Safford, Arizona

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Coordinates: 32°49′24″N, 109°42′53″W
City of Safford, Arizona
Location in Graham County and the state of Arizona
Country	United States
State	Arizona
Counties	Graham
Government
- Mayor	Ronald M. Green
Area
- City	7.9 sq mi (20.6 km²)
- Land	7.86 sq mi (20.5 km²)
- Water	0.04 sq mi (0.1 km²)
Population (2005)^[1]
- City	8,932
- Density	1,004.1/sq mi (433.6/km²)
Time zone	MST (no daylight saving time) (UTC-7)
Website: http://www.safford.govoffice.com/

Safford is a city in Graham County, Arizona, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 8,932.^[1] The city is the county seat of Graham County^GR6.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 Information and Trivia
5 Noted natives
6 Schools
7 References
8 External links

[edit] Geography

Safford is located at 32°49′24″N, 109°42′53″W (32.823266, -109.714613)^GR1. The Pinaleno Mountains sit prominently to the southwest of town. The Pinalenos have the greatest vertical relief of any mountain range in Arizona.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.6 km² (7.9 mi²). 20.5 km² (7.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.38%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 9,232 people, 3,331 households, and 2,394 families residing in the city. The population density was 450.1/km² (1,166.1/mi²). There were 3,718 housing units at an average density of 181.3/km² (469.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.17% White, 1.41% Black or African American, 1.01% Native American, 0.93% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 18.56% from other races, and 2.88% from two or more races. 39.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,331 households out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the city the population was spread out with 30.2% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,899, and the median income for a family was $36,696. Males had a median income of $35,915 versus $20,138 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,052. About 13.9% of families and 17.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.5% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

Safford was founded by pioneers, who came from Gila Bend, in southwestern Arizona. They left Gila Bend in the winter of 1873-74; their work on canals and dams having been destroyed by high water the previous summer. Upon arrival early in 1874, the villagers laid out the town site, including a few crude buildings.

The town is named after Governor Anson Pacely Killen Safford, territorial governor of Arizona.

The Town of Safford was incorporated October 10, 1901, and changed to City of Safford in 1955.

[edit] Information and Trivia

Safford is the location of the Governor Aker Observatory. Safford is also the setting for the 1985 Albert Brooks comedy Lost In America.

Safford is also home to Discovery Park, a unique public educational destination facility with features such as a Hall of Science, a small railway, and a restored Sonoran riparian water feature.

Recently (a location 8 miles north of) Safford has become the site of the largest new mining operation in North America. Phelps Dodge has cleared nearly 25 years of permitting and legal hurtles and is set to begin construction of the facility in July 2006.

Related to this event, legislation has been approved in state committee to transform Eastern Arizona College from its present status as a two year community college into a full four-year educational institution.

The mountain for which the county is named, Mount Graham, is just a few miles southwest of the city. The mountain is home to the Mount Graham International Observatory (MGIO) and Large Binocular Telescope, or LBT. It, when completed, will be the largest binocular telescope in the world. The mountain also is home to the Vatican Advanced Telescope, or VATT. It is also home to the Heinrich Hertz Submillimeter Telescope, or SMT. The Mount Graham International Observatory complex is operated by the University of Arizona.

Both events are expected to transform this once agricultural valley into a major regional economic hub within the next ten years.

The community is well served by rail and hosts an excellent air facility, Safford Regional Airport. Additionally the Arizona Department of Transportation is upgrading Highway 191 from Interstate 10 into a full four lane highway.

[edit] Noted natives

Spencer W. Kimball (president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1973 to 1985) spent much of his adult life until his call to the apostleship in Safford.
D.J. Carrasco-Baseball player for the Kansas City Royals.
Irvin Talley Fire Chief (Deceased) - Irvin Talley served the Safford Fire Department from 1947-1988. He served as Chief of the Department from 1953-1988. Irvin was instrumental in the formation of the Associated Fire Fighters of Arizona-AFFA (now Volunteer Fire FIghters of Arizona-2005) in 1965. He served as president of the AFFA in 1967. In 1959, the Arizona State Firemen's Association named him outstanding fireman of the year and in 1965, the Graham County Chamber of Commerce named him man of the year. In 1985, the AFFA honored him with the Arizona Fireman of the Year Award. In 1985, the National Volunteer Fire Council honored him as the Nations Fire Fighter of the Year in Birmingham, Alabama. He served on the advisory council of the Arizona State Fire Marshal's Office and was named Deputy State Fire Marshall in 1973.
Dick Bingham- Fire chief and state deputy fire marshall. Bingham has been instrumental in the Volunteer fire Dept for many years even in retirement he raised money for the beautiful Fire fighters monument in front of city hall. Bingham is well known around the state among Fireman. he still takes part in the Arizona Fire schools.

[edit] Schools

Safford has its own school district, Safford Unified School District. It serves the entire city of Safford and some minor outlying areas. Schools in the area include: