Coconino County, Arizona

Coconino County
County
Old Coconino County Courthouse in Flagstaff
Flag Logo
Location within the U.S. state of Arizona
Arizona's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°42′N111°30′W / 35.700°N 111.500°W / 35.700; -111.500
Country	United States
State	Arizona
Founded	February 18, 1891
Named for	Hopi designation for the Havasupai, Hualapai, and/or Yavapai tribes
Seat	Flagstaff
Largest city	Flagstaff
Area
• Total	18,661 sq mi (48,330 km2)
• Land	18,619 sq mi (48,220 km2)
• Water	43 sq mi (110 km2)  0.2%
Population  (2020)
• Total	145,101
• Estimate  (2023)	144,472
• Density	7.8/sq mi (3.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	coconino.az.gov

Humphreys Peak, the highest point in Arizona

Great blue herons at Tonys Tank (near Mormon Lake), Coconino National Forest, San Francisco Peaks in background

Hahonogeh Canyon

Grand Canyon Railway 29 in Williams

Coconino County is a county in the north-central part of the U.S. state of Arizona. Its population was 145,101 at the 2020 census. ^[1] The county seat is Flagstaff. ^[2] The county takes its name from Cohonino, ^[3] a name applied to the Havasupai people. It is the second-largest county by area in the contiguous United States, behind San Bernardino County, California. It has 18,661 sq mi (48,300 km²), or 16.4% of Arizona's total area, and is larger than the nine smallest states in the U.S.

Coconino County comprises the Flagstaff metropolitan statistical area, Grand Canyon National Park, the federally recognized Havasupai Nation, and parts of the federally recognized Navajo, Hualapai, and Hopi nations. As a result, its relatively large Native American population makes up nearly 30% of the county's total population; it is mostly Navajo, with smaller numbers of other tribes.

The county was the setting for George Herriman's early 20th-century Krazy Kat comic strip.

History

After European Americans completed the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad in 1883, the region of northern Yavapai County began to undergo rapid growth. The people of the northern reaches had tired of the rigors of traveling to Prescott to conduct county business. They believed that they should have their own county jurisdiction, so petitioned in 1887 for secession from Yavapai and creation of a new Frisco County. This did not take place, but Coconino County was formed in 1891 and its seat was designated as Flagstaff.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 18,661 square miles (48,330 km²), of which 18,619 square miles (48,220 km²) are land and 43 square miles (110 km²) (0.2%) are covered by water. ^[4] It is the largest county by area in Arizona and the second-largest county in the United States (excluding boroughs in Alaska) after San Bernardino County in California. It has more land area than each of the following states: Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

The highest natural point in the county, as well as the entire state, is Humphreys Peak at 12,637 ft or 3,852 m. The Barringer Meteor Crater is located in Coconino County.

Adjacent counties

• Mohave County – west
• Yavapai County – south
• Gila County – south
• Navajo County – east
• San Juan County, Utah – northeast
• Kane County, Utah – north

Indian reservations

Coconino County has 7,142 sq mi (18,497.7 km²) of federally designated Indian reservations, second in scale only to Apache County. In descending order of area within the county, the reservations are the Navajo, Hualapai, Hopi, Havasupai, and Kaibab. The Havasupai Reservation is the only one that lies entirely within the county's borders.

National protected areas

• Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest (part)
• Coconino National Forest (part)
• Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (part)
• Grand Canyon National Park (part)
• Kaibab National Forest (part)
• Prescott National Forest (part)
• Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
• Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
• Walnut Canyon National Monument
• Wupatki National Monument

The Grand Canyon

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1900	5,514		—
1910	8,130		47.4%
1920	9,982		22.8%
1930	14,064		40.9%
1940	18,770		33.5%
1950	23,910		27.4%
1960	41,857		75.1%
1970	48,326		15.5%
1980	75,008		55.2%
1990	96,591		28.8%
2000	116,320		20.4%
2010	134,421		15.6%
2020	145,101		7.9%
2023 (est.)	144,472	[5]	−0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [6] 1790–1960 [7] 1900–1990 [8] 1990–2000 [9] 2010–2020 [1]

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, 116,320 people, 40,448 households, and 26,938 families were living in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile (2.3 people/km²). The 53,443 housing units averaged 3 units per square mile (1.2 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 63.1% White, 28.5% Native American, 1.0% African American, 0.8% Asian, 4.2% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. About 10.9% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. Around 18.6% reported speaking Navajo at home, while 6.6% spoke Spanish. ^[10]

Of the 40,448 households, 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were not families. About 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80, and the average family size was 3.36.

