Pima, Arizona

Pima, Arizona
Town
Downtown Pima
Flag
Motto:  "Pioneers of the Valley" [1]
Location of Pima in Graham County, Arizona.
Pima, Arizona Location in the United States
Coordinates: 32°52′32″N109°50′05″W / 32.87556°N 109.83472°W / 32.87556; -109.83472
Country	United States
State	Arizona
County	Graham
Area [2]
• Total	7.36 sq mi (19.05 km2)
• Land	7.30 sq mi (18.90 km2)
• Water	0.06 sq mi (0.16 km2)
Elevation [3]	2,881 ft (878 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,847
• Density	390.21/sq mi (150.67/km2)
Time zone	UTC-7 (MST (no DST))
ZIP codes	85535, 85543
Area code	928
FIPS code	04-55560
GNIS feature ID	2413130 [3]
Website	www.pimatown.az.gov

Pima is a town in Graham County, Arizona, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 2,387, ^[4] up from 1,989 in 2000. The estimated population in 2018 was 2,512. ^[5] Pima is part of the Safford Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Despite its name, it is not located in nearby Pima County.

History

Pima was settled by Mormon settlers in 1879. It was originally named "Smithville". The first settlers had been living in Forrest Dale, but then were told they had to leave because the location was on Indian land. Unlike other Mormon settlements of the era, Smithville was not planned by the leaders of the church. ^[6]

Joseph K. Rogers was the first branch president at Pima, being appointed to this office before any of the settlers arrived. ^[7] The branch was organized into a ward in 1880. ^[8] In 1930 the ward had 666 members. Pima had a population of 980, and a total of 1,260 people resided within the boundaries of the Pima ward. ^[9] In 1990 Pima had 1,725 residents.

In 1882 Jesse N. Smith predicted that a Mormon temple would one day be built in Pima. ^[10] The Gila Valley Arizona Temple is currently at a site between Pima and Thatcher in Central, Arizona, ^[11] within the boundaries of the Pima Arizona Stake of the Church.

Geography

Pima is located in central Graham County in the valley of the Gila River. U.S. Route 70 passes through the town, leading southeast 8 miles (13 km) to Safford, the county seat, and northwest 68 miles (109 km) to Globe.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.9 square miles (15.4 km²), of which 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²), or 0.76%, is water. ^[4]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	750		—
1900	521		−30.5%
1910	500		−4.0%
1920	515		3.0%
1930	980		90.3%
1940	867		−11.5%
1950	824		−5.0%
1960	806		−2.2%
1970	1,184		46.9%
1980	1,599		35.1%
1990	1,725		7.9%
2000	1,989		15.3%
2010	2,387		20.0%
2020	2,847		19.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [12]

As of the census ^[13] of 2000, there were 1,989 people, 663 households, and 521 families residing in the town. The population density was 787.0 inhabitants per square mile (303.9/km²). There were 735 housing units at an average density of 290.8 per square mile (112.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 87.0% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 9.9% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. 20.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 663 households, out of which 42.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.3% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.4% were non-families. 18.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.43.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 34.3% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,985, and the median income for a family was $34,900. Males had a median income of $31,765 versus $21,042 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,896. About 15.0% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.3% of those under age 18 and 15.6% of those age 65 or over.

Gallery

Historic Buildings

• 
  Pima Town Hall
• 
  Former Bank of Pima building
• 
  Pima Theater built in 1930

Transportation

San Carlos Apache Nnee Bich'o Nii Transit provides transportation from Pima to the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, Safford and Globe. ^[14]

See also

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Arizona
• List of cities and towns in Arizona

References

1. "Town of Pima: Pioneers of the Valley". Town of Pima. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
2. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Pima, Arizona
4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Pima town, Arizona". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved November 8, 2016.^{[ dead link ]}
5. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates" . Retrieved June 4, 2019.
6. McClintock, James H. (1921). Mormon Settlement in Arizona. Phoenix, Arizona: Office of the Arizona State Historian. pp.  244–246. Retrieved April 20, 2009.
7. Jenson, Andrew. Encyclopedic History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1941) p. 654
8. Jenson. Encyclopedic History. p. 654.
9. Jenson. Encyclopedic History. p. 654
10. McClintock (1921), p. 223.
11. Adair, Jill (February 16, 2009). "Ground broken for Gila Valley temple". Church News. Retrieved April 8, 2009.
12. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
14. "Globe/Safford Route". Nnee Bich'o Nii Transit. Retrieved January 27, 2020.

External links

• Town of Pima official website