Thatcher, Arizona

Thatcher is a town in Graham County, Arizona, United States. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the town is 4,865.[3] It is part of the Safford Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Thatcher, Arizona
Town
Spencer W. Kimball Childhood Home Marker
Location of Thatcher in Graham County, Arizona
Thatcher, Arizona Location in the United States
Coordinates: 32°49′58″N 109°45′46″W
Country	United States
State	Arizona
County	Graham
Government
• Mayor	Bob Rivera[1]
Area [2]
• Total	6.56 sq mi (16.99 km^2)
• Land	6.54 sq mi (16.95 km^2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.04 km^2)
Elevation	2,910 ft (887 m)
Population  (2010)[3]
• Total	4,865
• Estimate  (2019)[4]	5,200
• Density	794.62/sq mi (306.79/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-7 (MST (no DST))
ZIP code	85552
Area code(s)	928
FIPS code	04-73420
GNIS feature ID	12277
Website	Town of Thatcher

Thatcher is the home of Eastern Arizona College (EAC), a college that offers two year degrees and includes a nursing school.[5]

Geography

Thatcher is located at 32°49′58″N 109°45′46″W (32.832685, −109.762879).[6]

The town is centered in the Upper Gila River Valley with one of Arizona's famous Madrean Sky Islands towering to the south and the Gila River to the north.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 6.7 square miles (17 km²), including 0.02 square miles (0.052 km²) of water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1890	320		—
1900	644		101.3%
1910	904		40.4%
1920	899		−0.6%
1930	895		−0.4%
1940	1,106		23.6%
1950	1,284		16.1%
1960	1,581		23.1%
1970	2,320		46.7%
1980	3,374		45.4%
1990	3,763		11.5%
2000	4,022		6.9%
2010	4,865		21.0%
2019 (est.)	5,200	[4]	6.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 4,022 people, 1,281 households, and 927 families residing in the town. The population density was 919.4 people per square mile (355.4/km²). There were 1,427 housing units at an average density of 326.2 per square mile (126.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 84.73% White, 0.77% Black or African American, 1.84% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 9.87% from other races, and 2.19% from two or more races. 19.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,281 households, out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.37.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.6% under the age of 18, 22.8% from 18 to 24, 18.9% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $32,412, and the median income for a family was $40,392. Males had a median income of $35,815 versus $20,964 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,961. 17.2% of the population lives below the poverty line.[9]

Emergency response

In Thatcher, police services are provided by the Thatcher Police Department, often in conjunction with Eastern Arizona College Police and the Graham County Sheriff's Office. Emergency 911 services are provided by the 24/7 dispatch center of the Graham County Sheriff's Office. Fire services are provided by the all volunteer Thatcher Fire Department, which has the capability to respond with various types of equipment, including several fire engines and a ladder truck. Mount Graham Regional Medical Center is the medical services provider for the area.

History

Thatcher was originally settled by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The first settler was John M. Moody who arrived in Thatcher with his wife and children in 1881.[10] The founding of Thatcher is attributed to Mormon pioneer Christopher Layton, who bought two thousand acres, named the acreage "Thatcher", divided them into lots, and sold those lots to Mormon settlers. Layton also bought a gristmill and built roads, canals and homes.

Eastern Arizona College traces its history to the St. Joseph Stake Academy started by the church in nearby Central. Central is also the location of the Gila Valley Arizona Temple.

Transportation

San Carlos Apache Nnee Bich'o Nii Transit provides transportation from Thatcher to the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, Safford and Globe.[11] Greyhound Lines serves Thatcher on its Phoenix-El Paso via Globe route.

Notable people

• Frank Wanlass, inventor of CMOS and pioneer in the field of solid-state electronics.
• Spencer W. Kimball, former president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Although not born in the community, he lived here from the age of three until his 20s.
• Don Lancaster, early print on demand and personal computer pioneer, involved in the keyboard design of the Apple I computer.
• Jess Mortensen, former coach and NCAA-champion track athlete from USC and former world record holder in decathlon.
• Elliot Johnson, professional baseball player in the MLB
• Jeremy Nelson, award-winning visual effects artist.[12]
• Jacque Mercer, Miss Arizona and Miss America, 1949.[13]

Tyson Draper-Professional YouTuber--Lived in Thatcher, Arizona and attended Pima High School Best known for his interview with Barry Morphew and Nancy Grace

Historic Brinkeroff Hotel and Spencer W. Kimball Childhood Home

Thatcher, Arizona

• 
  Brinkeroff Hotel - 1900
• 
  Spencer W. Kimball Childhood Home
• 
  Inside the Spencer W. Kimball Childhood home

See also

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Arizona

References

1. Office and Contact Information, Thatcher. Accessed 2008-07-07.
2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
4. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
5. http://www.eac.edu/
6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
7. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
8. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
9. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Thatcher town, Arizona; Graham County, Arizona; Arizona". www.census.gov. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
10. Andrew Jenson. Encyclopedic History of the Church. (Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1941) p. 870. accessed via infobase CD library
11. "GLOBE/SAFFORD ROUTE". Nnee Bich'o Nii Transit. Retrieved 2020-01-27.
12. Saunders, Diane (February 21, 2011). "Former Valley resident wins visual effects award". Eastern Arizona Courier.
13. "Arizona Archives Online. Jacque Mercer Collection 1922-1971".

External links

• Town website
• County website