Old gold specimen from an unknown Yavapai County mine. Size: 2.0 cm × 1.8 cm × 1.7 cm (0.8 in × 0.7 in × 0.7 in).
Yavapai County was one of the four original Arizona counties created by the1st Arizona Territorial Legislature. The county territory was defined as being east of longitude 113° 20' and north of theGila River.[3] Soon thereafter, the counties ofApache,Coconino,Maricopa, andNavajo were carved from the original Yavapai County. Yavapai County's present boundaries were established in 1891.
The county is named after theYavapai people, who were the principal inhabitants at the time the United States annexed the area.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 8,128 square miles (21,050 km2), of which 8,123 square miles (21,040 km2) is land and 4.4 square miles (11 km2) (0.05%) is water.[4] It has about 93% of the area of the U.S. state ofNew Jersey. It is larger than three U.S. states (Rhode Island,Delaware andConnecticut) and theDistrict of Columbia combined.
The county's topography makes a dramatic transition from the lowerSonoran Desert to the south to the heights of theCoconino Plateau to the north, and theMogollon Rim to the east. The highest point above sea level (MSL) in Yavapai County isMount Union at an elevation of 7,979 ft (2,432 m) and the lowest is Agua Fria River drainage, now under Lake Pleasant.
There are nineteen officialwilderness areas in Yavapai County that are part of theNational Wilderness Preservation System. Fourteen of these are integral parts of National Forests listed above, whereas five are managed by theBureau of Land Management. Some of these extend into neighboring counties (as indicated below):
There are numerous flora and fauna species within Yavapai County. For example, a number of plants within the genusEphedra andCoreopsis are found in the county.[6] Yavapai County is also the location of several groves of the near-threatenedCalifornia Fan Palm,Washingtonia filifera.[7]
Out of Africa Wildlife Park is a private zoo. The park moved to theCamp Verde area from theEast Valley in 2005.
Approximately 10 miles (16 km) northwest of the town of Bagdad lies theUpper Burro Creek Wilderness Area, a 27,440-acre (11,105 ha) protected area home to at least 150 species of birds and featuring one of the Arizona desert's few undammed perennial streams.[8]
Yavapai 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 thecensus of 2010, there were 211,033 people, 90,903 households, and 57,597 families living in the county.[17] The population density was 26.0 inhabitants per square mile (10.0 inhabitants/km2). There were 110,432 housing units at an average density of 13.6 units per square mile (5.3 units/km2).[18] The racial makeup of the county was 89.3% white, 1.7% American Indian, 0.8% Asian, 0.6% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 4.9% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 13.6% of the population.[17] The largest ancestry groups were:[19]
Of the 90,903 households, 22.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.6% were non-families, and 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.78. The median age was 49.2 years.[17]
The median income for a household in the county was $43,290 and the median income for a family was $53,499. Males had a median income of $40,854 versus $31,705 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,527. About 8.8% of families and 13.7% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 20.1% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.[20]
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 167,517 people, 70,171 households, and 46,733 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 21 inhabitants per square mile (8.1 inhabitants/km2). There were 81,730 housing units at an average density of 10 units per square mile (3.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.9%White, 0.4%Black orAfrican American, 1.6%Native American, 0.5%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 3.6% fromother races, and 2.0% from two or more races. 9.8% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 70,171 households, out of which 23.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% weremarried couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.79.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.1% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,901, and the median income for a family was $40,910. Males had a median income of $30,738 versus $22,114 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $19,727. About 7.9% of families and 11.9% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.
Yavapai has historically been the most Republican county in Arizona, though it has become rivalled byGraham and exceeded byMohave since the turn of the century. No Democratic presidential nominee has won Yavapai County sinceHarry S. Truman in 1948, and even when the county did go Democratic in the Truman andRoosevelt eras, it typically did so by a smaller margin than any other county in the state.
United States presidential election results for Yavapai County, Arizona[22][23]
Sunset Point is a cliff adjacent toInterstate 17. It has an elevation of 3,091 ft (942 m).[24] The Sunset Point Rest Area, located at the top of the cliff, provides travelers with a scenic view.[25]
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