The Santa Cruz River flowing northwards near Kino Springs shortly after re-entering the U.S. from Mexico.
Santa Cruz County, formed on March 15, 1899, out of what was thenPima County, is named after theSanta Cruz River. The river originates in theCanelo Hills in the eastern portion of the county, crosses south into Mexico near the community ofSanta Cruz, Sonora, and then bends northwards returning into the United States (and Santa Cruz County) east of Nogales.
The junction of Arizona State Route 82 (Patagonia Highway) and Business-Loop 19 (Grand Avenue) in Nogales. The SR 82 overpass crosses over Grand Avenue, the Union Pacific Railroad, and the Nogales Wash.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,238 square miles (3,210 km2), of which 1,237 square miles (3,200 km2) is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2) (0.1%) is water.[5] It is the smallest county by area in Arizona.
Santa Cruz County, Arizona – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 47,669. Of the residents, 26.1% were under the age of 18 and 20.0% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 40.2 years. For every 100 females there were 89.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 85.1 males. 40.2% of residents lived in urban areas and 59.8% lived in rural areas.[19]
There were 16,670 households in the county, of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 29.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[21]
There were 18,729 housing units, of which 11.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 67.4% were owner-occupied and 32.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.4%.[21]
As of thecensus of 2010, there were 47,420 people, 15,437 households, and 11,992 families living in the county.[22] The population density was 38.3 inhabitants per square mile (14.8 inhabitants/km2). There were 18,010 housing units at an average density of 14.6 units per square mile (5.6 units/km2).[23] The racial makeup of the county was 73.5% white, 0.7% American Indian, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% black or African American, 22.9% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 82.8% of the population.[22]
Of the 15,437 households, 45.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 22.3% were non-families, and 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.05 and the average family size was 3.51. The median age was 35.6 years.[22]
The median income for a household in the county was $36,519 and the median income for a family was $40,933. Males had a median income of $30,666 versus $25,135 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,209. About 20.6% of families and 25.2% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 36.8% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.[25]
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 38,381 people, 11,809 households, and 9,506 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 31 people per square mile (12 people/km2). There were 13,036 housing units at an average density of 10 units per square mile (3.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 76.0%White, 0.4%Black orAfrican American, 0.7%Native American, 0.5%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 19.7% fromother races, and 2.6% from two or more races. 80.8% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 79.7% of the population reported speakingSpanish at home, while 19.5% speakEnglish.[26]
There were 11,809 households, of which 45.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% weremarried couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.5% were non-families. 16.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.1% 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 33.6% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 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. Theper capita income for the county was $13,278. About 21.40% of families and 24.50% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 29.% of those under age 18 and 23.2% of those age 65 or over.
Owing to its border location and Hispanic majority population, Santa Cruz is a strongly Democratic county, but it has been shifting Republican by considerable numbers. The last Republican to win the county wasGeorge H. W. Bush in 1988, and although the Republicans won the county in six consecutive elections from 1968 to 1988, three of these wins were by very narrow margins. Following the trends seen in majority Hispanic counties across the United States,Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump with 67.1% of the popular vote in the county, a slightly lower margin than Hillary Clinton's 71.1% vote share in 2016. Trump's gains were far higher than Biden's losses (at nearly 8%), due to a combination of third parties losing votes and higher turnout. Despite this rightward shift in the vote share, Santa Cruz County remained as the most Democratic-leaning county in Arizona until 2024, whenApache andCoconino counties voted slightly more Democratic than Santa Cruz County, as Trump had the best performance for a Republican in the county since their last win in 1988, cracking 40% in the county for the first time since then.
Because it is the state's smallest county, Santa Cruz County's economic activity is also smaller.[33] Its agriculture consists primarily offorage/hay, and thecattle products raised on that pasture and hay are almost 100% of farm products annually.[33]
^"Find a County". National Association of Counties. RetrievedJune 7, 2011.
^"History: Pima County". Pima County Justice Court. September 27, 2000. Archived fromthe original on May 27, 2010. RetrievedSeptember 30, 2009.
^"Santa Cruz County". Arizona State Library Archives and Public Records: Arizona History and Archives Division. August 4, 2009. Archived fromthe original on September 15, 2009. RetrievedSeptember 30, 2009.
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