Yavapai County, Arizona

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Yavapai County, Arizona
Yavapai county arizona courthouse.jpg
Yavapai County Courthouse in Prescott, Arizona
Seal of Yavapai County, Arizona
Seal
Map of Arizona highlighting Yavapai County
Location in the state of Arizona
Map of the U.S. highlighting Arizona
Arizona's location in the U.S.
Founded November 9, 1864
Seat Prescott
Largest city Prescott
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water
8,127.78 sq mi (21,051 km²)
8,123.30 sq mi (21,039 km²)
4.48 sq mi (12 km²), 0.06%
PopulationEst.
 - (2011)
 - Density
211,888
26/sq mi (10/km²)
Time zone Mountain: UTC-7
Website www.co.yavapai.az.us
Nice old gold specimen from an unknown Yavapai County mine. Size: 2.0 x 1.8 x 1.7 cm.

Yavapai County is located near the center of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2010 census, its population 211,073. The county seat is Prescott.[1] The largest incorporated city is Peoria though virtually all of Peoria’s current population is within Maricopa County.

Contents

History [edit]

Yavapai County was one of the four original Arizona Counties created by the 1st Arizona Territorial Legislature. The county territory was defined as being east of longitude 113° 20' and north of the Gila River.[2] Soon thereafter, the counties of Apache, Coconino, Maricopa, and Navajo were carved from the original Yavapai County. Yavapai County's present boundaries were established in 1891.

The county is named after the Yavapai people, who were the principal inhabitants at the time that this area was annexed by the United States.

Geography [edit]

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 8,127.78 square miles (21,050.9 km2), of which 8,123.30 square miles (21,039.3 km2) (or 99.94%) is land and 4.48 square miles (11.6 km2) (or 0.06%) is water.[3] For comparison, Yavapai County has about 93% of the area of the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is larger than three US States; Rhode Island, Delaware & Connecticut, and the District of Columbia.

The county's topography makes a dramatic transition from the lower Sonoran Desert to the south to the heights of the Coconino Plateau to the north, and the Mogollon Rim to the east. The Highest point above sea level (MSL) in Yavapai County is Mount Union at an elevation of 7,979 ft (2,432 m) and the lowest is Agua Fria River drainage, now under Lake Pleasant.

Major highways [edit]

Adjacent counties [edit]

National protected areas [edit]

There are 19 official wilderness areas in Yavapai County that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Fourteen of these are integral parts of National Forests listed above, whereas five are managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Some of these extend into neighboring counties (as indicated below):

Land ownership and management [edit]

  • Private ownership: about 25% of Yavapai County's land (by area) is privately owned.
  • Public land: about 75% of the county's area is publicly owned, including

Source: Yavapai County Profile

Natural history [edit]

There are numerous flora and fauna species within Yavapai County. For example a number of plants within the genus Ephedra and Coreopsis are found in the county.[4] Yavapai County is also the location of several groves of the near-threatened California Fan Palm, Washingtonia filifera.[5]

Demographics [edit]

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1870 2,142
—
1880 5,013 134.0%
1890 8,685 73.2%
1900 13,799 58.9%
1910 15,996 15.9%
1920 24,016 50.1%
1930 28,470 18.5%
1940 26,511 −6.9%
1950 24,991 −5.7%
1960 28,912 15.7%
1970 36,733 27.1%
1980 68,145 85.5%
1990 107,714 58.1%
2000 167,517 55.5%
2010 211,073 26.0%
Est. 2011 211,888 0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census
2011 estimate

2010 [edit]

Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:

2000 [edit]

As of the 2000 census, there were 167,517 people, 70,171 households, and 46,733 families residing in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile (8/km²). There were 81,730 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.89% White, 0.39% Black or African American, 1.60% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 3.58% from other races, and 1.95% from two or more races. 9.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 70,171 households out of which 23.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.00% were married couples living together, 8.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the county the population was spread out with 21.10% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 22.40% from 25 to 44, 27.40% from 45 to 64, and 22.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,901, and the median income for a family was $40,910. Males had a median income of $30,738 versus $22,114 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,727. About 7.90% of families and 11.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.90% of those under age 18 and 6.70% of those age 65 or over.

By 2006 Census Bureau Estimates placed the population of Yavapai County at 208,014. This represented a 24.2% growth in the population since 2000.[6]

Yavapai County is defined as the Prescott Metropolitan Statistical Area by the United States Census Bureau.[7]

Communities [edit]

Cities [edit]

Towns [edit]

Census-designated places [edit]

Other communities [edit]

Attractions [edit]

Enchantment Resort near Sedona

Yavapai County is home to Arcosanti, a prototype arcology, developed by Paolo Soleri, and under construction since 1970. Arcosanti is open Monday through Sunday from 9:00 til 5:00, and holds tours from 10:00 til 4:00 on the hour, every hour. Arcosanti is just north of Cordes Junction, Arizona.

Out of Africa Wildlife Park [1] is a popular private zoo that specializes in big cats, and features Tiger Splash [2], an aquatic performance in a swimming pool, and other animal acts. The park moved to the Camp Verde area from the East Valley in 2005.

Approximately 10 miles (16 km) northwest of the town of Bagdad lies the Upper Burro Creek Wilderness Area, a 27,440-acre (111 km2) protected area home to at least 150 species of birds and featuring one of the Arizona desert's few undammed perennial streams.[8]

See also [edit]

Portal icon Arizona portal

References [edit]

  1. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  2. ^ Wagoner, Jay J. (1970). Arizona Territory 1863-1912: A Political history. Tucson: University of Arizona Press. p. 58. ISBN 0-8165-0176-9. 
  3. ^ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
  4. ^ T. Kearney, Robert H. Peebles and Elizabeth McClintock. Arizona Flora. 2nd ed. Berkeley: U of California P, 1940, 61 et seq. ISBN 0-520-00637-2, ISBN 978-0-520-00637-9
  5. ^ C. Michael Hogan. 2009. California Fan Palm: Washingtonia filifera, GlobalTwitcher.com, ed. Nicklas Stromberg
  6. ^ Yavapai County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau
  7. ^ "OMB Bulletin No. 07-01: Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses" (PDF). United States Office of Management and Budget. 2006-12-18. Archived from the original on 2007-03-17. Retrieved 2007-04-09. 
  8. ^ Upper Burro Creek Wilderness - Wilderness.net

Sources [edit]

  • Fuis, G.S. (1996). The geology and mechanics of formation of the Fort Rock dome, Yavapai County, Arizona [U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1266]. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.

External links [edit]

Municipalities and communities of Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
Cities
Towns
CDPs
Unincorporated
communities
Indian reservation
Ghost towns
Footnotes

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Phoenix (capital)
Topics
Society
Regions
Counties
Cities

Coordinates: 34°33′41″N 112°32′24″W / 34.56139°N 112.54000°W / 34.56139; -112.54000

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