Tuba City (Navajo: Tó Naneesdizí ) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Coconino County, Arizona, United States. The population was 8,225 at the 2000 census. It is the Navajo Indian Reservation's largest community, slightly larger than Shiprock, New Mexico. The Hopi town of Moenkopi lies directly to its southeast.

The name of the town honors Tuuvi, a Hopi headman from Oraibi. The Navajo name for Tuba City, Tó Naneesdizí translates as “tangled waters” which probably refers to the many springs below the surface of the ground which are the source of several reservoirs.

Tuba City is located within the Painted Desert on the western side of the Navajo Nation. The town is situated on U.S. Route 160, near the junction with Arizona State Route 264. Tuba City is located about 50 miles from the eastern entrance to Grand Canyon National Park. Most of Tuba City's residents are Navajo, with a small Hopi minority. Arizona does not currently observe Daylight Time, however the Navajo reservation does. In practice the community has a varied observance. Tribal offices and schools observe DST; most businesses do not.

History

The written history of the town goes back more than 200 years. When Father Francisco Garcés visited the area in 1776, he recorded that the Indians were cultivating crops.

Chief Tuuvi converted to Mormonism around 1870, and invited the Mormons to settle near Moenkopi. The present-day town of Tuba City was founded by the Mormons in 1872. In 1956, Tuba City became a uranium boomtown, as the regional office for the Rare Metals Corporation and the Atomic Energy Commission.

Geography

Tuba City is located at 36°7′45″N 111°14′19″W  /  36.12917°N 111.23861°W  / 36.12917; -111.23861 (36.129044, -111.238718).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 8.9 square miles (23.1 km²), all of it land.

Tuba City sits upon the Glen Canyon Group from the early Jurassic (about 180-210 Ma) and modern superficial Quaternary deposits.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,225 people, 2,036 households, and 1,675 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 921.6 people per square mile (356.0/km²). There were 2,445 housing units at an average density of 274.0/sq mi (105.8/km²). The racial make-up of the CDP was 92.01% Native American, 5.47% White, 0.16% Black or African American, 0.22% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. 2.36% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,036 households out of which 52.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 26.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.7% were non-families. 15.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.00 and the average family size was 4.49.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 42.8% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 15.7% from 45 to 64, and 4.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.

Tuba City's median household income is $38,556, and the median income for a family was $37,813. Males had a median income of $29,280 versus $26,855 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $10,479. About 23.1% of families and 28.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.0% of those under age 18 and 44.8% of those age 65 or over.

Attractions

  • The Explore Navajo Interactive Museum opened in 2007 in the center of Tuba City, next to the historic Tuba City Trading Post.
  • Tuba City is noted for dinosaur tracks, found about 5 miles west
  • Coal Mine Canyon, a colorful canyon with many hoodoos, is 15 miles southeast.

Shops and services

There is a flea market held every Friday just northeast of the Chapter House, off Peshlaki Ave. The flea market offers a variety of Navajo and Hopi arts and crafts, as well as local foods, such as mutton sandwiches,posole, and frybread.

Tuba City Trading Post, a store selling Navajo hand-made crafts has a building dating from 1905.

The Hopi tribe opened the Tuuvi Travel Center in 2008, a $6.3 million complex. The Hopis plan a $100 million "Gateway to Hopiland" nearby.

Tuba City is serviced by the Tuba City Airport.

Education

The area is served by the Tuba City Unified School District.

Schools in Tuba City include:

  • Tuba City High School
  • Greyhills Academy High School
  • Tuba City Boarding School established c1906
  • Tuba City Elementary School
  • Tuba City Jr. High School
  • Tuba City Middle School
  • Tuba City Alternative School
  • Diné College
  • Online classes from Northern Arizona University.

Sports

Tuba City High School was awarded the 1982 National Cross Country Championship through the XC Legacy series published through Milesplit.us in an effort to begin filling in the national rankings from 1980-1988. The Harrier Magazine, operated by Marc Bloom formerly of Runners World Magazine began keeping official rankings in 1989. The National Title is the first for historic Coach Bud Davis and caps off a remarkable season and school Legacy of eight straight state titles, eleven in thirteen seasons.

Tuba City in popular culture

  • Sgt. Jim Chee was the officer in charge of the Tuba City Navajo Police office, in Tony Hillerman's 1993 novel The Dark Wind .

Notable residents

  • Lori Piestewa, a soldier in the US Army, was killed in southern Iraq in 2003.

See also

  • Lot Smith, a Mormon pioneer who helped found Tuba City

References

  1. ^ tuba city is also where Arizona Relocation Guide
  2. ^ Tuba City Mill
  3. ^ a b Amy Maestas, "Tuba City, Arizona" , Inside Outside Southwest , July 2008,
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03 . http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html . Retrieved 2008-01-31 .  
  5. ^ http://www.azgs.state.az.us/services_azgeomapg.shtml
  6. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau . http://factfinder.census.gov . Retrieved 2008-01-31 .  
  7. ^ http://ut.milesplit.us/articles/24444

External links

  • Tuba City travel guide from Wikitravel
  • Arizonan.com profile
  • Tuba City Unified School District - local photos
  • Greyhills Academy - local photos
  • Local news


  • Tuba City, Arizona is at coordinates 36°07′45″N 111°14′19″W  /  36.129044°N 111.238718°W  / 36.129044; -111.238718  ( Tuba City, Arizona ) Coordinates: 36°07′45″N 111°14′19″W  /  36.129044°N 111.238718°W  / 36.129044; -111.238718  (

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