Village of Oak Creek, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Village of Oak Creek, Arizona
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Aerial view of the community
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Location of Village of Oak Creek (Big Park) in Yavapai County, Arizona.
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 Village of Oak Creek, Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| Counties | Yavapai |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.26 sq mi (13.61 km2) |
| • Land | 5.26 sq mi (13.61 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 4,105 ft (1,251 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,128 |
| • Density | 1,165.68/sq mi (450.10/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) |
| FIPS code | 04-80095 |
Village of Oak Creek is a small community in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. It is also known as Big Park, which is its official name for census purposes. In 2020, about 6,128 people lived there.
The Village of Oak Creek is often called "VOC" by locals. It's a "bedroom community" for Sedona, meaning many people who live in VOC travel to Sedona for work. The main jobs in VOC are related to tourism and serving people who have retired or own second homes there.
The area was first called Big Park by early settlers because it was a large, open space. It became known as the Village of Oak Creek in the early 1960s. The community is surrounded by beautiful red-rock formations and canyons. The famous Bell Rock is right next to the northern part of VOC. The entire town is also surrounded by the Coconino National Forest, which is a large protected forest area. There's a Forest Service Visitor Center at the south end of VOC.
The Village of Oak Creek shares a ZIP code (86351) with Sedona.
Contents
Exploring the Area's Geography
The Village of Oak Creek covers about 4.6 square miles (11.9 square kilometers) of land. There is no water within its borders.
Since 2016, Big Park / Village of Oak Creek has been recognized as a Dark Sky Community. This means the community works to reduce light pollution, making it easier to see stars at night.
Understanding the Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 141 | — | |
| 1990 | 3,024 | — | |
| 2000 | 5,245 | 73.4% | |
| 2010 | 6,147 | 17.2% | |
| 2020 | 6,128 | −0.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The Village of Oak Creek first appeared in census records in 1910 as the Oak Creek Precinct. It wasn't counted again until 1990, when it was called Big Park. In 2010, the name was officially changed to the Village of Oak Creek, though Big Park is still used in some census documents.
In 2000, there were 5,245 people living in the area. Most residents were White (95.6%). About 6.8% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The average household had about 2 people, and the average family had about 2.4 people. In 2000, about 12.7% of the population was under 18 years old. The median age was 56 years, meaning half the people were younger than 56 and half were older.
The average income for a household in 2000 was $38,477. About 8.4% of all people, including 21.7% of those under 18, lived below the poverty line.
Local Education Opportunities
The schools in the Village of Oak Creek are part of the Sedona-Oak Creek Unified School District. There used to be a school called Big Park Community School for kindergarten through sixth grade, whose mascot was the Coyotes.
Another important school in the area is Verde Valley School. This is a high school that offers the International Baccalaureate program. It's a boarding school, meaning students live there, and it prepares them for college. Many students from different countries and Native American students attend this school. It was started in 1948 by Hamilton and Barbara Warren. Famous scholars like anthropologist Margaret Mead helped guide the school in its early years.
Notable People from the Village
- Kevin Geary: An English artist known for his portraits and abstract art. He moved to the Village of Oak Creek in 2008.
See also
In Spanish: Village of Oak Creek para niños
