La Paz County

History

La Paz County was established in 1983 after voters approved separating the northern portion of Yuma County, making it the only county to be established after Arizona became a state in 1912, and currently the second youngest county in the United States (behind the consolidated city-county of Broomfield, Colorado, which was established in 2001). The county did not have a large enough tax base to begin supporting a separate county government immediately and had to rely on state money at first. As a result, the Arizona State Legislature changed Arizona laws to make splitting other existing counties much more difficult.

Under the revised Arizona laws, a county shall not be formed or divided by county initiative unless each proposed county would have all of the following characteristics: (1) at least three-fourths of one percent of the total state assessed valuation and at least the statewide per capita assessed valuation; (2) a population of at least three-fourths of one percent of the total state population according to the most recent United States decennial census; (3) at least one hundred square miles of privately owned land; (4) common boundaries with either (a) at least three other existing or proposed counties; or (b) at least two other existing or proposed counties and the state boundary. A county formation commission is required to be formed to evaluate the feasibility of the proposed county. A proposal to divide a county must be approved by a majority of the votes cast in each proposed new county. Yet in 2022 a group of Republican state legislators, motivated largely by partisan considerations, proposed dividing Maricopa County into four counties.

The Colorado River Indian Reservation is located in the western portion of the county. Part of the reservation extends westward into San Bernardino and Riverside counties in California.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,514 mi2 (11,690 km2), of which 4,500 mi2 (12,000 km2) is land and 14 mi2 (36 km2) (0.3%) is water.

The area that now makes up La Paz County was formerly part of Yuma County.

Flora and fauna

La Paz County hosts a variety of flora and fauna. The endangered California Fan Palm Washingtonia filifera grows in a few spots in the county.

Adjacent counties

Mohave County – north

Yavapai County – northeast

Maricopa County – east

Yuma County – south

Imperial County, California – southwest

Riverside County, California – west

San Bernardino County, California – northwest

National protected areas

Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Cibola National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Imperial National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Kofa National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 16,557. Of the residents, 18.4% were under the age of 18 and 33.7% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 54.6 years. For every 100 females there were 103.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 103.2 males. 56.6% of residents lived in urban areas and 43.4% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 59.0% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 17.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% Asian, 0.3% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 9.7% from some other race, and 12.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 25.3% of the population.

There were 7,370 households in the county, of which 20.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 13,457 housing units, of which 45.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.8% were owner-occupied and 28.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 15.7%.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 20,489 people, 9,198 households, and 5,584 families living in the county. The population density was 4.5//sq mi (1.8/km2). There were 16,049 housing units at an average density of 3.56 units per square mile (1.37 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 69.8% white, 12.8% American Indian, 0.6% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 12.5% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 23.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 22.4% were German, 15.9% were Irish, 15.3% were English, and 2.1% were American.

Of the 9,198 households, 19.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 39.3% were non-families, and 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.72. The median age was 53.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,147 and the median income for a family was $37,721. Males had a median income of $35,464 versus $27,484 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,165. About 14.3% of families and 20.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.4% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 19,715 people, 8,362 households, and 5,619 families living in the county. The population density was 4.4 people per square mile (1.7 people/km2). There were 15,133 housing units at an average density of 3.4 units per square mile (1.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 74.2% white, 0.8% black or African American, 12.5% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 9.4% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. 22.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.9% reported speaking Spanish at home.

There were 8,362 households, with 21.2% having children under the age of 18, 54.2% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 26.6% of households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.79.

The county population had 21.1% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 20.4% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 25.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 105.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,839, and the median income for a family was $29,141. Males had a median income of $26,642 versus $20,965 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,916. About 13.6% of families and 19.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.5% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over.

Law enforcement

The La Paz County Sheriff's Office provides general-service law enforcement to unincorporated areas of La Paz County, serving as the equivalent of the police for unincorporated areas of the county. It also operates the county jail system. The Sheriff's Office is headquartered in Parker.

Past sheriffs are:

Rayburn Evans (1983–88)

Marvin Hare (1989–2000)

Daniel "Hal" Collett (2001–08)

Donald Lowery (2009–12)

John Drum (2013–16)

William Risen (2017-2020)

William Ponce (2021–Present)

Politics

La Paz County has been a strongly Republican county since the county's formation although Bill Clinton was able to win the county in both of his elections.

Transportation

Major highways

Interstate 10

U.S. Route 60

U.S. Route 95

State Route 72

State Route 95

Air

Avi Suquilla Airport (FAA LID: P20) is a public use airport located one nautical mile (1.9 km) east of the central business district of Parker, Arizona. It is owned by the Colorado River Indian Tribes.

Rail

The county is served by the Arizona and California Railroad for freight through Parker, Arizona.

Communities

Towns

Parker (county seat)

Quartzsite

Unincorporated communities

Hope

Love

Indian communities

Colorado River Indian Reservation

County population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of La Paz County.

† county seat