Eloy, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eloy
|
||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
|
||
Location of Eloy in Pinal County, Arizona
|
||
 Eloy, Arizona
Location in the United States
|
||
| Country | United States | |
| State | Arizona | |
| County | Pinal | |
| Incorporated | 1949 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 113.74 sq mi (294.60 km2) | |
| • Land | 113.68 sq mi (294.44 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.06 sq mi (0.16 km2) | |
| Elevation | 1,549 ft (472 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
|
||
| • Total | 15,635 | |
| • Density | 137.53/sq mi (53.10/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST (no DST)) | |
| ZIP code |
85131
|
|
| Area code(s) | 520 | |
| FIPS code | 04-22360 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2410433 | |
| Website | City of Eloy | |
Eloy is a city located in Pinal County, Arizona, in the United States. It is about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Tucson. It is also about 65 miles (105 km) southeast of Phoenix. In 2020, the city had a population of 15,635 people.
Contents
Discovering Eloy's Past
Eloy's story began in 1880. This was when the Southern Pacific Railroad was building its tracks. A small camp for railroad workers was set up using boxcars. People soon found that cotton could grow well in the area's climate.
How Eloy Got Its Name
In 1902, the Southern Pacific Railroad officially named the train stop "Eloy". One idea is that Eloy stands for "East Line Of Yuma". Another story says the name came from a railroad worker. He looked at the empty desert and said, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" This means "My God, my God, why have you left me?"
A town called Cotton City was started in 1918. But in 1919, the new post office chose the name Eloy instead. The city of Eloy officially became a city in 1949. It is part of Pinal County.
Exploring Eloy's Geography
Eloy covers a total area of about 113.7 square miles (294.5 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Eloy's Growing Population
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1950 | 3,580 | — | |
| 1960 | 4,899 | 36.8% | |
| 1970 | 5,381 | 9.8% | |
| 1980 | 6,240 | 16.0% | |
| 1990 | 7,211 | 15.6% | |
| 2000 | 10,375 | 43.9% | |
| 2010 | 16,631 | 60.3% | |
| 2020 | 15,635 | −6.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2011, there were about 16,964 people living in Eloy. The city had 2,492 households. Many households had children under 18 living with them. The population included people of different backgrounds. About 33.7% of the people were under 18 years old. The median age in the city was 28 years.
Understanding Eloy's Economy
Eloy has several important employers that help the city's economy.
Top Employers in Eloy
Here are some of the biggest employers in Eloy:
| # | Employer | Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CoreCivic | 1,546 |
| 2 | Eloy Elementary School District | 155 |
| 3 | Republic Plastics | 142 |
| 4 | City of Eloy | 121 |
| 5 | Schuff Steel | 113 |
| 6 | Otto Plastics Arizona, LLC | 80 |
| 7 | Skydive Arizona | 70 |
| 8 | TravelCenters of America | 65 |
| 9 | Santa Cruz Valley Union High School District | 55 |
Getting Around Eloy
Eloy is close to two major airports. These are Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and Tucson International Airport. You can find shuttle services to Sky Harbor.
The Eloy Municipal Airport is a local airport in Eloy. It does not have a control tower. Greyhound also provides bus services to Eloy.
Experiencing Eloy's Culture
Eloy is known for being a fun and active place.
Skydiving Capital of the World
Eloy is home to the world's largest skydive dropzone. It is operated by Skydive Arizona. Because of this, Eloy calls itself the "skydiving capital of the world." Two companies that make parachutes, Firebird USA and Sun Path Products, are also in Eloy.
Sports and History
The city has an 18-hole golf course called Robson Ranch Golf Club. For those interested in history, the Casa Grande Valley Historical Society & Museum has over 50,000 historical items.
Picacho Peak State Park is about 10 miles southeast of Eloy. This park is famous for being the site of the only Civil War battle in Arizona. This battle is re-enacted every year.
Learning in Eloy: Schools and Education
The Eloy Elementary School District provides schooling for younger students. It has four schools for kindergarten through 8th grade:
- Curiel Primary School (kindergarten to 3rd grade)
- Eloy Intermediate School (4th to 6th grade)
- Eloy Junior High School (7th and 8th grade)
- Toltec Elementary School (4th to 8th grade)
Eloy has one public high school, Santa Cruz Valley Union High School. Some students also attend Casa Grande Union High School nearby.
Famous People from Eloy
Many notable people have connections to Eloy, including:
- Mossy Cade – a former professional football player
- Anna Maria Chávez – former CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA
- Levi Jones – a former professional football player
- Art Malone – a former professional football player
- Benny Malone – a former professional football player
- Ricky Nelson – a former professional baseball player
- Paul Powell – a former professional baseball player
- Jeff Provenzano – a professional skydiver
- Dominic Evans – a musician
See also
In Spanish: Eloy (Arizona) para niños
