Editing Santa Cruz County, Arizona

{{short description|County in Arizona, United States}}
{{distinguish|Santa Cruz, Arizona|Santa Cruz, Pima County, Arizona}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Santa Cruz County
 | state                = Arizona
 | seal                 = Santa Cruz County, Arizona seal.png
 | founded year         = 1899
 | founded date         = March 15
 | seat wl              = Nogales
 | largest city wl      = Nogales
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1238
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 1237
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 1.2
 | area percentage      = 0.1
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 47669
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 50508 {{increase}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | time zone            = Mountain
 | web                  = www.co.santa-cruz.az.us
 | footnote             = 
 | ex image             = Santa Cruz County Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Santa Cruz County Courthouse
 | district             = 7th
 | named for            = [[Santa Cruz River (Arizona)|Santa Cruz River]]
}}

'''Santa Cruz''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in southern [[Arizona]], United States. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population is 47,669.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/santacruzcountyarizona/PST045221 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=September 27, 2022}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Nogales, Arizona|Nogales]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county was established in 1899. It borders [[Pima County, Arizona|Pima County]] to the north and west, [[Cochise County, Arizona|Cochise County]] to the east, and the Mexican state of [[Sonora]] to the south.

Santa Cruz County includes the Nogales, Arizona [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]], which is also included in the [[Tucson, Arizona|Tucson]]-Nogales, Arizona [[Combined Statistical Area]].

==History==
[[File:Santa Cruz River - Kino Springs AZ.jpg|thumb|left|The Santa Cruz River flowing northwards near Kino Springs shortly after re-entering the U.S. from Mexico.]]
Santa Cruz County, formed on March 15, 1899, out of what was then [[Pima County, Arizona|Pima County]], is named after the [[Santa Cruz River (Arizona)|Santa Cruz River]]. The river originates in the [[Canelo Hills]] in the eastern portion of the county, crosses south into Mexico near the community of [[Santa Cruz, Sonora]], and then bends northwards returning into the United States (and Santa Cruz County) east of Nogales.

[[Eusebio Kino|Father Eusebio Kino]], an Italian explorer and [[Jesuit missionaries|missionary]] in the service of the [[Spanish colonization of the Americas|Spanish Empire]], named the Santa Cruz River–"[[Christian cross|holy cross]]" in Spanish–in the 1690s. In addition, Kino founded several missions to evangelize the different [[O'odham|O'odham peoples]] living along the banks of the Santa Cruz River, including Missions [[San Cayetano del Tumacácori]] (1691) and [[San Gabriel de Guevavi]] (1691), as well as [[Mission San Ignacio de Sonoitac|Los Reyes de Sonoita]] (1692) near [[Sonoita Creek]]. Along the river, but outside the boundaries of Santa Cruz County, Kino also founded [[Mission San Xavier del Bac]] (1692) near Tucson, Arizona, and [[Spanish missions in the Sonoran Desert|Mission Santa Maria del Pilar]] (1693) in what is now Santa Cruz, Mexico. Kino's San Cayetano and San Gabriel missions were destroyed in the O'odham peoples' [[Pima Revolt|1751 Pima Revolt]] and rebuilt as Missions [[Mission Los Santos Ángeles de Guevavi|Los Santos Ángeles de Guevavi]] (1751),  [[Mission San José de Tumacácori|San José de Tumacácori]] (1753), and [[Mission San Cayetano de Calabazas|San Cayetano de Calabazas]] (1756). The ruins of all three of these later missions are now protected by [[Tumacácori National Historical Park]]. Disease, warfare, overwork, and changes in land ownership during Spanish colonization led to the demographic decline of the O'odham peoples of Santa Cruz County.<ref name="pimajp">{{cite web|url=http://jp.pima.gov/Pages/history/county.htm|title=History: Pima County|publisher=Pima County Justice Court|date=September 27, 2000|access-date=September 30, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527140505/http://jp.pima.gov/Pages/history/county.htm|archive-date=May 27, 2010}}</ref><ref name="libaz">{{cite web|url=http://www.lib.az.us/archives/county_santa_cruz.cfm|title=Santa Cruz County|publisher=Arizona State Library Archives and Public Records: Arizona History and Archives Division|date=August 4, 2009|access-date=September 30, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090915204127/http://www.lib.az.us/archives/county_santa_cruz.cfm|archive-date=September 15, 2009}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:AZ 82 in Nogales.jpg|thumb|right|The junction of Arizona State Route 82 (Patagonia Highway) and Business-Loop 19 (Grand Avenue) in Nogales. The SR 82 overpass crosses over Grand Avenue, the Union Pacific Railroad, and the Nogales Wash.]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1238|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1237|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.2|sqmi}} (0.1%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_04.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 23, 2015|date=August 23, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref> It is the smallest county by area in Arizona.

