Pima is on the Gila River in north-central Graham County. The Gila River was one of the main waterways followed by fur trappers and mountain men in the 1820s and 1830s. The lands beside the river became the Gila Trail along which General Stephen W. Kearny brought his "Army of the West" in 1846. Mormon settlers seeking a canal route in the Gila Valley laid out a town site, naming it Smithville after Mormon leader Jesse Smith. The town was later renamed Pima after the Native American tribe. The route to Pima from Tucson is east on Interstate 10 to U.S. 191, turning north to Safford and then northwest on U.S. 70. From Phoenix, Pima is reached via U.S. 60 to Globe and then U.S. 70.
Agriculture is the predominant economic activity in Graham County. Pima historically has been an agricultural center with irrigation water coming from the Gila River. As a farm trade center, Pima serves surrounding agricultural areas. The town is becoming a popular retirement community. Increases in tourism and winter visitors have boosted wholesale and retail trade. County, state and federal offices and the community college in Thatcher also provide employment.
Pima is just north of the Coronado National Forest which provides numerous recreational facilities. Two of the most popular areas are the Pinaleno Mountains and 10,720-foot Mt. Graham. The 36-mile long Swift Trail goes to Mt. Graham’s summit and features many picnic, hiking and camping sites. The Mt. Graham Observatory includes the Large Binocular Telescope. Forty-six miles from Pima is the ranger station at Columbine and Riggs Lake, home to fishing, boating and other water activity facilities. Twenty-six miles away is Cluff Ranch Reservoir, a premiere water recreation area. Near Pima is Aravaipa Canyon, one of the most scenic wilderness areas in Arizona. Passes to visit Aravaipa Canyon must be obtained through the Bureau of Land Management's Safford Office. Other attractions include Hot Wells Dunes, Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area and Black Hills Back Country Byway.
The town of Pima has a museum, a library, two city parks totaling 41 acres, a swimming pool, a children's museum, a roping arena, several handball and tennis courts, wrestling mats and four softball / baseball fields.
| Founded | 1879 | Incorporated | 1916 |
| Elevation | 2,846 ft. | Location | Graham County |
| Phoenix | 153 miles | San Diego | 499 miles |
| Tucson | 151 miles | Los Angeles | 529 miles |
| Las Vegas | 450 miles |
| 2000 | 2010 | 2023 (est.) | |
| Pima | 1,989 | 2,390 | 2,921 |
| Graham County | 33,489 | 37,299 | 39,025 |
| State of Arizona | 5,130,632 | 6,401,569 | 7,285,370 |
Office of Economic Opportunity
Arizona Dept. of Revenue & Arizona Tax Research Foundation
| Pima | 2.00% |
| Graham County | 1.00% |
| State | 5.60% |
Arizona Dept. of Revenue & Arizona Tax Research Foundation
| 2000 | 2010 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian Labor Force | 922 | 1,099 | 1,178 |
| Unemployed | 40 | 149 | 39 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3% | 13.6% | 3.3% |
Office of Economic Opportunity
| Count | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| Less than high school | 100 | 6.5% |
| High school or equivalent, no college | 517 | 33.7% |
| Some college or Associate degree | 492 | 32.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree | 423 | 27.6% |
American Community Survey
| Count | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| Education, health care & social assistance | 233 | 23.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, food & recreation services | 167 | 16.5% |
| Retail trade | 128 | 12.6% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, & mining | 115 | 11.3% |
| Transportation, warehousing, & utilities | 79 | 7.8% |
| Construction | 76 | 7.5% |
| Public administration | 65 | 6.4% |
| Professional, scientific, & administrative services | 45 | 4.4% |
| Finance, insurance & real estate | 41 | 4.0% |
| Other services, except public administration | 31 | 3.1% |
| Information | 17 | 1.7% |
| Manufacturing | 17 | 1.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 0 | 0.0% |
American Community Survey
This profile was prepared by the Arizona Commerce Authority in cooperation with local sources. For further information, please contact: