Congress, Arizona

Last updated
Congress, Arizona
CDP
Congress Arizona Circa 1914.jpg
View of Congress and the mine, c.1914.
Yavapai County incorporated areas Congress highlighted.svg
Location in Yavapai County and the state of Arizona
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Congress, Arizona
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 34°8′46″N112°50′48″W / 34.14611°N 112.84667°W / 34.14611; -112.84667 Coordinates: 34°8′46″N112°50′48″W / 34.14611°N 112.84667°W / 34.14611; -112.84667
Country United States
State Arizona
County Yavapai
Area
[1]
  Total37.77 sq mi (97.83 km2)
  Land37.74 sq mi (97.74 km2)
  Water0.04 sq mi (0.09 km2)
Elevation
3,045 ft (928 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total1,811
  Density47.99/sq mi (18.53/km2)
Time zone UTC-7 (MST)
ZIP code
85332
Area code 928
FIPS code 04-15220
GNIS feature ID 0003172

Congress (aka Old Congress) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. Once a gold-mining center for the Congress Mine and then a ghost town, Congress now serves as a retirement and bedroom community for nearby Wickenburg. The population was 1,811 at the 2020 census. [2]

Contents

History

Gold was discovered at the Congress Mine in 1884. By 1893, the Santa Fe, Prescott and Phoenix Railway passed within three miles of the mine, at Congress Junction. Congress boomed, and remained prosperous until the mid-1930s, when the mines closed. Total gold production at the Congress Mine exceeded $8 million, at the then-current price of $20.67 per ounce – or about $400 million, at the 2007 price. [3]

The post office moved to Congress Junction in 1938, where it remains. The community now known as Congress is the old Congress Junction. Little remains at the original mining-camp townsite. The old Congress Cemetery is nearby. [4] [5]

Geography

Congress is located at 34°8′46″N112°50′48″W / 34.14611°N 112.84667°W / 34.14611; -112.84667 (34.146068, -112.846533). [6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 37.7 square miles (98 km2), of which 37.6 square miles (97 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) (0.08%) is water.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Congress has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps. [7]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
2020 1,811
U.S. Decennial Census [8]

At the 2020 census, there were 1,811 people and 801 households residing in Congress. The population density was 47.9 per square mile. There were 1,166 housing units at an average density of 30.9 per square mile. [2]

The racial makeup of the CDP was 86.7% White, 1.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.6% Black or African American, 3.8% from other races, and 6.6% from two or more races. 9.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. [2]

There were 801 households, of which 11.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.2% were married couples living together, 17.9% had a male householder with no spouse present, 14.0% had a female householder with no spouse present. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.57. [2]

13.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 3.6% from 18 to 24, 13.3% from 25 to 44, 32.1% from 45 to 64, and 37.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 68.3 years. [2]

The median household income was $48,080 and the median family income was $57,675. About 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.4% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over. The employment rate was 24.4%, and 12.7% of residents had a bachelor's degree or higher. [2]

Education

Congress Elementary School District operates a local K-8 school. The district sends high school students to Wickenburg High School of the Wickenburg Unified School District. [9] Students attended Wickenburg USD for all grade levels prior to 2001, when the Congress K-8 facility opened. [10]

Government and infrastructure

The Congress Post Office, of the United States Postal Service, opened in 2001. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuba City, Arizona</span> Town in Coconino County, Arizona

Tuba City is an unincorporated town in Coconino County, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation, United States. It is the second-largest community in Coconino County. The population of the census-designated place (CDP) was 8,611 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morenci, Arizona</span> CDP in Greenlee County, Arizona

Morenci is a census-designated place (CDP) and company town in Greenlee County, Arizona, United States, and was founded by the Detroit Copper Mining Company of Arizona. The population was 2000 at the 2000 census and 1,489 at the 2010 census. The biggest employer in Morenci and the owner of the town is Freeport-McMoRan, the owner of the Morenci Mine, the largest copper mining operation in North America, and one of the largest copper mines in the world. The town was a site of the Arizona Copper Mine Strike of 1983. The large open-pit mine is north of the town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bouse, Arizona</span> CDP in La Paz County, Arizona

Bouse is a census-designated place (CDP) and ghost town in La Paz County, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1908 as a mining camp, the economy of Bouse is now based on tourism, agriculture, and retirees. The population was 996 at the 2010 census. It was originally named Brayton after the store owner John Brayton Martin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ehrenberg, Arizona</span> CDP and ghost town in La Paz County, Arizona

Ehrenberg, also historically spelled "Ehrenburg", is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in La Paz County, Arizona, United States. The population was 1,470 at the 2010 census. Ehrenberg is named for its founder, Herman Ehrenberg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salome, Arizona</span> CDP in La Paz County, Arizona