In the county, the age distribution was 28.7% under 18, 14.4% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 7.0% who were 65 or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,256, and for a family was $45,873. Males had a median income of $32,226 versus $25,055 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,139. About 13.1% of families and 18.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.3% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, 134,421 people, 46,711 households, and 29,656 families were living in the county. ^[11] The population density was 7.2 inhabitants per square mile (2.8 inhabitants/km²). The 63,321 housing units had an average density of 3.4 units per square mile (1.3 units/km²). ^[12] The racial makeup of the county was 61.7% White (55.2% non-Hispanic White), 27.3% American Indian, 1.4% Asian, 1.2% African American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 5.2% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 13.5% of the population. ^[11] The largest ancestry groups were: ^[13]

• 23.2% Navajo
• 14.5% German
• 11.3% Mexican
• 9.9% English
• 9.6% Irish
• 3.6% Italian
• 2.7% American
• 2.2% Swedish
• 2.1% Scottish
• 2.0% French
• 1.9% Norwegian
• 1.9% Polish
• 1.8% Scotch-Irish
• 1.3% Dutch

Of the 46,711 households, 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.5% were not families, and 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.69, and the average family size was 3.26. The median age was 31.0 years. ^[11]

The median income for a household in the county was $49,510 and for a family was $58,841. Males had a median income of $42,331 versus $31,869 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,632. About 11.6% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.5% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over. ^[14]

Communities

Map showing the borders for incorporated and unincorporated areas in Coconino County. Also shown are borders for Indian reservations.

Cities

• Flagstaff (county seat)
• Page
• Sedona (mostly in Yavapai County)
• Williams

Towns

• Fredonia
• Tusayan

Census-designated places

Dinosaur track near Tuba City

• Bellemont
• Bitter Springs
• Blue Ridge
• Cameron
• Doney Park
• Forest Lakes
• Fort Valley
• Grand Canyon Village
• Greenehaven
• Kachina Village
• Kaibab Estates West
• Kaibito
• LeChee
• Leupp
• Moenkopi
• Mormon Lake
• Mountain View Ranches
• Mountainaire
• Munds Park
• Oak Creek Canyon
• Parks
• Red Lake
• Supai
• Timberline-Fernwood
• Tolani Lake
• Tonalea
• Tuba City
• Valle
• Winslow West (mostly in Navajo County)

Other communities

• Big Springs
• Gray Mountain
• Happy Jack
• Jacob Lake
• Marble Canyon
• North Rim
• Rare Metals
• Robbers Roost
• Ryan
• Winona

Ghost towns

• Canyon Diablo
• Two Guns

Indian reservations

• Havasupai Indian Reservation
• Hopi Reservation
• Hualapai Indian reservation
• Kaibab Indian Reservation
• Navajo Nation

County population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Coconino County. ^{[15] [16]} † county seat

Rank	City/town/etc.	Population (2010 Census)	Municipal type	Incorporated
1	† Flagstaff	65,870	City	1928
2	Sedona (mostly in Yavapai County)	10,031	City	1988
3	Tuba City	8,611	CDP
4	Page	7,247	City	1975
5	Doney Park	5,395	CDP
6	Williams	3,023	City	1901
7	Kachina Village	2,622	CDP
8	Grand Canyon Village	2,004	CDP
9	Kaibito	1,522	CDP
10	LeChee	1,443	CDP
11	Fredonia	1,314	Town	1956
12	Parks	1,188	CDP
13	Mountainaire	1,119	CDP
14	Moenkopi	964	CDP
15	Leupp	951	CDP
16	Cameron	885	CDP
17	Valle	832	CDP
18	Fort Valley	779	CDP
19	Munds Park	631	CDP
20	Tusayan	558	Town	2010
21	Tonalea	549	CDP
22	Bitter Springs	452	CDP
23	Winslow West (mostly in Navajo County )	438	CDP
24	Tolani Lake	280	CDP
25	Supai	208	CDP
26	Kaibab (mostly in Mohave County )	124	CDP

Politics

Coconino County has trended towards the Democratic Party in modern times after being a Republican stronghold between the 1950s and 1980s. It was won by every Republican presidential nominee between 1952 and 1988; however, no Republican since George H. W. Bush in 1988 has managed to come within 6% of reclaiming the county. It is the only county from any state west of the Mississippi River –apart from Black Belt Madison Parish and Tensas Parish which are directly adjacent to that river –that voted for Barry Goldwater in 1964 but has since voted for the Democratic nominee in the eight most recent presidential elections.

