Editing Gila County, Arizona

{{short description|County in Arizona, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Gila County
 | state                = Arizona
 | flag                 = Flag of Gila County, Arizona.svg
 | seal                 = Gila County az seal.jpg
 | founded year         = 1881
 | founded date         = February 8
 | seat wl              = Globe
 | largest city wl      = Payson
 | city type            = town
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 4795
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 4758
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 38
 | area percentage      = 0.8%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 53272
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 54073 {{increase}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | time zone            = Mountain
 | web                  = www.gilacountyaz.gov/
 | ex image             = Gila county arizona courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Gila County Courthouse in Globe
 | footnote             = 
 | district             = 2nd
 | named for            = [[Gila River]]
}}

'''Gila County''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|h|iː|l|ə}} {{respell|HEE|lə}}) is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the central part of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Arizona]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 53,272.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/gilacountyarizona/PST045221 |access-date=September 27, 2022 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Globe, Arizona|Globe]].<ref name="GR6">{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref>

Gila County comprises the [[Payson, Arizona|Payson]], Arizona [[micropolitan statistical area]] which is included in the greater [[Phoenix metropolitan area|Phoenix–Mesa, AZ combined statistical area]].

Gila County contains parts of [[Fort Apache Indian Reservation]] and [[San Carlos Indian Reservation]].

==History==
The county was formed from parts of [[Maricopa County, Arizona|Maricopa]] and [[Pinal County, Arizona|Pinal counties]] on February 8, 1881.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arizona Cultural Inventory Project |url=http://cip.azlibrary.gov/Collection.aspx?CollID=1170 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012233914/http://cip.azlibrary.gov/Collection.aspx?CollID=1170 |archive-date=October 12, 2012 |access-date=July 14, 2013}}</ref> The boundary was then extended eastward to the [[San Carlos River (United States)|San Carlos River]] by public petition in 1889. The original county seat was in the mining community of Globe City, now [[Globe, Arizona|Globe]].

Popular theory holds that the word "Gila" was derived from a Spanish contraction of Hah-quah-sa-eel, a [[Yuma language|Yuma]] word meaning "running water which is salty".<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 4, 2003 |title=Gila National Forest (archived) |url=http://www2.srs.fs.fed.us/r3/gila/about/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060111100317/http://www2.srs.fs.fed.us/r3/gila/about/ |archive-date=January 11, 2006 |access-date=October 16, 2007 |publisher=[[United States Forest Service]]}}</ref>

In the 1880s, a long range war broke out in Gila County that became the most costly feud in [[United States of America|American]] history, resulting in an almost complete annihilation of the families involved. The ''[[Pleasant Valley War]]'' (also sometimes called the ''Tonto Basin Feud'' or ''Tonto Basin War'') matched the cattle-herding Grahams against the sheep-herding Tewksburys. Once partisan feelings became tense and hostilities began, [[Frederick Russell Burnham]], who later became a celebrated scout and the inspiration for the [[Scouting|boy scouts]], was drawn into the conflict on the losing side.<ref name="arizonadarkandbloody">{{Cite book |last=Forrest |first=Earle R. |title=Arizona's Dark and Bloody Ground; an authentic account of the sanguinary Pleasant Valley vendetta that swept through Arizona's cattleland in the latter eighteen eighties – the Graham-Tewksbury feud |publisher=Caxton Printers, Ltd |year=1936 |location=Caldwell, Idaho |pages=15, 292 |oclc=1825248}}</ref><ref name="scouting">{{Cite book |last=Burnham |first=Frederick Russell |title=Scouting on Two Continents |publisher=Doubleday, Page & company |year=1926 |pages=2; Chapters 3 & 4 |oclc=407686}}</ref>

