Apache County, Arizona

Apache County
Apache County
County
	Navajo Nation Council Chamber
	Seal
	Location within the U.S. state of Arizona
	Arizona's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 35°25′26″N 109°26′33″W / 35.4239°N 109.4425°W
Country	United States
State	Arizona
Founded	February 24, 1879
Named for	Apache people
Seat	St. Johns
Largest town	Eagar
Area
• Total	11,218 sq mi (29,050 km2)
• Land	11,198 sq mi (29,000 km2)
• Water	21 sq mi (50 km2) 0.2%
Population (2020)
• Total	66,021
• Estimate (2023)	65,036
• Density	5.9/sq mi (2.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	www.apachecountyaz.gov

Apache County is a county in the northeast corner of the U.S. state of Arizona. Shaped in a long rectangle running north to south, as of the 2020 census, its population was 66,021.^[1] The county seat is St. Johns.^[2]

Most of the county is occupied by part of the federally recognized Navajo Nation and the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, respectively.

History

The United States acquired this territory following its victory in the Mexican–American War in 1848. It was originally part of the New Mexico Territory established at the time. In 1863, during the American Civil War, Congress established the Arizona Territory to improve regional administration. It operated until 1912 when it was admitted as a state.

In 1879 the Tenth Territorial Legislature organized Apache County from the eastern section of Yavapai County; officially all land east of 109°45′ W was included in the new county. As population increased in the area, by 1895, the legislature divided this county to create Navajo County and assigned some of the lands to the newly organized Graham, Greenlee and Gila counties. The county seat was first designated as the town of Snowflake, but a year later it was moved to St. Johns. From 1880 to 1882, the county seat was temporarily in Springerville, before being returned to St. Johns.^[3]

An 1896 history of the area described the county by the following:

Apache County was created in 1879 and lies in the northeastern corner of the Territory. Until March, 1895, it also embraced what is now Navajo County, but at that date the latter was set apart and established as a separate county. Apache County is justly noted for its great natural resources and advantages. It is destined some day in the early future to have a large agricultural population. Now, immense herds of cattle and flocks of sheep roam over its broad mesas and its fertile valleys. The Navajo Indians occupy the northern part of the county-in fact, occupy much of the remainder of the county, as they refuse to remain on their reservation, preferring to drive their sheep and cattle on lands outside their reservation, where the grazing is better. The southern part is a fine grazing country, while the northern part is cut up into picturesque gorges and canyons by the floods of past centuries.^[4]

In the late 1880s, the county sheriff was Commodore Perry Owens, a legendary Old West gunfighter. At that time, the county covered more than 21,177 square miles (54,850 km²) in territory. In September 1887, near Holbrook in what is now Navajo County, Owens was involved in a famous gunfight: he killed three men and wounded a fourth while serving a warrant on outlaw Andy Blevins/Andy Cooper, a participant in a raging range war, later dubbed the Pleasant Valley War.

In 2015, Apache County had the highest rate of deaths due to motor vehicles in the United States, with 82.5 deaths per 100,000 people.^[5]

The Fort Apache Indian Reservation occupies part of the county, as does the Navajo Nation, whose territory extends well beyond it. The Apache and Navajo Nation are federally recognized tribes that long occupied territory here.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 11,218 square miles (29,050 km²), of which 11,198 square miles (29,000 km²) is land and 21 square miles (54 km²) (0.2%) is water.^[6] The county is the third-largest county by area in Arizona and the sixth-largest in the United States (excluding boroughs and census areas in Alaska).

Apache County contains parts of each of the Navajo Indian Reservation and the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, and landholdings of the Zuni Indian Reservation that are not contiguous to their main territory. It also contains part of Petrified Forest National Park. Canyon de Chelly National Monument is entirely within the county and within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation.

Adjacent counties

Apache County is one of three U.S. counties (the others being Wayne County, West Virginia and Cook County, Illinois) to border two counties of the same name, neither of which is in the same state as the county itself (San Juan County, Utah and San Juan County, New Mexico).