===Adjacent counties and municipalities===
* [[Pima County, Arizona|Pima County]]–west, north
* [[Cochise County, Arizona|Cochise County]]–east
* [[Nogales, Sonora|Nogales, Sonora, Mexico]]–south
* [[Santa Cruz, Sonora|Santa Cruz, Sonora, Mexico]]–south
* [[Sáric|Sáric, Sonora, Mexico]]–south

===Major highways===
* [[Image:I-19 (AZ).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 19]]
* [[Image:Arizona 82.svg|20px]] [[Arizona State Route 82|State Route 82]]
* [[Image:Arizona 83.svg|20px]] [[Arizona State Route 83|State Route 83]]

===National protected areas===
* [[Coronado National Forest]] (part)
* [[Las Cienegas National Conservation Area]] (part)
* [[Tumacácori National Historical Park]]

===Border crossings===
There are three crossings of the [[U.S.-Mexico border]] in Nogales: the [[Nogales-Grand Avenue Port of Entry|Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry]] (for vehicular and pedestrian traffic); the [[Nogales-Mariposa Port of Entry]] (in the western part of the city, for vehicular and pedestrian traffic); and the [[Nogales-Morley Gate Port of Entry|Morley Gate Port of Entry]] (for pedestrians only).<ref>Rafael Carranza, [https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/border-issues/2020/03/31/customs-officers-shut-down-indefinitely-nogales-crossing-us-mexico-border/5091630002/ Mexico shuts down Nogales border crossing indefinitely, limits cargo processing], ''Arizona Republic'' (March 31, 2020).</ref> [[Lochiel, Arizona|Lochiel]], a former mining and ranching border town, formerly had a border crossing, but the U.S. government shut the port of entry down in 1983.<ref>Arielle Zionts, [https://www.nogalesinternational.com/news/border-resident-lives-in-old-customs-house/article_d8fcfff2-aa21-11e7-bbcb-b7b3c1092e20.html Border resident lives in old customs house], ''Nogales International'' (October 6, 2017).</ref><ref>Murphy Woodhouse, [https://www.nogalesinternational.com/news/ghost-border-town-isn-t-dead-yet/article_64345bb0-a0b6-11e4-a1dd-fb55e3ee3295.html 'Ghost' border town isn't dead yet], ''Nogales International'' (January 20, 2015).</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 4545
|1910= 6766
|1920= 12689
|1930= 9684
|1940= 9482
|1950= 9417
|1960= 10808
|1970= 13966
|1980= 20459
|1990= 29676
|2000= 38381
|2010= 47420
|2020= 47669
|estyear=2024
|estimate=50508
|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|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 18, 2014}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=May 18, 2014}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/az190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 18, 2014}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |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 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 18, 2014}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF"/>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Santa Cruz 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 – Santa Cruz County, Arizona|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US04023&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) – Santa Cruz County, Arizona |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US04023&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) – Santa Cruz County, Arizona |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US04023&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|6,835
|7,564
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7,119
|17.81%
|15.95%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |14.93%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|75
|89
|style='background: #ffffe6; |114
|0.20%
|0.19%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.24%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|95
|115
|style='background: #ffffe6; |78
|0.25%
|0.24%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.16%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|189
|235
|style='background: #ffffe6; |271
|0.49%
|0.50%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.57%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|17
|7
|style='background: #ffffe6; |13
|0.04%
|0.01%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.03%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|28
|19
|style='background: #ffffe6; |150
|0.07%
|0.04%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.31%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|137
|118
|style='background: #ffffe6; |292
|0.36%
|0.25%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.61%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|31,005
|39,273
|style='background: #ffffe6; |39,632
|80.78%
|82.82%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |83.14%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''38,381'''
|'''47,420'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''47,669'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 47,420 people, 15,437 households, and 11,992 families living in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US04023
  |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data
  |access-date=January 20, 2016
|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213024538/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US04023
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|38.3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|inhabitants&nbsp;|inhabitants|}}. There were 18,010 housing units at an average density of {{convert|14.6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US04023
  |access-date=January 20, 2016
|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213185508/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US04023
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 73.5% white, 0.7% American Indian, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% black or African American, 22.9% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 82.8% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The largest ancestry groups were:<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US04023
  |title=DP02 Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=January 20, 2016
|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213025151/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US04023
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref>
{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}
* 78.1% [[Mexican Americans|Mexican]]
* 4.3% [[German Americans|German]]
* 3.4% [[Irish Americans|Irish]]
* 3.1% [[English Americans|English]]
* 2.3% [[American ancestry|American]]
* 1.8% [[Italian Americans|Italian]]
{{Div col end}}

