Santa Cruz County, Arizona

Santa Cruz is a county in southern Arizona. As of the 2010 census, its population is 47,420.[1] The county seat is Nogales.[2] The county was established in 1899. It borders Pima County to the north and west, Cochise County to the east, and the Mexican state of Sonora to the south.

Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County Courthouse
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Arizona
Arizona's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°32′00″N 110°50′00″W
Country United States
State Arizona
FoundedMarch 15, 1899
Named forSanta Cruz River
SeatNogales
Largest cityNogales
Area
  Total1,238 sq mi (3,210 km2)
  Land1,237 sq mi (3,200 km2)
  Water1.2 sq mi (3 km2)  0.1%%
Population
 (2010)
  Total47,420
  Estimate 
(2019)
46,498
  Density38/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.co.santa-cruz.az.us

Santa Cruz County includes the Nogales, Arizona Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Tucson-Nogales, Arizona Combined Statistical Area.

History

The Santa Cruz River flowing northwards near Kino Springs shortly after re-entering the U.S. from Mexico.

Santa Cruz County, formed on March 15, 1899, out of what was then Pima County, is named after the Santa Cruz River. The river originates in the Canelo Hills in the eastern portion of the county, crosses south into Mexico near the community of Santa Cruz, Sonora and then bends northwards returning into the United States (and Santa Cruz County) east of Nogales.

Father Eusebio Kino, an Italian explorer and missionary in the service of the Spanish Empire, named the Santa Cruz River - "holy cross" in Spanish - in the 1690s. In addition, Kino founded several missions to evangelize the different O'odham peoples living along the banks of the Santa Cruz River, including Missions San Cayetano del Tumacácori (1691) and San Gabriel de Guevavi (1691), as well as Los Reyes de Sonoita (1692) near Sonoita Creek. Along the river, but outside the boundaries of Santa Cruz County, Kino also founded Mission San Xavier del Bac (1692) near Tucson, Arizona, and Mission Santa Maria del Pilar (1693) in what is now Santa Cruz, Mexico. Kino's San Cayetano and San Gabriel missions were destroyed in the O'odham peoples' 1751 Pima Revolt and rebuilt as Missions Los Santos Ángeles de Guevavi (1751), San José de Tumacácori (1753), and San Cayetano de Calabazas (1756). The ruins of all three of these later missions are now protected by Tumacácori National Historical Park. Disease, warfare, overwork, and changes in land ownership during Spanish colonization led to the demographic decline of the O'odham peoples of Santa Cruz County. [3][4]

Geography

The junction of Arizona State Route 82 (Patagonia Highway) and Business-Loop 19 (Grand Avenue) in Nogales. The SR 82 overpass crosses over Grand Avenue, the Union Pacific Railroad, and the Nogales Wash.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,238 square miles (3,210 km2), of which 1,237 square miles (3,200 km2) is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2) (0.1%) is water.[5] It is the smallest county by area in Arizona.

Adjacent counties and municipalities

Major highways

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.
19004,545
19106,76648.9%
192012,68987.5%
19309,684−23.7%
19409,482−2.1%
19509,417−0.7%
196010,80814.8%
197013,96629.2%
198020,45946.5%
199029,67645.1%
200038,38129.3%
201047,42023.6%
2019 (est.)46,498[6]−1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2018[1]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 38,381 people, 11,809 households, and 9,506 families living in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile (12/km2). There were 13,036 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 76.00% White, 0.38% Black or African American, 0.65% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 19.73% from other races, and 2.63% from two or more races. 80.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 79.71% of the population reported speaking Spanish at home, while 19.51% speak English .

There were 11,809 households, of which 45.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.30% were married couples living together, 15.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.50% were non-families. 16.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.23 and the average family size was 3.66.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 33.60% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 26.60% from 25 to 44, 20.80% from 45 to 64, and 10.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 91.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,710, and the median income for a family was $32,057. Males had a median income of $27,972 versus $21,107 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,278. About 21.40% of families and 24.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.70% of those under age 18 and 23.20% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 47,420 people, 15,437 households, and 11,992 families living in the county.[11] The population density was 38.3 inhabitants per square mile (14.8/km2). There were 18,010 housing units at an average density of 14.6 per square mile (5.6/km2).[12] The racial makeup of the county was 73.5% white, 0.7% American Indian, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% black or African American, 22.9% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 82.8% of the population.[11]

The largest ancestry groups were:[13]

Of the 15,437 households, 45.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 22.3% were non-families, and 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.05 and the average family size was 3.51. The median age was 35.6 years.[11]

The median income for a household in the county was $36,519 and the median income for a family was $40,933. Males had a median income of $30,666 versus $25,135 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,209. About 20.6% of families and 25.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.8% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.[14]

Communities

Map of the incorporated areas in Santa Cruz County.

