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Payson, Arizona | |
|---|---|
 Green Valley Park | |
 Flag | |
| Motto: "Arizona's Cool Mountain Town" | |
 Location of Payson in Gila County, Arizona | |
| Coordinates:34°14′22″N111°19′39″W / 34.23944°N 111.32750°W /34.23944; -111.32750 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Gila |
| Incorporated | 1973[1] |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-manager |
| • Body | Payson Town Council |
| • Mayor | Steve Otto[2] |
| Area | |
• Total | 19.36 sq mi (50.13 km2) |
| • Land | 19.35 sq mi (50.11 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0077 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 5,000 ft (1,524 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 16,361 |
| • Density | 845/sq mi (326.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST (noDST)) |
| ZIP codes | 85541, 85547 |
| Area code | 928 |
| FIPS code | 04-53700 |
| GNIS ID(s) | 32746,2413121 |
| Website | www |
Payson (Navajo:Ndzistsooí) is a town in northernGila County,Arizona, United States. Due to Payson's location being very near to the geographic center of Arizona, it has been called "The Heart of Arizona." Payson is also considered part of the colloquially definedNorthern Arizona region, and the town serves as agateway to the vast wilderness of theColorado Plateau. The town is surrounded by theTonto National Forest, the largest of the six national forests in Arizona—and the ninth largest national forest in the United States.
Payson boasts a lively festival calendar, including The World's Oldest Continuous Rodeo, established in 1884, as well as the Arizona State Old Time Fiddlin' Championship which celebrates the area's musical heritage.
As of the2020 census, the population of Payson was 16,361.[5]
Prior to the arrival of European-American settlers, the area was known asTe-go-suk—or Place of the Yellow Water—by the Dilzhe'eApache.[6] The area was also historically inhabited by theYavapai and otherOasisamerican peoples, including theHohokam,Mogollon,Salado, andSinagua cultures.
In 1882, considered to be the founding year of Payson, area settlers—led by Henry Sidles, John and Lucy Hise, and James Callaghan—established a logging, mining, and ranching hamlet called "Union Park." The settlement was also known as "Green Valley."[7][8]
That same year, theBattle of Big Dry Wash—fought between troops of the United States Army's3rd Cavalry Regiment,6th Cavalry Regiment, and members of theWhite Mountain Apache Tribe—took place just north of town on theMogollon Rim. The battle occurred within the greater context of theApache Wars.
On March 3, 1884, a post office was built in Union Park with the help of Illinois Representative Levi Joseph Payson. In honor of the representative's help, the town's name was changed to "Payson".
Payson held its firstrodeo in 1884. The town declares the competition to be the world's oldest and continuous rodeo as it has been held every year since.
In 1918, authorZane Grey made his first trip to the area surrounding Payson. He would visit with regularity through 1929, and he purchased two plots of land nearTonto Creek, including 120 acres (49 ha) from Sampson Elam Boles under Myrtle Point. Grey wrote numerous books about the area, and he also filmed movies in the area, such asTo the Last Man. A replica of his cabin is located in Green Valley park.
DuringProhibition, the manufacture, sale, and distribution of liquor was plentiful in Payson. These transactions took place on historic Bootleg Alley.[9] "Payson Dew", brewed across 30 to 40 stills in the Payson area, was coveted from as far away as Los Angeles. The drink helped to reinvigorate Payson's economy.[10]
During the 1930s, an effort was initiated to better connect Payson to the outside world through the construction of roads and highways. At that time, the town was very isolated—with a trip fromPhoenix to Payson taking eight to twelve hours. Throughout the 1950s, work progressed on a paved road from Phoenix to Payson, and the road was completed in 1958. The highway,State Route 87 (also known as the "Beeline Highway"), was later expanded to four lanes.
Payson was officially incorporated in 1973.
