According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 9,960 square miles (25,800 km2), of which 9,950 square miles (25,800 km2) is land and 9.3 square miles (24 km2) (0.09%) is water.[4]
Nathan Korhman ofThe Atlantic described the county, in 2022, as "one of Arizona’s most rural regions", stating that a political canvasser would have to drive to get to a sequential house on a list to target, while in more urban areas such a canvasser would walk from place to place.[5]
Navajo 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.
Navajo County is among the mostreligiously diverse places in the United States. A 2020 census by thePublic Religion Research Institute (unconnected to the official US census) calculates a religious diversity score of 0.876 for Navajo County, where 1 represents complete diversity (each religious group of equal size) and 0 a total lack of diversity. Only three other counties in the US have higher scores, all much more urban than Navajo County.[14]
As of thecensus of 2010, there were 107,449 people, 35,658 households, and 25,923 families living in the county.[15] The population density was 10.8 inhabitants per square mile (4.2/km2). There were 56,938 housing units at an average density of 5.7 units per square mile (2.2 units/km2).[16] The racial makeup of the county was 49.3% white, 43.4% American Indian, 0.9% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 3.4% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 10.8% of the population.[15] In terms of ancestry, 13.7% wereGerman, 12.5% wereEnglish, 9.3% wereIrish, and 2.3% wereAmerican.[17]
Of the 35,658 households, 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 27.3% were non-families, and 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.50. The median age was 34.7 years.[15]
The median income for a household in the county was $39,774 and the median income for a family was $45,906. Males had a median income of $41,516 versus $28,969 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,745. About 19.1% of families and 24.4% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 32.6% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.[18]
There were 30,043 households, out of which 40.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% weremarried couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.2% were non-families. 19.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.17 and the average family size was 3.68.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 35.4% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.2 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,569, and the median income for a family was $32,409. Males had a median income of $30,509 versus $21,621 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $11,609. About 23.4% of families and 29.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 36.6% of those under age 18 and 20.3% of those age 65 or over.
Navajo County leans towards theRepublican Party. The county has not voted Democratic on a presidential level since 1996. Although its Native American population makes up nearly half of the county, a demographic that politically favors those of theDemocratic Party, the county has a strongLatter-Day Saint presence (particularly in population centers such as Snowflake) that normally allows Republican candidates to carry the county. The city of Show Low and surrounding areas, as well as Holbrook, also contribute to Republican votes in the county. Notably, the county has become more Republican in recent cycles such as in2022 and in2024. In 2024, the city of Winslow, which has long been a Democratic stronghold, saw a heavy Republican shift, as did the area of Pinetop-Lakeside. The Navajo Nation also saw some major Republican trends, mirroring those in neighboring Apache County. On the other hand, the city of Holbrook saw a Democratic trend since 2020.[20]
United States presidential election results for Navajo County, Arizona[21]
There is a tribal elementary school called Little Singer Community School, affiliated with theBureau of Indian Education (BIE).[23] Hataalii Yazhi, amedicine man,[24] in the 1970s proposed establishing the school so area children did not have to travel far for their education.[25] The school was named after him. The original buildings used two geodesic domes as features.[24] In 2014 the school had 81 students. By 2014 the original campus was described by theAssociated Press as being in poor repair.[25] In 2004 the school first asked the BIE to get funding for a new building. The current campus had a cost of $28 million and an area of 32,000 square feet (3,000 m2). It uses intersecting circles as an architectural feature.[24] The current building was dedicated in November 2020.[26] It is physically in anunincorporated area 6 miles (9.7 km) southeast ofBirdsprings, and has a postal address ofWinslow.[27]
^"Home". Little Singer Community Grant & Charter Jr. High School. August 28, 2011. Archived fromthe original on August 28, 2011. RetrievedJuly 12, 2021.Little Singer Community School, 6 miles SE of Birdsprings Rte 71, Winslow, AZ 86047 -"Little Singer Community School".National Center for Educational Statistics. RetrievedJuly 12, 2021.Physical Address: 6 miles south of Birdspring [sic] Chapter Winslow, AZ 86047
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