Pima is on the Gila River in north-central Graham County. The Gila River was one of the main waterways followed by fur trappers and mountain men in the 1820s and 1830s. The lands beside the river became the Gila Trail along which General Stephen W. Kearny brought his "Army of the West" in 1846. Mormon settlers seeking a canal route in the Gila Valley laid out a town site, naming it Smithville after Mormon leader Jesse Smith. The town was later renamed Pima after the Native American tribe. The route to Pima from Tucson is east on Interstate 10 to U.S. 191, turning north to Safford and then northwest on U.S. 70. From Phoenix, Pima is reached via U.S. 60 to Globe and then U.S. 70.

Principal Economic Activities

Agriculture is the predominant economic activity in Graham County. Pima historically has been an agricultural center with irrigation water coming from the Gila River. As a farm trade center, Pima serves surrounding agricultural areas. The town is becoming a popular retirement community. Increases in tourism and winter visitors have boosted wholesale and retail trade. County, state and federal offices and the community college in Thatcher also provide employment.

Scenic Attractions

Pima is just north of the Coronado National Forest which provides numerous recreational facilities. Two of the most popular areas are the Pinaleno Mountains and 10,720-foot Mt. Graham. The 36-mile long Swift Trail goes to Mt. Graham’s summit and features many picnic, hiking and camping sites. The Mt. Graham Observatory includes the Large Binocular Telescope. Forty-six miles from Pima is the ranger station at Columbine and Riggs Lake, home to fishing, boating and other water activity facilities. Twenty-six miles away is Cluff Ranch Reservoir, a premiere water recreation area. Near Pima is Aravaipa Canyon, one of the most scenic wilderness areas in Arizona. Passes to visit Aravaipa Canyon must be obtained through the Bureau of Land Management's Safford Office. Other attractions include Hot Wells Dunes, Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area and Black Hills Back Country Byway.

Community Facilities

The town of Pima has a museum, a library, two city parks totaling 41 acres, a swimming pool, a children's museum, a roping arena, several handball and tennis courts, wrestling mats and four softball / baseball fields.

Basic Information

Founded 1879 Incorporated 1916
Elevation 2,846 ft. Location Graham County
     
Distance to major cities:
Phoenix 153 miles San Diego 499 miles
Tucson 151 miles Los Angeles 529 miles
Las Vegas 450 miles  

Population

2000 2010 2023 (est.)
Pima 1,989 2,390 2,921
Graham County 33,489 37,299 39,025
State of Arizona 5,130,632 6,401,569 7,285,370

Office of Economic Opportunity

Arizona Dept. of Revenue & Arizona Tax Research Foundation

SALES TAX / TRANSACTION PRIVILEGE TAX

Pima 2.00%
Graham County 1.00%
State 5.60%

Arizona Dept. of Revenue & Arizona Tax Research Foundation

Labor Force

2000 2010 2022
Civilian Labor Force 922 1,099 1,178
Unemployed 40 149 39
Unemployment Rate 4.3% 13.6% 3.3%

Office of Economic Opportunity

Workforce Education Attainment

Count Share
Less than high school 100 6.5%
High school or equivalent, no college 517 33.7%
Some college or Associate degree 492 32.1%
Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree 423 27.6%

American Community Survey

Industry (ranked by employment)

  Count Share
Education, health care & social assistance 233 23.0%
Arts, entertainment, food & recreation services 167 16.5%
Retail trade 128 12.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, & mining 115 11.3%
Transportation, warehousing, & utilities 79 7.8%
Construction 76 7.5%
Public administration 65 6.4%
Professional, scientific, & administrative services 45 4.4%
Finance, insurance & real estate 41 4.0%
Other services, except public administration 31 3.1%
Information 17 1.7%
Manufacturing 17 1.7%
Wholesale trade 0 0.0%

American Community Survey

This profile was prepared by the Arizona Commerce Authority in cooperation with local sources. For further information, please contact:

Town of Pima
Vernon Batty
P.O. Box 426
Pima, AZ 85543
Phone: 928-485-2611
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.pimatown.az.gov
Graham County Chamber of Commerce
1111 Thatcher Blvd.
Safford, AZ 85546
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.graham-chamber.com
Arizona Commerce Authority
Statewide Economic Development Group
100 N. 7th Ave., Suite 400
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: 602-845-1200
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.azcommerce.com



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