On July 15, 2017, heavy rains from upstream of the creek and river caused the waterways to swell, subsequently leading to downstream flooding. This flash flood crucially affected the popular Water Wheel swimming hole where 10 people were killed and 4 others were injured.[11]
Payson is located in northern Gila County[12]—within the hilly and mountainous terrain of theArizona transition zone. The town sits at an elevation of 5,000 feet (1,500 m), and it has a total area of 19.5 square miles (51 km2).[5] TheMogollon Rim, the southern boundary of theColorado Plateau, lies to the north of Payson, with elevations exceeding 7,500 feet (2,300 m). There are several cold water lakes on top of the rim; they are stocked with fish by theArizona Game and Fish Department.
Payson is adjacent to the sovereign land of theTonto Apache Tribe, and it is bordered to the east by the town ofStar Valley. Other nearby communities arePine,Strawberry,Gisela,Rye,Round Valley, andOxbow Estates, all within Gila County.Globe, the Gila County seat, is 80 miles (130 km) to the south via State Routes87 and188. State Route 87, the Beeline Highway, leads 90 miles (140 km) southwest toPhoenix and 90 miles (140 km) northeast toWinslow.State Route 260 leads 90 miles (140 km) east toShow Low.
"Zane Grey Country" is a term for the area around Payson. This term was most often used in the 1970s and 1980s, and appeared in the header of the local newspaper, thePayson Roundup. In recent times, it has fallen somewhat out of favor, as the term "Rim Country" has become more popular among locals.[citation needed]
Owing to its elevation of 5,000 feet (1,500 m), Payson is in a transitional area between ahot-summer Mediterranean climate (KöppenCsa) and acold semi-arid climate (KöppenBSk). The town straddles USDAHardiness Zone 7b and 8a, and it is surrounded by high desertpinyon-juniper woodlands,ponderosa pine, and themixed conifer forests of theMogollon Rim escarpment.
Winter consists of mild, breezy days and cold nights. In December and January, nighttime lows typically fall below 32 °F (0 °C)—with the coldest nights of the year falling below 20 °F (−7 °C). By mid-afternoon, however, average daytime temperatures surpass 50 °F (10 °C). While most winter precipitation falls as rain, Payson receives an average of 18.5 inches (470 mm) of snow each year, spread across six days of measurable snowfall. Snow melts rapidly, and any lingering snow cover is minimal.[13] In December 1967, Payson experienced a record-breaking snowfall, with more than 6 feet (1.8 m) of snow falling over eight days. Locally referred to as the "Storm of the Century," the 1967 event caused immense disruption and damage in the area—downing trees, toppling power lines, and caving in roofs.[14]
Spring weather in Payson is windy and highly variable—with warm, dry conditions intermixed with sporadic episodes of late-season snowfall and rain. Colorful wildflowers are common in the spring.
While average summer daytime temperatures climb above 90 °F (32 °C), the town's elevation keeps it protected from the extreme heat found in Arizona's lowland deserts. Early summer is characterized by hot and dry weather, with elevatedwildfire risk, whereas mid-to-late summer is tempered by theNorth American Monsoon. The monsoon brings frequent, sometimes severe thunderstorms with heavy rain, strong winds, hail, and flash floods. On average, Payson receives 7 inches (180 mm) of monsoonal moisture—approximately 35% of its annual precipitation—across the months of July, August, and September.
Autumn is characterized by stable weather and gradually cooling temperatures. Fall foliage peaks from mid-October through early November, and colors are most vibrant in the escarpment canyons of theMogollon Rim and nearbyriparian zones.
Diurnal temperature variation is large throughout the year.