Indian reservations

Apache County has the most land designated as Indian reservation of any county in the United States. (Coconino County and Navajo County are a close second and third.) The county has 19,857.34 km² (7,666.96 sq mi) of reservation territory, or 68.34 percent of its total area. The reservations are, in descending order of area within the county, the Navajo Nation, the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, and the Zuni Indian Reservation, all of which are partly located within the county.

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	5,283		—
1890	4,281		−19.0%
1900	8,297		93.8%
1910	9,196		10.8%
1920	13,196		43.5%
1930	17,765		34.6%
1940	24,095		35.6%
1950	27,767		15.2%
1960	30,438		9.6%
1970	32,298		6.1%
1980	52,108		61.3%
1990	61,591		18.2%
2000	69,423		12.7%
2010	71,518		3.0%
2020	66,021		−7.7%
2023 (est.)	65,036	^[7]	−1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census^[8] 1790–1960^[9] 1900–1990^[10] 1990–2000^[11] 2010–2020^[1]

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 69,423 people, 19,971 households, and 15,257 families residing in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile (2.3 people/km²). There were 31,621 housing units at an average density of 3 units per square mile (1.2 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 76.9% Native American, 19.5% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. 4.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 58.4% reported speaking Navajo at home, while 38.4% speak English and 2.7% Spanish.^[12]

There were 19,971 households, out of which 43.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 21.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.41 and the average family size was 4.04.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 38.5% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $23,344, and the median income for a family was $26,315. Males had a median income of $30,182 versus $22,312 for females. The per capita income for the county was $8,986. About 33.5% of families and 37.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.8% of those under age 18 and 36.5% of those age 65 or over. The county's per-capita income makes it one of the poorest counties in the United States.

Apache County is one of only 38 county-level census divisions of the United States where the most spoken language is not English and one of only 3 where it is neither English nor Spanish. 58.3% of the population speak Navajo at home, followed by English at 38.3% and Spanish at 2.7%.^[13]

In 2000, the largest denominational group was the Catholics (with 19,965 adherents).^[14] The largest religious bodies were The Catholic Church (with 19,965 members) and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (with 8,947 members).^[14]

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 71,518 people, 22,771 households, and 16,331 families residing in the county.^[15] The population density was 6.4 inhabitants per square mile (2.5 inhabitants/km²). There were 32,514 housing units at an average density of 2.9 units per square mile (1.1 units/km²).^[16] The racial makeup of the county was 72.9% Native American, 23.3% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 1.3% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.8% of the population.^[15]

The largest ancestry groups were:^[17]

69.6% Navajo
5.4% English
5.3% German
4.2% Irish
4.0% Mexican
1.4% American
1.1% Scottish
1.0% French
1.0% Polish

Of the 22,771 households, 42.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples living together, 21.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.3% were non-families, and 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.10 and the average family size was 3.76. The median age was 32.4 years.^[15]

The median income for a household in the county was $30,184 and the median income for a family was $36,915. Males had a median income of $38,451 versus $31,557 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,294. About 26.9% of families and 34.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.8% of those under age 18 and 29.2% of those age 65 or over.^[18]

Politics

The majority Native American population votes solidly for Democratic national candidates and generally helps carry the county for their presidential candidates. No Republican presidential nominee has won Apache County since Ronald Reagan in 1980,^[19] when incumbent President Jimmy Carter was viewed as extremely weak on issues pertaining to the West, especially water development.^[20] During most of the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s Apache was the most Democratic county in Arizona. Concern by voters in Santa Cruz County, Arizona about Republican immigration policies has led to it voting Democratic at an even higher rate.

