Editing Village of Oak Creek, Arizona

{{Short description|Community in Yavapai County, Arizona}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Village of Oak Creek, Arizona
|image_skyline      = OakCreekBigPark air.jpg
|imagesize          = 250px
|image_caption      = Aerial view of the community
|image_map          = File:Yavapai County Arizona Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Village of Oak Creek (Big Park) Highlighted 0480095.svg
|map_caption = Location of Village of Oak Creek (Big Park) in Yavapai County, Arizona.
|pushpin_map        = USA
|pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States
<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type   = Country
|subdivision_name   = United States
|subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Arizona|Counties]]
|subdivision_name1  = [[Arizona]]
|subdivision_name2  = [[Yavapai County, Arizona|Yavapai]]
<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes = 
|government_type    = 
|established_title  = 
|established_date   =
<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref          = Imperial
|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|accessdate=October 29, 2021}}</ref>
|area_total_km2     = 13.61
|area_total_sq_mi   = 5.26
|area_land_km2      = 13.61
|area_land_sq_mi    = 5.26
|area_water_km2     = 0.00
|area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00
<!-- Population -->
|population_total   = 6128
|population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes = 
|population_density_km2 = 450.10
|population_density_sq_mi = 1165.68
<!-- General information -->
|timezone           = [[Mountain Standard Time Zone|MST]]
|utc_offset         = -7
|elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft       = 4105
|coordinates        = {{coord|34|47|02|N|111|44|54|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info         = 04-80095
|blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info        = 2407842<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2407842}}</ref>
|footnotes          = 
}}

'''Village of Oak Creek''' is an [[unincorporated community]] located within '''Big Park,''' a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[Yavapai County, Arizona|Yavapai County]], [[Arizona]], United States. The population was 6,147 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]], up from 5,245 in 2000. Big Park is the name of the CDP while the community is more commonly known as the '''Village of Oak Creek''' (VOC), and is a [[bedroom community]] for [[Sedona, Arizona|Sedona]], located seven miles away. Tourism and service to retirees and second-home owners are the basis for the local economy. Big Park, the pioneers' name for the large open area that became the Village of Oak Creek in the early 1960s, is set among scenic red-rock buttes and canyons. The [[Bell Rock (Arizona)|Bell Rock]] scenic area adjoins the north end of VOC, and the town is surrounded by the [[Coconino National Forest]]. A [[United States Forest Service|Forest Service]] Visitor Center is located at the south end of VOC.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|4.6|sqmi|km2}}, all land. {{as of|2016}}, Big Park / Village of Oak Creek is a designated [[International Dark-Sky Association|Dark Sky Community]].

=== Climate === 

Big Park, Arizona (ZIP 86351), has a semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) characterized by hot summers, mild winters, low humidity, and distinct wet and dry seasons. Its climate is shaped by its 4,000 ft (1,220 m) elevation, proximity to the Mogollon Rim, and surrounding red rock formations. Summers are hot but less extreme than Phoenix, with highs averaging in the mid-90s°F (35°C), while winter days are mild, often in the 50s°F (10–15°C), with nights occasionally dropping below freezing. The area receives an average of 22 inches (560 mm) of annual precipitation, mostly from the North American Monsoon (July–September) and winter Pacific storms (December–March). Monsoons bring intense thunderstorms, flash floods, and occasional hail, while winter storms can deliver rain and light snowfall, though accumulation is rare. The Mogollon Rim to the north helps funnel monsoonal moisture into the region but also blocks Arctic cold fronts in winter, keeping temperatures milder than higher elevations like Flagstaff. The red rock formations absorb heat during the day and radiate it at night, moderating temperature swings, while spring brings strong winds due to changing pressure systems. The area gets over 275 sunny days per year, with occasional fog in winter and spring mornings. Winds are generally light but can gust over 50 mph (80 km/h) during storms. Snowfall is rare, averaging 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) per year, with most melting within a day.


=== Climate Data ===  
{{Weather box  
|location = Big Park, Arizona (86351)  
|single line = yes  
|collapsed = Y
|Jan high F = {{color|#99CCFF|58}} |Feb high F = {{color|#99CCFF|61}} |Mar high F = {{color|#CCCCFF|67}} |Apr high F = {{color|#FFD700|75}}  
|May high F = {{color|#FFA500|84}} |Jun high F = {{color|#FF4500|94}} |Jul high F = {{color|#FF0000|97}} |Aug high F = {{color|#FF0000|94}}  
|Sep high F = {{color|#FF4500|89}} |Oct high F = {{color|#FFD700|78}} |Nov high F = {{color|#CCCCFF|65}} |Dec high F = {{color|#99CCFF|57}}  