| Climate data for Payson, Arizona (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1940–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 77 (25) | 80 (27) | 89 (32) | 91 (33) | 99 (37) | 106 (41) | 107 (42) | 104 (40) | 103 (39) | 94 (34) | 83 (28) | 77 (25) | 107 (42) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 66.9 (19.4) | 68.4 (20.2) | 75.6 (24.2) | 82.9 (28.3) | 90.2 (32.3) | 97.8 (36.6) | 99.8 (37.7) | 97.6 (36.4) | 92.9 (33.8) | 86.3 (30.2) | 75.3 (24.1) | 66.9 (19.4) | 101.1 (38.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 56.1 (13.4) | 58.5 (14.7) | 65.1 (18.4) | 71.6 (22.0) | 80.0 (26.7) | 90.2 (32.3) | 92.5 (33.6) | 90.5 (32.5) | 85.9 (29.9) | 75.9 (24.4) | 64.3 (17.9) | 54.9 (12.7) | 73.8 (23.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 41.0 (5.0) | 43.0 (6.1) | 48.4 (9.1) | 53.8 (12.1) | 61.4 (16.3) | 70.5 (21.4) | 76.0 (24.4) | 74.8 (23.8) | 68.9 (20.5) | 58.3 (14.6) | 47.7 (8.7) | 40.2 (4.6) | 57.0 (13.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 26.0 (−3.3) | 27.7 (−2.4) | 31.6 (−0.2) | 36.0 (2.2) | 42.8 (6.0) | 50.8 (10.4) | 59.5 (15.3) | 59.2 (15.1) | 51.9 (11.1) | 40.6 (4.8) | 31.0 (−0.6) | 25.6 (−3.6) | 40.2 (4.6) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 14.0 (−10.0) | 17.9 (−7.8) | 21.3 (−5.9) | 26.3 (−3.2) | 33.5 (0.8) | 41.4 (5.2) | 51.0 (10.6) | 52.2 (11.2) | 41.9 (5.5) | 30.2 (−1.0) | 19.5 (−6.9) | 14.5 (−9.7) | 11.7 (−11.3) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −8 (−22) | 1 (−17) | 3 (−16) | 15 (−9) | 22 (−6) | 31 (−1) | 39 (4) | 37 (3) | 33 (1) | 16 (−9) | 6 (−14) | −9 (−23) | −9 (−23) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 2.27 (58) | 2.33 (59) | 1.89 (48) | 0.82 (21) | 0.54 (14) | 0.21 (5.3) | 2.81 (71) | 2.60 (66) | 1.54 (39) | 1.26 (32) | 1.48 (38) | 2.09 (53) | 19.84 (504) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 4.7 (12) | 4.9 (12) | 2.0 (5.1) | 2.0 (5.1) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 1.3 (3.3) | 3.6 (9.1) | 18.5 (47) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 inch) | 5.3 | 5.8 | 5.0 | 3.0 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 8.8 | 11.1 | 5.0 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 5.6 | 61.8 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 inch) | 1.6 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 5.9 |
| Source 1: NOAA[13] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service[15] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1,787 | — | |
| 1980 | 5,068 | 183.6% | |
| 1990 | 8,377 | 65.3% | |
| 2000 | 13,620 | 62.6% | |
| 2010 | 15,301 | 12.3% | |
| 2020 | 16,351 | 6.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[16] | |||
| Race(NH = Non-Hispanic) | 2020[17] | 2010[18] | 2000[19] | 1990[20] | 1980[21] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 81% (13,247) | 85.8% (13,126) | 91.3% (12,438) | 96% (8,038) | 94.9% (4,809) |
| Black alone (NH) | 0.4% (62) | 0.3% (50) | 0.2% (30) | 0.1% (7) | 0% (0) |
| American Indian alone (NH) | 2.3% (375) | 2.2% (332) | 1.7% (235) | 0.5% (45) | 0.9% (48) |
| Asian alone (NH) | 0.9% (145) | 0.6% (98) | 0.5% (72) | 0.3% (27) | 0% (0) |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0.1% (17) | 0.1% (13) | 0.1% (7) | ||
| Other race alone (NH) | 0.3% (56) | 0.1% (10) | 0.1% (8) | 0% (1) | 0% (0) |
| Multiracial (NH) | 3.7% (611) | 1.2% (191) | 0.9% (122) | — | — |
| Hispanic/Latino (any race) | 11.2% (1,838) | 9.7% (1,481) | 5.2% (708) | 3.1% (259) | 4.2% (211) |
The most reported ancestries in2020 were:[22]
As of thecensus[23] of 2019, there were 15,297 people living in Payson, AZ and is the 2,788th largest city in the United States. 5,832 households, and 4,070 families residing in the town. Thepopulation density was 791 people per square mile, which is 1275% higher than the Arizona average and 773% higher than the national average. There were 7,033 housing units at an average density of 361.2 per square mile (139.5/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 92.5%White, 0.2%Black orAfrican American, 2.6%Native American, 0.5%Asian, <0.1%Pacific Islander, 3.0% fromother races, and 1.3% from two or more races. 9.3% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 5,832 households, out of which 21.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.6% weremarried couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.71.