Burnham shot many men in the feud, and was himself nearly killed by a bounty hunter.<ref name="lott1981">{{Cite book |last=Lott |first=Jack |title=America – The Men and Their Guns That Made Her Great |publisher=Petersen Publishing Co. |year=1981 |isbn=0-8227-3022-7 |editor-last=Boddington |editor-first=Craig |page=90 |chapter=Chapter 8. The Making of a Hero: Burnham in the Tonto Basin}}</ref> [[Tom Horn]], an infamous assassin, was known to have taken part as a killer for hire, but it is unknown which side employed him. Both sides suffered fatalities. No one was ever charged or prosecuted.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

In the 1960s, it was home of [[Gerald Gault]], who was the subject of the 1967 [[U.S. Supreme Court]] ruling, ''[[in re Gault]]'', that stated juveniles have the same rights as adults when arrested to be notified of the charges against them, the rights to attorneys, for family members to be notified of their arrests and to confront their accusers and to not be punished more harshly than adults who are convicted of the same crime, especially if an adult's penalty for the crime would be less than that accorded a juvenile convict.<ref>{{ussc|name=In re Gault|volume=387|page=1|pin=4|year=1967}} Primary Holding</ref>

==Geography==
{{multiple images
| align = right
| width = 200
| direction = vertical
| image1 = Gila County-Pinto Creek Bridge-Hwy 60 in Gila County -1949.jpg
| caption1 = Pinto Creek Bridge on US 60
| image2 = Gila County-Pinto Creek Bridge-Hwy 60 in Gila County -1949 -2.jpg
| caption2 = The "Most Beautiful Bridge" plaque, on the Pinto Creek Bridge.
}}

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|4795|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|4758|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|38|sqmi}} (0.8%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_04.txt |access-date=August 23, 2015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Yavapai County, Arizona|Yavapai County]] – northwest-north
* [[Maricopa County, Arizona|Maricopa County]] – west
* [[Pinal County, Arizona|Pinal County]] – south
* [[Graham County, Arizona|Graham County]] – south
* [[Navajo County, Arizona|Navajo County]] – east, northeast
* [[Coconino County, Arizona|Coconino County]] – north

===National protected areas===
* [[Coconino National Forest]] (part)
* [[Tonto National Forest]] (part)
* [[Tonto National Monument]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 2021
|1900= 4973
|1910= 16348
|1920= 25678
|1930= 31016
|1940= 23867
|1950= 24158
|1960= 25745
|1970= 29255
|1980= 37080
|1990= 40216
|2000= 51335
|2010= 53597
|2020= 53272
|estyear=2024
|estimate=54073
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 15, 2025}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=May 18, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=May 18, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/az190090.txt |access-date=May 18, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |access-date=May 18, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF" />
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Gila County, Arizona – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Gila County, Arizona |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US04007&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Gila County, Arizona |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US04007&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Gila County, Arizona |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US04007&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|35,391
|35,298
|style='background: #ffffe6; |32,757
|68.94%
|65.86%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |61.49%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|174
|195
|style='background: #ffffe6; |239
|0.34%
|0.36%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.45%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|6,412
|7,615
|style='background: #ffffe6; |8,655
|12.49%
|14.21%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |16.25%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|211
|256
|style='background: #ffffe6; |427
|0.41%
|0.48%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.80%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|24
|34
|style='background: #ffffe6; |45
|0.05%
|0.06%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.08%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|36
|38
|style='background: #ffffe6; |203
|0.07%
|0.07%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.38%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|541
|573
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,663
|1.05%
|1.07%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.12%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|8,546
|9,588
|style='background: #ffffe6; |9,283
|16.65%
|17.89%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |17.43%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''51,335'''
|'''53,597'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''53,272'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 53,597 people, 22,000 households, and 14,294 families living in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{Cite web |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US04007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213032639/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US04007 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=January 20, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|11.3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|inhabitants&nbsp;|inhabitants|}}. There were 32,698 housing units at an average density of {{convert|6.9|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}.<ref name="census-density">{{Cite web |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US04007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213234450/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US04007 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=January 20, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 76.8% white, 14.8% American Indian, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 5.3% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 17.9% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1" /> In terms of ancestry, 17.4% were [[Germans|German]], 13.3% were [[English people|English]], 11.4% were [[Irish people|Irish]], and 3.4% were [[Americans|American]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{Cite web |title=DP02 Selected Social Characteristics in the United States– 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US04007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213011347/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US04007 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=January 20, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

