Gisela, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gisela, Arizona
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Old store in Gisela
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Location of Gisela, Arizona
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 Gisela, Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Gila |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.88 sq mi (7.46 km2) |
| • Land | 2.86 sq mi (7.41 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,881 ft (878 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 536 |
| • Density | 187.28/sq mi (72.32/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| ZIP code |
85541
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| Area code(s) | 928 |
| FIPS code | 04-27540 |
| GNIS feature ID | 29332 |
Gisela (pronounced ghy-SEE-luh) is a small community in Gila County, Arizona, in the United States. It's a place where people live, but it's not officially a city or town with its own local government. In 2020, about 536 people lived there.
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How Gisela Got Its Name
Gisela was named after a character in a book called Countess Gisela. The story goes that the town's schoolteacher was reading this book to her students. Her husband, who was the postmaster (the person in charge of the post office), needed a name for their small settlement.
The teacher asked her students for ideas. They voted to name their new town Gisela. Even though the students didn't know the correct way to say the name, they decided on "ghy-SEE-luh," and that's how it's still pronounced today!
Geography of Gisela
Gisela is located in the northwestern part of Gila County. It's about 5 miles (8 kilometers) east of Arizona State Route 87, which is also known as the Beeline Highway. If you drive south from Payson, it's about 17 miles (27 kilometers) away.
The community covers an area of about 2.9 square miles (7.5 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a very small part being water. The Tonto Creek flows right through Gisela. This creek eventually makes its way to Roosevelt Lake, which is part of the Salt River.
People of Gisela
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 536 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 532 people living in Gisela. The community had 225 households and 161 families. Most of the people living in Gisela were White. A small number were Native American or from other backgrounds. About 5.6% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The people in Gisela were of different ages. About 22% were under 18 years old, and about 20% were 65 years or older. The average age was 43 years old.
Things to See in Gisela
One interesting place near Gisela is the Gisela Ruins. These are ancient ruins left by the Salado culture, an old group of people who lived along the Tonto Creek many years ago. You can find these ruins just downstream from Gisela.
Learning in Gisela
Students in Gisela attend schools that are part of the Payson Unified School District. For high school, students typically go to Payson High School in Payson.
