Tonto Basin, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tonto Basin, Arizona
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Location in Gila County and the state of Arizona
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 Tonto Basin, Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Gila |
| Area | |
| • Total | 32.13 sq mi (83.20 km2) |
| • Land | 32.12 sq mi (83.19 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,238 ft (682 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,444 |
| • Density | 44.96/sq mi (17.36/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST (no DST)) |
| ZIP code |
85553
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| Area code(s) | 928 |
| FIPS code | 04-74610 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1853170 |
Tonto Basin is a small community in Gila County, Arizona, in the United States. It is known as a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's a special area defined by the U.S. Census Bureau for collecting population data.
In 2020, about 1,444 people lived in Tonto Basin. This number has grown over the years. Inside Tonto Basin, you can also find the small community of Punkin Center.
Contents
A Look Back: Tonto Basin's History
What Was the Pleasant Valley War?
Tonto Basin was once the setting for a famous conflict called the Pleasant Valley War. This happened around 1886. It was a big fight between two families, the Grahams and the Tewksburys.
The Grahams raised cattle, and the Tewksburys raised sheep. They had a long-standing disagreement over land and resources. This conflict is sometimes called the Tonto Basin War or Feud.
Exploring Tonto Basin's Geography
Where is Tonto Basin Located?
Tonto Basin is in the western part of Gila County, Arizona. It sits in the valley of Tonto Creek. This creek flows south and eventually joins the Salt River.
How Big is Tonto Basin?
The community covers an area of about 81.1 square kilometers (about 31.3 square miles). All of this area is land.
Getting Around Tonto Basin
Arizona State Route 188 is a main road that goes through Tonto Basin. You can take this road southeast for about 49 miles (79 km) to reach Globe. Globe is the main city of Gila County. If you go north on the same road, you'll reach Payson, which is about 30 miles (48 km) away.
Who Lives in Tonto Basin?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 1,444 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 840 people living in Tonto Basin. Most people living there were White. A small number of residents were Native American or from other backgrounds. About 2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average household in Tonto Basin had about 1.91 people. The average family had about 2.38 people. Many households were made up of married couples. A good number of people lived alone, especially those aged 65 or older.
The community had a higher percentage of older residents. In 2000, about 32.7% of the people were 65 years old or older. Only about 10.4% were under 18.
Famous People from Tonto Basin
- Frederick Russell Burnham: He was involved in the Tonto Basin Feud in 1886. He was on the side that lost, but he managed to survive. After the feud, he went back to California. A few years later, he moved to Africa.
Tonto Basin in Books and Movies
Tonto Basin has inspired several stories and films:
- Tonto Basin is a Western novel from 1921. It was written by Zane Grey. The book is about a feud between two families, much like the real-life Pleasant Valley War.
- Tonto Basin Outlaws is a 1941 movie. It is loosely based on the Tonto Basin Feud. In the movie, cowboys try to stop cattle rustling. One character from the real-life feud did join Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders.
- To the Last Man is a 1933 film directed by Henry Hathaway. It is also based on the Zane Grey novel. Famous actors like Randolph Scott and Shirley Temple starred in it.
- The name "Tonto Basin" may have inspired the name of Tonto. Tonto is the Native American friend of the Lone Ranger in the famous radio and TV show. This idea was shared in a story by NPR.
See also
In Spanish: Tonto Basin para niños