United States presidential election results for Apache County, Arizona^[21]^[22]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	11,442	32.44%	23,293	66.05%	533	1.51%
2016	8,240	29.79%	17,083	61.76%	2,338	8.45%
2012	8,250	31.83%	17,147	66.16%	520	2.01%
2008	8,551	35.11%	15,390	63.19%	414	1.70%
2004	8,384	34.65%	15,658	64.71%	156	0.64%
2000	5,947	30.57%	13,025	66.95%	484	2.49%
1996	4,761	25.48%	12,394	66.33%	1,529	8.18%
1992	4,588	25.13%	11,218	61.44%	2,452	13.43%
1988	5,347	36.76%	8,944	61.50%	253	1.74%
1984	5,638	43.26%	7,277	55.84%	117	0.90%
1980	5,991	56.55%	3,917	36.97%	687	6.48%
1976	3,447	33.38%	6,583	63.75%	297	2.88%
1972	3,394	50.28%	3,145	46.59%	211	3.13%
1968	2,092	49.83%	1,668	39.73%	438	10.43%
1964	1,849	47.51%	2,042	52.47%	1	0.03%
1960	1,568	51.75%	1,459	48.15%	3	0.10%
1956	1,685	63.18%	981	36.78%	1	0.04%
1952	1,767	59.70%	1,193	40.30%	0	0.00%
1948	970	39.51%	1,480	60.29%	5	0.20%
1944	728	36.99%	1,238	62.91%	2	0.10%
1940	926	31.95%	1,969	67.94%	3	0.10%
1936	638	27.42%	1,674	71.94%	15	0.64%
1932	760	37.36%	1,271	62.49%	3	0.15%
1928	837	51.41%	791	48.59%	0	0.00%
1924	620	48.51%	548	42.88%	110	8.61%
1920	679	52.35%	618	47.65%	0	0.00%
1916	311	31.73%	648	66.12%	21	2.14%
1912	56	21.96%	108	42.35%	91	35.69%

Education

Primary and secondary schools

The following school districts serve Apache County:^[23]

In addition several other schools, including charter schools and tribal schools operated by or affiliated with the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), serve the county.

Charter schools:

New Visions Academy

Private schools:

St. Michael Indian School (Roman Catholic Diocese of Gallup)

Public libraries

The Apache County Library District, headquartered in St. Johns, operates public libraries in the county.^[24] The branches include Alpine Public Library (unincorporated area),^[25] Concho Public Library (unincorporated area),^[26] Greer Memorial Library (unincorporated area),^[27] Round Valley Public Library (Eagar),^[28] Sanders Public Library (unincorporated area),^[29] St. Johns Public Library (St. Johns),^[30] and Vernon Public Library (unincorporated area).^[31]

The Navajo Nation Museum and Library is located in Window Rock. The library and museum is the largest one on the Navajo Nation and in Apache County.

Transportation

Major highways

Airports

The following public use airports are located in Apache County:

Chinle – Chinle Municipal Airport (E91)
Springerville – Springerville Municipal Airport (D68)
St. Johns – St. Johns Industrial Air Park (SJN)
Window Rock – Window Rock Airport (RQE)

Communities

City

St. Johns (county seat)

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

County population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Apache County.^[32]^[33]

† county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Population (2010 Census)	Municipal type	Incorporated
1	Eagar	4,885	Town	1948
2	Chinle	4,518	CDP
3	Fort Defiance	3,624	CDP
4	† St. Johns	3,480	City	1879
5	Window Rock	2,712	CDP
6	Springerville	1,961	Town	1948
7	Lukachukai	1,701	CDP
8	St. Michaels	1,443	CDP
9	Many Farms	1,348	CDP
10	Ganado	1,210	CDP
11	Tsaile	1,205	CDP
12	Houck	1,024	CDP
13	Round Rock	789	CDP
14	Sawmill	748	CDP
15	Dennehotso	746	CDP
16	Teec Nos Pos	730	CDP
17	Rock Point	642	CDP
18	Sanders	630	CDP
19	Burnside	537	CDP
20	McNary	528	CDP
21	Nazlini	489	CDP
22	Red Mesa	480	CDP
23	Rough Rock	414	CDP
24	Del Muerto	329	CDP
25	Steamboat	284	CDP
26	Cornfields	255	CDP
27	Klagetoh	242	CDP
28	Cottonwood	226	CDP
29	Wide Ruins	176	CDP
30	Red Rock	169	CDP
31	Alpine	145	CDP
32	Sehili	135	CDP
33	Vernon	122	CDP
34	Oak Springs	63	CDP
35	Greer	41	CDP
36	Concho	38	CDP
37	Nutrioso	26	CDP
38	Lupton	25	CDP
39	Toyei	13	CDP