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Arizona Counties

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Arizona Counties

There are 15 Counties in the U.S. state of Arizona. There is also one defunct county: Pah-Ute County was formed in 1865 from Mohave County and returned in 1871. Four Counties (Mohave, Pima, Yavapai and Yuma) were created in 1864 following the organization of the Arizona Territory in 1862. All but La Paz County were created by the time Arizona was granted statehood in 1912.

Greenlee County, Arizona

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

County Seat: Clifton
Year Organized: 1909
Square Miles: 1,847

Court House:

5th Street & Leonard
Courthouse Annex
Clifton, AZ 85533-0000

Etymology - Origin of County Name

The County was named after Mason Greenlee, an early day mining man.

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: Census Bureau Quick Facts

County History

Greenlee County, Arizona

The 14th County was formed from the eastern part of Graham County by an act of the 25th territorial meeting on March 10, 1909. There was great struggle to the formation of this new county because Graham County would loose substantial revenue. As a negotiation Greenlee County assumed $146,000 balance due that Graham County had and Greenlee County was smaller than originally proposed.

The County was named after Mason Greenlee, an early day mining man. The County is 120 miles long and 20 miles wide it covers 1,837 square miles. The greater part of the land is government owned. The Forest Service controls 63.5 percent; the Bureau of Land Management controls 13.6 percent; the State of Arizona controls 14.8; and individual or corporate ownership is 8.1 percent. Greenlee County has a population of 8,605 (2002 Census). Clifton's population is 2,595; Duncan's population is 825; Morenci's population is 1,882. Clifton is the county seat.

The topography consists of desert terrains, river valley, and high mountain ranges. In about a four-hour drive you can experience dramatic environmental changes ranging from the cacti of the upper Sonoran desert to spectacular and sweeping slopes of mountains covered with pine, fir, and aspen. The life zones that exist in the 127 mile trip from Clifton to Springerville are the same as what you would see on a road trip from Mexico to Canada. Mining and stock rising are the principal industries.

The copper commerce has been an important industry in Greenlee County and the State of Arizona for more than 130 years. The Morenci mining district has evolved into a world class operation providing approximately 18% of the world copper production. In recent years, more people are discovering the many rich and varied scenic and recreational delights to be found here. Greenlee County is becoming increasingly important as a travel attraction in the State of Arizona.

Neighboring Counties:

North: Apache County
Northeast: Catron County, N.M.
Southeast: Grant County, N.M.; Hidalgo County, N.M.
Southwest: Cochise County; Graham County

Cities and Towns:

- Clifton (County Seat)	town	Incorporated Area
- Duncan	town	Incorporated Area

County Resources:

Enter County Resources and Information Here

County Resources

The history of our nation was a prolonged struggle to define the relative roles and powers of our governments: federal, state, and local. And the names given the counties, our most locally based jurisdictions, reflects the "characteristic features of this country!"

But age, size and colorful names of our counties isn't the only reason to explore counties' role in American history, or the history of county government itself. In fact, the story of county government reflects the larger meanings of American history.

Today's counties are the most flexible, locally responsive and creative governments in the US. They are the most diverse, varying in size, population, geography, and governmental structure. In their politics and policies, they express a 1990's political slogan "Think globally, act locally."