Salome is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in La Paz County, Arizona, United States. The population was 1,530 at the 2010 census. It was established in 1904 by Dick Wick Hall, Ernest Hall and Charles Pratt, and was named after Pratt's wife, Grace Salome Pratt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wenden, Arizona</span> Place in Arizona, United States

Wenden is an unincorporated community in La Paz County, Arizona, United States. The population was 728 at the 2010 census, up from 556 in 2000. For statistical purposes the United States Census Bureau has designated Wenden as a census-designated place (CDP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apache Junction, Arizona</span> City in Arizona, United States

Apache Junction is a city in Pinal and Maricopa counties in the state of Arizona. As of the 2020 census, the population was 38,499, most of whom lived in Pinal County. It is named for the junction of the Apache Trail and Old West Highway. The area where Apache Junction is located used to be known as Youngberg. Superstition Mountain, the westernmost peak of the Superstition Mountains, is to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New River, Arizona</span> CDP in Maricopa County, Arizona

New River is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. The population was 17,290 as of the 2020 census, up from 14,952 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sun City, Arizona</span> Retirement community city in Arizona, United States

Sun City is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, that is located within the Phoenix metropolitan area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wickenburg, Arizona</span> Town in Maricopa County, Arizona

Wickenburg is a town in Maricopa and Yavapai counties, Arizona, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the town was 7,474, up from 6,363 in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bagdad, Arizona</span> CDP in Yavapai County, Arizona

Bagdad is a copper mining community and census-designated place (CDP) in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States, in the western part of the state. It is one of only two remaining company towns in Arizona. The population was 1,876 at the 2010 census, up from 1,578 in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Canyon City, Arizona</span> CDP in Yavapai County, Arizona

Black Canyon City is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. The population was 2,837 at the 2010 census, up from 2,697 in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cordes Lakes, Arizona</span> CDP in Yavapai County, Arizona

Cordes Lakes is a census-designated place (CDP) in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. The population was 2,058 at the 2000 census. The Agua Fria National Monument lies to the east and south of the community and Arcosanti is to the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dewey–Humboldt, Arizona</span> Town in Yavapai County, Arizona

Dewey–Humboldt is a town in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. The population of the town was 3,894 according to the 2010 census. The Dewey–Humboldt area was a census-designated place (CDP) at the 2000 census, at which time its population was 6,295.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Montezuma, Arizona</span> CDP in Yavapai County, Arizona

Lake Montezuma is a census-designated place (CDP) in Yavapai County in the U.S. state of Arizona. The population was 5,111 at the 2020 census. The CDP includes the communities of Rimrock and McGuireville. Located along Interstate 17, it is 20 miles (32 km) south of Sedona and 8 miles (13 km) north of Camp Verde in central Arizona's Verde Valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mayer, Arizona</span> CDP in Yavapai County, Arizona

Mayer is a census-designated place (CDP) in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. The population was 1,408 at the 2000 census. Mayer includes three sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Mayer Apartments, Mayer Business Block, and Mayer Red Brick Schoolhouse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peeples Valley, Arizona</span> CDP in Yavapai County, Arizona

Peeples Valley is a census-designated place (CDP) in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. The population was 374 at the 2000 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilhoit, Arizona</span> Census-designated place in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States

Wilhoit is a census-designated place (CDP) in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. The population was 664 at the 2000 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yarnell, Arizona</span> CDP in Yavapai County, Arizona

Yarnell is a census-designated place (CDP) in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. The population of Yarnell was 649 at the 2010 census. Yarnell's economy is based on ranching, mining and services to travelers and retirees. Peeples Valley, three miles north, is closely linked to Yarnell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goodsprings, Nevada</span> Unincorporated community in Nevada, United States

Goodsprings is an unincorporated community in Clark County, Nevada, United States. The population was 229 at the 2010 census.

References

  1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Congress CDP, Arizona". United States Census Bureau. 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  3. "Sharlot Hall Museum archives". Archived from the original on 2011-10-13. Retrieved 2008-05-08.
  4. Varney, Philip (1980). "Two: The Wickenburg Area". Arizona's Best Ghost Towns. Flagstaff: Northland Press. pp. 26–27. ISBN   0873582179. LCCN   79-91724.
  5. Heatwole, Thelma (1991) [1951]. "Congress: Gold in the Hills". Ghost Towns and Historical Haunts in Arizona. Phoenix: American Traveler Press. pp. 47–48. ISBN   978-0914846109.
  6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. Climate Summary for Congress, Arizona
  8. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  9. "District". Congress Elementary School District . Retrieved 2022-01-28.
  10. 1 2 Gassen, Sarah Garrecht (2001-09-02). "School volunteer pledges catch on". Arizona Daily Star . Tucson, Arizona. pp. B1, B4, B5.Clipping of first, of second page, and of third page at Newspapers.com.