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 County6.
Geography
Safford is located at 32°49′24″N, 109°42′53″W (32.823266,
-109.714613)1. 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.
Demographics
As of the census2 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.
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.
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 hurdles and is halfway finished with construction. Related to this event, legislation has been suggested 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.
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 Marshal in 1973.
- Dick Bingham- Fire chief (retired) and state deputy fire marshall (retired). Bingham has been
instrumental in the Volunteer Fire Department for many years. Even in retirement he raised money for the firefighter's monument
in front of city hall. Bingham is well known around the state among firefighters. He activily takes part in fire training courses
around the state as an instructor and speaker.
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:
- Lafe Nelson Elementary School
- Ruth Powell Elementary School
- Dorothy Stinson Elementary School
- Safford Middle School
- Safford High School
- Mt. Graham High School
References
External links
Coordinates:
32.823266° N 109.714613°
W
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