Queen Creek, Arizona

Queen Creek is a town in Maricopa and Pinal counties in the state of Arizona. The population was 26,361 at the 2010 census.[3] As of July 2019, Queen Creek's population is estimated to be 50,890.[5]

Queen Creek, Arizona
Town
Queen Creek Town Hall
Seal
Location of Queen Creek in Maricopa County and Pinal County, Arizona
Queen Creek
Location in the United States
Queen Creek
Queen Creek (the United States)
Coordinates: 33°14′55″N 111°38′03″W[1]
Country United States
State Arizona
CountiesMaricopa, Pinal
Incorporated1989
Government
 • MayorGail Barney
Area
 • Total32.44 sq mi (84.01 km2)
 • Land32.41 sq mi (83.95 km2)
 • Water0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2)
Elevation1,404 ft (428 m)
Population
 • Total26,361
 • Estimate 
(2019)[4]
50,890
 • Density1,570.00/sq mi (606.18/km2)
Time zoneUTC-7 (MST (no DST))
ZIP codes
85142
Area code(s)480
FIPS code04-58150
Websitehttp://www.queencreek.org/

History

From the post office form on file at the National Archives, Queen Creek was originally known as Rittenhouse, the community growing up out of a railroad stop.[6] In 1919 the Queen Creek Farms Company was formed by C. H. Rittenhouse, constructing that railroad stop to ship the goods from the farm.[6] As for the creek it takes its name from, Queen Creek, flowed through Queen Canyon and was named for the Silver Queen Mine, but it was originally called Picket Post Creek.[6]

Geography

The Town of Queen Creek is primarily within Maricopa County, but the Town Limits also extend into Pinal County on the eastern and southern borders. Even further to the east and south of QC Town Limits in Pinal County is the large (est. 87,000 population in 2015) unincorporated community of San Tan Valley.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 25.8 square miles (66.8 km2), all of it land.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
19801,378—
19902,66793.5%
20004,31661.8%
201026,361510.8%
2019 (est.)50,890[4]93.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]

As of the census of 2010, there were 26,361 people, 8,557 households, residing in the town. The population density was 167.3 people per square mile (64.6/km2). There were 8,557 housing units at an average density of 49.6 per square mile (19.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 82.1% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 6.5% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 14.3% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. 17.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,218 households, out of which 50.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.9% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 11.8% were non-families. 8.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.54 and the average family size was 3.77.

In the town, the population age spread was: 35.4% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 4.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $63,702, and the median income for a family was $65,679. Males had a median income of $45,000 versus $31,447 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,592. About 6.0% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Town of Queen Creek is served by six public school districts as well as public charter schools and a private school. Queen Creek Unified School District serves the greatest number of Queen Creek students.

The other public district schools serving QC students are Higley Unified School District, Chandler Unified School District, J.O. Combs Unified School District, and the Coolidge Unified School District

Public charter schools serving QC students include... American Leadership Academy is a local public charter district with a K-6 school and 7–12 high school located on the same campus at the southwest corner of Hawes Road and Chandler Heights Blvd.

  • American Leadership Academy High School

Benjamin Franklin Charter School, Cambridge Academy, Heritage Academy are additional public charter schools educating students who live in Town of Queen Creek.

Higher Education offerings include Communiversity at Queen Creek (Rio Salado College).[8]

Cultural attractions
  • The American Heritage Festival – Since 2003 the largest annual educational living history event in Arizona and the Southwestern US.
  • Schnepf Farms – a family operated farm that holds frequent festivals
  • The Queen Creek Performing Arts Center
  • Horseshoe Park & Equestrian Centre – a large, publicly owned and operated equestrian facility that hosts regional events.
  • Queen Creek Library – the newest branch of the Maricopa County Library District that opened November 8, 2008.
  • Barney Family Sports Complex – a privately owned and operated indoor sports facility.
  • Queen Creek Olive Mill – a family owned company that grows and presses olives for the production of high quality extra virgin. It was featured on the Food Network show The Best Thing I Ever Ate.
  • Rittenhouse Elementary School/San Tan Historical Society Museum

Historic properties

There are various properties in the town of Queen Creek which are considered historical and have been included either in the National Register of Historic Places[9] or listed as such by the San Tan Historical Society. The following are images of some of these properties with a short description of the same.

Historical Structures in Queen Creek, Arizona
(NRHP = National Register of Historic Places)
(STHS = San Tan Historical Society.)
  • The Old Rittenhouse Elementary School, located on the S.E. corner of Ellsworth and Queen Creek roads was built in 1925. Used as a school through 1982, this building now houses the San Tan Historical Society. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. Reference 98000053
  • Ruins of the Desert Wells Stage Stop. Located just north of Chandler Heights Road on the east side of Sossaman Road, this site was a small spur stop for the Arizona Stage Company, founded in 1868. The stop provided water, shade, and protection for stages from Florence via Olberg and on to Mesa. Listed as historical by the San Tan Historical Society.
  • 1900s Railroad Water Tank on Rittenhouse Road.
Further information: List of historic properties in Queen Creek, Arizona

See also

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Queen Creek, Arizona
  2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  4. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  5. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  6. Granger, Byrd Howell (1983). Arizona's Names (X Marks the Place). Tucson, AZ: The Falconer Publishing Company. pp. 508 & 525. ISBN 0918080185.
  7. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  8. "Communiversity at Queen Creek". riosalado.edu. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  9. "National Register of Historical Places – Arizona (AZ), Maricopa County". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
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