Hayden, Arizona facts for kids
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Hayden is a small town located in Arizona, United States. It is found in both Gila and Pinal counties. In 2010, about 662 people lived there. By 2020, the population had decreased to 512 people.
Contents
History of Hayden
Hayden was started in 1909. It was first owned by the Kennecott Copper company. In 1912, they built a very tall smelter, which is a factory that melts metal. It was called the "Hayden Smelter" and was 1,000 feet (about 305 meters) tall! This was the tallest smelter chimney in Arizona. Today, the mine is owned by the American Smelting and Refining Company.
Why People Left Hayden
Over time, Hayden has seen many people move away. Some even say it is becoming a ghost town. There are a few reasons why this has happened:
- Safety Concerns: The town has had a higher rate of certain issues compared to the rest of Arizona and the United States. This made some residents feel unsafe.
- Environmental Issues: The smelter released some harmful substances into the air. In 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had to take action because of these issues. They found too much lead, arsenic, and other dangerous compounds.
- Economic Changes: The mines started to run out of metal. This meant fewer jobs and less money for the town. Many businesses closed down.
- Community Changes: As people moved away, some schools, churches, and homes were left empty or damaged. Even the old Valley National Bank building was abandoned. It is now used by the Hayden Police Department.
Geography of Hayden
Hayden is located right next to another town called Winkelman. The town covers an area of about 1.3 square miles (3.3 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Population Changes
The number of people living in Hayden has changed a lot over the years.
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1940 | 1,577 | — | |
| 1950 | 1,494 | −5.3% | |
| 1960 | 1,760 | 17.8% | |
| 1970 | 1,283 | −27.1% | |
| 1980 | 1,205 | −6.1% | |
| 1990 | 909 | −24.6% | |
| 2000 | 892 | −1.9% | |
| 2010 | 662 | −25.8% | |
| 2020 | 512 | −22.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In the year 2000, there were 892 people living in Hayden. Most people lived in families, with an average of 3.10 people per household. About 33% of the population was under 18 years old. The average age in the town was 32 years.
Most of the people in Hayden in 2000 were of Hispanic or Latino background, making up about 84.5% of the population.
Economy of Hayden
The main part of Hayden's economy is the Asarco Hayden Smelter. This factory is where metals are melted and processed.
Notable People
- Dick Tuck (1924–2018), a political consultant, was born in Hayden. A political consultant is someone who advises politicians on how to win elections.
See also
In Spanish: Hayden (Arizona) para niños