|Jan low F = {{color|#0000FF|31}} |Feb low F = {{color|#0000FF|34}} |Mar low F = {{color|#3399FF|38}} |Apr low F = {{color|#66CCFF|44}}  
|May low F = {{color|#99CCFF|51}} |Jun low F = {{color|#CCCCFF|60}} |Jul low F = {{color|#FFD700|66}} |Aug low F = {{color|#FFD700|65}}  
|Sep low F = {{color|#CCCCFF|58}} |Oct low F = {{color|#99CCFF|47}} |Nov low F = {{color|#3399FF|37}} |Dec low F = {{color|#0000FF|30}}  

|Jan rain inch = 1.60 |Feb rain inch = 1.47 |Mar rain inch = 1.69 |Apr rain inch = 1.14  
|May rain inch = 0.55 |Jun rain inch = 0.36 |Jul rain inch = 1.91 |Aug rain inch = 2.10  
|Sep rain inch = 1.52 |Oct rain inch = 1.36 |Nov rain inch = 1.20 |Dec rain inch = 1.53  

|Jan snow inch = 1.5 |Feb snow inch = 1.0 |Mar snow inch = 0.5 |Apr snow inch = 0.2  
|May snow inch = 0.0 |Jun snow inch = 0.0 |Jul snow inch = 0.0 |Aug snow inch = 0.0  
|Sep snow inch = 0.0 |Oct snow inch = 0.1 |Nov snow inch = 0.6 |Dec snow inch = 1.2  

|Jan humidity = 55 |Feb humidity = 50 |Mar humidity = 45 |Apr humidity = 35  
|May humidity = 25 |Jun humidity = 20 |Jul humidity = 35 |Aug humidity = 40  
|Sep humidity = 35 |Oct humidity = 40 |Nov humidity = 50 |Dec humidity = 55  

|Jan sun = 25 |Feb sun = 26 |Mar sun = 28 |Apr sun = 29  
|May sun = 30 |Jun sun = 30 |Jul sun = 29 |Aug sun = 28  
|Sep sun = 28 |Oct sun = 28 |Nov sun = 27 |Dec sun = 25  

|Jan wind mph = 6.5 |Feb wind mph = 7.0 |Mar wind mph = 7.5 |Apr wind mph = 8.0  
|May wind mph = 7.5 |Jun wind mph = 7.0 |Jul wind mph = 6.5 |Aug wind mph = 6.0  
|Sep wind mph = 6.0 |Oct wind mph = 6.5 |Nov wind mph = 7.0 |Dec wind mph = 6.5  

|Jan rec high F = {{color|#FF4500|75}} |Feb rec high F = {{color|#FF4500|79}} |Mar rec high F = {{color|#FF4500|85}} |Apr rec high F = {{color|#FF4500|91}}  
|May rec high F = {{color|#FF0000|101}} |Jun rec high F = {{color|#FF0000|110}} |Jul rec high F = {{color|#FF0000|113}} |Aug rec high F = {{color|#FF0000|111}}  
|Sep rec high F = {{color|#FF0000|107}} |Oct rec high F = {{color|#FF4500|97}} |Nov rec high F = {{color|#FF4500|85}} |Dec rec high F = {{color|#FF4500|78}}  

|Jan rec low F = {{color|#0000FF|3}} |Feb rec low F = {{color|#0000FF|5}} |Mar rec low F = {{color|#0000FF|12}} |Apr rec low F = {{color|#3399FF|20}}  
|May rec low F = {{color|#66CCFF|29}} |Jun rec low F = {{color|#99CCFF|37}} |Jul rec low F = {{color|#CCCCFF|47}} |Aug rec low F = {{color|#CCCCFF|48}}  
|Sep rec low F = {{color|#99CCFF|39}} |Oct rec low F = {{color|#66CCFF|29}} |Nov rec low F = {{color|#3399FF|15}} |Dec rec low F = {{color|#0000FF|5}}  
|date=March 2025}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1910= 141
|1990= 3024
|2000= 5245
|2010= 6147
|2020= 6128
|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>
}}
Village of Oak Creek first appeared as the Oak Creek Precinct in 1910.<ref>{{cite web |title=Supplement for Arizona - Population, Agriculture, Manufactures, Mines and Quarries |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/41033935v1-8ch2.pdf |website=United States Census Bureau |date=1910}}</ref> It did not reappear on the census again until 1990, when it was called Big Park and was made a census-designated place (CDP).<ref>{{cite web |author1=Bureau of the Census |title=1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Arizona |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-4.pdf |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |date=1990}}</ref> In 2010, the name was changed to the present Village of Oak Creek (although alternatively called Big Park on census documents).<ref>{{cite web |author1=U.S. Census Bureau |title=Arizona: 2010 - Summary Population and Housing Characteristics |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2012/dec/cph-1-4.pdf |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |date=October 2012}}</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 5,245 people, 2,560 households, and 1,602 families residing in the CDP.  The population density was {{convert|1,154.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 3,117 housing units at an average density of {{convert|685.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.6% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.4% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.4% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.6% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], <0.1% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.5% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.6% from two or more races.  6.8% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 2,560 households, out of which 14.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.01 and the average family size was 2.44.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 12.7% under the age of 18, 3.1% from 18 to 24, 17.7% from 25 to 44, 33.0% from 45 to 64, and 33.4% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 56 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.3 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.5 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $38,477, and the median income for a family was $46,268. Males had a median income of $38,007 versus $24,826 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $30,026.  About 5.8% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 21.7% of those under age 18 and 2.6% of those age 65 or over.

==Arts==
The Verde Valley Music Festival was held on the first weekend of each October at the Verde Valley School, just west of VOC. The Festival was a fundraiser for Native American scholarships at VVS, and long benefited from the sponsorship and generosity of [[Jackson Browne]], whose son attended the school. Normally a mostly-acoustical show, past headliners include Browne (who almost always performs), [[Neil Young]], and [[Bruce Cockburn]].<ref>[http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/Music/Content?oid=42911 Tucson Weekly : Music : How Browne Is My Valley<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

==Education==
The Village of Oak Creek is within the [[Sedona-Oak Creek Unified School District]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st04_az/schooldistrict_maps/c04025_yavapai/DC20SD_C04025.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st04_az/schooldistrict_maps/c04025_yavapai/DC20SD_C04025.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Yavapai County, AZ|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|page=1 (PDF p. 2/3)|accessdate=2024-09-12}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st04_az/schooldistrict_maps/c04025_yavapai/DC20SD_C04025_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> which operates West Sedona School (K-6) and [[Sedona Red Rock Junior Senior High School]].

The community previously hosted the Big Park Community School, "Home of the Coyotes",{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} which opened in 1994.<ref name=Report2016p3>{{cite web|url=https://www.sedonak12.org:443/Downloads/Sedona%20Oak%20Creek%20JUSD%20CAFR%20FY%2016.pdf|title=Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2016|publisher=Sedona-Oak Creek Unified School District|page=3 (PDF p. 12/167)|access-date=2024-12-28}}</ref> The school district voted in May 2020 to close the school due to budget deficit concerns.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.redrocknews.com/sedona-oak-creek-school-district-to-close-big-park-community-school/|title = Sedona–Oak Creek School District to close Big Park Community School}}</ref> According to Randy Hawley, a member of the board of trustees, the district was having trouble having enough money to operate Big Park Community School, and the number of students had declined.<ref name=Altavenasqueezed>{{cite web|last=Altavena|first=Lily|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-education/2019/06/12/arizona-rural-schools-face-budget-shortfall-declining-enrollment/1275487001/|title=Squeezed by declining enrollment, Arizona's rural schools are suffering|newspaper=[[The Arizona Republic]]|date=2019-06-12|access-date=2024-12-27}}</ref>

[[Verde Valley School]], an International Baccalaureate boarding/college preparatory high school with many international and [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] students, is located between the Oak Creek and Red Rock Crossing. VVS was founded in 1948 by Hamilton and Barbara Warren. Scholars who helped found the school and guide its early years included Harvard anthropologist [[Clyde Kluckhohn]], anthropologist [[Margaret Mead]], and [[John Collier (reformer)|John Collier]], Commissioner of Indian Affairs during the [[Franklin Roosevelt]] administration.<ref>[http://www.vvsaz.org/155 VVS history] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928072256/http://www.vvsaz.org/155 |date=September 28, 2007 }}</ref>

==Notable people==
English portrait and abstract artist [[Kevin Geary]] moved to the Village of Oak Creek in 2008.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Susan |date=September 3, 2008 |page=6A |title=Jerome gallery displays English VOC artist |url=http://srr.stparchive.com/Archive/SRR/SRR09032008p06.php |newspaper=Red Rock News |location=Sedona, Arizona |access-date=September 30, 2021 |via=SmallTownPapers }}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Arizona}}
* [[List of census-designated places in Arizona]]

==References==
{{reflist|22em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Village of Oak Creek, Arizona}}
* {{osmway|33046122}}
* [https://www.vocaonline.com/ Village of Oakcreek Association]
* [http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreation/red_rock/rec_redrock.shtml Welcome to Red Rock Country!] Coconino National Forest.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090624133426/http://urban.csuohio.edu/~sanda/pic/travel/us/arizona/oak%20creek/ Photos of area]
* [http://www.sedonalegendhelenfrye.com/ The Jack and Helen Frye story]

{{Yavapai County, Arizona}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Village of Oak Creek, Arizona}}
[[Category:Census-designated places in Yavapai County, Arizona]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Arizona]]