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 18.1% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 15.3% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 36.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 57.1 years. This is approximately 54% higher than the Arizona average of 37. The male/female ratio was 0.9:1. English was spoken by 93% of people and Spanish was spoken by 5% of people.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,638, and the median income for a family was $38,713. Males had a median income of $30,900 versus $23,750 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $19,513. About 6.5% of families and 9.9% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 15.1% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
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TheUnited States Forest Service has jurisdiction of 97% of the land around Payson; the town is surrounded by theTonto National Forest. Much of the land is available for recreational activities. Payson is home to several hiking trails—notably the Cypress/Boulders trail system and nearbyMogollon Rim trails (includingHorton Creek trail). TheTonto Natural Bridge, the largest knownnatural bridge in the world, is located just northwest of Payson inTonto Natural Bridge State Park, a unit of theArizona State Park system. The area incorporates three golf courses, two of which belong to private country clubs.Mazatzal Casino, atribal casino, is operated by theTonto Apache Reservation near the south end of town.
The Payson area is a popular destination forrock hounds. In various areas surrounding the community,quartz crystals can be found, some rivalingHerkimer diamonds in quality, as well asgeodes,agate andonyx.Fossils are commonly found in thePaleozoicstrata that is exposed along the Mogollon Rim to the north and west of Payson alongState Route 87 andState Route 260.
Payson has two parks, Green Valley Park and Rumsey Park. It also has two lakes, which are part of theUrban Fish Program. Payson hosts free outdoor concerts in the summer. Other activities include intramural sports like baseball and football. Payson also has a small skate park.
Payson hosts a Fourth of July fireworks display at Green Valley Park.
Payson is the site of the annual Arizona State Old Time Fiddlin' Championship, held in September. The fiddle contest features both local and nationally known instrumentalists, and it awards cash prizes.
Payson hosts two rodeos. In May, the Multi-Purpose Event Center near the Tonto Apache Reservation hosts the Gary Hardt Memorial Rodeo. In August, Payson hosts the historic August Doin's Rodeo (1884), which makes Payson the "Home of the World's Oldest Continuous Rodeo".[24][25]Prescott, Arizona, 100 miles to the northwest, is known for hosting the "World's Oldest Rodeo" (1888), but it took a hiatus during World War II.
Forestlands surrounding Payson, and throughout central, northern, and eastern Arizona, serve as the backdrop to the legend of theMogollon Monster—described as a large,bipedal, ape-like creature with a pungent smell, similar toBigfoot. The legend came to local prominence in 1947 when a "big, hairy beast" raided aBoy Scout camp near Tonto Creek.[26]
The town is served by thePayson Unified School District.[27]
A branch ofGila Community College is located in Payson.[28]
The Payson Police Department serves both the Town of Payson and Town of Star Valley. As of 2022[update], the department is authorized to staff 32 sworn officers which includes the chief, lieutenant, five sergeants, four detectives, two school resource officers, two specialty positions (GIITEM and Traffic), and patrol. In 2021, officers responded to more than 16,000 calls for service.
The police department also staffs a 24/7 dispatch center that is the primary public safety answering point (PSAP) for northern Gila County. In addition to dispatching for Payson PD, they also dispatch for the Town of Payson Fire Department, Hellsgate Fire District, Pine/Strawberry Fire District, Christopher Kohls Fire District, Waterwheel Fire District, and Gisela Valley Fire District.
The Payson Senior Center operates the Beeline Bus, which provides local bus service to Payson,Star Valley, andMesa del Caballo.[29] Mountain Valley Shuttle stops in Payson on itsPhoenix–Show Low route.[30]
The following are images of some of the historic structures recognized by the local government.
_Main_Street_Payson.jpg)
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