Of the 22,000 households, 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.0% were non-families, and 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 47.9 years.<ref name="census-dp1" />

The median income for a household in the county was $37,580 and the median income for a family was $46,292. Males had a median income of $41,698 versus $30,023 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,600. About 11.6% of families and 18.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 27.4% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{Cite web |title=DP03 Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US04007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213022647/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US04007 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=January 20, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 51,335 people, 20,140 households, and 14,098 families living in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|11|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 28,189 housing units at an average density of {{convert|6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 77.8% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.4% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 12.9% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.4% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.2% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 6.6% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.8% from two or more races. 16.7% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 9.8% reported speaking [[Spanish language|Spanish]] at home, while 6.3% speak [[Western Apache language|Western Apache]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Language Map Data Center |url=https://apps.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=4&county_id=7&mode=geographic&order=r |website=apps.mla.org}}</ref>

There were 20,140 households, out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.1% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 22.3% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.2 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,917, and the median income for a family was $36,593. Males had a median income of $31,579 versus $22,315 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $16,315. About 12.6% of families and 17.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 25.9% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Politics==
Historically, Gila County was a Democratic-leaning county in largely-Republican Arizona – for example, it voted for [[Adlai Stevenson II]] in 1952, [[Hubert Humphrey]] in 1968 and (very narrowly in a three-way contest) for [[John W. Davis]] in 1924. In much of the "[[dealignment]]" period from 1960 to 1980, when Arizona was the only state never carried by a Democrat, Gila was the second most-Democratic county in Arizona, behind massively unionized [[Greenlee County, Arizona|Greenlee]]. Only during very large Presidential landslides was Gila County carried by Republicans before 2000: indeed, apart from [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1980 and [[Richard Nixon]] in 1972, no Republican before 2000 ever carried the county by more than seven percentage points.

Since 2000, however, like Greenlee County, Gila County has trended heavily towards the Republican Party, and [[Hillary Clinton]]’s 2016 performance was the worst ever by a Democratic presidential nominee. Moreover, [[Barack Obama]] did worse here in 2008 than [[John Kerry]] did in 2004, one of a few non-[[Ozarks|Ozark]] or non-[[Appalachia]]n counties where this occurred (possibly due to Arizona Senator [[John McCain]]'s presence on the ballot).

Gila County was covered in the papers<ref>{{Cite news |last=Romero |first=Simon |date=March 2021 |title=Can't Get a Covid Vaccine? In This County, Everybody is Eligible |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/01/us/coronavirus-vaccines-gila-arizona.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303062244/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/01/us/coronavirus-vaccines-gila-arizona.html |archive-date=March 3, 2021 |work=New York Times}}</ref> as the site of a confluence between politics and public health as the conservatism of the county (with Democrat Joe Biden losing by 34 points in the [[2020 POTUS election|2020 presidential election]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gilacountyaz.gov/Results.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301135035/https://www.gilacountyaz.gov/Results.pdf |archive-date=March 1, 2021}}</ref>) was considered one reason for vaccine skepticism, allowing the county to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to all adults well before other areas in the US.

The county was one of two in Arizona to vote against [[2024 Arizona Proposition 139]], which established a right to abortion in the state's constitution, along with neighboring [[Graham County, Arizona|Graham County]].<ref>{{cite web |title=2024 General Election Signed Canvass |url=https://apps.azsos.gov/election/2024/ge/canvass/20241105_GeneralCanvass_Signed.pdf#page=5 |website=Arizona Secretary of State |access-date=December 31, 2024}}</ref>

