Pinal County

Throughout the region, newcomers will find a diversity of terrain, from volcanic-ash formations and high desert valleys. Ghost towns, old mining camps, and beautiful terrain contrast with friendly small communities. Recreation, seasonal residents and tourism play major roles in many of the town and city economies, fueled by the region’s pristine environment and international reputation for world-class birding and recreation opportunities. Pinal County has a rich and colorful history in large part due to its humble beginning in the mining and agricultural industries.

Pinal County Offices
520-509-3555

City of Apache Junction
480-982-8002

The City of Apache Junction is located just a short 30 miles east of Downtown Phoenix and borders the City of Mesa. It has quick and easy access to the sights and sounds of the Downtown Phoenix area via the Superstition Freeway. Apache Junction is a community that is spread out around the Historic Apache Trail and serves as a gateway to many of the most popular outdoor sites for residents of the Greater Phoenix Area. Those sights include the Spectacular Superstition Mountains Wilderness Area and the chain of Salt River Lakes. The city is very popular with Arizona’s seasonal visitors who easily double the city’s winter population. The area around Apache Junction is experiencing a steady growth rate thanks to a lower cost of real estate than some of the other nearby communities outside of Phoenix. The City is also experiencing solid growth in retail and the other amenities that new residents look for, all while maintaining its old west feel and charm.

Arizona City
520-466-5141

Arizona City is a master-planned community of over 4,500 residents, located mid-way between Phoenix and Tucson along the I-10 corridor in the Santa Cruz Valley. It was formed in 1953 when a local developer decided to build a planned community on 2 ½ acres of land. It is unincorporated and as such has no local government. The area around Arizona City is very productive agricultural land and also home to one of the states purest underground water sources. Arizona City itself has grown considerably from that small acreage to its current population. Arizona City offers its residents all of the benefits of living in a planned community including such amenities as a 48-acre manmade lake, an 18-hole golf course, and several parks and restaurants. Nearby attractions offer hiking, horseback riding, and even rock hounding gems. Its central location means that residents have quick access to either Phoenix or Tucson for the arts or professional sporting events and quick access to all of the services of nearby Casa Grande.

Casa Grande
520-421-8600

Casa Grande was founded in 1879 and is located just 40 minutes from Downtown Phoenix to the north and 60 minutes from Tucson to the southeast. Casa Grande is named after a Hohokam Indian ruin, that is located about 20 minutes north and east. It is the second largest community in the county with a year-round population of more than 35,000 residents. Like any major city, Casa Grande offers many facilities and activities that residents and visitors would expect, including museums, libraries, fitness clubs, and golf courses. The city also boasts more than 15 local parks and three major regional parks. The City is also home to the state-of-the-art Casa Grande Regional Medical Center. There are also outstanding school districts, including a new high school. Casa Grande is famous in the Phoenix metropolitan area for its shopping, including its unique and historic downtown shops and the Outlets at Casa Grande. All of these things combine to offer a quality of life that takes full advantage of the city’s uniquely southwestern flair.

Coolidge
520-723-5361

Coolidge is a small city located almost exactly halfway between Phoenix and Tucson and is the heart of Arizona’s cotton industry. The city was founded in 1930 on an 80-acre site after the Coolidge dam was dedicated by the town namesake President Coolidge. The city was incorporated in 1945 and now has more than 8,000 residents who call it home. The area is extremely popular with winter visitors who enjoy the beautiful climate throughout the winter months. The town is also the home of the famous Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, a prehistoric Hohokam Indian village site highlighted by the four-story tall “Casa Grande” structure. A short drive from Coolidge are the Gila River Indian Reservation and the Papago Indian Reservation.

Eloy
520-466-9201

Eloy is a quiet rural city located in an area known for its agricultural past, something most visitors don’t expect in the Sonoran desert. This city is surrounded by an agricultural area with cotton, vegetable, fruit, nut, and ostrich farms. Eloy is a fine example of small-town America with an active main street, new local library, and beautiful town center with its own city park and gazebo. Eloy is also surrounded by some of the most beautiful mountains in the region including Picacho Peak, the site of the only Civil War battle in Arizona. There are numerous opportunities for outdoor recreation including, hiking, biking, and even fishing in Picacho Reservoir.


