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Pima Association of Governments, with direction from its Population Technical Advisory Committee, prepares population estimates and projections for Pima County and its incorporated jurisdictions. As the region continues to experience rapid growth, accurate and reliable demographic information is an important planning tool for decision makers in many fields.
PAG uses census data to determine population estimates and projections that may be considered for transportation modeling or other efforts conducted by PAG. |
Population Overview of the Region and Jurisdictions
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Click on the links below to learn more:
Pima County
Pima County, located in southern Arizona, covers an area of approximately 9,200 square miles. The April 1, 2010, Census population count was 980,263, of which 353,264 (36 percent) resided in the unincorporated area. The majority of the population lives in the eastern half of the county, which contains all of the five incorporated jurisdictions, two Native American tribal reservation areas and a large, urbanized unincorporated area. Approximately 85 percent of the county’s land is federal, state or Native American owned.
In 2005, Pima County and the jurisdictions issued 12,781 new residential building permits, the highest number ever issued in a single year. In 2010, the figure was 2,761. As of July 1, 2010, the official population estimate is 981,168, of which 353,319 live in unincorporated areas.
City of Tucson
The Census 2010 population of Tucson was 520,116, making it the 33rd largest city in the nation. It continues to be the second largest city in Arizona. They July 1, 2010, population estimate is 520,795. From incorporation in 1877, the city has grown from 2 square miles to over 227 square miles in area, the center of a metropolitan area of over 400 square miles.
Town of Oro Valley
Oro Valley is located approximately six miles north of Tucson and is part of the metropolitan region. Incorporated in 1974, it has expanded from 2.6 square miles to over 35 square miles. The Census 2010 population was 41,011 and the official July 2010 estimate is 40,984.
Town of Marana
Marana is located to the northwest of Tucson along I-10. Since incorporation in 1977 the town has grown from 10 to 118 square miles. Historically, a center of farming and ranching, its economy still has a large agricultural component. With a growth rate of 520 percent between 1990 and 2000, Marana experienced the highest growth rate of any Arizona city. The town grew another 158 percent between 2000 and 2010. The Census 2010 population was 34,961 and the July 2010 estimate is 35,051.
Town of Sahuarita
Sahuarita, incorporated in 1994, is the newest jurisdiction in Pima County. It is located in the Santa Cruz Valley approximately 20 miles south of Tucson, and covers an area of about 30 square miles. The Census 2000 population of Sahuarita was just 3,242; at the 2010 Census, it had increased 679 percent to 25,259. The official July 2010 estimate of population is 25,347.
City of South Tucson
The City of South Tucson, which incorporated in 1938, is one square mile in area and is surrounded entirely by the City of Tucson. The highest population attained was approximately 7,000 in 1960. The Census 2010 count was 5,652 and the July 2010 official estimate is 5,672.
Tribal Lands
Pima County is home to two Native American Tribes: The Pascua Yaqui and the Tohono O’odham.
The Pascua Yaqui have a small reservation of 1.87 square miles to the southwest of the City of Tucson, but the people live throughout the county as well as locations in Pinal and Maricopa counties. The Census 2000 count for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona was 3,315; total tribal membership is estimated at 6,136. The 2010 Census counted 3,484 persons in the Pima County portions of the Pascua Yaqui tribal lands.
The U.S. area (4,453 square miles) of the Tohono O’odham Nation covers much of western Pima County, portions of southwestern Pinal and southern Maricopa counties. The portion lying within Pima County totals 4,341 square miles. The capital city, Sells, had a Census 2010 population of 2,495. The Pima County portions of the Nation were enumerated in 2010 as having 8,959 persons. Total tribal enrollment is estimated as being over 23,890 persons.
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Pima County Population, 1900-2010
Population Growth Patterns
The 1900 decennial census recorded 14,689 residents in Pima County. As new migrants arrived in Tucson, they settled along the northern and southern corridors of State Highway 89/90; later arrivals moved steadily eastward. By 1970, development was constrained by federal lands to the east and development began to spread to the northwest. In 1970, the population center was located at Broadway Boulevard and Alvernon Way, it moved north to Sixth Street and Tucson Boulevard by 1980 and by 1990 was located near Sam Hughes Elementary School at Third Street and Norton Avenue. The northwestern growth continued through the 1990s and by 2000 the population was centered on the University of Arizona around First Street and Cherry Avenue. In 2010, the center of population moved southwest near the intersection of South Park Avenue and East Aviation Parkway. The earlier north-south pattern of expansion appears to be recurring and future development is expected to be strongly oriented around I-10 and I-19 corridors.
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- Pima County's population is 980,263, according to the results of the 2010 Census
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According to the State Demographer's Office, the estimated population of Metro Tucson (Pima County) is 981,168 as of July 1, 2010
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Pima County's population is projected to reach 1.45 million by 2041
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