{{PresHead|place=Gila County, Arizona|source=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|18,901|8,504|293|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|18,377|8,943|415|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|14,182|7,003|1,330|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|13,455|7,697|443|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|14,095|7,884|438|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|12,343|8,314|220|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|9,158|7,700|878|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|6,407|8,577|2,427|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|5,781|7,571|5,126|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|7,861|7,147|291|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|8,543|6,509|197|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|7,405|5,068|926|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|5,136|6,440|386|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|5,673|4,295|404|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|3,610|4,831|1,265|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|3,713|6,821|3|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|3,806|5,251|8|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|4,234|4,026|0|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|3,770|4,928|0|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|2,329|4,780|156|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|2,260|4,818|29|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2,624|5,752|31|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,526|4,859|183|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,865|4,625|228|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,436|3,341|13|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|2,193|2,218|1,937|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,311|2,894|0|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,495|3,686|552|Arizona}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|210|779|1,056|Arizona}}

==Transportation==

===Major highways===
* [[File:US 60.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 60 in Arizona|U.S. Route 60]]
* [[File:US 70.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 70 in Arizona|U.S. Route 70]]
* [[File:Arizona 77.svg|20px]] [[Arizona State Route 77|State Route 77]]
* [[File:Arizona 87.svg|20px]] [[Arizona State Route 87|State Route 87]]
* [[File:Arizona 188.svg|25px]] [[Arizona State Route 188|State Route 188]]
* [[File:Arizona 260.svg|25px]] [[Arizona State Route 260|State Route 260]]

===Airports===
The following public-use airports are located in the county:
* [[Payson Airport]] in [[Payson, Arizona|Payson]]
* [[San Carlos Apache Airport]] near [[Globe, Arizona|Globe]]

==Communities==
[[File:Gila County Incorporated and Unincorporated areas.svg|right|thumb|300px|Map of the [[Municipal corporation|incorporated]] and major [[unincorporated area]]s in Gila County. Also shown are borders for [[Indian reservation]]s in the county.]]

===City===
* [[Globe, Arizona|Globe]] (county seat)

===Towns===
* [[Hayden, Arizona|Hayden]] (partly in [[Pinal County, Arizona|Pinal County]])
* [[Miami, Arizona|Miami]]
* [[Payson, Arizona|Payson]]
* [[Star Valley, Arizona|Star Valley]]
* [[Winkelman, Arizona|Winkelman]] (partly in [[Pinal County, Arizona|Pinal County]])

===Census-designated places===
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
* [[Bear Flat, Arizona|Bear Flat]]
* [[Beaver Valley, Arizona|Beaver Valley]]
* [[Canyon Day, Arizona|Canyon Day]]
* [[Carrizo, Arizona|Carrizo]]
* [[Cedar Creek, Arizona|Cedar Creek]]
* [[Central Heights-Midland City, Arizona|Central Heights-Midland City]]
* [[Christopher Creek, Arizona|Christopher Creek]]
* [[Claypool, Arizona|Claypool]]
* [[Copper Hill, Arizona|Copper Hill]]
* [[Cutter, Arizona|Cutter]]
* [[Deer Creek, Arizona|Deer Creek]]
* [[Dripping Springs, Arizona|Dripping Springs]]
* [[East Globe, Arizona|East Globe]]
* [[East Verde Estates, Arizona|East Verde Estates]]
* [[El Capitan, Arizona|El Capitan]]
* [[Flowing Springs, Arizona|Flowing Springs]]
* [[Freedom Acres, Arizona|Freedom Acres]]
* [[Geronimo Estates, Arizona|Geronimo Estates]]
* [[Gisela, Arizona|Gisela]]
* [[Haigler Creek, Arizona|Haigler Creek]]
* [[Hunter Creek, Arizona|Hunter Creek]]
* [[Icehouse Canyon, Arizona|Icehouse Canyon]]
* [[Jakes Corner, Arizona|Jakes Corner]]
* [[Kohls Ranch, Arizona|Kohls Ranch]]
* [[Mead Ranch, Arizona|Mead Ranch]]
* [[Mesa del Caballo, Arizona|Mesa del Caballo]]
* [[Oxbow Estates, Arizona|Oxbow Estates]]
* [[Peridot, Arizona|Peridot]]
* [[Pinal, Arizona|Pinal]]
* [[Pine, Arizona|Pine]]
* [[Rock House, Arizona|Rock House]]
* [[Roosevelt, Arizona|Roosevelt]]
* [[Roosevelt Estates, Arizona|Roosevelt Estates]]
* [[Round Valley, Arizona|Round Valley]]
* [[Rye, Arizona|Rye]]
* [[San Carlos, Arizona|San Carlos]]
* [[Six Shooter Canyon, Arizona|Six Shooter Canyon]]
* [[Strawberry, Arizona|Strawberry]]
* [[Tonto Basin, Arizona|Tonto Basin]]
* [[Tonto Village, Arizona|Tonto Village]]
* [[Top-of-the-World, Arizona|Top-of-the-World]]
* [[Washington Park, Arizona|Washington Park]]
* [[Wheatfields, Gila County, Arizona|Wheatfields]]
* [[Whispering Pines, Gila County, Arizona|Whispering Pines]]
* [[Young, Arizona|Young]]
{{div col end}}

