Navajo County, Arizona Explained

County:Navajo County
State:Arizona
Seal:Navajo County, Az.png
Founded Year:1895
Founded Date:March 21
Seat Wl:Holbrook
Largest City Wl:Show Low
Area Total Sq Mi:9960
Area Land Sq Mi:9950
Area Water Sq Mi:9.3
Area Percentage:0.09
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:106717
Pop Est As Of:2023
Population Est:109175
Population Density Sq Mi:auto
Time Zone:Mountain
Web:www.navajocountyaz.gov/
Ex Image:Historic Navajo County Courthouse and Museum cropped.jpg
Ex Image Cap:Historic Navajo County Courthouse and Museum in Holbrook
District:2nd

Navajo County (Navajo; Navaho: Tʼiisyaakin Áłtsʼíísí Bił Hahoodzo) is a county in the northern part of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2020 census, its population was 106,717.[1] The county seat is Holbrook.[2]

Navajo County comprises the Show Low, Arizona Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Navajo County contains parts of the Hopi Indian reservation, the Navajo Nation, and Fort Apache Indian Reservation.

History

Navajo County was split from Apache County on March 21, 1895. The first county sheriff was Commodore Perry Owens, a legendary gunman who had previously served as the sheriff of Apache County. It was the location for many of the events of the Pleasant Valley War.[3]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and (0.09%) is water.[4]

Navajo County offers not only the Monument Valley, but Keams Canyon, part of the Petrified Forest National Park, and one of the largest contiguous ponderosa pine forests in North America.

Nathan Korhman of The Atlantic described the county, in 2022, as "one of Arizona’s most rural regions", stating that a political canvasser would have to drive to get to a sequential house on a list to target, while in more urban areas such a canvasser would walk from place to place.[5]

Adjacent counties

Indian reservations

Navajo County has 6632.73sqmi of federally designated Indian reservation within its borders, the third most of any county in the United States (neighboring Apache County and Coconino County are first and second). In descending order of territory within the county, the reservations are the Navajo Nation, Hopi Indian Reservation, and Fort Apache Indian Reservation, all of which are partly located within Navajo County.

National protected areas

Demographics

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 97,470 people, 30,043 households, and 23,073 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 47,413 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 47.7% Native American, 45.9% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.2% from other races, and 5.9% from two or more races. 8.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.8% reported speaking Navajo at home, 5.9% other Southern Athabaskan languages, 4.7% Spanish, and 3.2% Hopi.[6]

There were 30,043 households, out of which 40.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.2% were non-families. 19.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.17 and the average family size was 3.68.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 35.4% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.2 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,569, and the median income for a family was $32,409. Males had a median income of $30,509 versus $21,621 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,609. About 23.4% of families and 29.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.6% of those under age 18 and 20.3% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 107,449 people, 35,658 households, and 25,923 families living in the county.[7] The population density was . There were 56,938 housing units at an average density of 5.7/mi2.[8] The racial makeup of the county was 49.3% white, 43.4% American Indian, 0.9% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 3.4% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 10.8% of the population.[7] In terms of ancestry, 13.7% were German, 12.5% were English, 9.3% were Irish, and 2.3% were American.[9]

Of the 35,658 households, 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 27.3% were non-families, and 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.50. The median age was 34.7 years.[7]

The median income for a household in the county was $39,774 and the median income for a family was $45,906. Males had a median income of $41,516 versus $28,969 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,745. About 19.1% of families and 24.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.6% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.[10]

2020 census of religion

Navajo County is among the most religiously diverse places in the United States. A 2020 census by the Public Religion Research Institute (unconnected to the official US census) calculates a religious diversity score of 0.876 for Navajo County, where 1 represents complete diversity (each religious group of equal size) and 0 a total lack of diversity. Only three other counties in the US have higher scores, all much more urban than Navajo County.[11]

Politics

Navajo County leans towards the Republican Party. Although its Native American population makes up nearly half of the county, a demographic that politically favors those of the Democratic Party, the county has a strong Latter-Day Saint presence (particularly in population centers such as Snowflake) that normally allows Republican candidates to carry the county by small margins. However, in the 2018 gubernatorial election, the county voted Republican over Democrat by a large margin (56–42%).

Education

School districts that serve the county include:[12]

There is a tribal elementary school called Little Singer Community School, affiliated with the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE).[13] Hataalii Yazhi, a medicine man,[14] in the 1970s proposed establishing the school so area children did not have to travel far for their education.[15] The school was named after him. The original buildings used two geodesic domes as features.[14] In 2014 the school had 81 students. By 2014 the original campus was described by the Associated Press as being in poor repair.[15] In 2004 the school first asked the BIE to get funding for a new building. The current campus had a cost of $28 million and an area of 32000square feet. It uses intersecting circles as an architectural feature.[14] The current building was dedicated in November 2020.[16] It is physically in an unincorporated area 6miles southeast of Birdsprings, and has a postal address of Winslow.[17]

Transportation

Major highways

Airports

The following public-use airports are located within the county:[18]