Of the 15,437 households, 45.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 22.3% were non-families, and 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.05 and the average family size was 3.51. The median age was 35.6 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $36,519 and the median income for a family was $40,933. Males had a median income of $30,666 versus $25,135 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,209. About 20.6% of families and 25.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 36.8% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US04023
  |title=DP03 Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=January 20, 2016
|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213014259/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US04023
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 38,381 people, 11,809 households, and 9,506 families living in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|31|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 13,036 housing units at an average density of {{convert|10|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 76.0% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.4% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.7% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.5% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 19.7% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.6% from two or more races. 80.8% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 79.7% of the population reported speaking [[Spanish language|Spanish]] at home, while 19.5% speak [[English language|English]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Language Map Data Center |url=http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=4&county_id=23&mode=geographic&order=r |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522214725/http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=4&county_id=23&mode=geographic&order=r |archive-date=22 May 2011 |website=Modern Language Organization}}</ref>

There were 11,809 households, of which 45.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.5% were non-families. 16.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.23 and the average family size was 3.66.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 33.6% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,710, and the median income for a family was $32,057. Males had a median income of $27,972 versus $21,107 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $13,278. About 21.40% of families and 24.50% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 29.% of those under age 18 and 23.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==
[[Image:Santa Cruz County Incorporated and Unincorporated areas.svg|thumb|right|250px|Map of the [[municipal corporation|incorporated areas]] in Santa Cruz County.]]

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

===Town===
* [[Patagonia, Arizona|Patagonia]]

===Census designated places===
{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Amado, Arizona|Amado]]
* [[Beyerville, Arizona|Beyerville]]
* [[Elgin, Arizona|Elgin]]
* [[Kino Springs, Arizona|Kino Springs]]
* [[Rio Rico, Arizona|Rio Rico]]
* [[Sonoita, Arizona|Sonoita]]
* [[Tubac, Arizona|Tubac]]
* [[Tumacacori-Carmen, Arizona|Tumacacori-Carmen]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Harshaw, Arizona|Harshaw]]
* [[Oro Blanco, Arizona|Oro Blanco]]
* [[Carmen, Arizona|Carmen]]
* [[Lochiel, Arizona|Lochiel]]
* [[Trench Camp, Arizona|Trench Camp]]
* [[Casa Piedra, Arizona|Casa Piedra]]
* [[Madera Canyon, Arizona|Madera Canyon]]
* [[Washington Camp, Arizona|Washington Camp]]
{{div col end}}

====Ghost Towns====
{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Alto, Arizona|Alto]]
* [[Canelo, Arizona|Canelo]]
* [[Calabasas, Arizona|Calabasas]]
* [[Duquesne, Arizona|Duquesne]]
* [[Fort Buchanan, Arizona|Fort Buchanan]]
* [[Harshaw, Arizona|Harshaw]]
* [[Lochiel, Arizona|Lochiel]]
* [[Oro Blanco, Arizona|Oro Blanco]]
* [[Ruby, Arizona|Ruby]]
{{div col end}}

==Education==
School districts include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st04_az/schooldistrict_maps/c04023_santa_cruz/DC20SD_C04023.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st04_az/schooldistrict_maps/c04023_santa_cruz/DC20SD_C04023.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Santa Cruz County, AZ|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 25, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st04_az/schooldistrict_maps/c04023_santa_cruz/DC20SD_C04023_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

K-12:
* [[Nogales Unified School District]]
* [[Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District]]

Secondary:
* [[Patagonia Union High School District]]

Elementary:
* [[Patagonia Elementary District]]
* [[Santa Cruz Elementary District]]
* [[Sonoita Elementary District]]

==County population ranking==
The population ranking of the following table is based on the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]] of Santa Cruz County.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/|title = Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/maps/block/2010/ |title=2010 Census Block Maps - Geography - U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=December 7, 2017 |archive-date=December 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229025439/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/maps/block/2010/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

'''†''' county seat

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Rank
!City/Town/etc.
!Population (2010 Census)
!Municipal type
!Incorporated
|- style="background:#ffff54;"
| 1
| '''† [[Nogales, Arizona|Nogales]]'''
| 20,837
| City
|
|- style="background:#dbe9f4;"
| 2
| '''[[Rio Rico, Arizona|Rio Rico]]'''
| 18,962
| [[census-designated place|CDP]]
|
|- style="background:#dbe9f4;"
| 3
| '''[[Tubac, Arizona|Tubac]]'''
| 1,191
| CDP
|
|- style="background:#bfb;"
| 4
| '''[[Patagonia, Arizona|Patagonia]]'''
| 913
| Town
|
|- style="background:#dbe9f4;"
| 5
| '''[[Sonoita, Arizona|Sonoita]]'''
| 818
| CDP
|
|- style="background:#dbe9f4;"
| 6
| '''[[Tumacacori-Carmen, Arizona|Tumacacori-Carmen]]'''
| 393
| CDP
|
|- style="background:#dbe9f4;"
| 7
| '''[[Amado, Arizona|Amado]]'''
| 295
| CDP
|
|- style="background:#dbe9f4;"
| 8
| '''[[Beyerville, Arizona|Beyerville]]'''
| 177
| CDP
|
|- style="background:#dbe9f4;"
| 9
| '''[[Elgin, Arizona|Elgin]]'''
| 161
| CDP
|
|- style="background:#dbe9f4;"
| 10
| '''[[Kino Springs, Arizona|Kino Springs]]'''
| 136
| CDP
|
|}

