Coolidge, Arizona | |
|---|---|
 Original 1939 Coolidge High School, now the office for Coolidge Unified School District | |
 Flag | |
| Nickname: Cooltown | |
 Location of Coolidge, Arizona | |
  Coolidge  Coolidge | |
| Coordinates:32°56′01″N111°31′25″W / 32.933616°N 111.523585°W /32.933616; -111.523585 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Pinal |
| Founded | 1925 |
| Incorporated | 1945 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Jon Thompson (R) |
| • Vice mayor | Tatiana Murrieta |
| • City Council | Tom Bagnall Ian Gillespie Steve Hudson Adriana Saavedra Tom Shope |
| Area | |
• City | 83.653 sq mi (216.660 km2) |
| • Land | 83.473 sq mi (216.194 km2) |
| • Water | 0.180 sq mi (0.467 km2) 0.22% |
| Elevation | 1,424 ft (434 m) |
| Population | |
• City | 13,218 |
• Estimate (2024)[5] | 19,674 |
| • Density | 240/sq mi (91/km2) |
| • Urban | 12,008 |
| • Metro | 5,186,958 |
| Time zone | UTC–7 (Mountain (MST) (noDST)) |
| ZIP Code | 85128 |
| Area code | 520 |
| FIPS code | 04-15500 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2410221[3] |
| Website | coolidgeaz.com |
Coolidge is a city inPinal County, Arizona, United States. The population was 13,218 at the2020 census,[4] and was estimated to be 19,674 in 2024.[5]
Coolidge is home of theCasa Grande Ruins National Monument. The monument was the first historic site to receive protected status by theUnited States Government in 1892. Coolidge is also home to bothCentral Arizona College and theCentral Arizona Valley Institute of Technology.
The area containing what is now the city of Coolidge was occupied by theHohokam, an indigenous ancientSonoran Desert people who built a massive compound consisting many ofcaliche structures and remained in the area for over 1,000 years. The only remaining and preserved structure from this compound is the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.
The modern history of the city is centered around agriculture, particularly cotton. Coolidge was founded in 1925 when R.J. Jones laid out an 80 acres (32 ha) site during the construction of theCoolidge Dam on the nearbyGila River, which was completed in 1930. Both the dam and the townsite were named forCalvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the United States. The dam made the sandy soil native to the area into very richfarmland, and soon vast expanses of desert were plowed and acres of cotton were planted. This is when the area's status as the hub of the Arizona cotton industry was solidified and led to the incorporation of Coolidge as a city in 1945.[7]
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According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 83.653 square miles (216.66 km2), of which 83.473 square miles (216.19 km2) is land and 0.180 square miles (0.47 km2) (0.22%) is water.[2] It contains nomountains and is almost entirely flat, lying in a fertile valley located just south of the Gila River. TheSacaton Mountains are visible to the west, and the Picacho Mountains are visible to the southeast.
Arizona State Route 87 andArizona State Route 287 pass through the town, providing connections to thePhoenix metropolitan area,Casa Grande, andEloy.Interstate 10 is located approximately 10 miles (16 km) to the west. Coolidge is 56 miles (90 km) southeast ofPhoenix, 69 miles (111 km) northwest ofTucson, 21 miles (34 km) northeast ofCasa Grande and 11 miles southwest ofFlorence.Picacho Reservoir is just 11 miles (18 km) south of town.
Coolidge features a hotdesert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh), typical of theSonoran Desert. Winters are characterized by abundantsunshine and are typically brief and mild, consisting of daytime highs in the 65 °F (18 °C) to 75 °F (24 °C) range. Lows are usually between 35 °F (2 °C) and 45 °F (7 °C), though severalfreezes occur annually. Rain is infrequent, occurring 2–3 days per month usually following the passage of acold front. The record low temperature for the city is 8 °F (−13 °C).
