Keams Canyon, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Keams Canyon, Arizona
Pongsikya |
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Keams Canyon, as seen from the Arizona SR 264, looking east
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Location in Navajo County and the state of Arizona
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 Keams Canyon, Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Navajo |
| Area | |
| • Total | 16.65 sq mi (43.12 km2) |
| • Land | 16.63 sq mi (43.07 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) |
| Elevation | 6,427 ft (1,959 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 265 |
| • Density | 15.94/sq mi (6.15/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) |
| ZIP code |
86034
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| Area code(s) | 928 |
| FIPS code | 04-37130 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2408463 |
Keams Canyon is a small community located in Navajo County, Arizona, in the United States. It is part of the Hopi Reservation. In the Hopi language, it is called Pongsikya or Pongsikvi, and in the Navajo language, it is known as Lókʼaaʼdeeshjin.
Keams Canyon is considered a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's an area that the U.S. Census Bureau defines for gathering population data, but it's not officially a city or town with its own local government. In 2020, about 265 people lived here.
The name Pongsikya comes from a type of edible green plant that grew in the narrow canyon. This plant survived along a stream that flows through the canyon, which is about 3 miles (4.8 km) long.
In the late 1800s, two cousins, William and Thomas Keam, set up a trading post in the canyon. They traded with the Navajo people and helped the Hopi people start commercial trade. Before this, the closest trading post was about 50 miles (80 km) away. Keam's trading post was much closer, only 13 miles (21 km) east of the Hopi settlements on First Mesa. Because the trading post was so important and easy to reach all year, people in the area started calling the canyon "Keams Canyon."
Geography of Keams Canyon
Keams Canyon is located in Navajo County, Arizona. The entire area of the community is land, covering about 9.3 square miles (24.1 square kilometers).
People and Languages
The population of Keams Canyon has changed over the years:
- In 2000, there were 260 people.
- In 2010, the population grew to 304 people.
- By 2020, it was 265 people.
Most people in Keams Canyon speak English at home. However, many also speak Native American languages. In 2000, for example:
- About 61.8% of people spoke English at home.
- About 20.6% spoke Tewa at home.
- About 17.7% spoke Hopi at home.
The community is made up of different families and individuals. Many households include children under 18. The average age of people living in Keams Canyon in 2000 was 34 years old.
Education in Keams Canyon
Students in Keams Canyon are served by the Cedar Unified School District. There are also schools in the area that are connected to the Bureau of Indian Education.
One important school in Keams Canyon is the Hopi Junior/Senior High School. This school is open and provides education for junior high and high school students.
