Arizona City, Arizona

Arizona City is an unincorporated census-designated place (CDP) in southwestern Pinal County, Arizona, United States. It is located near the junction of Interstate 8 and Interstate 10 at the midpoint between Phoenix and Tucson, approximately from the downtown of both cities. The population was 10,475 as of the 2010 U.S. census. It is estimated to be approximately 11,030 as of a 2017 U.S. Census estimate. Arizona City is a rural, primarily residential community that features a 48-acre (19 ha) man-made lake. These attributes make the community a popular snowbird destination, with the population increasing by as much as 5,000 people in the winter months to reach the census figure of 11,030. Most recently after the last Census, many full-time residents have relocated to the unincorporated town.

History

The area around what is now known as Arizona City was used as a resting area for Juan Bautista de Anza's expedition party after they emerged from Apache land in 1775. The area is considered an official part of the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail. This historic trail begins in Sonora, Mexico, and ends at the Presidio in San Francisco, California. As the community grew, a Contracted United States Post Office with Free Group E PO Box service was established on April 1, 1962, and Arizona City began appearing on Rand McNally road atlases in 1963. It is uncertain how the name of the community was chosen.

From time to time, most recently in 2007, attempts have been made to incorporate as a municipality, but they have so far always been defeated at the ballot box, except for the first effort in the early 1980s, which succeeded at the ballot box but was overturned in court because there were not enough residents at that time to incorporate.

The area in and around Arizona City contained several of the 272 concrete Corona Satellite Calibration Targets, which were used to calibrate cameras on the satellites in the Corona Satellite Program that lasted from 1959 to 1972. These satellites were used for espionage on the Soviet Union and China during the Cold War. Many of these have since been removed, but one still exists at the corner of West Alsdorf Road and South Sunland Gin Road in the center of the community.

Geography

left|thumb|Northerly view towards the Casa Grande Mountains along Henness Road in Arizona City.

Arizona City is located at (32.751641, −111.679283). According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , of which is land and (1.29%) is water.

The CDP is approximately above sea level and located in an area of Pinal County known as the Santa Cruz Flats. According to the Arizona Geological Survey, the valley floor surrounding Arizona City and nearby Eloy has lowered by more than in the past 50 years due to rapid depletion of the groundwater aquifers underneath the region. In 2017, a new earth fissure approximately long and wide opened up just south of Arizona City, another consequence caused by the rapid consumption of groundwater.

Arizona City itself is mostly flat, lying in the Santa Cruz Valley in the center of three low mountain ranges; the Sawtooth Mountains to the south, the Picacho Mountains to the east, and the Casa Grande Mountains to the north. Picacho Peak, a prominent peak with a summit elevation of , is located approximately to the southeast adjacent to Interstate 10. Directly to the west of the CDP is the expansive Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation, Due to extensive farmland in the valley, the area is also very prone to dust storms, which can occur any month of the year during windy conditions.

Demographics

Arizona City first appeared on the 1990 U.S. Census as a census-designated place (CDP).

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Arizona City had a population of 9,868. The median age was 44.8 years. 22.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 25.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.4 males age 18 and over.

96.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 3.8% lived in rural areas.

There were 3,908 households in Arizona City, of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 46.9% were married-couple households, 19.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

Demographic estimates

Average household size was 2.56 persons. 62.3% of households were owner-occupied, and the median value of these housing units was $99,300. The median gross rent in Arizona City was $844 per month.

One of these developments is the Attesa Motorsports Park, which will be a 2,360-acre (955 ha) motorsports complex featuring two road courses, a driver experience center, and an event center. This project alone is expected to create more than 10,000 permanent jobs and will be located to the northwest of Arizona City, adjacent to Interstate 8.

Phoenixmart was promised to boost the economy, the project never came to fruition and the site is just an empty building. Lucid Motors, a Silicon Valley electric car company startup, has confirmed that it will build a $700 million electric car manufacturing plant in the nearby city of Casa Grande that will employ 2,000 workers by 2022.

Services in the area are very limited and travel outside of area is required for basic necessities (30 minutes - 1 Hour) to surrounding cities. USPS in the area is a contracted post office which offers free Group E PO Box service to residents since they do not service the area (curbside delivery or home delivery) as surrounding areas do. Petitions have been established to change the current inefficient and inadequate method.

Transportation

25px Interstate 8
25px Interstate 10

Interstate 8 and transcontinental Interstate 10 intersect only north of Arizona City, providing freeway access to major Arizona cities such as Phoenix, Tucson, and Yuma, as well as San Diego and Los Angeles in California. Both freeways can be accessed via Sunland Gin Road. The main east–west surface street through the CDP is Battaglia Drive, which has an intersection with the main north–south street, Sunland Gin Road, at the north end of Arizona City at the community's only signalized intersection. Other main north–south surface streets in the community include Henness Road, Lamb Road, and Overfield Road. Major east-west surface streets include Alsdorf Road and Milligan Road.

The closest major airports to Arizona City are Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and Tucson International Airport. Casa Grande Shuttle provides an airport shuttle to Sky Harbor.

Attractions

Arizona City Golf Course, opened in 1963, is an 18-hole golf course located within Arizona City that includes a clubhouse, pro shop, and restaurant.
Paradise Lake, a 48-acre (19 ha) man-made residential lake, is located in the southern portion of Arizona City and can be used for sailing and fishing.
Skydive Arizona, the world's largest skydiving center, is located to the northeast.
Picacho Peak State Park is located approximately east of Arizona City on Interstate 10 and features several miles of hiking trails, camping, and picnic areas.
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument is located north of the CDP and features well-preserved Hohokam ruins and public tours during certain times of the year.

Events

thumb|The classic car portion of the 2018 Arizona City Daze parade.

Every February, the community is host to the Arizona City Daze, which is a street festival featuring vendor booths selling food and merchandise, a car show, a parade, carnival rides, and live entertainment. This annual event typically takes place on the final weekend of February.

Education

It is within Toltec Elementary School District and the Casa Grande Union High School District.

The only education facility located in the community is Arizona City Elementary School, operated by the Toltec School District. The nearest high schools are located in Casa Grande and accept students from Arizona Elementary School.

Arizona City Elementary School, a K–8 school located in the western part of the Arizona City.
Casa Grande Union High School, a high school located north in Casa Grande.
Vista Grande High School, a high school located north in Casa Grande.