Apache County, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Apache County
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Location within the U.S. state of Arizona
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 Arizona's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Arizona |
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| 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)
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| • Total | 66,021 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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65,036  |
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| • Density | 5.88527/sq mi (2.27232/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) | |
| Congressional district | 2nd | |
Apache County is a large area in the northeast corner of Arizona, a state in the United States. It is shaped like a long rectangle that runs from north to south. In 2020, about 66,021 people lived here. The main town where the county government is located is St. Johns.
A big part of Apache County is home to two important Native American lands: the Navajo Nation and the Fort Apache Indian Reservation.
Contents
History of Apache County
The land that is now Apache County became part of the United States after the Mexican–American War in 1848. At first, it was part of the New Mexico Territory. Later, in 1863, during the American Civil War, the Arizona Territory was created. Arizona became a state in 1912.
Apache County was officially formed on February 24, 1879. It was created from the eastern part of Yavapai County. Over time, as more people moved to the area, the county was divided. In 1895, a new county called Navajo County was created from Apache County. Some other lands also became part of different counties.
The county seat, which is like the main office for the county, was first in Snowflake. But a year later, it moved to St. Johns. For a short time, from 1880 to 1882, the county seat was in Springerville before returning to St. Johns.
In the late 1880s, a famous sheriff named Commodore Perry Owens worked in Apache County. He was known as a skilled gunfighter.
Today, parts of the Fort Apache Indian Reservation and the Navajo Nation are located in Apache County. These are lands belonging to federally recognized tribes who have lived in this area for a very long time.
Geography of Apache County
Apache County is very large! It covers about 11,218 square miles. Most of this is land, with a small amount of water. It is the third-largest county in Arizona and the sixth-largest in the entire United States (not counting areas in Alaska).
Apache County includes parts of the Navajo Nation and the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. It also has some land belonging to the Zuni Indian Reservation. A part of Petrified Forest National Park is also in the county. The beautiful Canyon de Chelly National Monument is entirely within Apache County, inside the Navajo Nation.
Neighboring Counties
Apache County shares borders with several other counties:
- Greenlee County (to the south)
- Graham County (to the south)
- Navajo County (to the west)
- Montezuma County, Colorado (to the northeast)
- San Juan County, Utah (to the north)
- San Juan County, New Mexico (to the east)
- McKinley County, New Mexico (to the east)
- Cibola County, New Mexico (to the east)
- Catron County, New Mexico (to the east)
Apache County is special because it borders two counties that have the same name (San Juan County, Utah and San Juan County, New Mexico), but neither of them is in Arizona.
Native American Reservations
Apache County has the most land set aside as Indian reservations of any county in the United States. About 68% of its total area is reservation land. The main reservations here are the Navajo Nation, the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, and the Zuni Indian Reservation. All of these are partly located within Apache County.
Protected Natural Areas
Apache County is home to parts of several national protected areas:
- Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest (a large forest area)
- Canyon de Chelly National Monument (known for its ancient cliff dwellings)
- Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site (a historic trading post)
- Petrified Forest National Park (famous for its fossilized trees)
People of Apache County (Demographics)
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 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 | −9.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 |
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Understanding the "demographics" of a place means looking at information about its population, like how many people live there and what groups they belong to.
According to the 2010 census, there were 71,518 people living in Apache County. Most of the people in the county are Native American (about 72.9%). About 23.3% are white. Other groups make up smaller percentages. Many people in Apache County are of Navajo ancestry (about 69.6%).
The average age of people in Apache County was 32.4 years old. Many households (about 42.3%) had children under 18 living with them.
Education in Apache County
Kids in Apache County go to schools run by different school districts. Here are some of them:
- Alpine Elementary School District
- Chinle Unified School District
- Concho Elementary School District
- Ganado Unified School District
- McNary Elementary School District
- Red Mesa Unified School District
- Round Valley Unified School District
- Sanders Unified School District
- St Johns Unified School District
- Vernon Elementary School District
- Window Rock Unified School District
There are also other schools, including charter schools and tribal schools. These tribal schools are often connected to the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE). Some examples include:
A charter school in the county is New Visions Academy. There is also a private school called St. Michael Indian School.
Public Libraries
The Apache County Library District helps run public libraries across the county. You can find branches in towns like Alpine, Concho, Greer, Eagar (Round Valley Public Library), Sanders, St. Johns, and Vernon.
The Navajo Nation Museum and Library is located in Window Rock. It's the biggest library and museum on the Navajo Nation and in Apache County.
Transportation
Getting around Apache County is possible using several major roads and highways:
Interstate 40
U.S. Route 60
U.S. Route 64
U.S. Route 180
U.S. Route 191
State Route 61
State Route 260
State Route 264
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Airports
There are also several public airports in Apache County:
- Chinle – Chinle Municipal Airport
- Springerville – Springerville Municipal Airport
- St. Johns – St. Johns Industrial Air Park
- Window Rock – Window Rock Airport
Communities in Apache County
Apache County has different types of communities, including cities, towns, and census-designated places (CDPs). CDPs are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities or towns.
City
- St. Johns (This is the county seat, where the main government offices are.)
Towns
Census-designated places (CDPs)
- Alpine
- Burnside
- Chinle
- Concho
- Cornfields
- Cottonwood
- Del Muerto
- Dennehotso
- Fort Defiance
- Ganado
- Greer
- Houck
- Klagetoh
- Lukachukai
- Lupton
- Many Farms
- McNary
- Nazlini
- Nutrioso
- Oak Springs
- Red Mesa
- Red Rock
- Rock Point
- Rough Rock
- Round Rock
- St. Michaels
- Sanders
- Sawmill
- Sehili
- Steamboat
- Teec Nos Pos
- Toyei
- Tsaile
- Vernon
- Wide Ruins
- Window Rock
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller communities that are not officially part of a city or town.
- Adamana
- Blue Gap
- Chambers
- Hunters Point
- Mexican Water
- Navajo Springs
- White Clay
Community Population Ranking
This table shows the population of different communities in Apache County, based on the 2010 census.
| 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 |
Notable People
Here are some well-known people who have connections to Apache County:
- Berard Haile
- Cormac Antram
- Don Lorenzo Hubbell
- Anselm Weber
- Rex E. Lee
- David King Udall
- Ida Hunt Udall
- Mo Udall
- Stewart Udall
- William Cooper
- John Wayne
- Henry Chee Dodge
- Joe Shirley Jr.
- Annie Dodge Wauneka
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Apache para niños