Summers are long and very hot, with temperatures of 100 °F (38 °C) to 110 °F (43 °C) almost daily from the end of May until September, with temperatures above 115 °F (46 °C) not uncommon. The record high temperature for the city is 123 °F (51 °C). Summertime lows are usually above 70 °F (21 °C), with occasional periods of lows above 80 °F (27 °C). Coolidge is affected by theNorth American Monsoon, which brings brief heavy downpours and gusty winds in the second half of summer. Severe events can sometimes causehaboobs andflash flooding.
| Climate data forCasa Grande Ruins National Monument, Arizona (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1908–1916 and 1932–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 89 (32) | 93 (34) | 100 (38) | 106 (41) | 116 (47) | 123 (51) | 123 (51) | 120 (49) | 115 (46) | 111 (44) | 97 (36) | 89 (32) | 123 (51) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 78.8 (26.0) | 82.7 (28.2) | 90.8 (32.7) | 99.2 (37.3) | 106.8 (41.6) | 113.9 (45.5) | 114.8 (46.0) | 113.1 (45.1) | 108.9 (42.7) | 102.0 (38.9) | 89.9 (32.2) | 79.1 (26.2) | 116.1 (46.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 67.6 (19.8) | 71.3 (21.8) | 78.2 (25.7) | 86.4 (30.2) | 95.2 (35.1) | 105.1 (40.6) | 106.6 (41.4) | 104.9 (40.5) | 100.7 (38.2) | 90.5 (32.5) | 77.8 (25.4) | 66.9 (19.4) | 87.6 (30.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 52.3 (11.3) | 55.5 (13.1) | 61.7 (16.5) | 68.6 (20.3) | 77.2 (25.1) | 86.6 (30.3) | 91.8 (33.2) | 90.8 (32.7) | 85.2 (29.6) | 73.4 (23.0) | 60.8 (16.0) | 51.6 (10.9) | 71.3 (21.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 37.0 (2.8) | 39.7 (4.3) | 45.2 (7.3) | 50.8 (10.4) | 59.2 (15.1) | 68.0 (20.0) | 77.1 (25.1) | 76.6 (24.8) | 69.8 (21.0) | 56.3 (13.5) | 43.7 (6.5) | 36.3 (2.4) | 55.0 (12.8) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 26.1 (−3.3) | 29.0 (−1.7) | 33.6 (0.9) | 38.5 (3.6) | 46.5 (8.1) | 56.3 (13.5) | 66.5 (19.2) | 66.7 (19.3) | 56.6 (13.7) | 42.7 (5.9) | 29.1 (−1.6) | 25.7 (−3.5) | 23.0 (−5.0) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 8 (−13) | 11 (−12) | 21 (−6) | 25 (−4) | 32 (0) | 44 (7) | 51 (11) | 55 (13) | 37 (3) | 25 (−4) | 17 (−8) | 14 (−10) | 8 (−13) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 0.98 (25) | 1.02 (26) | 0.94 (24) | 0.25 (6.4) | 0.20 (5.1) | 0.06 (1.5) | 1.12 (28) | 1.24 (31) | 0.70 (18) | 0.48 (12) | 0.49 (12) | 0.77 (20) | 8.25 (210) |
| Average precipitation days | 4.4 | 4.2 | 3.2 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 4.7 | 5.3 | 3.3 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 4.2 | 36.8 |
| Source:NOAA[8][9] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 4,990 | — | |
| 1970 | 5,314 | 6.5% | |
| 1980 | 6,851 | 28.9% | |
| 1990 | 6,934 | 1.2% | |
| 2000 | 7,786 | 12.3% | |
| 2010 | 11,825 | 51.9% | |
| 2020 | 13,218 | 11.8% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 19,674 | [5] | 48.8% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] 2020 Census[4] | |||
According to realtor websiteZillow, the average price of a home as of June 30, 2025, in Coolidge is $276,260.[11]
As of the 2023American Community Survey, there are 4,935 estimated households in Coolidge with an average of 3.10 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $57,161. Approximately 22.2% of the city's population lives at or below thepoverty line. Coolidge has an estimated 62.2% employment rate, with 13.2% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 85.8% holding a high school diploma.[12]
The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (69.2%), Spanish (28.4%), Indo-European (0.9%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.2%), and Other (1.2%).