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Santa Cruz County, Arizona|source=<ref>{{cite web|title = Dave Leip's Atlas of United States Presidential Elections | access-date = June 11, 2011 | url = http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|7,699|11,265|203|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|6,194|13,138|249|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|3,897|11,690|846|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|4,235|9,486|190|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|4,518|8,683|143|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|4,668|6,909|112|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|3,344|5,233|316|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|2,256|5,241|670|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|3,024|3,512|1,544|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|3,320|3,268|102|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,855|2,463|71|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,674|2,089|577|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|2,312|2,265|161|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,137|1,866|76|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,702|1,557|274|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,503|1,955|2|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|1,265|1,868|2|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,646|1,131|1|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,716|1,365|0|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,058|1,424|37|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|727|1,291|4|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|978|1,536|2|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|742|1,729|59|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|625|1,606|29|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|919|962|3|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|579|673|198|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|850|706|0|Arizona}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|666|726|50|Arizona}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|56|250|163|Arizona}}

Owing to its border location and Hispanic majority population, Santa Cruz is a strongly Democratic county, but it has been shifting Republican by considerable numbers. The last Republican to win the county was [[George H. W. Bush]] in 1988, and although the Republicans won the county in six consecutive elections from 1968 to 1988, three of these wins were by very narrow margins. Following the trends seen in majority Hispanic counties across the United States, [[Joe Biden]] defeated Donald Trump with 67.1% of the popular vote in the county, a slightly lower margin than Hillary Clinton's 71.1% vote share in 2016. Trump's gains were far higher than Biden's losses (at nearly 8%), due to a combination of third parties losing votes and higher turnout. Despite this rightward shift in the vote share, Santa Cruz County remained as the most Democratic-leaning county in Arizona until 2024, when [[Apache County, Arizona|Apache]] and [[Coconino County, Arizona|Coconino]] counties voted slightly more Democratic than Santa Cruz County, as Trump had the best performance for a Republican in the county since their last win in 1988, cracking 40% in the county for the first time since then.
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<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

==Notable People==
Elizabeth Gutfahr, former elected county treasurer who confessed to embezzling more than $38 million between 2012 and 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-24 |title=Arizona county treasurer pleads guilty to embezzling more than $38 million for personal expenses |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/arizona-county-treasurer-pleads-guilty-213845800.html |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Economy==
Because it is the state's smallest county, Santa Cruz County's economic activity is also smaller.<ref name="2017-census-county" /> Its agriculture consists primarily of [[forage]]/[[hay]], and the [[cattle]] products raised on that pasture and hay are almost 100% of farm products annually.<ref name="2017-census-county">{{cite web | access-date=July 29, 2022 | date=2017 | title=Census of Agriculture - State and County Profiles - Arizona | website=USDA, [[National Agricultural Statistics Service]] | url=https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2017/Online_Resources/County_Profiles/Arizona/}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Commons category|Santa Cruz County, Arizona}}
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Santa Cruz County, Arizona]]

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

==External links==
* [http://www.thenogaleschamber.org/ Nogales Chamber of Commerce Website ]
* [http://www.co.santa-cruz.az.us/ County Website ]
* [https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo55065 Geologic Map of the Patagonia Mountains, Santa Cruz County, Arizona] [[United States Geological Survey|U.S. Geological Survey]]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Santa Cruz County, Arizona
|North     = [[Pima County, Arizona|Pima County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Cochise County, Arizona|Cochise County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Nogales Municipality, Sonora|Nogales]] & [[Santa Cruz Municipality, Sonora|Santa Cruz]] Municipalities, [[Sonora]] {{flagicon|Mexico}}
|Southwest = [[Sáric Municipality]] {{flagicon|Mexico}}
|West      = [[Pima County, Arizona|Pima County]]
|Northwest =
}}
{{Santa Cruz County, Arizona}}
{{Arizona}}
{{authority control}}
{{coord|31|32|N|110|50|W|region:US-AZ_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki|display=title}}

[[Category:Santa Cruz County, Arizona| ]]
[[Category:1899 establishments in Arizona Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1899]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American culture in Arizona]]