Share |

About Cochise County

Cochise County is a county located in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of Arizona. The population was 117,755 at the 2000 census; it was estimated at 137,000 as per 2010 Census. The county seat is Bisbee. Cochise County is also considered the Sierra Vista-Douglas Metropolitan Area.


Click on the section links below to go directly to that part of the content.




History

Cochise County was created on February 1, 1881, out of the eastern portion of Pima County. It took its name from the legendary Chiricahua Apache war chief Cochise.[3] The county seat was Tombstone until 1929 when it moved to Bisbee. Notable men who once held the position of County Sheriff were Johnny Behan, who served as the first sheriff of the new county, and who was one of the main characters during the events leading to and following the Gunfight at the OK Corral. Later, in 1886, Texas John Slaughter became sheriff. Lawman Jeff Milton and lawman/outlaw Burt Alvord both served as deputies under Slaughter.


A syndicated television series which aired from 1956 to 1958, Sheriff of Cochise starring John Bromfield, was filmed in Bisbee. The Jimmy Stewart movie Broken Arrow and subsequent television show of the same name starring John Lupton, which also aired from 1956 to 1958, took place (but was not filmed) in Cochise County.


J.A. Jance's Joanna Brady mystery series takes place in Cochise County, with Brady being the sheriff. Commissioner Paul Newman lived in Bisbee for 18 years and served as State Representative for three terms and as Cochise County Supervisor for two terms before being elected to the Arizona Corporation Commission.


Back to the top



Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 6,219 square miles (16,107.1 km2), of which 6,169 square miles (15,977.6 km2) is land and 49 square miles (126.9 km2) (0.79%) is water. Cochise County is as big as Rhode Island and Connecticut combined.


As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 117,755 people, 43,893 households, and 30,768 families residing in the county. The population density was 19 people per square mile (7/km²). There were 51,126 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 76.66% White, 4.52% Black or African American, 1.15% Native American, 1.65% Asian, 0.26% Pacific Islander, 12.05% from other races, and 3.72% from two or more races. 30.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25.35% reported speaking Spanish at home, while 1.31% speak German [1].


Back to the top




Demographics

There were 43,893 households out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.10% were married couples living together, 11.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 25.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.07.


In the county the population was spread out with 26.30% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 101.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.20 males.


The median income for a household in the county was $32,105, and the median income for a family was $38,005. Males had a median income of $30,533 versus $22,252 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,988. About 13.50% of families and 17.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.80% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.


Back to the top



Protected Areas


Back to the top



Military Sites


Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochise_County,_Arizona


Back to the top