Communities and other places

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Other communities

Native American communities

Other places

Ghost towns

County population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Navajo County.[19] [20]

county seat

RankCity/Town/etc.Population (2010 Census)Municipal typeIncorporated
1Show Low10,660City1953
2Winslow9,655City1900
3Snowflake5,590Town1953 (founded 1878)
4Kayenta5,189CDP
5Holbrook5,053City1917
6Pinetop-Lakeside4,282Town1984
7Taylor4,112Town1966
8Whiteriver4,104CDP
9Lake of the Woods4,094CDP
10Heber-Overgaard2,822CDP
11Linden2,597CDP
12White Mountain Lake2,205CDP
13Pinetop Country Club1,794CDP
14Cibecue1,730CDP
15Wagon Wheel1,652CDP
16First Mesa1,555CDP
17North Fork1,417CDP
18Joseph City1,386CDP
19Dilkon1,184CDP
20Rainbow City968CDP
21Second Mesa962CDP
22Hotevilla-Bacavi957CDP
23Pinon904CDP
24Shongopovi831CDP
25Whitecone817CDP
26Hondah812CDP
27Low Mountain757CDP
28Kykotsmovi Village746CDP
29Seven Mile707CDP
30East Fork699CDP
31Shonto591CDP
32Greasewood547CDP
33McNary (mostly in Apache County)528CDP
34Chilchinbito506CDP
35Pinedale487CDP
36Tees Toh448CDP
37Winslow West (partially in Coconino County)438CDP
38Clay Springs401CDP
39Sun Valley316CDP
40Keams Canyon304CDP
41Turkey Creek294CDP
42Jeddito293CDP
43Indian Wells255CDP
44Woodruff191CDP
45Oljato-Monument Valley154CDP
46Fort Apache143CDP
47Seba Dalkai136CDP
48Hard Rock94CDP

See also

External links

35.4978°N -110.2897°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: State & County QuickFacts . United States Census Bureau . September 27, 2022.
  2. Web site: Find a County. June 7, 2011. National Association of Counties.
  3. News: Navajo County . . March 23, 1895 . 1 . Newspapers.com. March 29, 2022.
  4. Web site: 2010 Census Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2015. August 23, 2012.
  5. Web site: Kohrman. Nathan. 'She Made an Idiot Out of Me'. The Atlantic. December 14, 2022. June 26, 2023.
  6. Web site: Language Map Data Center . Mla.org . July 17, 2007. August 27, 2012.
  7. Web site: DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data . January 20, 2016. . https://archive.today/20200213020053/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US04017 . February 13, 2020. dead .
  8. Web site: Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County . January 20, 2016. . https://archive.today/20200213184708/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US04017 . February 13, 2020. dead .
  9. Web site: DP02 Selected Social Characteristics in the United States 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates . January 20, 2016. . https://archive.today/20200213021014/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US04017 . February 13, 2020. dead .
  10. Web site: DP03 Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates . January 20, 2016. . https://archive.today/20200213013629/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US04017 . February 13, 2020. dead .
  11. Public Religion Research Institute . Public Religion Research Institute . The 2020 Census of American Religion . 21 . September 21, 2021.
  12. Web site: 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Navajo County, AZ. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st04_az/schooldistrict_maps/c04017_navajo/DC20SD_C04017.pdf . October 9, 2022 . live. U.S. Census Bureau. July 25, 2022. - Text list
  13. Web site: Little Singer Community School. Bureau of Indian Education. July 12, 2021. 6 Miles S. Birdsprings Chapter N71, Winslow, AZ, 86047.
  14. Web site: Yurth. Cindy. Little Singer School gets bold new building . Navajo Times. November 5, 2020. July 12, 2021.
  15. News: Native American schools face decay, poverty. Associated Press. Richmond Times-Dispatch. October 19, 2014. July 12, 2021.
  16. Web site: Navajo Nation dedicates Little Singer Community School with Birdsprings community and Washington delegation. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.navajo-nsn.gov/News%20Releases/NNCouncil/2020/Nov/Navajo_Nation_dedicates_Little_Singer_Community_School_with_Birdsprings_community_and_Washington_delegation_PR_01.pdf . October 9, 2022 . live. Navajo Nation. November 2, 2020. July 12, 2021.
  17. Web site: Home. Little Singer Community Grant & Charter Jr. High School. August 28, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110828110907/http://littlesinger.org/. July 12, 2021. August 28, 2011. Little Singer Community School, 6 miles SE of Birdsprings Rte 71, Winslow, AZ 86047. - Web site: Little Singer Community School. National Center for Educational Statistics. July 12, 2021. Physical Address: 6 miles south of Birdspring Chapter Winslow, AZ 86047.
  18. Web site: Navajo County Public and Private Airports. www.tollfreeairline.com.
  19. Web site: By Decade.
  20. Web site: 2010 Census Block Maps - Geography - U.S. Census Bureau . December 7, 2017 . December 29, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141229025439/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/maps/block/2010/ . dead .