Tonopah, Arizona
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| Tonopah, Arizona | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Maricopa |
| Elevation | 1,490 ft (454.15 m) |
| Time zone | MST (no daylight saving time) (UTC-7) |
Tonopah (pronounced /ˈtoʊnoʊpɑː/) is an unincorporated community in western Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, approximately 50 miles west of downtown Phoenix off Interstate 10. The community is near the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, the largest nuclear power plant in the country.
The name Tonopah derives from the Western Apache Tú Nohwá, meaning "Water For Us" or "Water For You", referring to its location in the Harquahala Valley, underneath which there is an extensive subterranean aquifer so that wells dug in the area never lack water. Prior to being called Tonopah, the settlement was known as Lone Peak.
The area is also known to have been inhabited by the Yavapai.
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[edit] Schools
- Ruth Fisher Elementary---approximately 800 students
- Tonopah Valley High School---approximately 400 students
- Winter's Well Elementary approximately 275 students
- Tarteso Elementary School approximately 200 students
[edit] Incorporation efforts
In 2009, a political action committee named Tonopah United for Our Future (TUFF) filed paperwork with the county, proposing the incorporation of the area into a town.[1] The proposal ran into difficulties when the neighboring town of Buckeye voted to publicly oppose the measure. State law forbids the incorporation of a new city or town within a specified distance of existing municipalities without their approval,[2] and the proposed boundaries for Tonopah would abut the corporate boundaries of Buckeye, essentially giving Buckeye veto power over any incorporation efforts. In 2003, Buckeye had passed a measure approving of any future incorporation effort by Tonopah, but the current town council rescinded the measure, citing concerns that the proposal would extend the new town's boundaries east of the Hassayampa River and into area Buckeye intends to annex.[3] Council members did indicate that they were open to future incorporation efforts using the river as a boundary.
Residents also expessed concern that the proposal was too ambitious and that the new town would be incapable of managing the 100 square miles (260 km2) of land included in the proposal. Geographically it would be among the largest in the state, while estimates placed the population of the proposed town at approximately 6,000.
Ultimately the measure was defeated on March 10, 2009, by a vote of 523 against incorporation versus 356 in support.[4]
[edit] Further reading
- Barnes, Will C., Byrd H. Granger, (ed.), Arizona's Names : X Marks the Place, (Falconer: 1983). ISBN 0-918080-18-5
[edit] References
- ^ Graf, Eric (2009-03-07). "Vote to incorporate Tonopah likely to be challenged". The Arizona Republic. http://www.azcentral.com/community/swvalley/articles/2009/03/06/20090306swv-tonopah0307.html.
- ^ "§9-101.01". Arizona Revised Statutes. http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/ars/9/00101-01.htm&Title=9&DocType=ARS. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
- ^ Graf, Eric (2009-02-06). "Buckeye says 'No' to Tonopah as a town". The Arizona Republic. http://www.azcentral.com/community/swvalley/articles/2009/02/06/20090206swv-towncouncil0207.html. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
- ^ "Election Results : March 2009 Election". The Arizona Republic. 2009-03-10. http://www.azcentral.com/elections/index.php?pgDate=20090310. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
[edit] External links
- Tonopah, Arizona is at coordinates 33°29′37″N 112°56′16″W / 33.49371°N 112.93776°WCoordinates: 33°29′37″N 112°56′16″W / 33.49371°N 112.93776°W
- Tonopah Community Profile (Arizona Department of Commerce)
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