Florence

520-868-7500

Florence is located midway between Phoenix and Tucson at the junction of State Highway 79 and State Highway 287. The town grew in the 1870s with the discovery of silver in the Silver King Mine. The town became the commercial hub for area mines with ranching and farming developing over time. Florence is the Pinal County Seat and is one of the oldest developed towns in the state. The town is a national Main Street Town with more than 130 buildings listed on the National Historic register. The lifestyle for residents in Florence has changed dramatically in its long history. The area is now experiencing a booming residential growth pattern. There are multiple master-planned communities currently planned that will add more than 60,000 residential units to the area over the next several years. The first of those communities, Anthem at Merrill Ranch, is already underway. Florence offers residents the benefits of small-town living, wonderful climate, and a bright and growing future.

Gold Canyon

 

Gold Canyon is an unincorporated community located in the far eastern part of the Phoenix Metro area. It is located in Pinal County. The number of total residents is about 6,000 but this does fluctuate seasonally. The community is made up of several home communities. It is located adjacent to the Superstition Mountain Wilderness, at the foothills of the Superstition Mountains, which offer thousands of square miles of public land for hiking, bike riding, photography, camping, or hunting. There are five 18-hole championship length golf courses within the community and many more within a short drive. The view of the Superstition Mountains and the beautiful surrounding desert make this one of the most picturesque communities in the area.

Kearny
520-363-5547

Kearny is located in eastern Pinal County approximately an hour from the Phoenix Metro Area and 30 minutes from the town of Globe in Gila County. The Town is a planned community, with tree-lined streets and a quiet small-town lifestyle. The town is located at the base of the Steamboat Mountain Foothills and boasts a year-round average temperature of 73 degrees. This climate combined with the location of town leads to the rare ability of residents to enjoy outdoor activities year-round. In the springtime, visitors flock to the area to enjoy bird watching along the Gila River. Visitors are also awestruck at the sight of the Ray Mine, one of the nation’s largest open pit mines. The town offers residents many amenities, while giving them the opportunity to enjoy a comfortable pace of life.

Town of Mammoth
520-487-2331

Mammoth is an incorporated town of approximately 2000 residents. Mammoth along with San Manuel and Oracle make up what is known as the Tri-Community area. Mammoth is located along highway 77 and the San Pedro River which flows underground northward from Mexico and winds its way between the Santa Catalina Mountains to the south and the Galiuro Mountains to the Northeast. Mammoth took its name from the Mammoth Mine. It was said the gold deposits were of mammoth proportions so the town was given the name. Mammoth is known for its natural beauty and mild climate. The town has transitioned from a mining-related economy to one which is focused on services, light industry, and tourism. Residents enjoy an easy pace of life with a small-town atmosphere. The community offers all the basic necessities of daily life, with all of the excitement of Tucson nearby.

City of Maricopa
520-568-9098

Maricopa is located 20 miles south of Phoenix and about 20 miles northwest of the City of Casa Grande. Maricopa was incorporated in 2003, prior to that it was an unincorporated community whose history revolved around farming. The City is one of the most productive farm communities in the state of Arizona, with crops of cotton, grain, fruit, and vegetables. Maricopa’s growth has been spurred by the development of master-planned communities that overflow from the development in the southernmost part of the City of Phoenix and the Ahwatukee Foothills. The city is expected to grow in population to more than 100,000 residents over the next 5 years. The current population is around 30,000. In addition to its residential growth, Maricopa is home to many wonderful amenities, including golf courses, parks, and the popular Estrella Mountains, where hiking, biking, and horseback riding can be enjoyed by all.