===Other communities===
* [[Inspiration, Arizona|Inspiration]]
* [[Punkin Center, Arizona|Punkin Center]]

=== Ghost towns ===

*[[Bellevue, Arizona|Bellevue]]
* [[McMillenville, Arizona|McMillenville]]

===Indian communities===
* [[Fort Apache Indian Reservation]]
* [[San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation]]
* [[Tonto Apache]]

===County population ranking===
The population ranking of the following table is based on the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]] of Gila County.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2010 U.S. Census website |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.2010.html |access-date=February 10, 2013 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Geography |first=US Census Bureau |title=2010 Census Block Maps |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/maps/block/2010/ |access-date=March 23, 2018 |website=www.census.gov}}</ref>

'''†''' county seat

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Rank
!City/Town/etc.
!Population (2010 Census)
!Municipal type
!Incorporated
|- style="background-color:#BBFFBB;"
| 1
| '''[[Payson, Arizona|Payson]]'''
| 15,301
| Town
|
|- style="background-color:#FFFF54;"
| 2
| '''† [[Globe, Arizona|Globe]]'''
| 7,532
| City
| 1875 (founded)
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 3
| '''[[San Carlos, Arizona|San Carlos]]'''
| 4,038
| [[census-designated place|CDP]]
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 4
| '''[[Central Heights-Midland City, Arizona|Central Heights-Midland City]]'''
| 2,534
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#BBFFBB;"
| 5
| '''[[Star Valley, Arizona|Star Valley]]'''
| 2,310
| Town
| 2005
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 6
| '''[[Pine, Arizona|Pine]]'''
| 1,963
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#BBFFBB;"
| 7
| '''[[Miami, Arizona|Miami]]'''
| 1,837
| Town
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 8
| '''[[Claypool, Arizona|Claypool]]'''
| 1,538
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 9
| '''[[Tonto Basin, Arizona|Tonto Basin]]'''
| 1,424
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 10
| '''[[Peridot, Arizona|Peridot]]'''
| 1,350
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 11
| '''[[Canyon Day, Arizona|Canyon Day]]'''
| 1,209
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 12
| '''Six Shooter Canyon'''
| 1,019
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 13
| '''[[Strawberry, Arizona|Strawberry]]'''
| 961
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 14
| '''Wheatfields'''
| 785
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 15
| '''Mesa del Caballo'''
| 765
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 16
| '''Icehouse Canyon'''
| 677
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 17
| '''[[Young, Arizona|Young]]'''
| 666
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#BBFFBB;"
| 18
| '''[[Hayden, Arizona|Hayden]]''' (''partially in [[Pinal County, Arizona|Pinal County]]'')
| 662
| Town
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 19
| '''[[Gisela, Arizona|Gisela]]'''
| 570
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 20
| '''Round Valley'''
| 487
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 21
| '''Pinal'''
| 439
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#BBFFBB;"
| 22
| '''[[Winkelman, Arizona|Winkelman]]''' (''partially in [[Pinal County, Arizona|Pinal County]]'')
| 353
| Town
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 23
| '''[[Cedar Creek, Arizona|Cedar Creek]]'''
| 318
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 24
| '''Tonto Village'''
| 256
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 25
| '''[[Dripping Springs, Arizona|Dripping Springs]]'''
| 235
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| t-26
| '''[[Beaver Valley, Arizona|Beaver Valley]]'''
| 231
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| t-26
| '''[[Top-of-the-World, Arizona|Top-of-the-World]]'''
| 231
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 27
| '''[[East Globe, Arizona|East Globe]]'''
| 226
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 28
| '''Oxbow Estates'''
| 217
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 29
| '''[[Deer Creek, Arizona|Deer Creek]]'''
| 216
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 30
| '''[[East Verde Estates, Arizona|East Verde Estates]]'''
| 170
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 31
| '''[[Christopher Creek, Arizona|Christopher Creek]]'''
| 156
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 32
| '''Whispering Pines'''
| 148
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 33
| '''[[Carrizo, Arizona|Carrizo]]'''
| 127
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 34
| '''[[Copper Hill, Arizona|Copper Hill]]'''
| 108
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 35
| '''Freedom Acres'''
| 84
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 36
| '''[[Rye, Arizona|Rye]]'''
| 77
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 37
| '''Jakes Corner'''
| 76
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 38
| '''[[Cutter, Arizona|Cutter]]'''
| 74
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 39
| '''Washington Park'''
| 70
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 40
| '''Geronimo Estates'''
| 60
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 41
| '''Rock House'''
| 50
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 42
| '''Hunter Creek'''
| 48
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 43
| '''[[Kohls Ranch, Arizona|Kohls Ranch]]'''
| 46
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 44
| '''[[Flowing Springs, Arizona|Flowing Springs]]'''
| 42
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 45
| '''Mead Ranch'''
| 38
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 46
| '''[[El Capitan, Arizona|El Capitan]]'''
| 37
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 47
| '''[[Roosevelt, Arizona|Roosevelt]]'''
| 28
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 48
| '''Haigler Creek'''
| 19
| CDP
|
|- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;"
| 49
| '''[[Bear Flat, Arizona|Bear Flat]]'''
| 18
| CDP
|
|}

