Santa Cruz County, Arizona

Santa Cruz County
County
Official seal of Santa Cruz County 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
Founded	1899
Seat	Nogales
Area
• Total	1,238 sq mi (3,210 km2)
• Land	1,238 sq mi (3,210 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)  0.04%
Population  (2000)
• Total	38,381
• Density	30/sq mi (12/km2)
Website	www.co.santa-cruz.az.us

Santa Cruz County is in the south of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of 2007, its population was estimated to be 42,845, an increase of 4,464 people since the 2000 census count of 38,381. The county seat is Nogales.Template:GR

Santa Cruz County contains Tumacácori National Historical Park.

History

Santa Cruz County, created in 1899, is named after the Santa Cruz River which was named in the late 1600s by Father Kino. Santa Cruz means "holy cross" in Spanish. After that Father Kino built the famous mission which still stands today at the Tumacacori National Historic Park.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,238 square miles (3,207 km²), of which, 1,238 square miles (3,205 km²) of it is land and 0 square miles (1 km²) of it (0.04%) is water. Although Santa Cruz County is the smallest county in the State of Arizona, it is still larger in area than the national average of 1,611 km² (622 sq. miles) (See County (United States).)

Major Highways

• Interstate 19
• State Route 82
• State Route 83
• State Route 287

Adjacent Counties and Municipios

• Pima County, Arizona - west, north
• Cochise County, Arizona - east
• Nogales, Sonora, Mexico - south
• Santa Cruz, Sonora, Mexico - south
• Sáric, Sonora, Mexico - southwest

National protected areas

• Coronado National Forest (part)
• Las Cienegas National Conservation Area (part)
• Tumacácori National Historical Park

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 38,381 people, 11,809 households, and 9,506 families residing 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 [2].

There were 11,809 households out 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.

Communities

Map of the incorporated areas in Santa Cruz County.

City

• Nogales

Town

• Patagonia

Census-designated places

• Amado
• Arivaca
• Elgin
• Rio Rico Northeast
• Rio Rico Northwest
• Rio Rico Southeast
• Rio Rico Southwest
• Sásabe
• Sonoita
• Tubac
• Tumacacori-Carmen

Other community

• Ruby

External links

• Nogales-Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce