Eller College of ManagementArizona's Economy : Economic and Business Research Center
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MARCH 2011: SPRING ISSUE      Issue in PDF Issue in PDFRSS RSSPrint Print     

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EBR's Economic Forecasts

Arizona's Economic Indicators

  • Arizona & Metro Areas

  • Counties

  • Sources & Abbreviations

Important Results for Arizona from the 2010 Census

ArizonaBy Maile L. Nadelhoffer, Valorie Rice, and Marshall Vest

On March 10, 2011, Arizona got its first look at county and city level information from the 2010 Census when redistricting data were released for our state.  Since Arizona gained a house seat as a result of the new Census count, the independent redistricting commission will use these data to decide where the new legislative district will be.  This data release included total population, population over the age of 18, race and Hispanic origin, the number of housing units and occupancy status for all areas down to the block level.  Demographic profiles for counties and places containing more detailed age data will be released in May and more data will be made available this summer. 

  • Most Arizona counties grew by double digit percentages over the decade.  Pinal County grew the most, experiencing a 109% gain between 2000 and 2010.  Greenlee is still the smallest county and was the only one to lose population, decreasing by 1.3% over the ten years.

  • Hispanics now account for 29.6% of Arizona’s population.  That’s up from 25.3% a decade ago.  Hispanics account for 29.6% of residents in Maricopa County, 34.6% in Pima, and 28.5% in Pinal.  The highest and lowest proportions were in Santa Cruz (82.8%) and Apache (5.8%). Read more.

  • The U. S. Census Bureau found 463,536 vacant housing units statewide as of April 2010.  That’s 16.3% of the housing stock.  Highest vacancy rates were found in La Paz County at 42.7%, followed by Navajo 37.4%, Gila 32.7%, and Apache 30.0%.  Pima County recorded the lowest at 11.9%.  Maricopa County was 13.9% and Pinal 21.1%. Read more.

On December 21, 2010, U.S. Census Bureau released the resident population count for the United States as of April 1, 2010, as well as, the state population counts and congressional apportionment numbers based on the just-finished decennial census.

  • The resident population of the United States was 308,745,538, a 9.7% gain over the decade since Census 2000.

  • Arizona had 6,392,017 residents, having gained 1,261,385 residents since the 2000 Census, and is now the 16th most populous state in the nation, a 24.5% gain over the decade. Arizona will add one congressional seat. Arizona was only the 24th most populous state in 2000. Read more.

  • U.S. Census Bureau estimates of Arizona’s population predicted that the Census enumeration would find 6,654,358 residents.  The actual count was 6,392,017, or over a quarter million shy.  The 4.1% miss was the largest “under-count” of any state.  Nearly all the shortfall occurred in Maricopa and Pima counties. Read more.

For additional information, please contact the Economic and Business Research Center.