Editing Snowflake, Arizona

{{Short description|Town in Navajo County, Arizona, U.S.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name                   = Snowflake, Arizona
| settlement_type                 = [[Town]]
| image_skyline                   = 
| imagesize                       = 
| image_caption                   = The LDS Temple in Snowflake
| image_seal                      = 
| image_flag                      = Flag of Snowflake, Arizona.svg
| image_map                       = File:Navajo County Arizona Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Snowflake Highlighted 0467800.svg
| mapsize                         = 250px
| map_caption                     = Location of Snowflake in Navajo County, Arizona.
| image_map1                      = 
| mapsize1                        = 
| map_caption1                    = 
| pushpin_label                   = Snowflake
| pushpin_map                     = USA
| pushpin_map_caption             = Location in the United States
| subdivision_type                = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name                = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1               = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1               = {{flag|Arizona}}
| subdivision_type2               = [[List of counties in Arizona|County]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[Navajo County, Arizona|Navajo]]
| government_type                 = [[Council-manager government|Council-Manager]]
| governing_body                  = Snowflake Town Council
| leader_title                    = Mayor
| leader_name                     = [[Byron Lewis (Mayor)|Byron Lewis]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Taylor |first1=Merri |title=Snowflake new mayor |url=https://www.wmicentral.com/news/snowflake-new-mayor/article_94f173ee-e5ba-57cb-b880-b5163f3aa937.html |website=White Mountain Independent |access-date=April 28, 2023 |date=August 19, 2022}}</ref>
| established_title               = Founded
| established_date                = 1878
| founder                         = [[Erastus Snow]] and [[William J. Flake|William Jordan Flake]]
| area_magnitude                  = 
| area_total_km2                  = 87.54
| area_total_sq_mi                = 33.80
| area_land_km2                   = 87.39
| area_land_sq_mi                 = 33.74
| area_water_km2                  = 0.15
| area_water_sq_mi                = 0.06
| unit_pref                       = Imperial
| elevation_footnotes             = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft                    = 5,686
| elevation_m                     = 
| population_as_of                = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est                  = 
| pop_est_as_of                   = 
| pop_est_footnotes               = 
| population_footnotes            = 
| population_total                = 6104
| population_metro                = 
| population_density_km2          = 69.85
| population_density_sq_mi        = 180.91
| timezone                        = [[Mountain Standard Time Zone|Mountain]]
| utc_offset                      = -7
| timezone_DST                    = no [[Daylight saving time|DST]]/[[Pacific daylight time|PDT]]
| utc_offset_DST                  = −7
| coordinates                     = {{coord|34|31|20|N|110|05|29|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type                = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code                     = 85937, 85942
| area_code                       = [[Area code 928|928]]
| blank_name                      = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info                      = {{FIPS|04|67800}}
|
| blank1_name                     = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] ID(s)
| blank1_info                     = 2413301<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2413301}}</ref>
| website                         = [http://www.ci.snowflake.az.us/ Town of Snowflake]
| footnotes                       = 
| area_footnotes                  = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_04.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 29, 2021}}</ref>
| name                            = 
}}

'''Snowflake''' ({{Langx|NV|Tó Diłhił Biih Yílį́}}) is a town in [[Navajo County, Arizona|Navajo County]], [[Arizona]], United States. It was founded in 1878 by [[Erastus Snow]] and [[William J. Flake|William Jordan Flake]], [[Mormon pioneers]].<ref>[http://www.jerrystewart.org/snowflakeaz/history.html History of Snowflake, AZ<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Snowflake is {{convert|25|mi|km|abbr=out}} south of [[Interstate 40 in Arizona|Interstate 40]] (formerly [[U.S. Route 66]]) via Highway 77. The [[Apache Railway]] provides freight service.

==Geography==
[[File:Historic Home, Snowflake, Arizona.jpg|thumb|left|Historic Home, Snowflake, Arizona]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|30.9|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|30.8|sqmi|km2}}  are land and {{convert|0.1|sqmi|km2}}  (0.16%) are water.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1880= 275
|1910= 494
|1920= 758
|1930= 1259
|1950= 929
|1960= 982
|1970= 1977
|1980= 3510
|1990= 3679
|2000= 4460
|2010= 5590
|2020= 6104
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2016}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 4,460 people, 1,312 households, and 1,070 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|144.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,536 housing units at an average density of {{convert|49.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 87.2% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.3% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 6.9% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.5% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.0% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.0% from two or more races. 8.1% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 1,312 households, out of which 46.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.4% were non-families. 15.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.37 and the average family size was 3.81.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 37.9% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $37,439, and the median income for a family was $42,500. Males had a median income of $30,517 versus $21,164 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $13,391. About 10.4% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 18.7% of those under age 18 and 14.1% of those age 65 or over.

Recently, the town and surrounding area have experienced steady growth, primarily to the east, west and south. An additional 9-holes were added to the 18-hole golf course.

The remoteness of Snowflake and the low level of pollution attracts many individuals suffering from [[multiple chemical sensitivity]] syndrome (MCS) to the town.<ref>Fred A. Bernstein (July 10, 2005). [https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/10/realestate/10nation.html?_r=2 "In One Arizona Community, an Oasis in a Toxic World"]. ''The New York Times''</ref> As of July 2016 there were approximately 20 households who report to be suffering from MCS.<ref name="allergic">{{cite news|title=Allergic to life: the Arizona residents 'sensitive to the whole world'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jul/11/snowflake-arizona-environmental-illness|date=July 11, 2016|author=Kathleen Hale |author2=Mae Ryan |newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=August 17, 2017}}</ref>

==Economy==
Major industries in Snowflake include pork production, electrical generation, and [[Cannabis cultivation]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richards |first=Brian |date=2020-12-14 |title=Town of Snowflake, Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, 2020 |url=https://www.snowflakeaz.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Snowflake-2020-CAFR.pdf |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=Town of Snowflake, AZ}}</ref> [[Copperstate Farms]], a cannabis greenhouse and wholesaler, is the largest employer in the town.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Danielle |date=2021-03-18 |title=Copperstate Farms in Snowflake becomes a mecca for marijuana cultivation in Arizona |url=https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/copperstate-farms-in-snowflake-becomes-a-mecca-for-marijuana-cultivation-in-arizona |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=FOX 10 Phoenix |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Education==
Snowflake is a part of the Snowflake Unified School District, consisting of Highland Primary School, Snowflake Intermediate School, Snowflake Junior High and [[Snowflake High School]]. Taylor Elementary School in the neighboring town of [[Taylor, Arizona]], is also part of the Snowflake Unified school District.

[[Northland Pioneer College]]'s Silver Creek campus extension is located in Snowflake.

==Climate==
Snowflake experiences a four-season [[semi-arid]] climate with a warm (sometimes hot) summer, mild autumn, mild to cold winter and cool, windy spring. Typical high temperatures hover around 90&nbsp;°F (32&nbsp;°C) during July and August and 30 (-1&nbsp;°C) to 49&nbsp;°F (13&nbsp;°C) in December/January.

<br />
{{Weather box
|location = Snowflake, Arizona
|single line = Y
| width = 80%
|collapsed = Yes
|Jan record high F = 79
|Feb record high F = 78
|Mar record high F = 82
|Apr record high F = 92
|May record high F = 98
|Jun record high F = 102
|Jul record high F = 104
|Aug record high F = 102
|Sep record high F = 98
|Oct record high F = 90
|Nov record high F = 90
|Dec record high F = 75
|year record high F = 104
|Jan high F = 48.6
|Feb high F = 55.0
|Mar high F = 60.8
|Apr high F = 68.8
|May high F = 77.2
|Jun high F = 87.3
|Jul high F = 90.0
|Aug high F = 87.2
|Sep high F = 81.7
|Oct high F = 71.2
|Nov high F = 58.0
|Dec high F = 48.9
|year high F = 69.6
|Jan low F = 19.6
|Feb low F = 22.9
|Mar low F = 27.7
|Apr low F = 32.7
|May low F = 39.9
|Jun low F = 47.6
|Jul low F = 56.2
|Aug low F = 55.1
|Sep low F = 47.6
|Oct low F = 36.0
|Nov low F = 26.1
|Dec low F = 19.8
|year low F = 35.9
|Jan record low F = -30
|Feb record low F = -17
|Mar record low F = -5
|Apr record low F = 3
|May record low F = 17
|Jun record low F = 20
|Jul record low F = 27
|Aug record low F = 28
|Sep record low F = 22
|Oct record low F = 11
|Nov record low F = -17
|Dec record low F = -24
|year record low F= -30
|precipitation colour=green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.73
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.72
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.01
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.42
|May precipitation inch = 0.59
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.33
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.75
|Aug precipitation inch = 2.44
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.64
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.25
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.93
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.89

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 inch
|Jan precipitation days =  4.3
|Feb precipitation days =  4.4
|Mar precipitation days =  4.9
|Apr precipitation days =  2.6
|May precipitation days =  2.7
|Jun precipitation days =  2.2
|Jul precipitation days =  8.3
|Aug precipitation days =  9.4
|Sep precipitation days =  5.8
|Oct precipitation days =  4.4
|Nov precipitation days =  3.7
|Dec precipitation days =  3.9

|Jan snow inch = 2.6
|Feb snow inch = 2.9
|Mar snow inch = 2.2
|Apr snow inch = 1.1
|May snow inch = 0.3
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.4
|Nov snow inch = 1.9
|Dec snow inch = 3.8

|unit snow days = 0.1 inch
|Jan snow days = 1.5
|Feb snow days = 1.1
|Mar snow days = 1.1
|Apr snow days = 0.3
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.2
|Nov snow days = 0.6
|Dec snow days = 1.4
|source 1      = NOAA (extremes 1898–present)<ref name= NCDC >{{cite web
|url           = http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim20/az/028012.pdf
|title           = Snowflake, AZ
|publisher           = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
|access-date           = December 11, 2013
|archive-url           = https://web.archive.org/web/20140715044344/http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim20/az/028012.pdf
|archive-date           = July 15, 2014
}}</ref>
|date          = December 2013
}}

== In popular culture ==
* Some members of the logging crew involved in the [[Travis Walton UFO incident|Travis Walton]] abduction incident live in this town, and several events surrounding that incident happened here. These events were dramatized in the sci-fi film ''[[Fire in the Sky]]'' (1993).<ref>[[Jerome Clark]]. ''The UFO Book: Encyclopedia of the Extraterrestrial''. Visible Ink, 1998 {{ISBN|1-57859-029-9}}</ref><ref>[http://www.travis-walton.com/human.html Travis Walton. "Human?" travis-walton.com]</ref>

== Notable people ==
[[File:Walter Blackman by Gage Skidmore.jpg|thumb|upright=0.65|[[Walter Blackman]], the first black Republican elected to the Arizona Legislature]]
[[File:David Marshall by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.65|[[David Marshall (Arizona politician)|David Marshall]], the second black Republican elected to the Arizona Legislature]]

* [[Walter Blackman]], current Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives<ref>{{cite web|url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/184551/walt-blackman |title=The Voter's Self Defense System – Vote Smart |publisher=Justfacts.votesmart.org |access-date=June 8, 2020}}</ref>
* [[Jeff Flake]], former [[United States Ambassador to Turkey]], former [[United States Senate|United States Senator]]
* [[Marilyn Jarrett]] (1939–2006), Arizona businesswoman and politician, was born in Snowflake.<ref>'Marilyn Jarrett{{snd}}obituary,' ''The Arizona Republic,'' March 16, 2006</ref>
* [[David Marshall (Arizona politician)|David Marshall]], Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives<ref>{{cite web |last1=Aleshire |first1=Peter |title=Cook, newly elected Rep. Marshall picked for key committee assignments |url=https://www.wmicentral.com/news/cook-newly-elected-rep-marshall-picked-for-key-committee-assignments/article_3ffd830f-8177-56fb-a4a5-35fe2ba508d7.html |website=White Mountain Independent |access-date=May 2, 2023 |date=December 6, 2022 |quote=and Snowflake minster David Marshall}}</ref>
* [[Buzz Miller]] (1923–1999), dancer, was born in Snowflake.<ref name="NYPL">{{cite web|title=archives.nypl.org – Buzz Miller papers|url=http://archives.nypl.org/dan/18762|website=Archives and Manuscripts|publisher=New York Public Library|access-date=December 2, 2017|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Jesse N. Smith]] (1834–1906), [[Mormon pioneer]], church leader, politician and colonizer of Snowflake. The Jesse N. Smith House in Snowflake is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
* [[Travis Walton UFO incident|Travis Walton]], who was allegedly abducted by space aliens, is an author and was played by [[D. B. Sweeney]] in the sci-fi film ''[[Fire in the Sky]]'' (1993), lives in Snowflake.

== See also ==
{{Portal|Arizona}}
* [[List of historic properties in Snowflake, Arizona]]
{{clear}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.snowflakeaz.gov/ Town website]
* [http://www.jerrystewart.org/snowflakeaz/history.html History of Snowflake, AZ]

{{Navajo County, Arizona}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1878 establishments in Arizona Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1878]]
[[Category:Towns in Navajo County, Arizona]]
[[Category:White Mountains (Arizona)]]