Wickenburg Geography
Wickenburg is located at 33°57'54" North, 112°44'53" West (33.964881, -112.747936).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 29.8 km2 (11.5 mi2). 29.8 km2 (11.5 mi2) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
Wickenburg Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 5,082 people, 2,341 households, and 1,432 families residing in the town. The population density is 170.5/km2 (441.7/mi2). There are 2,691 housing units at an average density of 90.3/km2 (233.9/mi2). The racial makeup of the town is 91.76% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 1.18% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 4.53% from other races, and 1.77% from two or more races. 11.02% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.There are 2,341 households out of which 20.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% are married couples living together, 8.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 38.8% are non-families. 33.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 18.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.15 and the average family size is 2.72.
In the town the population is spread out with 19.9% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 20.4% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 28.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 48 years. For every 100 females there are 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 84.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $31,716, and the median income for a family is $40,051. Males have a median income of $34,219 versus $25,417 for females. The per capita income for the town is $19,772. 11.4% of the population and 6.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 11.5% of those under the age of 18 and 5.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Wickenburg History
In the early 1820's, stalwart hunters and trappers explored the Hassayampa River in search of beavers, whose pelts were sold to hat makers in the eastern United States and in Europe. Their reports helped pique American interest in the West. The Wickenburg area and much of the West became part of the United States following the Mexican American War in 1848.An 1862 gold strike on the Colorado River near the present-day Yuma inspired hardy prospectors and miners, predominantly from California and Mexico, to search for minerals throughout central Arizona. The names of these Argonauts now grace many of the surrounding geographic landmarks, including the Weaver Mountains and Peeples Valley.
Among the gold searches was an Austrian man named Henry Wickenburg. His quest for gold was rewarded by the discovery of the Vulture Mine, where over $30 million in gold has been dug from the ground. Throughout the foothills surrounding Wickenburg are relics of other mines that stand as a tribute to the pioneer miner and prospector. The mining lore of the region, past and present, adds much to the charm of the area.
Ranchers and farmers who built homes along the fertile plain of the Hassayampa River accompanied the miners. Many of the resourceful and committed settlers came from Sonora, Mexico, giving this area the distinction of being the northern edge of the Hispanic ranching frontier. Together with Henry Wickenburg and the miners, they helped found the young community of Wickenburg in 1863.
The infant town went through many trials and tribulations in those first decades, surviving Indian wars, mine closures, desperadoes, drought, and a disastrous flood in 1890 when the Walnut Creek Dam burst, killing nearly 70. Through it all, the town continued to grow. Its prosperity was insured with the coming of the railroad in 1895. The historic depot still stands today as the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce and Visitor's Center.
Along the town's main historic district, early businesses built many structures that still grace Wickenburg's downtown area. The abundant clean air and wide-open spaces attracted a new aspect of the Wickenburg neighborhood. Guest ranches offered a unique western experience to tourists who fell in love with the West. The Bar FX Ranch became the first true guest ranch in 1923, followed by the Remudas, Kay El Bar, Rancho de los Caballeros, and Flying E ranches, just to mention a few. The construction of the Phoenix to California highway (Highway 60) brought even more tourists, making Wickenburg the Dude Ranch Capital of the World. Today, some of these ranches still offer their unique brand of Western hospitality.
The Hassayampa community became a vital contributor to America's patriotic war effort during World War II when the U.S. Army trained thousands of men to fly gliders at a newly constructed airfield west of Wickenburg. After the War, modern pioneers and home builders developed Wickenburg into a splendid American community. Wickenburg of today is a modern town with over 600 businesses providing a full range of services, shopping conveniences, specialty shops and galleries for gifts of western distinction.
External links
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Wickenburg,_Arizona".