The city of Safford is located in the Upper Gila River Valley in the southeast corner of Arizona where the San Simon and Gila Rivers meet. The foothills of the Pinaleño Mountains begin about five miles southeast of the city. Mount Graham, the highest peak in the mountain range, and its companion peaks have a marked effect on the local climate by reducing winter precipitation. Safford, the county seat of Graham County, was established in 1874 and almost immediately became an agricultural area. Water is drawn from the Gila River to create 40,000 acres of irrigated agriculture.

Principal Economic Activities

Safford serves as the retail center for southeastern Arizona and western New Mexico, serving roughly 65,000 people. Substantial employment occurs in a wide variety of retail and service businesses, as well as mining, agriculture and light manufacturing. Agriculture has been a mainstay of the Safford and Graham County economies with cotton as the principal commodity, and remaining acreage used for hay and small grains. NatureSweet®, LTD operates a 20-acre greenhouse that produces tomatoes and cucumbers year-round and distributes them throughout the United States. Mining is a a driving economic force and local employment and businesses receive a substantial boost from Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. with its two local mines: one in Safford and the other in Morenci. The Arizona Department of Corrections has two prison facilities, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons has one near the Safford area. Eastern Arizona College is a community college located in nearby Thatcher. Mount Graham Regional Medical Center is a major employer in Safford.

Scenic Attractions

Safford, ten miles north of the Coronado National Forest, provides many recreational facilities. Popular spots are the 10,720-foot Mt. Graham and Pinaleño Mountains. The Pinaleño Mountains are home to the largest binocular telescope in the world. Swift Trail, a 36-mile tour and one of many scenic drives in the area, provides a route to the summit and features many picnicking and camping sites. Discovery Park is a 160-acre, world-class attraction that includes the Natures Hideaway Riparian Wetlands, a narrow-gauge 1880s railroad and Governor Aker Observatory. The Bureau of Land Management administers 740,800 acres of land within Graham County. Some of the unique recreational opportunities are the Hot Wells Dunes, Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area and Black Hills Back County Byway. Roper Lake State Park, south of Safford, has overnight camping and day-use picnic areas, plus mineral water hot springs.

Community Facilities

The city of Safford offers two historic museums, a senior community center, a fine arts center, a Boys and Girls Club, a library, a bowling alley, two indoor theaters, a swimming pool, an 18-hole golf course, several tennis and paddleball courts, seven parks, numerous picnic areas at Mt. Graham and Roper Lake, 12 baseball diamonds (six lighted), several soccer fields and one rodeo arena.