Wittmann, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wittmann, Arizona
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Nadaburg School House
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Location in Maricopa County, Arizona
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 Wittmann, Arizona
Location in Arizona
Wittmann, Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Maricopa |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.96 sq mi (2.50 km2) |
| • Land | 0.96 sq mi (2.50 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,683 ft (513 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 684 |
| • Density | 708.81/sq mi (273.76/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| ZIP code |
85361
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| Area code(s) | 623 |
| FIPS code | 04-84140 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2582909 |
Wittmann is a small community in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. It is called a census-designated place (CDP) because the government tracks its population. In 2020, about 684 people lived there.
Wittmann is located along U.S. Route 60 in central Arizona. It is about 35 miles northwest of Phoenix. Even though it's close to Phoenix, it feels like its own quiet area.
The town was named after Joseph Wittmann and his wife, Eleanor van Beuren Wittmann. They tried to build a dam nearby to bring water to the area. This dam was meant to replace an older one that had broken. However, their plans for the new dam did not work out.
The nearby town of Morristown also has a name link to the Wittmann and van Beuren families. They had homes in Morristown, New Jersey.
Contents
Discovering Wittmann's Past
How Wittmann Got Its Name
The town was first called "Nadaburg." This name comes from two words. "Nada" is a Spanish word meaning "nothing." "Burg" is a German word meaning "castle." So, Nadaburg meant "nothing castle."
A railroad worker named R.E. Wells gave the site this name. This happened when a railroad switch was put in the area. This was years before people could officially settle there.
Founding the Town
William Hovey Griffin, from Texas, founded Nadaburg (which is now Wittmann). He officially claimed his land in 1920. In the same year, he planned out the town's layout.
Griffin gave land to the Maricopa County School District. A small schoolhouse, known as the "little Red School House," was built there. It was actually white back then! Today, this building is used by the Nadaburg Unified School District.
Griffin also provided water for about 20 families. He drilled a well when he first arrived in 1920. In 1925, he asked the state for permission to build a bigger water system.
The Promise of Water
Joseph Wittmann wanted to build a dam on the Hassayampa River. This dam would bring water to Nadaburg for farming. In 1926, the people of Nadaburg gave land to Wittmann to support the dam project.
In 1929, the town changed its name to Wittmann. This was to honor the Wittmann family. They had promised to bring water and power to the community. However, the dam project faced many problems. It did not get enough government approval or money.
Because the dam was never built, Joseph Wittmann and his son were sued. Many citizens were able to get their lands back.
Farming and Livestock
The town's economy was mostly based on farming. The soil in Wittmann was very good for growing crops. In the 1930s, farmers grew dates, citrus fruits, grapes, and vegetables like lettuce. There were also many farms raising animals and producing dairy products.
Wittmann's Population Facts
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2010 | 763 | — | |
| 2020 | 684 | −10.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 763 people living in Wittmann. By 2020, the population had gone down to 684 people.
The population density was about 56 people per square mile in 2010. This means there were 56 people living in each square mile of the area. Most people living in Wittmann are White. The community also has people from other backgrounds, including Hispanic or Latino residents.
Wittmann's Weather
Wittmann has a hot desert climate. This means it gets very hot and dry. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Wittmann was 119°F (48°C). This happened on June 28, 2013, and June 20, 2017. The coldest temperature recorded was 12°F (-11°C) on January 13, 1963.
| Climate data for Wittmann, Arizona, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1930–2020 | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 84 (29) |
90 (32) |
98 (37) |
104 (40) |
112 (44) |
119 (48) |
117 (47) |
115 (46) |
113 (45) |
103 (39) |
91 (33) |
83 (28) |
119 (48) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 65.2 (18.4) |
68.2 (20.1) |
74.9 (23.8) |
82.1 (27.8) |
91.8 (33.2) |
101.8 (38.8) |
104.6 (40.3) |
103.3 (39.6) |
97.6 (36.4) |
86.5 (30.3) |
74.1 (23.4) |
64.1 (17.8) |
84.5 (29.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 52.2 (11.2) |
54.8 (12.7) |
60.3 (15.7) |
66.3 (19.1) |
75.9 (24.4) |
85.5 (29.7) |
90.7 (32.6) |
90.1 (32.3) |
83.7 (28.7) |
71.8 (22.1) |
59.9 (15.5) |
51.5 (10.8) |
70.2 (21.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 39.2 (4.0) |
41.4 (5.2) |
45.6 (7.6) |
50.6 (10.3) |
59.9 (15.5) |
69.1 (20.6) |
76.8 (24.9) |
76.9 (24.9) |
69.8 (21.0) |
57.1 (13.9) |
45.8 (7.7) |
39.0 (3.9) |
55.9 (13.3) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 12 (−11) |
17 (−8) |
25 (−4) |
32 (0) |
34 (1) |
49 (9) |
58 (14) |
60 (16) |
46 (8) |
29 (−2) |
23 (−5) |
22 (−6) |
12 (−11) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.38 (35) |
1.45 (37) |
1.00 (25) |
0.45 (11) |
0.09 (2.3) |
0.07 (1.8) |
0.89 (23) |
1.13 (29) |
1.06 (27) |
0.66 (17) |
0.67 (17) |
0.95 (24) |
9.60 (244) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 3.9 | 4.2 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 5.2 | 4.9 | 3.4 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 4.3 | 35.5 |
| Source 1: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service | |||||||||||||
Images for kids
- Wittmann (Nadaburg), Arizona
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Wittmann Fire Station on Patton Road
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Early Nadaburg church, now the Assembly of God, built around 1930.
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Wittmann Cemetery. The first person buried here was James Stalnaker in 1917.
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Grave of William Hovey Griffin (1875–1956) in Glendale.
See also
In Spanish: Wittmann para niños
