Gila County, Arizona

Gila County History, Geography, Demographics, Cities and Towns, and Education

Etymology - Origin of County Name

The county was named from the Gila River, which forms part of its southern boundary.

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: Census Bureau Quick Facts

County History

Gila County, Arizona

Created from parts of Maricopa and Pinal counties on February 8, 1881, and was extended eastward to the San Carlos River by petition in 1889. It contains 3,040,000 acres. The county was named from the Gila River, which forms part of its southern boundary. The county seat was recognized at what was initially called Globe City, now Globe, and significant copper mining center.

The altitude of Gila County varies from 2,123 feet at Roosevelt Dam to 7,153 feet at Mount Ord. Over half of the county is occupied by the San Carlos Indian Reservation, which in turn extends into Graham County for half its own area. The major industries of Gila County have always been and continue to be mining and the raising of livestock."

This county is surrounded on the north by Yavapai County; on the east by New Mexico; on the south by the Gila River, or Pima County, and on the west by Yuma County. The people are nearly all engaged in farming, the most of who are located in Salt River Valley. This valley is one of the largest and most productive in the Territory; has been settled less than four years, and now contains sufficient population to sustain a county government. The lands are cultivated by irrigation, and there is an abundance of water in Salt River for the use of a vast extent of country. The people who settled here commenced with little or no means and by industry and economy have constructed irrigating canals and made improved farms, and are now in a prosperous and comparatively independent position. The products raised for sale have been barley, corn and wheat. Wheat and barley are usually sown from November to February, and harvested in May. The average yield of wheat is from 20 to 40 bushels per acre, and of barley from 30 to 60, and sells at from three to four cents per pound. There has been a demand for all the grain that has been raised. After the wheat and barley are harvested, corn can be planted on the same soil, with ample time for it to mature. Much of the land of Arizona is cultivated in this way, and produces two crops each year. The average yield of corn is from 30 to 60 bushels per acre. Vegetables, with the exception of Irish potatoes, do remarkably well. Sweet potatoes in particular grow to a large size and are very prolific. Fruit trees grow rapidly, and it is thought that oranges and lemons maybe rose in abundance. Experiments in planting grapes have proved very successful. Vines in two years after planting, produce abundantly of an excellent quality.

Neighboring Counties:

• Northeast: Navajo County
• Southeast: Graham County
• Southwest: Pinal County; Maricopa County
• Northwest: Yavapai County; Coconino County
  

Cities and Towns:

County Resources:

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