United States presidential election results for Coconino County, Arizona ^[17]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	27,052	36.74%	44,698	60.70%	1,882	2.56%
2016	21,108	35.31%	32,404	54.20%	6,272	10.49%
2012	21,220	40.84%	29,257	56.30%	1,485	2.86%
2008	22,186	40.65%	31,433	57.59%	964	1.77%
2004	22,526	43.00%	29,243	55.82%	622	1.19%
2000	17,562	42.96%	20,280	49.60%	3,041	7.44%
1996	13,638	35.40%	20,475	53.15%	4,409	11.45%
1992	13,769	32.31%	18,888	44.32%	9,961	23.37%
1988	16,649	51.80%	14,660	45.61%	831	2.59%
1984	17,581	59.13%	11,528	38.77%	626	2.11%
1980	14,613	55.78%	7,832	29.89%	3,754	14.33%
1976	11,036	51.53%	9,450	44.12%	932	4.35%
1972	10,611	61.02%	6,250	35.94%	528	3.04%
1968	6,765	59.38%	3,504	30.76%	1,123	9.86%
1964	5,756	52.15%	5,270	47.75%	11	0.10%
1960	4,870	54.45%	4,065	45.45%	9	0.10%
1956	4,044	63.50%	2,314	36.33%	11	0.17%
1952	3,827	61.38%	2,408	38.62%	0	0.00%
1948	2,093	47.13%	2,309	51.99%	39	0.88%
1944	1,786	44.34%	2,236	55.51%	6	0.15%
1940	1,913	38.64%	3,025	61.10%	13	0.26%
1936	1,140	29.77%	2,578	67.33%	111	2.90%
1932	1,110	28.81%	2,689	69.79%	54	1.40%
1928	1,717	59.19%	1,172	40.40%	12	0.41%
1924	1,045	45.10%	711	30.69%	561	24.21%
1920	1,342	63.21%	781	36.79%	0	0.00%
1916	802	38.71%	1,171	56.52%	99	4.78%
1912	237	27.72%	339	39.65%	279	32.63%

Economy

Grand Canyon Airlines and Air Grand Canyon are headquartered on the grounds of Grand Canyon National Park Airport in Tusayan. ^{[18] [19]}

In 2017, the largest employers in Coconino County were: ^[20]

#	Employer	# of employees
1	Northern Arizona University	3,500
2	W.L. Gore & Associates	3,060
3	Flagstaff Medical Center	2,180
4	Flagstaff Unified School District	1,590
5	Aramark	1,310
6	Coconino County	1,080
7	City of Flagstaff	750
8	National Park Service	700
9	Page Unified School District 8	680
10	State of Arizona	670
11	Grand Canyon Railway	600
12	Haven of Flagstaff	510
13	Salt River Project	500
14	United States Forest Service	490
15	Walmart	470

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, in 2019 the employment of Coconino County in the following sectors was: ^[21]

Sector	Number of jobs	Percent	National percent
Accommodation and food services	14,472	16.6%	7.5%
Health care and social assistance	9,901	11.4%	11.3%
Retail trade	8,201	9.4%	9.4%
State government	8,078	9.3%	2.7%
Local government	7,780	8.9%	7.1%
Manufacturing	4,202	4.8%	6.7%
Real estate and rental and leasing	4,072	4.7%	4.8%
Other services (except government)	3,883	4.5%	5.8%
Professional, scientific, and technical services	3,777	4.3%	7.2%
Construction	3,766	4.3%	5.5%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation	3,507	4.0%	2.4%
Federal civilian	2,687	3.1%	1.4%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services	2,592	3.0%	6.2%
Transportation and warehousing	2,162	2.5%	4.5%
Farming	2,110	2.4%	1.3%
Finance and insurance	1,813	2.1%	5.4%
Wholesale trade	1,235	1.4%	3.2%
Educational services	1,109	1.3%	2.4%
Information	715	0.8%	1.7%
Military	291	0.3%	1.0%
Forestry, fishing, and related activities	230	0.3%	0.5%
Management of companies and enterprises	216	0.2%	1.4%
Utilities	185	0.2%	0.3%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction	175	0.2%	0.6%
Total	87,159	100.0%	100.0%

Transportation

Flagstaff in Coconino County is a major highway junction, with Interstate 40 extending to the east and the west (connecting with Williams and Winslow, Arizona, for example), and with Interstate 17 extending south from Flagstaff to Phoenix and Maricopa County. U.S. Routes 89 and 180 extend north from Flagstaff and connect it with the Grand Canyon National Park.