Oracle/San Manuel
520-896-3300

Oracle and San Manuel are both unincorporated communities in Pinal County. They have no local government offices and instead abide by the laws of the county government. Both communities (along with Mammoth) sit between the San Pedro River Valley, the Galiuro Mountain Range, and the Catalina foothills. They are located just a short 40 miles from Tucson and 150 miles from Metro Phoenix. Oracle sits at an elevation of 4500 feet and its hilly countryside is covered with mesquite, scrub oak, Manzanita, bear grass, prickly pear, and cholla cactus. The climate is moderate with summer days averaging in the mid-90s and winter offering cool days and chilly evenings. This mountainside location and the mild dry climate made Oracle a favorite spot for those looking to get out of the heat of lower elevations and in the early days it was a popular spot for doctors to send patients with respiratory issues. The main business in the area was mining and farming. Oracle is also famous for its many fine artists whose work can still be seen at the Rancho Linda Vista art community gallery. San Manuel was originally founded as a mining company town around 1953 – by the Magna mining company to take advantage of the copper deposits that are so common in Arizona. The town was built by the mining company to house the miners and their families – which literally meant that all of the buildings in town were owned by the mining company. In the 1990s the mining company finally decided to sell all of the buildings to private owners. The San Manuel mine is no longer in operation, and the current owner of the mine claim is restoring the area to its original condition. This storied history gives the residents of San Manuel an interesting past and bond with each other. Many of the local residents – still live in the houses that they used when employed by the mine. Both of these communities offer their residents a unique combination of wonderful natural beauty, mild desert climates, and the peace and comfort of true small-town living – all within a short drive from the urban oasis of Tucson.

San Tan Valley
480-788-7516

San Tan Valley is the newest “community” in Pinal County. It was formed by a vote of local residents and politicians that wanted to group together all of the varied subdivisions and housing developments in the area (more than 70.) In June of 2009, by a vote, local residents chose the name of San Tan Valley. This is not an incorporated town or city (although residents will vote on that in an election.) What this new community is, however, is a total of approximately 80,000 residents occupying a large geographic area – making it the largest community in the county. New Residents to this area will find a broad choice of housing options ranging from older ranch-style homes in mature sub-divisions to new construction homes in youthful new developments featuring all of the amenities a resident could want. And of course, all of the recreational, shopping, and social opportunities of the county and the Metro Phoenix area are available and nearby.

Town of Superior
520-689-5752

Superior is located a little more than 6 miles east of Metro Phoenix on U.S. 60 at the junction of State Highway 177. The town is at an elevation of 2,882 feet surrounded by peaks such as Iron Mountain at a little over 6,000 ft. The towns’ history and development are based in the mining industry. With the town laid out in 1900 under the name of Hastings which was later changed to Superior. The town was incorporated in 1976. Superior is a small town with many families that have been residents for more than three generations. Superior is world-renowned for one of its most famous landmarks, the Boyce Thompson Desert Arboretum. This botanical garden is situated at the edge of beautiful Picket Post Mountain and contains more than 10,000 specimens of cacti. The Arboretum draws thousands of visitors every year. In addition to the arboretum, Superior is located just south of the famous Apache Trail – a 98-mile section of Route 88 that drives through some of Arizona’s most beautiful and historic terrain.

Queen Creek
480-358-3000

While Queen Creek takes great pride in its friendly, rural atmosphere and rich history, the town is welcoming a surge of residential growth. Civic planners in the Queen Creek area are determined to meet this expansion with a balance of amenities and services that preserve open spaces and the rural character of the landscape. Local amenities that add to the high quality of life include a community center and youth center, a branch library, and an 18-hole golf course. The nearby San Tan Mountain Regional Park encourages outdoor adventure and exploration. Queen Creek attracts thousands of visitors each year to its u-pick fruit and vegetable crops and seasonal celebrations. The annual Country Thunder music festival draws crowds to camp sites with live musical entertainment. Many newcomers are drawn to this outlying community for exceptional home values, breathtaking mountain views, and the blend of residential neighborhoods with panoramic ranches and recreational activities. Unique opportunities within the Queen Creek area include one-acre home sites that appeal to aviators and equestrians. Local residents can enjoy the freedom and enjoyment of airpark living that includes horse privileges and easy access to nearby bridle trails in a setting of natural beauty.

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