Peridot, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peridot, Arizona
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Spring wildflowers near Peridot
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Location in Gila County and the state of Arizona
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 Peridot, Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| Counties | Gila, Graham |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.46 sq mi (14.15 km2) |
| • Land | 5.46 sq mi (14.14 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,635 ft (803 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,308 |
| • Density | 239.52/sq mi (92.49/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST (no DST)) |
| ZIP code |
85542
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| Area code(s) | 928 |
| FIPS code | 04-54190 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2409055 |
Peridot (which means "Blue Rock" in the Apache language, Western Apache: Tséé Dotłʼizh) is a small community in the state of Arizona, in the United States. It's called a "census-designated place" (CDP) because it's a special area the government uses to collect information about people, even though it's not officially a city or town.
Peridot is located in both Gila and Graham counties. In 2020, about 1,308 people lived there. The community gets its name from a beautiful green gemstone called peridot, which can be found in the rocks nearby.
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Where Peridot Is Located
Peridot is in the southeastern part of Gila County and the northwestern part of Graham County. It's located inside the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation.
A main road, U.S. Route 70, goes right through Peridot. This road can take you about 20 miles west to Globe, which is the main city in Gila County. If you go about 57 miles southeast, you'll reach Safford, the main city in Graham County.
The San Carlos River flows south through Peridot. This river is a branch of the larger Gila River. The river also marks the border between Gila and Graham counties. About 11 miles south of Peridot, you'll find the Coolidge Dam, which creates San Carlos Lake on the Gila and San Carlos rivers.
The Peridot area covers about 5.46 square miles (14.14 square kilometers), and all of it is land.
People of Peridot
In 2000, there were 1,266 people living in Peridot. Most of the people living in Peridot are Native American, making up about 98% of the population. A large part of this group, about 93%, are from the Apache tribe. This makes Peridot a very important place for the Apache people in the United States.
Many families live in Peridot. In 2000, about half of the households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about four people. The community has a young population, with many people under the age of 18.
Learning in Peridot
Peridot has a school called Peridot-Our Savior's Lutheran School. It's a Christian school for students from kindergarten through 8th grade.
The San Carlos Apache Tribe's Language Preservation Program is also located in Peridot. This program works to help keep the Apache language alive and strong among the 14,000 tribal members who live in the area.
Things to See and Do
- Peridot Gemstones: You can find pieces of the green peridot gemstone in the volcanic hills between Peridot and Globe. Many local rock shops also sell these beautiful stones.
- Wildflowers: After a wet winter, the Peridot area often has amazing displays of colorful spring wildflowers. It's a beautiful sight to see!
- Exploring the Reservation: If you want to travel off the main roads on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, you'll need a special permit. You can get these permits from the San Carlos Recreation and Wildlife department or at local stores.
Getting Around
San Carlos Apache Nnee Bich'o Nii Transit provides bus services within the reservation. It also offers rides to nearby cities like Safford and Globe.
A bus company called Greyhound Lines also serves Peridot. Its route connects Phoenix to El Paso, with a stop in Globe.