The Grand Canyon National Park Airport is a public airport located in Tusayan, ^[18] near the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Flagstaff Pulliam Airport is a public airport located four miles (6.4 km) south of the central business district of Flagstaff, it is mostly used for general aviation but is also served by two commercial airlines.

There is a Greyhound Bus Lines station in Flagstaff, with regular service east–west along Interstate 40, and also north–south service to Phoenix along Interstate 17.

Amtrak has a passenger railroad stations in Flagstaff and formerly in Williams, with daily service on the Southwest Chief to the east towards Chicago, and to the west towards Los Angeles.

The Grand Canyon Railway, a tourist railroad, links Williams with the canyon's South Rim in the Grand Canyon National Park and has service every day except Christmas.

The Mountain Line provides public transportation bus service in the Flagstaff area.

Major highways

• I-17
• I-40
• BL 40
• US 66
• US 89
• US 89A
• US 160
• US 180
• State Route 64
• State Route 87
• State Route 89
• State Route 89A
• State Route 98
• State Route 99
• State Route 260
• State Route 264

Education

School districts include: ^[22]

K-12:

• Ash Fork Joint Unified School District
• Flagstaff Unified School District
• Fredonia-Moccasin Unified School District
• Grand Canyon Unified School District
• Page Unified School District
• Tuba City Unified School District
• Williams Unified School District

Elementary:

• Chevelon Butte School District
• Maine Consolidated School District

According to Coconino County's parcel viewer, some reservation areas are in the "Unorganized School District #00". ^[23] According to Arizona law, an unorganized school district is one that does not have a high school. ^[24] The 2010 U.S. Census school district map for Coconino County shows areas in the Havasupai and Hualapai reservations as being in "School District Not Defined". ^[25]

Charter schools:

• Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy
• Northland Preparatory Academy

Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)-operated and affiliated tribal schools

• Greyhills Academy High School
• Havasupai Elementary School (BIE-operated)
• Kaibeto Boarding School (BIE-operated)
• Leupp Schools, Inc.
• Tuba City Boarding School (BIE-operated)

Tertiary education:

• Coconino County Community College
• Diné College Tuba City Center
• Northern Arizona University

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Coconino County, Arizona
• USS Coconino County (LST-603)

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "History of Coconino". Archived from the original on January 17, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
5. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
10. "Language Map Data Center".
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 February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
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. Promotions, Center for New Media and. "US Census Bureau 2010 Census".
16. Geography, US Census Bureau. "2010 Census Block Maps".
17. "Dave Leip's Atlas of United States Presidential Elections" . Retrieved June 11, 2011.
18. "Our Location Archived July 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine ." Grand Canyon Airlines. Retrieved on October 3, 2009.
19. "Locate Us Archived March 23, 2009, at the Wayback Machine ." Air Grand Canyon. Retrieved on October 3, 2009.
20. Coconino County – Business, Jobs, and Industry Highlights
21. "Apps Test | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)". Apps.bea.gov. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
22. "2020 census - school district reference map: Coconino County, AZ" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved July 23, 2022. - Text list
23. "Coconino County Parcel Viewer". Coconino County. Retrieved July 11, 2021. - Permalink to map with school district boundary Archived January 17, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
24. "Article 15 Student Eligibility Rules" (PDF). Paradise Valley Unified School District. p. 38 (PDF p. 2/14). Retrieved July 11, 2021.
25. "SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Coconino County, AZ" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved March 12, 2024. - Text list

External links

• Geographic data related to Coconino County, Arizona at OpenStreetMap
• Official website
• Coconino County profile Archived March 14, 2009, at the Wayback Machine at Arizona Department of Commerce
• Geologic Map of the Eastern Quarter of the Flagstaff 30ʹ x 60ʹ Quadrangle, Coconino County, Northern Arizona United States Geological Survey