Cochise County is located in southeastern Arizona, United States and is part of the Tucson Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county seat is Bisbee, and the county has a population of 128,462 as of the 2019 census. The county covers an area of 6,219 square miles and is bordered by Santa Cruz County to the west, Graham County to the north, Pima County to the east, and Mexico to the south. See top counties in Arizona.
The county was named after Native American leader Cochise who led a group known as Chiricahua Apache. The county was formed in 1881 from parts of Pima and Santa Cruz counties. The economy of Cochise County is mainly based on agriculture, tourism, mining, and ranching. The major industries are cattle ranching and farming; copper mining; tourism; government services; manufacturing; retail trade; transportation services; utilities; educational services; healthcare & social assistance; finance & insurance services; professional & technical services.
The climate in Cochise County is dry with hot summers and mild winters. Average temperatures range from 28°F in January to 95°F in July with an average annual temperature of 63°F. Average annual precipitation ranges from 11 inches in Willcox to 22 inches near Portal on the New Mexico border.
Cochise County has several attractions for visitors such as Coronado National Memorial which commemorates Spanish explorer Francisco Vázquez de Coronado’s expedition into Arizona in 1540 as well as Chiricahua National Monument which protects 12000 acres of incredible rock formations created by volcanic activity millions of years ago. Other attractions include Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum which tells stories about Bisbee’s rich history including its past life as a copper mining town during World War I and II, Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park which offers a glimpse into life during Tombstone’s heyday during 1880s silver boom days when it was known as “The Town Too Tough To Die”, and Kartchner Caverns State Park which features two living caverns filled with spectacular formations of stalactites, stalagmites and other geological wonders created over millions of years underground
Cochise County also offers plenty of outdoor recreational activities for visitors such as fishing at various lakes around Willcox Playa or hiking trails near Chiricahua Mountains or San Pedro River Valley or camping at Kartchner Caverns State Park or hunting for deer or antelope on public hunting lands throughout the county.
Cochise County offers many attractions for visitors along with plenty of outdoor recreational activities making it an ideal destination for anyone looking for an outdoor adventure in Arizona.
History of Cochise County, Arizona
Cochise County, Arizona is a sprawling region located in the southeastern corner of the state. Named after the legendary Apache chief, Cochise, the county was created in 1881 and is now home to more than 130,000 residents. The county seat is Bisbee and its largest city is Sierra Vista.
Cochise County has a rich and storied history that dates back centuries. The area was first inhabited by Native American tribes such as the Chiricahua Apache, who lived in the area for centuries before contact with Europeans occurred. In 1540, Spanish explorer Francisco Vázquez de Coronado became the first European to visit what is now Cochise County when he led an expedition into Arizona in search of gold and riches. Eventually, white settlers began to move into the area during the mid-1800s and began establishing small towns such as Tombstone and Bisbee which became important mining centers during the silver boom of 1880s.
In 1885, Cochise County was officially established by an act of Congress with Bisbee becoming its county seat two years later. During this time, Tombstone had become known as “The Town Too Tough To Die” due to its reputation for lawlessness and violence while Bisbee had become one of Arizona’s most prosperous cities due to copper mining operations in town.
Throughout much of its history, mining has been a major industry in Cochise County with copper being one of its main exports until recently when it shifted focus towards tourism and other services such as government services; manufacturing; retail trade; transportation services; utilities; educational services; healthcare & social assistance; finance & insurance services; professional & technical services.
Today, Cochise County offers plenty of attractions for visitors including Coronado National Memorial which commemorates Spanish explorer Francisco Vazquez de Coronado’s expedition into Arizona in 1540 as well as Chiricahua National Monument which protects 12000 acres of incredible rock formations created by volcanic activity millions of years ago or Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum which tells stories about Bisbee’s rich history including its past life as a copper mining town during World War I and II or Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park which offers a glimpse into life during Tombstone’s heyday during 1880s silver boom days when it was known as “The Town Too Tough To Die” or Kartchner Caverns State Park which features two living caverns filled with spectacular formations of stalactites, stalagmites and other geological wonders created over millions of years underground. Additionally, there are plenty of outdoor recreational activities for visitors such as fishing at various lakes around Willcox Playa or hiking trails near Chiricahua Mountains or San Pedro River Valley or camping at Kartchner Caverns State Park or hunting for deer or antelope on public hunting lands throughout the county making it an ideal destination for anyone looking for an outdoor adventure in Arizona.
