Eloy is located at the heart of the Sun Corridor along Interstate 10 and Interstate 8 at the vortex of manufacturing and major distribution firms. These firms also benefit from the presence of the Union Pacific Railroad, which runs north of Interstate 10. Eloy began as a railroad switchyard, which connected Tucson to Casa Grande, in 1902. In 1918, three men (W.L. Bernard, J.E. Meyer and John Alsdorf) purchased land, subdivided it and began growing cotton, calling the area Cotton City. An application was made in 1919 to establish a post office, at which time the city founders named the community "Cotton City." This name was rejected by what would become the U.S. Postal Service and the name "Eloy" was chosen.

Principal Economic Activities

Eloy’s economy has focused on agriculture because of its location in the Santa Cruz River Basin, one of Arizona's most fertile agricultural areas. Recently, the city’s economy has diversified, with more than three-quarters of its businesses and nearly half its employment now in the industrial, wholesale/retail trade, and service sectors. The city continues to be a prime location for five major truck stops (along I-10) and is the site of four prison facilities operated by CoreCivic. Other private employers include: Schuff Steel, Otto Environmental Systems Inc., Republic Plastics Arizona, LLC, San Juan Pools, Townley Manufacturing, HASA of Arizona, Monsanto Inc. and Arizona Pacific Wood Preserving Inc. Eloy is also known internationally for its skydiving facilities. Located at the Eloy Municipal Airport, SkyDive Arizona and its supportive businesses can accommodate the experienced and novice jumper.

Scenic Attractions

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, located 15 miles to the north, offers a glimpse of the ancient Sonoran Desert. Picacho Peak State Park, five miles south, features Picacho Peak, a unique historic/geological formation, and recreational facilities. Its Hunter Trail is a well-known destination for area hikers. Picacho Peak is the site of the only Civil War battle in Arizona, which is re-enacted each spring. The Ironwood Forest National Monument, eight miles to the southwest, provides primitive camping, hiking, mountain biking and nature viewing.

Community Facilities

The Eloy Fire District serves the city’s fire protection and emergency response needs with two stations. The Eloy Police Department serves the city’s public safety needs. The city’s children attend the Eloy Elementary School District #11, which operates four schools: Toltec Elementary School District #22, which operates a middle school; and Santa Cruz Valley Union High School District #840, which operates the Santa Cruz Valley High School, which is also the site of the joint-use community library. The Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology (CAVIT), located 15 miles north, offers a range of technical study programs. Central Arizona College (CAC), also 15 miles north, offers pre-baccalaureate programs and more than 90 occupational study programs. Sun Life Family Health Center/Pharmacy is located in Eloy and Banner Casa Grande Medical Center is 15 miles to the northwest. The city maintains and manages nine parks and two community centers and administers a variety of recreation activities for all ages. One golf course is also located in the city. The Eloy Visitor Center serves tourists from its office at the historic high school located on Toltec Road.

Basic Information

Founded 1902 Incorporated 1949
Elevation 1,565 ft. Location Pinal County
     
Distance to major cities:
Phoenix 69 miles San Diego 359 miles
Tucson 52 miles Los Angeles 434 miles
Las Vegas 355 miles  

Population

2000 2010 2023 (est.)
Eloy 10,375 16,657 16,485
Pinal County 179,727 376,369 439,128
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

Eloy 3.00%
Pinal County 1.10%
State 5.60%

Arizona Dept. of Revenue & Arizona Tax Research Foundation

Labor Force

2000 2010 2022
Civilian Labor Force 3,458 3,797 4,080
Unemployed 239 669 277
Unemployment Rate 6.9% 17.6% 6.8%

Office of Economic Opportunity

Workforce Education Attainment

Count Share
Less than high school 4,307 30.5%
High school or equivalent, no college 5,055 35.8%
Some college or Associate degree 3,614 25.6%
Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree 1,162 8.2%

American Community Survey

Industry (ranked by employment)

  Count Share
Education, health care & social assistance 538 15.5%
Public administration 534 15.4%
Arts, entertainment, food & recreation services 500 14.4%
Manufacturing 446 12.8%
Retail trade 295 8.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, & mining 289 8.3%
Professional, scientific, & administrative services 275 7.9%
Construction 249 7.2%
Transportation, warehousing, & utilities 135 3.9%
Finance, insurance & real estate 91 2.6%
Wholesale trade 62 1.8%
Other services, except public administration 54 1.6%
Information 10 0.3%

American Community Survey

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

City of Eloy
Jeff Fairman
628 North Main Street
Eloy, AZ 85131
Phone: 520-464-3178
Email: [email protected]
Website: eloyaz.gov
Access Arizona
Mr. Jim Dinkle, Executive Director
540 N. Camino Mercado #2
Casa Grande, AZ 85122
Phone: 520-836-6868
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.accessarizona.org
Eloy Chamber of Commerce
Andrew Rodriguez
305 N. Stuart Blvd.
Eloy, AZ 85131
Phone: 520-466-3411
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.EloyChamber.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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