_mi = 8.9
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0
elevation_ft = 4960
elevation_m = 1512
population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 8225
population_metro =
population_density_km2 = 355.8
population_density_sq_mi = 921.6
timezone = MST
utc_offset = -7
timezone_DST = MDT
utc_offset_DST = -6
latd = 36 |latm = 7 |lats = 45 |latNS = N
longd = 111 |longm = 14 |longs = 19 |longEW = W
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 86045
area_code = 928
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 04-76010
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0012802
footnotes =
website =

Tuba City ( _nv. Tó Naneesdizí) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Coconino County, Arizona, United States. The population was 8,225 at the 2000 census. It is the Navajo Indian Reservation's largest community, slightly larger than Shiprock, New Mexico. The Hopi town of Moenkopi lies directly to its southeast.

The name of the town honors Toova, a Hopi headman from Oraibi. The Navajo name for Tuba City, "Tó Naneesdizí" translates as “tangled waters” which probably refers to the many springs below the surface of the ground which are the source of several reservoirs.

Tuba City is located within the Painted Desert on the western side of the Navajo Nation. The town is situated on U.S. Route 160, near the junction with Arizona State Route 264. Tuba City is located about 50 miles from the eastern entrance to Grand Canyon National Park. Most of Tuba City's residents are Navajo, with a small Hopi minority. Arizona does not currently observe Daylight Time, however the Navajo reservation does. In practice the community has a varied observance. Tribal offices and schools observe DST; most businesses do not.

History

The written history of the town goes back more than 200 years. When Father Francisco Garcés visited the area in 1776, he recorded that the Indians were cultivating crops. [ tuba city is also where [http://www.arizonan.com/Indianlands/TubaCity.html Arizona Relocation Guide] ]

Chief Toova converted to Mormonism around 1870, and invited the Mormons to settle near Moenkopi. The present-day town of Tuba City was founded by the Mormons in 1872. In 1956, Tuba City became a uranium boomtown, as the regional office for the Rare Metals Corporation [ [http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/nuclear/page/umtra/tubacity_title1.html Tuba City Mill] ] and the Atomic Energy Commission. Amy Maestas, [http://www.insideoutsidemag.com/issues/columns/CornerTown/Tuba_City,_Arizona/"Tuba City, Arizona"] , [http://www.insideoutsidemag.com/ "Inside Outside Southwest"] , July 2008, ]

On 3rd of July '04, the heavy metal singer Glenn Danzig was assaulted inside a little club in Tuba City, by a local hardcore singer. This incident was caught on video camera, and is now a popular internet download. Danzig has not played in the area since this crimeFact|date=August 2008.

Geography

Tuba City is located at coor dms|36|7|45|N|111|14|19|W|city (36.129044, -111.238718)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 8.9 square miles (23.1 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 8,225 people, 2,036 households, and 1,675 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 921.6 people per square mile (356.0/km²). There were 2,445 housing units at an average density of 274.0/sq mi (105.8/km²). The racial make-up of the CDP was 92.01% Native American, 5.47% White, 0.16% Black or African American, 0.22% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. 2.36% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,036 households out of which 52.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 26.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.7% were non-families. 15.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.00 and the average family size was 4.49.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 42.8% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 15.7% from 45 to 64, and 4.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.

Tuba City's median household income is $38,556, and the median income for a family was $37,813. Males had a median income of $29,280 versus $26,855 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $10,479. About 23.1% of families and 28.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.0% of those under age 18 and 44.8% of those age 65 or over.

Attractions

*The [http://www.explorenavajo.com/museum.html Explore Navajo Interactive Museum] opened in 2007 in the center of Tuba City, next to the historic Tuba City Trading Post.

*Tuba City is noted for dinosaur tracks, found about 5 miles west (watch for sign).

*Coal Mine Canyon, a colorful canyon with many hoodoos, is 15 miles southeast.

Shops and services

There is a flea market held every Friday just northeast of the Chapter House, off Peshlaki Ave. The flea market offers a variety of Navajo and Hopi arts and crafts, as well as local foods, such as mutton sandwiches,posole, and frybread.

Tuba City Trading Post, a store selling Navajo hand-made crafts has a building dating from 1905.

The Hopi tribe opened the Tuuvi Travel Center in 2008, a $6.3 milliom complex. The Hopis plan a $100 million "Gateway to Hopiland" nearby.

Education

The area is served by the Tuba City Unified School District.

Schools in Tuba City include: Tuba City High School, Greyhills Academy High School, Tuba City Boarding School established c1906, Tuba City Elementary School, Tuba City Jr. High School, Tuba City Middle School, Diné College and online classes from Northern Arizona University.

Tuba City in popular culture

*Sgt. Jim Chee was the officer in charge of the Tuba City Navajo Police office, in Tony Hillerman's 1993 novel "The Dark Wind".

Notable residents

*Lori Piestewa, a soldier in the US Army, was killed in southern Iraq in 2003.

ee also

*Lot Smith, a Mormon pioneer who helped found Tuba City

References

External links

*wikitravel|Tuba City
* [http://www.arizonan.com/Indianlands/TubaCity.html Arizonan.com profile]
* [http://www.gahs.bia.edu/ Greyhills Academy - local photos]
* [http://www.topix.net/city/tuba-city-az Local news]