Editing Thatcher, Arizona

{{Short description|Town in Graham County, Arizona}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Thatcher, Arizona
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|image_skyline            = Thatcher-Spencer W. Kimball Childhood Home-1902.jpg
|image_caption            = Spencer W. Kimball Childhood Home Marker
|imagesize                =
|image_map                = Graham County Arizona Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Thatcher Highlighted 0473420.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Thatcher in Graham County, Arizona
|pushpin_map              = USA
|pushpin_map_caption      = Location in the United States
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Arizona|County]]
|subdivision_name         = [[United States]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Arizona]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Graham County, Arizona|Graham]]
|established_title        =
|established_date         =
|government_type          = Incorporated Town
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Randy Bryce <ref>[https://www.thatcher.az.gov/government/mayor-council Office and Contact Information], Thatcher. Accessed January 13, 2024.</ref>
|leader_title1            = [[Vice Mayor]]
|leader_name1             = 
|leader_title2            = [[Town Council]]
|leader_name2             = 
|leader_title3            = [[Town Manager]]
|leader_name3             = 
|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           = 17.14
|area_total_sq_mi         = 6.62
|area_land_km2            = 17.10
|area_land_sq_mi          = 6.60
|area_water_km2           = 0.04
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.02
|elevation_ft             = 2914
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           =
|pop_est_as_of            =
|pop_est_footnotes        =
|population_footnotes     =
|population_total         = 5231
|population_density_km2   = 305.86
|population_density_sq_mi = 792.22
|timezone                 = [[Mountain Standard Time Zone|MST]] (no [[Daylight savings time|DST]])
|utc_offset               = -7
|coordinates              = {{coord|32|50|35|N|109|44|56|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|timezone_DST             =
|utc_offset_DST           =
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 85552
|area_code                = [[Area code 928|928]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 04-73420
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2413382<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2413382}}</ref>
|website                  = [http://thatcher.az.gov/ Town of Thatcher]
|footnotes                =
}}

'''Thatcher''' is a town in [[Graham County, Arizona|Graham County]], [[Arizona]], United States. According to the [[2010 United States Census|2010 Census]], the population of the town is 4,865.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=August 23, 2014}}</ref> It is part of the [[Safford, Arizona|Safford]] [[Safford micropolitan area|Micropolitan Statistical Area]].

Thatcher is the home of [[Eastern Arizona College]] (EAC), a college that offers two year degrees and includes a nursing school.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eac.edu//|title=Home|website=www.eac.edu}}</ref>

==History==
Thatcher was originally settled by members of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]].  The first settler was [[John M. Moody]] who arrived in Thatcher with his wife and children in 1881.<ref>[[Andrew Jenson]]. ''Encyclopedic History of the Church''. (Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1941) p. 870. accessed via infobase CD library</ref> The founding of Thatcher is attributed to Mormon pioneer [[Christopher Layton]], who bought two thousand acres, named the acreage "Thatcher", divided them into lots, and sold those lots to Mormon settlers. Layton also bought a gristmill and built roads, canals and homes.

[[Eastern Arizona College]] traces its history to the St. Joseph Stake Academy started by the church in nearby [[Central, Arizona|Central]]. Central is also the location of the [[Gila Valley Arizona Temple]].

==Geography==
The town is centered in the Upper Gila River Valley with one of Arizona's famous [[Madrean Sky Islands]] towering to the south and the [[Gila River]] to the north.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|6.7|sqmi|km2}}, including {{convert|0.02|sqmi|km2}} of water.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 320
|1900= 644
|1910= 904
|1920= 899
|1930= 895
|1940= 1106
|1950= 1284
|1960= 1581
|1970= 2320
|1980= 3374
|1990= 3763
|2000= 4022
|2010= 4865
|2020= 5231
|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 4,022 people, 1,281 households, and 927 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|919.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,427 housing units at an average density of {{convert|326.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 84.7% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.8% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 1.8% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.5% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 9.9% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.2% from two or more races. 19.5% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 1,281 households, out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.37.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.6% under the age of 18, 22.8% from 18 to 24, 18.9% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $32,412, and the median income for a family was $40,392. Males had a median income of $35,815 versus $20,964 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $12,961. 17.2% of the population lives below the [[poverty line]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/thatchertownarizona,grahamcountyarizona,AZ/PST045216|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Thatcher town, Arizona; Graham County, Arizona; Arizona|website=www.census.gov|language=en|access-date=April 16, 2018}}</ref>

==Emergency response==
Emergency 911 services are provided by the 24/7 dispatch center of the [[Graham County Sheriff's Office]]. Fire services are provided by the all volunteer Thatcher Fire Department, which has the capability to respond with various types of equipment, including several fire engines and a ladder truck. Mount Graham Regional Medical Center is the medical services provider for the area.