Major cities and towns in Cochise County, Arizona
Cochise County in Arizona is home to a diverse range of cities and towns, each with their own unique character. Bisbee is the county seat and is located in the southeastern corner of the state. It’s known for its copper mining operations and its vibrant art scene. Tombstone, at the western edge of Cochise County, was once a silver mining boomtown but is now better known for its Wild West history. Benson, located along Interstate 10 between Tucson and Tombstone, is renowned for its historic railroad route. Willcox is the largest town in Cochise County and has become an agricultural hub due to its rich soil. Douglas, situated on the US-Mexico border, has a long history as an important trade center between Mexico and the US.
The charming town of Sierra Vista lies just south of Fort Huachuca in Cochise County. It’s renowned for its abundant outdoor activities such as hiking trails along the San Pedro River Valley or camping at Kartchner Caverns State Park or hunting on public hunting lands throughout the county. Huachuca City is located east of Sierra Vista and offers visitors plenty of historical attractions including Fort Huachuca Museum which tells stories about life on military base during World War I & II or Coronado National Memorial which commemorates Spanish explorer Francisco Vazquez de Coronado’s expedition into Arizona in 1540 or Chiricahua National Monument which protects 12000 acres of incredible rock formations created by volcanic activity millions of years ago.
Pearce-Sunsites is a small unincorporated community located north of Tombstone that features numerous historic sites including Dragoon National Monument which celebrates early settlers who lived in this area during late 1800s or Apache Pass Battlefield site where Civil War battle between Union troops and Apache Indians occurred in 1862 or Empire Ranch Headquarters which tells stories about early cattle ranching days during late 1800s when this area was part of large cattle empire owned by two prominent ranchers John Huppenthal & Henry Hooker.
Finally, Palominas lies at northern border with New Mexico and features the Palominas Trails system which offers hikers plenty of opportunities to explore canyons filled with lush vegetation & wildlife while Mountain View Estates provides amazing views over nearby mountains from custom-built homes perched on hillsides overlooking surrounding landscape making it an ideal location for anyone looking for a peaceful getaway surrounded by nature.
Population in Cochise County, Arizona
According to Iamaccepted, Cochise County is located in the southeastern corner of Arizona and is home to a population of approximately 131,346 people. The county seat is Bisbee, which is known for its historic copper mining industry and unique architecture. The largest city in the county is Sierra Vista, with a population of 43,888. The other main cities are Douglas, Huachuca City, Willcox, Benson and Tombstone.
The population of Cochise County has been steadily increasing over the past few decades due to its proximity to Mexico and its diverse landscape that includes mountains, deserts and grasslands. As of 2020, the racial makeup of the county was 83% White (non-Hispanic), 7% Black or African American (non-Hispanic), 1% Native American or Alaska Native (non-Hispanic), 5% Asian (non-Hispanic) and 3% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos make up 17% of the population.
The median household income in Cochise County was $45,852 in 2019 with 13% living below the poverty line. The median age was 40 years old with a gender breakdown of 51% female and 49% male residents.
The labor force in Cochise County consists mainly of retail trade (15%), health care & social assistance (14%), construction (12%) and educational services (10%). The unemployment rate was 8.2 % as of August 2020 with job growth projected at 2%.
Cochise County also boasts a strong agricultural economy due to its rich soil and temperate climate which makes it ideal for growing crops such as cotton, alfalfa hay, wheat and corn as well as raising cattle and sheep for meat production. Tourism also plays an important role in the local economy with attractions such as Kartchner Caverns State Park, Coronado National Memorial and Chiricahua National Monument drawing visitors from around the world each year.
In conclusion, Cochise County is an area that offers a variety of economic opportunities for those looking to relocate or start a business while enjoying all that nature has to offer including majestic mountain ranges & stunning desert landscapes.