Bagdad, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bagdad, Arizona
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Bagdad, Arizona townscape, January 2003
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Location in Yavapai County and the state of Arizona
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Arizona | |
| County | Yavapai | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 8.06 sq mi (20.88 km2) | |
| • Land | 8.06 sq mi (20.88 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | |
| Elevation | 3,796 ft (1,157 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,932 | |
| • Density | 239.70/sq mi (92.55/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) | |
| ZIP code |
86321
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| Area code(s) | 928 | |
| FIPS code | 04-05140 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2407792 | |
Bagdad is a small town in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. It is known for its important copper mining industry. Bagdad is one of only two towns in Arizona that are still considered "company towns." This means that a mining company owns much of the town's land and buildings.
In 2020, about 1,932 people lived in Bagdad. The town is located in the western part of Arizona.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name "Bagdad" is spelled a bit differently from the capital city of Iraq, Baghdad. There are two main stories about how Bagdad, Arizona, got its name.
One story says that in the late 1800s, a father and son were mining copper here. The father would dig up the ore, and the son would put it into bags. When a bag was full, the son supposedly asked his father, "Do you have a bag, dad?" This funny question might have given the town its name.
However, another idea is that the name actually comes from the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. Some people thought of Baghdad as a very rich and fancy place. So, they might have named this mining town after it, hoping for similar wealth from its copper.
People of Bagdad
Bagdad has grown over the years. In 1930, only 275 people lived there. By 2020, the population had grown to 1,932.
The town is a mix of different people. Most residents are White, but there are also people from other backgrounds, including Native American and Hispanic or Latino communities. About one-third of the people living in Bagdad are under 18 years old. This shows that it is a town with many families.
The average family income in Bagdad is around $61,850. This is a good income for the area. Only a small number of families live below the poverty line.
Location and Climate
Bagdad is located in a semi-arid climate zone. This means it's quite dry, like a desert, but it still gets some rain. The town has hot summers and mild winters.
The area of Bagdad is about 8 square miles (20.88 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no large bodies of water.
The Copper Mine
The copper mine is the heart of Bagdad. It started way back in 1882 when two prospectors, W.J. Pace and J.M. Murphy, found gold, silver, and lead. Later, the focus shifted to copper.
For many years, the mine struggled to make a profit. Different owners tried to make it work. In 1944, a man named John C. Lincoln bought the mine. He changed it from an underground mine to an open-pit mine. This means they dig a very large hole in the ground to get the minerals.
Today, the mine is operated by Freeport-McMoRan. They mine both copper and molybdenum. The mine runs 24 hours a day, every day. After the copper is taken out, it is sent by truck or train to other places for processing.
Town Services
Since Bagdad is a company town, Freeport-McMoRan owns most of the homes and businesses. The town has a main shopping center called Copper Plaza. Here, you can find a small Bashas' grocery store and other shops.
There is also a medical clinic in Bagdad called the Bagdad Community Health Center. A Fry's Food and Drug pharmacy operates inside this clinic.
Education in Bagdad
The Bagdad Unified School District #20 takes care of the schools in town. It was created on July 1, 1930. The first students graduated from Bagdad High School in 1945.
Today, all the schools are on one campus. Bagdad High School includes grades 7 through 12. Bagdad Elementary School teaches students from preschool up to 6th grade. Teachers at the high school and junior high teach different grade levels.
The Bagdad Library is also available for everyone in town. It is part of the Yavapai County Free Library District.
Getting Around
Arizona State Route 96 is the main road that connects Bagdad to other areas. It links up with Arizona State Route 97 and the town of Hillside, Arizona.
See also
In Spanish: Bagdad (Arizona) para niños
