Morenci, Arizona | |
|---|---|
 Morenci, about 1910 | |
 Location inGreenlee County and the state ofArizona | |
  Morenci Location in the United States Show map of Arizona Morenci Morenci (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:33°03′14″N109°19′52″W / 33.05389°N 109.33111°W /33.05389; -109.33111 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Greenlee |
| Area | |
• Total | 0.93 sq mi (2.40 km2) |
| • Land | 0.90 sq mi (2.34 km2) |
| • Water | 0.023 sq mi (0.06 km2) |
| Elevation | 4,157 ft (1,267 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 2,028 |
| • Density | 2,240.9/sq mi (865.22/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST (noDST)) |
| ZIP code | 85540 |
| Area code | 928 |
| FIPS code | 04-47610 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2408868[2] |
Morenci is acensus-designated place (CDP) andcompany town inGreenlee County,Arizona, United States, and was founded by theDetroit Copper Mining Company of Arizona. The population was 2,000 at the2000 census and 1,489 at the2010 census.[3] The biggest employer in Morenci (and in nearbyClifton) and the owner of the town isFreeport-McMoRan, the owner of theMorenci Mine, the largestcopper mining operation in North America, and one of the largest copper mines in the world. The town was a site of theArizona Copper Mine Strike of 1983. The large open-pit mine is north of the town.
Morenci is located in central Greenlee County on the northeastern border of the town ofClifton, thecounty seat.U.S. Route 191 (the Coronado Trail) passes through the northern part of the community, leading east and downhill into Clifton and north through theApache National Forest 117 miles (188 km) toEagar.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the Morenci CDP has a total area of 0.98 square miles (2.55 km2), of which 0.96 square miles (2.49 km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.06 km2), or 2.23%, is water.[3]
This region experiences hot and dry summers, with average monthly high temperatures above 80 °F for seven months a year. According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Morenci has awarm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.[4]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2,000 | — | |
| 2010 | 1,489 | −25.5% | |
| 2020 | 2,028 | 36.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[5] | |||
As of thecensus[6] of 2000, there were 1,879 people, 672 households, and 454 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,317.4 inhabitants per square mile (894.8/km2). There were 754 housing units at an average density of 929.9 per square mile (359.0/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 68.0%White, 0.5%Black orAfrican American, 2.1%Native American, 0.5%Asian, 25.0% fromother races, and 3.9% from two or more races. 44.5% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 672 households, out of which 45.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% weremarried couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 0.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.55.
In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 35.6% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 34.4% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 0.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 119.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 128.7 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $46,010, and the median income for a family was $54,583. Males had a median income of $41,875 versus $26,063 for females. Theper capita income for the CDP was $18,695. About 2.7% of families and 3.0% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
The economy of Morenci as well as that of the surrounding area is almost completely dependent on theMorenci Mine.[7] Between 2003 and 2008, the worldwide rise in copper prices led the mine to double its work force to 4,000 employees and increase production by 55 percent to an average of one million tons of ore per day.[7]
Several hundred new homes were built, leading to a boom in the construction industry.[7] All the homes in Morenci, new and old, remain owned by Freeport-McMoRan.[7]
It is in theMorenci Unified School District.[8]
Morenci features in HBO's seriesThe Gilded Age (TV series), in a plot concerning the acquisition of land in the area for a railroad.
Municipalities and communities ofGreenlee County, Arizona,United States | ||
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| Towns |  | |
| CDPs | ||
| Populated places | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
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| National | |
| Other | |
