Yuma County, Arizona

Yuma County, Arizona
Yuma County Courthouse
Location in the U.S. state of Arizona
Arizona's location in the U.S.
Founded	November 9, 1864
Seat	Yuma
Largest city	Yuma
Area
• Total	5,519 sq mi (14,294 km2)
• Land	5,514 sq mi (14,281 km2)
• Water	5.1 sq mi (13 km2), 0.09%
Population (est.)
• (2015)	204,275
• Density	37/sq mi (14/km²)
Congressional districts	3rd, 4th
Time zone	Mountain: UTC-7
Website	www.yumacountyaz.gov

Yuma County is a county located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2010 census, its population was 195,751.^[1] The county seat is Yuma.^[2]

Yuma County comprises the Yuma, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The county borders the Colorado River to the southwest, with three other states across the river: California and the Mexican states of Baja California and Sonora.

History

Yuma County was the one of four original Arizona Counties created by the 1st Arizona Territorial Legislature. The county territory was defined as being west of longitude 113° 20' and south of the Bill Williams River.^[3] Its original boundaries remained the same until 1982, when La Paz County was created from its northern half.

The original county seat was the city of La Paz until 1871 when it was moved to Arizona City, later renamed Yuma in 1873.^[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,519 square miles (14,290 km²), of which 5,514 square miles (14,280 km²) is land and 5.1 square miles (13 km²) (0.09%) is water.^[5] The lowest point in the state of Arizona is located on the Colorado River in San Luis in Yuma County, where it flows out of Arizona and into Sonora in Mexico.

Because of its location along the U.S.-Mexico border, large numbers of illegal aliens entering the United States illegally pass through Yuma County. From October to July 2005, some 124,400 illegal foreign nationals were apprehended in the area, a 46% increase on the previous year (Economist, August 27, 2005).

Yuma County is in the west, and northwestern regions of the north-south Sonoran Desert that extends through Sonora state Mexico to the border of northern Sinaloa state. West of the county across the Colorado River in southeast California is the Colorado Desert, (a northwestern subregion of the Sonoran Desert). North of the county, with La Paz County the regions merge into the southeastern Mojave Desert. Southwest of Yuma County, is the entirety of Northwest Mexico, at the north shoreline of the Gulf of California, and the outlet of the Colorado River into the Colorado River Delta region, now altered with lack of freshwater inputs. Notable mountains in Yuma County include the Gila Mountains and the Tule Mountains.

Adjacent counties and municipalities

Major highways

• Interstate 8
• U.S. Route 95
• Arizona State Route 195
• State Route 280

National protected areas

• Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge (part)
• Imperial National Wildlife Refuge (part)
• Kofa National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Climate

Demographics

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 160,026 people, 53,848 households, and 41,678 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile (11/km²). There were 74,140 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 68.3% White, 2.2% Black or African American, 1.6% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 23.6% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. 50.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 43.7% reported speaking Spanish at home .

There were 53,848 households out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.3% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.6% were non-families. 18.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the county the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 102.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,182, and the median income for a family was $34,659. Males had a median income of $27,390 versus $22,276 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,802. About 15.5% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.9% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 195,751 people, 64,767 households, and 48,976 families residing in the county.^[13] The population density was 35.5 inhabitants per square mile (13.7/km²). There were 87,850 housing units at an average density of 15.9 per square mile (6.1/km²).^[14] The racial makeup of the county was 70.4% white, 2.0% black or African American, 1.6% American Indian, 1.2% Asian, 0.2% Pacific islander, 20.8% from other races, and 3.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 59.7% of the population.^[13] In terms of ancestry, 10.6% were German, 7.4% were English, 6.9% were Irish, and 3.2% were American.^[15]

Of the 64,767 households, 41.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 24.4% were non-families, and 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.39. The median age was 33.8 years.^[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $40,340 and the median income for a family was $42,718. Males had a median income of $36,345 versus $27,262 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,418. About 17.6% of families and 20.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.7% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.^[16]

Government

Of the several departments and services of Yuma County government,^[17] the Board of Supervisors is the governing body of the county and a number of special districts. The Board adopts ordinances, establishes programs, levies taxes, appropriates funds, appoints certain officials, and zones property and regulates development in the unincorporated area. In addition, members of the Board represent the County on numerous intergovernmental agencies.

Communities

Map of Yuma County showing incorporated and unincorporated areas as well as Indian reservations in the county.

Cities

• San Luis
• Somerton
• Yuma (county seat)

Town

• Wellton

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

• Mohawk
• Roll
• Speece Addition

Ghost towns

County population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Yuma County.^[18][19]

† county seat

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Yuma County, Arizona

Notes

References

Specific

General

• "Cross-Border, Cross-Purposes". The Economist. August 27-September 2, 2005.

External links

• Yuma County official web site
• Geographic data related to Yuma County, Arizona at OpenStreetMap

	Imperial County, California	La Paz County
	Municipality of Mexicali		Maricopa County Pima County
		Yuma County, Arizona
		State of Sonora, Mexico

Municipalities and communities of Yuma County, Arizona, United States
County seat: Yuma
Cities	San Luis Somerton Yuma
Town	Wellton
CDPs	Avenue B and C Aztec Buckshot Dateland Donovan Estates Drysdale El Prado Estates Fortuna Foothills Gadsden Martinez Lake Orange Grove Mobile Manor Padre Ranchitos Rancho Mesa Verde Tacna Wall Lane Wellton Hills
Unincorporated communities	Araby Asher Blaisdell Colfred Engesser Junction Growler Horn Hyder Kim Kinter Kofa Kool Corner Laguna Mohawk Roll Speece Addition
Indian reservations	Cocopah Indian Reservation Fort Yuma Indian Reservation‡
Ghost towns	Arizona City Castle Dome Castle Dome Landing Colorado City Dome Filibusters Camp Fortuna Gila City La Laguna Mission Camp Owl Pedrick's Polaris
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

State of Arizona
Phoenix (capital)
Topics	Index Climate Delegations Geography Government History World War II Museums Music People Transportation Visitor attractions
Society	Culture Crime Demographics Economy Education Politics
Regions	Arizona Strip Arizona Sun Corridor Coconino Plateau Colorado Plateau Grand Canyon Kaibab Plateau Mogollon Plateau Mogollon Rim Mojave Desert Monument Valley North Central Arizona Northeast Arizona Northern Arizona Oak Creek Canyon Phoenix Metropolitan Area Safford area San Francisco Volcanic Field Sonoran Desert Southern Arizona (Traditional Arizona) Transition zone Verde Valley White Mountains
Counties	Apache Cochise Coconino Gila Graham Greenlee La Paz Maricopa Mohave Navajo Pima Pinal Santa Cruz Yavapai Yuma
Cities	Chandler Flagstaff Gilbert Glendale Kingman Lake Havasu City Mesa Peoria Phoenix Prescott Scottsdale Sierra Vista Tempe Tucson Yuma

Coordinates: 32°47′13″N 113°58′58″W / 32.78694°N 113.98278°W / 32.78694; -113.98278