The Thatcher Police Department (TPD) is the municipal law enforcement agency responsible for policing the town.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thatcheraz.com/facilities.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080927093220/http://www.thatcheraz.com/facilities.htm|url-status=dead|title=Thatcher, Arizona - Facilities|archivedate=September 27, 2008}}</ref> It has an approximately 10-man uniformed division.
[[Image:Thatcherpolicecar.jpg|left|thumb|Thatcher Police [[Crown Victoria Police Interceptor]] in [[Safford, Arizona]].]]

==Transportation==
San Carlos Apache Nnee Bich'o Nii Transit provides transportation from Thatcher to the [[San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation]], [[Safford, Arizona|Safford]] and [[Globe, Arizona|Globe]].<ref>{{Cite web| title = Globe/Safford Route| work = Nnee Bich'o Nii Transit| access-date = January 27, 2020| url = http://apache-transit.simplesite.com/420622208| archive-date = January 27, 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200127052822/http://apache-transit.simplesite.com/420622208| url-status = dead}}</ref> [[Greyhound Lines]] serves Thatcher on its [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]]–[[El Paso, Texas|El Paso]] via [[Globe, Arizona|Globe]] route.

The Arizona Eastern Railway operates rail freight through town on a branch formerly operated by the Southern Pacific.  Traffic is primarily copper products on the route between Bowie and Miami, AZ.

==Notable people==
* [[Elliot Johnson (baseball)|Elliot Johnson]], professional baseball player MLB
* [[Spencer W. Kimball]], former president of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]].
* [[Don Lancaster]], early print on demand and personal computer pioneer, involved in the keyboard design of the [[Apple I]] computer.
* [[Jacque Mercer]], Miss Arizona and Miss America, 1949.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.azarchivesonline.org/xtf/view?docId=ead/asu/mercer.xml;query=;brand=default|title=Jacque Mercer Collection 1922-1971 Mercer, (Jacque) Collection|website=www.azarchivesonline.org}}</ref>
* [[Jess Mortensen]], former coach and [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]-champion track athlete from [[University of Southern California|USC]] and former world record holder in [[decathlon]].
* [[Jeremy Nelson]], award-winning visual effects artist.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eacourier.com/news/former-valley-resident-wins-visual-effects-award/article_14335c31-ec2b-569b-b9ff-74dd9cf8884a.html|title=Former Valley resident wins visual effects award|first=Diane|last=Saunders|work=Eastern Arizona Courier|date=February 21, 2011}}</ref>
* [[Frank Wanlass]], inventor of [[CMOS]] and pioneer in the field of solid-state electronics.

==Historic Brinkeroff Hotel and Spencer W. Kimball Childhood Home==
{{Gallery
|title=Thatcher, Arizona
|width=180px
|height=200px
|align=center
|File:Thatcher-Brinkeroff Hotel - 1900.jpg|Brinkeroff Hotel – 1900
|File:Thatcher-Spencer_W._Kimball_Childhood_Home-1902-1.jpg|Spencer W. Kimball Childhood Home
|File:Thatcher-Spencer W. Kimball Childhood Home-1902-6.jpg|Inside the Spencer W. Kimball Childhood home
}}

==See also==
* [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Arizona]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://thatcher.az.gov/ Town website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080927093220/http://www.thatcheraz.com/facilities.htm Official page]
* [http://www.road-police.com/police/Arizona/Thatcher/property_1120/police.html Road-Police – Thatcher, Arizona]
* [http://www.graham.az.gov County website]

{{Graham County, Arizona}}
{{Power stations in Arizona}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places established in 1881]]
[[Category:Towns in Graham County, Arizona]]
[[Category:Safford, Arizona micropolitan area]]
[[Category:1881 establishments in Arizona Territory]]