Arizona County Profiles

              Apache County was carved from
Yavapai County — one of
Arizona’s original four counties
— on Feb. 24, 1879, by the 10th
Territorial Legislative Assembly. Leaders
of St. Johns and Globe had petitioned
for their towns to be the county seat,
but the honor went
temporarily to Snowflake, with the
provision that an election would
determine the permanent county seat.
In November 1879, on the strength of
votes from the mining town of Clifton
(now in Greenlee County), St. Johns
was designated the county seat.
Originally, Apache County
encompassed all of present day Navajo
County, part of Gila County and part of
Graham County, but by 1895 its size
had been reduced to the 11,216 square
miles it occupies today. The Apache and Navajo Indian reservations cover more than 65.4 percent of
the county, and 25 percent of the state’s Native Americans live here. Approx-imately 21 percent is
public land, and 13.2 percent is privately owned. All of Apache County is an Enterprise Zone.
The forested White Mountains and green pastures in the south of the county contrast sharply with
the high, dry, colorful plateau region of the north. Excellent fishing, hunting and skiing make the White
Mountains a year-round recreation area. Numerous archaeological sites are open to the public.
Fort Defiance, Arizona’s first military post, the Town of Ganado, and Hubbell’s famous trading post
(now a National Historic Site) are located in northern Apache County on the Navajo Reservation. Chinle,
another Indian trade center, is the gateway to the spectacular Canyon de Chelly National Monument.
Also in Apache County are the spectacular Petrified Forest National Park and the Painted Desert,
Window Rock, the Navajo tribal capital, and Casa Malpais Archaeological site. The Apache Indian
Reservation, located in the White Mountains around the settlement of Fort Apache, includes 25 excel-lent
fishing lakes and the Sunrise Park Ski Resort for outdoor recreation, as well as a highly successful
lumber mill and a casino.
Profile:
ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
3800 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85012 (602) 280-1321
Apache County,
Arizona
County Seat St. Johns
Population: 66,350
Labor Force: 20,425*
Unemployment Rate: 16.0%*
Major Industries: Tourism,
Livestock,
Lumbering,
Government,
Utilities
* Average rates for 1998. Source: Arizona Department of Economic Security
1980 1990 1998
Arizona 2,716,546 3,665,228 4,764,025
Apache County 52,108 61,591 66,350
Major Cities/Communities
Chinle, Navajo Nation 4,893 7,000 8,437*
Eagar 2,791 4,025 4,840
New Lands N/A N/A 1,125*
St. Johns 3,368 3,294 3,535
Springerville 1,452 1,802 2,085
Window Rock/Fort
Defiance, Navajo Nation N/A 7,795 13,435*
Source: Arizona Department of Economic Security
* Population Estimate from Navajo Nation Department of Economic Development
Age Distribution
% of total
0-14 35.2%
15-24 18.2%
25-44 25.2%
45-64 14.4%
65+ 7.0%
Source: Arizona Department of Economic Security, 1996 Population Estimate
Population Composition*
Race % of total
White 20.2%
African American 0.2%
Native American 77.6%
Asian or Pacific Islands 0.2%
Other 1.8%
Total 100%
Hispanic Heritage** 4.2%
Source: Arizona Department of Economic Security
* Population composition is based on 1990 census
** Persons of Hispanic heritage can be of any race
Note: The Navajo Nation communities of Chinle and
Window Rock/Ft. Defiance are unincorporated.