Cities

Towns

Census designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost Towns

Alto Canelo Calabasas
Duquesne Fort Buchanan Harshaw
Lochiel Oro Blanco Ruby

County population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Santa Cruz County.[15][16]

county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Population (2010 Census) Municipal type Incorporated
1 Nogales 20,837 City
2 Rio Rico 18,962 CDP
3 Tubac 1,191 CDP
4 Patagonia 913 Town
5 Sonoita 818 CDP
6 Tumacacori-Carmen 393 CDP
7 Amado 295 CDP
8 Beyerville 177 CDP
9 Elgin 161 CDP
10 Kino Springs 136 CDP

Politics

Owing to its border location and Hispanic majority population, Santa Cruz is a strongly Democratic county. The last Republican to win the county was George H.W. Bush in 1988, and although the Republicans won the county in six consecutive election from 1968 to 1988, three of these wins were by very narrow margins. Following the trends seen in majority Hispanic counties across the United States, Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump with 67.1% of the popular vote in the county, a slightly lower margin than Hillary Clinton's 71.1% vote share in 2016. Despite this rightward shift in the vote share, Santa Cruz County remains as the most Democrat-leaning county in Arizona.

Presidential elections results
Santa Cruz County vote
by party in presidential elections
[17][18][3]
Year Republican Democrat Others
2020 31.6% 6,194 67.1% 13,138 1.2% 249
2016 23.7% 3,897 71.1% 11,690 5.2% 846
2012 30.4% 4,235 68.2% 9,486 1.4% 190
2008 33.9% 4,518 65.1% 8,683 1.1% 143
2004 39.9% 4,668 59.1% 6,909 1.0% 112
2000 37.6% 3,344 58.8% 5,233 3.6% 316
1996 27.6% 2,256 64.2% 5,241 8.2% 670
1992 37.4% 3,024 43.5% 3,512 19.1% 1,544
1988 49.6% 3,320 48.9% 3,268 1.5% 102
1984 60.3% 3,855 38.6% 2,463 1.1% 71
1980 50.1% 2,674 39.1% 2,089 10.8% 577
1976 48.8% 2,312 47.8% 2,265 3.4% 161
1972 52.4% 2,137 45.8% 1,866 1.9% 76
1968 48.2% 1,702 44.1% 1,557 7.8% 274
1964 43.4% 1,503 56.5% 1,955 0.1% 2
1960 40.4% 1,265 59.6% 1,868 0.1% 2
1956 59.3% 1,646 40.7% 1,131 0.0% 1
1952 55.7% 1,716 44.3% 1,365
1948 42.0% 1,058 56.5% 1,424 1.5% 37
1944 36.0% 727 63.9% 1,291 0.2% 4
1940 38.9% 978 61.1% 1,536 0.1% 2
1936 29.3% 742 68.3% 1,729 2.3% 59
1932 27.7% 625 71.1% 1,606 1.3% 29
1928 48.8% 919 51.1% 962 0.2% 3
1924 39.9% 579 46.4% 673 13.7% 198
1920 54.6% 850 45.4% 706
1916 46.2% 666 50.4% 726 3.5% 50
1912 11.9% 56 53.3% 250 34.8% 163

See also

References

  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "History: Pima County". Pima County Justice Court. September 27, 2000. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved September 30, 2009.
  4. "Santa Cruz County". Arizona State Library Archives and Public Records: Arizona History and Archives Division. August 4, 2009. Archived from the original on September 15, 2009. Retrieved September 30, 2009.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 10, 2019.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  11. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  12. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  13. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  14. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  15. https://www.census.gov/2010census/
  16. https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/maps/block/2010/
  17. "Dave Leip's Atlas of United States Presidential Elections". Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  18. Scammon, Richard M. (compiler); America at the Polls: A Handbook of Presidential Election Statistics 1920-1964; pp. 42-44 ISBN 0405077114

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