==Education==
School districts include:

Unified school districts:<ref name=GilaCoSDMaps2020>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st04_az/schooldistrict_maps/c04007_gila/DC20SD_C04007.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Gila County, AZ|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-09-12}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st04_az/schooldistrict_maps/c04007_gila/DC20SD_C04007_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
* [[Globe Unified School District]]
* [[Hayden-Winkelman Unified School District]]
* [[Miami Unified School District]]
* [[Payson Unified School District]]
* [[San Carlos Unified School District]]
* [[Whiteriver Unified School District]]

Elementary school districts:<ref name=GilaCoSDMaps2020/>
* [[Pine Strawberry Elementary School District]]
* [[Tonto Basin Elementary School District]]
* [[Young Elementary School District]]

==Notable people==
* [[George W. P. Hunt]]
* [[David Gowan (politician)|David Gowan]]
* [[Rose Mofford]]

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Gila County, Arizona]]
* [[Needle's Eye Wilderness]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{osmrelation|1832190}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110627135557/http://co.gila.az.us/index.html County website]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Gila County, Arizona
|North     = [[Coconino County, Arizona|Coconino County]]
|Northeast = [[Navajo County, Arizona|Navajo County]]
|East      = [[Navajo County, Arizona|Navajo County]]
|Southeast = [[Graham County, Arizona|Graham County]]
|South     = [[Pinal County, Arizona|Pinal County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Maricopa County, Arizona|Maricopa County]]
|Northwest = [[Yavapai County, Arizona|Yavapai County]]
}}
{{Gila County, Arizona}}
{{Arizona}}

{{coord|33|47|28|N|110|50|11|W|region:US-AZ_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki|display=title}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Gila County, Arizona| ]]
[[Category:Arizona placenames of Native American origin]]
[[Category:1881 establishments in Arizona Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1881]]