Civilian Labor Force
Labor Force Unemployment Rate
Arizona 2,272,388 4.1%
Apache County 20,423 16.0%
Major Cities/Communities
Chinle, Navajo Nation 1,498 20.0%
Eagar 1,950 5.0%
New Lands, Navajo Nation N/A N/A
St. Johns 1,613 5.2%
Springerville 988 8.5%
Window Rock/Fort Defiance,
Navajo Nation 3,188 15.7%
Average Employment by Sector
Manufacturing 300
Construction 550
Transportation, Communication, and Public Utilities 500
Trade 2,050
Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate 725
Services and Miscellaneous 2,975
Government 11,425
Source: Arizona Department of Economic Security, 1998
Average Wage Rates for Selected Occupations
(Arizona average excluding Coconino,
Maricopa, Pima, Pinal & Yuma counties)
Hourly Average
Accounting Clerk $ 9.62
Carpenter $ 11.95
Computer Operator $ 13.50
Computer Programmer $ 21.39
Data Entry Operator $ 8.67
Electrician $ 16.47
Heavy Equipment Mechanic $ 13.22
Secretary $ 9.57
Welder $ 14.19
Source: Arizona Department of Economic Security, 1997 Employer Wage Survey
Major Employers
Employer Employment Type
Ft. Defiance Hospital Health Services
Ft. Defiance
Indian Health Services Health Services
Chinle/Ft. Defiance
Navajo Communications Co. Telephone Communications
Window Rock
Navajo Nation Governmental
Window Rock
Navajo Tribal Utility Authority Utility
Navajo Nation
P&M Coal Co. Mining
Window Rock
Packard-Hughes Interconnect Electric Equipment & Supplies
Fort Defiance
Sage Memorial Hospital Health Services
Ganado
Salt River Project Coronado
Generating Station Power
St. Johns
Tucson Electric Power Power
Springerville
White Mountain
Community Hospital Health Services
Springerville
Source: APS
Note: Employers in the county range from 100-499 employees. Employment estimate is based
on a specific business location, not overall company employment.
Employment by Occupation
% of Total
Managers & Administrative 5.53
Professional & Technical 31.40
Sales & Related Occupations 6.21
Clerical & Administrative Support 15.89
Service Occupations 13.74
Agriculture, Forestry, & Fishing 1.96
Production, Maintenance, & Material Handling 25.27
Source: Arizona Department of Economic Security
Electric Service
Major Suppliers:
Continental Divide Electric Corp. (520) 285-6656
Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (520) 729-5721
Navopache Electric Cooperative, Inc. (520) 368-5118
Natural Gas Service
Major Suppliers:
Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (520) 729-5721
Southwest Gas Corporation (520) 876-7252
Citizens Utilities Gas Division (800) 522-4391
Water and Sewer
For information, contact the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority,
(520) 729-5721, or the Division of Economic Development Office, Navajo
Nation, (520) 871-6544.
For additional information, see specific community profile or
contact the ACES Corporation at (520) 337-2644.
Telephone
Major Suppliers:
AT&T Communications (520) 285-5714
Citizens Telecom (800) 921-8101
Navajo Communications Company, Inc. (520) 871-3789
U.S. West Communications (520) 235-3200
Source: Arizona Corporation Commission, Utility Division
Major Hospitals:
Sage Memorial Hospital, Ganado (520) 755-3411
White Mountains Community Hospital,
Springerville (520) 333-4368
Navajo Community College Tsaile: (520) 724-6630
Northland Pioneer College Eagar: (520) 333-2498
St. Johns: (520) 337-4768
Highways
Interstate 40, U.S. 60, U.S. 160, U.S. 180, U.S. 191, state Highway 61,
state Highway 180A, state Highway 260, state Highway 261, state
Highway 262, state Highway 264, state Highway 273, Indian Route 7,
Indian Route 12, Indian Route 54, Indian Route 59, Indian Route 63
Bus Lines
Greyhound Bus Lines, Navajo Transit System, White Mountain Passenger
Lines
Rail Service
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (800) 726-8233
Trucking Service
Alpine Trucking Inc., CTI Trucking, Holiday Charles Logging, JC Trucking,
Johnson Freight Lines
Air Service
Major Airports
Airport Name: Springerville Field
(520) 333-5746
Functional Class: Community Service
Elevation: 7,051'
Ownership: Public
Use: Public
Nav-Aids: None
Runway: 03/21 Length: 8,400' Width: 75'
Surface: Asphalt
Airport Name: St. Johns Industrial Airpark
(520) 337-4254
Functional Class: Community Service
Elevation: 5,733'
Ownership: Public
Use: Public
Nav-Aids: None
Runway: 02/20 Length: 3,400' Width: 60'
Surface: Asphalt
Airport Name: Window Rock
(520) 871-6466
Functional Class: Community Service
Elevation: 6,737'
Ownership: Native American
Use: Public
Nav-Aids: None
Runway: 02/20 Length: 7,000' Width: 75'
Surface: Asphalt
Source: Department of Transportation, Arizona Airports Land Use Compatibility Study
Commercial Banks
Bank One
Community First Bank
Frontier Bank
National Bank of Arizona
Norwest Bank
Corporate Income Tax
Corporate income tax in Arizona is levied at 7 percent. The minimum
amount collected by Arizona for corporate income tax is $50.
