Thatcher, Arizona | |
|---|---|
 Spencer W. Kimball Childhood Home Marker | |
 Flag | |
 Location of Thatcher in Graham County, Arizona | |
  Thatcher, Arizona Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates:32°50′35″N109°44′56″W / 32.84306°N 109.74889°W /32.84306; -109.74889 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Graham |
| Government | |
| • Type | Incorporated Town |
| • Mayor | Jenny Howard[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 6.62 sq mi (17.14 km2) |
| • Land | 6.60 sq mi (17.10 km2) |
| • Water | 0.015 sq mi (0.04 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,914 ft (888 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 5,231 |
| • Density | 792.2/sq mi (305.86/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST (noDST)) |
| ZIP code | 85552 |
| Area code | 928 |
| FIPS code | 04-73420 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2413382[3] |
| Website | Town of Thatcher |
Thatcher is a town inGraham County,Arizona, United States. As of the2020 census, Thatcher had a population of 5,231.[4] It is the home ofEastern Arizona College (EAC).
Thatcher was originally settled by members ofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The first settler wasJohn M. Moody who arrived in Thatcher with his wife and children in 1881.[5] The founding of Thatcher is attributed to Mormon pioneerChristopher Layton, who bought two thousand acres, named the acreage "Thatcher", divided them into lots, and sold those lots to Mormon settlers. Layton also bought a gristmill and built roads, canals and homes.
Eastern Arizona College traces its history to the St. Joseph Stake Academy started by the church in nearbyCentral. Central is also the location of theGila Valley Arizona Temple.
The town is centered in the Upper Gila River Valley with one of Arizona's famousMadrean Sky Islands towering to the south and theGila River to the north.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 6.7 square miles (17 km2), including 0.02 square miles (0.052 km2) of water.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 320 | — | |
| 1900 | 644 | 101.3% | |
| 1910 | 904 | 40.4% | |
| 1920 | 899 | −0.6% | |
| 1930 | 895 | −0.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,106 | 23.6% | |
| 1950 | 1,284 | 16.1% | |
| 1960 | 1,581 | 23.1% | |
| 1970 | 2,320 | 46.7% | |
| 1980 | 3,374 | 45.4% | |
| 1990 | 3,763 | 11.5% | |
| 2000 | 4,022 | 6.9% | |
| 2010 | 4,865 | 21.0% | |
| 2020 | 5,231 | 7.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] | |||
Thatcher is part of theSaffordMicropolitan Statistical Area.
As of thecensus[7] of 2000, there were 4,022 people, 1,281 households, and 927 families residing in the town. The population density was 919.4 inhabitants per square mile (355.0/km2). There were 1,427 housing units at an average density of 326.2 per square mile (125.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 84.7%White, 0.8%Black orAfrican American, 1.8%Native American, 0.5%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 9.9% fromother races, and 2.2% from two or more races. 19.5% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 1,281 households, out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% weremarried couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.37.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.6% under the age of 18, 22.8% from 18 to 24, 18.9% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,412, and the median income for a family was $40,392. Males had a median income of $35,815 versus $20,964 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $12,961. 17.2% of the population lives below thepoverty line.[8]
The Thatcher Police Department (TPD) is the municipal law enforcement agency responsible for policing the town.[9] It has an approximately 10-man uniformed division.
Fire services are provided by the all volunteer Thatcher Fire Department, which has the capability to respond with various types of equipment, including several fire engines and a ladder truck. Mount Graham Regional Medical Center is the medical services provider for the area.
Emergency 911 services are provided by the 24/7 dispatch center of theGraham County Sheriff's Office.
San Carlos Apache Nnee Bich'o Nii Transit provides transportation from Thatcher to theSan Carlos Apache Indian Reservation,Safford andGlobe.[10]Greyhound Lines serves Thatcher on itsPhoenix–El Paso viaGlobe route.
TheArizona Eastern Railway operates rail freight through town on a branch formerly operated by the Southern Pacific. Traffic is primarily copper products on the route between Bowie and Miami, AZ.
Municipalities and communities ofGraham County, Arizona,United States | ||
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| City |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Populated places | ||
| Indian reservations | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