The median age in the city was 34.5 years.
| Race / ethnicity(NH = non-Hispanic) | Pop. 2000[13] | Pop. 2010[14] | Pop. 2020[15] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 3,609 | 5,153 | 5,389 | 46.35% | 43.58% | 40.77% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 623 | 868 | 1,107 | 8.00% | 7.34% | 8.37% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 349 | 445 | 417 | 4.48% | 3.76% | 3.15% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 52 | 103 | 105 | 0.67% | 0.87% | 0.79% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 2 | 9 | 10 | 0.03% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 3 | 10 | 64 | 0.04% | 0.08% | 0.48% |
| Mixed race or multiracial (NH) | 96 | 275 | 495 | 1.23% | 2.33% | 3.74% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3,052 | 4,962 | 5,631 | 39.20% | 41.96% | 42.60% |
| Total | 7,786 | 11,825 | 13,218 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2020 census, there were 13,218 people, 4,399 households, 3,110 families residing in the city.[16] Thepopulation density was 173.31 inhabitants per square mile (66.9/km2). There were 4,871 housing units at an average density of 63.87 per square mile (24.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 51.14%White, 8.89%African American, 4.86%Native American, 0.95%Asian, 0.10%Pacific Islander, 16.92% from some other races and 17.14% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 42.60% of the population.[17]
As of the2010 census, there were 11,825 people, 3,947 households, _ families residing in the city. The population density was 209.34 inhabitants per square mile (80.8/km2). There were 4,796 housing units at an average density of 84.90 per square mile (32.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 62.73%White, 7.85%African American, 5.67%Native American, 0.97%Asian, 0.11%Pacific Islander, 17.72% from some other races and 4.96% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 41.96% of the population.
As of the2000 census, there were 7,786 people, 2,585 households, and 1,938 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,549.1 inhabitants per square mile (598.1/km2)}. There were 3,212 housing units at an average density of 639.1 per square mile (246.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 57.85%White, 8.30%African American, 5.63%Native American, 0.72%Asian, 0.05%Pacific Islander, 23.58% from some other races and 3.88% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 39.20% of the population.
There were 2,585 households, out of which 38.5% had children under age 18 living with them, 48.8% weremarried couples living together, 19.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.44.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 32.9% under age 18, 10.4% aged 18–24, 24.4% aged 25–44, 18.9% aged 45–64, and 13.4% who were aged 65 years or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,049, and the median income for a family was $33,536. Males had a median income of $29,159 versus $21,472 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $13,663. About 20.9% of families and 24.7% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 30.9% of those under age 18 and 20.5% of those age 65 or over.
Until the 1950s, the city's economy was completely dependent on mining and cotton. It has since diversified to include manufacturing,regional trade, and services for agricultural producers and farm families.[18]
In 2019,Nikola Motor Company purchased 389 acres (157 ha) in Coolidge[19] and operates a factory forzero-emissionsheavy trucks, with a production capacity of 2,500 trucks per year.[20]
The city of Coolidge operates the Cotton Express, which provides local bus service.[21] The city of Coolidge also operates Central Arizona Regional Transit (CART), which provides transportation betweenFlorence, Coolidge,Central Arizona College andCasa Grande.[22]
The town was home toa station forAmtrak; it closed in June 1996.
TheCoolidge Municipal Airport, which has two asphaltrunways, is located 5 miles (8.0 km) southeast of the city and had 56,050 aircraft operations in the yearly period ending April 2, 2020.[23] The closest major airports to Coolidge arePhoenix Sky Harbor International Airport andTucson International Airport. Casa Grande Shuttle provides anairport shuttle to Sky Harbor.[24]
Municipalities and communities ofPinal County, Arizona,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
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| Populated places | ||
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| Ghost towns | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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| Other | |