Source: Arizona Department of Revenue
Property Tax
Community School District Total Outside City/Fire Total
City
Eagar 5.4438 7.5329 0.9145 8.4474
St. Johns 4.3064 6.3955 0.0000 6.3955
Springerville 5.4438 7.5329 0.0000 7.5329
Source: Arizona Tax Research Foundation, 1998 (Rate is per $100 of assessed value)
Note: Property tax in Arizona is based on assessed valuation which is 10 percent of market
value for residential property. Average tax rate on homes in Arizona before exemptions
and rebates is 1.3% of market value.
Sales Tax
Arizona has a general sales tax of 5 percent, Apache County has a 1/2
cent general sales tax. St. Johns has an additional 2 percent sales tax,
while Springerville and Eagar both have an additional 3 percent sales tax
and an additional 2 percent and 3 percent tax, respectively, on hotel and
motel stays.
Payroll Tax
Payroll taxes in Arizona are computed based on federal filing by
employers and employees. Generally, withholding for state payroll taxes is
between 10 and 32 percent of federal withholding based on employees’
income.
Source: Arizona Department of Revenue
Chinle
There is one 30-acre industrial park with electricity, gas, water, sewer
and transportation services available. Contact the Navajo Nation Project
Development, P.O. Box 2060, Chinle, Navajo Nation, AZ 86503; (520)
871-6968.
Springerville/Eagar
There are 221.67 acres available with all utilities. There are also ample
sites with paved roads and utilities available for both
commercial and industrial use. Adjoining the Springerville Municipal
Airport is a 150-acre industrial park with all utilities available to first
phase. There are also other sites with paved roads and utilities available
for commercial and industrial use. Contact the Round Valley Chamber of
Commerce (520) 333-2123.
New Lands
The New Lands is a planned community administered by the Office of
Navajo-Hopi Indian Relocation. For more information, call
(520) 688-2413.
St. Johns
St. Johns’ 80-acre industrial park has full utilities and paved roads.
Commercial and industrial areas have ample room for expansion.
Contact the Apache County Economic Security (ACES) at (520) 337-2644
or the city of St. Johns at (520) 337-4517.
Fort Defiance
The Fort Defiance Industrial Site, one of seven industrial sites on the
Navajo Nation, is located at the intersection of Navajo Route 12 and
Navajo Route 54, 30 miles north of I-40. It has for lease 28 acres with
utilities available. Contact the Navajo Nation Project Development at
(520) 871-6968.
Industrial Development Authorities
Industrial Development Authority of Apache County
c/o Mitch Platt
P.O. Box 398
St. Johns, AZ 85936
(520) 337-4148
The Navajo Nation
Project Development Department, Division of Economic Development
P.O. Box 663
Window Rock, AZ 86515
(520) 871-5644
Apache County Economic Security (ACES) Corp.
P.O. Box 767
75 W. Cleveland
St. Johns, AZ 85936 (520) 337-2644
City of St. Johns
P.O. Box 455
245 W. First St. South
St. Johns, AZ 85936 (520) 337-4517
www.stjohnsaz.com
Town of Eagar
174 South Main, Box 1300
Eagar, AZ 85925 (520) 333-4128
The Navajo Nation, Division of Economic Development
P.O. Box 663
Window Rock, Navajo Nation, AZ 86515 (520) 871-6968
Office of Navajo & Hopi Relocation-New Lands Office
P.O. Box 130
Sanders, AZ 86512-0130 (520) 688-2413
Town of Springerville
P.O. Box 390
23 S. Papago Street
Springerville, AZ 85938 (520) 333-2656
St. Johns Regional Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 178
180 W. Cleveland
St. Johns, AZ 85936 (520) 337-2000
Round Valley Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 31
418 E. Main St.
Springerville, AZ 85938 (520) 333-2123
County profiles are produced by the Communications Division of the
Arizona Department of Commerce.
Jane Dee Hull
Governor of Arizona
Jackie Vieh, Director
Arizona Department of Commerce
Reproduction of this publication for commercial use is prohibited by
A.R.S. 39-121. Permission to reprint may be granted upon written request
to the Arizona Department of Commerce. 11-99