Pinal County, Arizona

{{short description|County in Arizona, United States}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox U.S. county | county = Pinal County | state = Arizona | seal = Pinal County, Arizona seal.png | seal size = 75px | founded year = 1875 | named for = Pinal Peak | founded date = February 1 | seat wl = Florence | largest city = San Tan Valley | city type = town | area_total_sq_mi = 5374 | area_land_sq_mi = 5366 | area_water_sq_mi = 8.6 | area percentage = 0.2 | population_as_of = 2020 | population_total = 425264 | pop_est_as_of = 2025 | population_est = 539380 {{increase}} | population_density_sq_mi = auto | time zone = Mountain | web = www.pinalcountyaz.gov | ex image = Second Pinal county courthouse.jpg | ex image cap = Second Pinal County Courthouse in Florence | district = 2nd | district2 = 5th | district3 = 6th | district4 = 7th | coordinates = {{coord|32|59|13|N|111|19|38|W|region:US-AZ_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki|display=inline,title}} |logo=Pinal County, AZ logo.svg}}

'''Pinal County''' ({{IPAc-en|p|ɪ|ˈ|n|æ|l}} {{respell|pih|NAL}}) is a county in the central part of the U.S. state of Arizona. According to the 2020 census, the population of the county was 425,264,<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/pinalcountyarizona/PST045221 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=September 27, 2022}}</ref> making it Arizona's third-most populous county. The county seat is Florence. The county was established in 1875.

Pinal County contains parts of the Tohono Oʼodham Nation, the Gila River Indian Community and the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, as well as all of the Ak-Chin Indian Community.

Pinal County is included in the Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler, Arizona Metropolitan Statistical Area. Suburban growth southward from greater Phoenix has begun to spread into the county's northern parts; similarly, growth northward from Tucson is spreading into the county's southern portions. Pinal County has five cities: Maricopa, Casa Grande, Apache Junction, Eloy, and Coolidge. There are also many unincorporated areas, which have shown accelerated growth patterns in recent years.

The Pinal County Sheriff's Office runs a weekly mini series called Fridays with Frank on YouTube and Facebook which features Deputy Sheriff Frank Sloup conducting traffic stops in an entertaining and educational manner.

==History== Pinal County was carved out of neighboring Maricopa County and Pima County on February 1, 1875, during the Eighth Legislature. In the August 18, 1899, issue of ''The Arizona Magazine,'' the name "Pinal" is said to come from the pine-clad Pinal Mountains.<ref>{{cite book |last=Granger |first=Byrd Howell |date=1983 |title=Arizona's Names (X Marks the Place) |location=Tucson, AZ |publisher=The Falconer Publishing Company |page=483 |isbn=0918080185}}</ref> Pinal County was the second-fastest-growing county in the U.S. between 2000 and 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-01.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-01.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=PopulationDistributionandChange:2000to2010|date=March 2011|publisher=UnitedStatesCensusBureau|page=9|access-date=March 26, 2011}}</ref>

In 2010, CNN Money named Pinal County as the second fastest growing county in the USA.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fastest Growing U.S. Counties|url=https://money.cnn.com/galleries/2010/real_estate/1006/gallery.fastest_growing_US_counties/2.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621080459/http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2010/real_estate/1006/gallery.fastest_growing_US_counties/2.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 21, 2010|access-date=March 30, 2014|date=June 21, 2010|agency=CNN Money}}</ref>

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|5374|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|5366|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|8.6|sqmi}} (0.2%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_04.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 23, 2015|date=August 23, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Mountain ranges=== {{See also|List of mountain ranges of Arizona#Pinal County}} * Mineral Mountains * Sacaton Mountains * Superstition Mountains * Waterman Mountains

===Adjacent counties=== * Maricopa County – west, north * Gila County – north * Graham County – east * Pima County – south

===Major highways=== {{div col}} * 20px Interstate 8 * 20px Interstate 10 * 20px U.S. Route 60 * 20px Historic U.S. Route 80 * 20px State Route 24 * 20px State Route 77 * 20px State Route 79 * 20px State Route 84 * 20px State Route 87 * 25px State Route 177 * 25px State Route 187 * 25px State Route 238 * 25px State Route 287 * 25px State Route 347 * 25px State Route 387 * 25px State Route 587 {{div col end}}

===National protected areas=== * Casa Grande Ruins National Monument * Coronado National Forest (part) * Hohokam Pima National Monument * Ironwood Forest National Monument (part) * Sonoran Desert National Monument (part) * Tonto National Forest (part)

==Demographics== {{US Census population |1880= 3044 |1890= 4251 |1900= 7779 |1910= 9045 |1920= 16130 |1930= 22081 |1940= 28841 |1950= 43191 |1960= 62673 |1970= 67916 |1980= 90918 |1990= 116379 |2000= 179727 |2010= 375770 |2020= 425264 |estyear=2025 |estimate=539380 |estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2025">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2025|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 31, 2026}}</ref> {{increase}} |align-fn=center |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 18, 2014}}</ref> 1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=May 18, 2014}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/az190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 18, 2014}}</ref> 1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 18, 2014}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF"/> | align = right }}

===Racial and ethnic composition=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |+'''Pinal County, Arizona – Racial and ethnic composition''' {{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}} !Race / Ethnicity (''NH = Non-Hispanic'') !{{partial|2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Pinal County, Arizona|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US04021&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Pinal County, Arizona|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US04021&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Pinal County, Arizona|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US04021&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !1990<ref>{{cite book |title=Arizona: 1990 |pages=10 |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-4.pdf}}</ref> !1980<ref>{{cite book |title=General Social and Economic Characteristics: Arizona |pages=24 |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_azABC-04.pdf}}</ref> |- |White alone (NH) |style='background: #ffffe6; |56.4% (240,006) |58.7% (220,486) |58.8% (105,641) |59.2% (68,900) |58.3% (53,008) |- |Black alone (NH) |style='background: #ffffe6; |4.9% (20,712) |4.3% (16,007) |2.6% (4,658) |3% (3,469) |3.2% (2,924) |- |American Indian alone (NH) |style='background: #ffffe6; |4% (17,156) |4.6% (17,410) |6.9% (12,419) |8.1% (9,402) |8.7% (7,900) |- |Asian alone (NH) |style='background: #ffffe6; |1.5% (6,290) |1.6% (6,114) |0.6% (1,001) |<td rowspan="2"> |0.4% (439) |<td rowspan="2"> |0.3% (260) |- |Pacific Islander alone (NH) |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.3% (1,081) |0.4% (1,489) |0.1% (111) |- |Other race alone (NH) |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.4% (1,658) |0.1% (487) |0.1% (169) |0.1% (107) |0.2% (149) |- |Multiracial (NH) |style='background: #ffffe6; |4% (16,828) |1.8% (6,800) |1.1% (2,057) |— |— |- |Hispanic/Latino (any race) |style='background: #ffffe6; |28.6% (121,533) |28.5% (106,977) |29.9% (53,671) |29.3% (34,062) |29.3% (26,677) |}

===Population Growth=== Pinal County, Arizona ranks fifth among U.S. counties in percent population growth from July 1, 2023, to July 1, 2024.[20] The county’s estimated population increased from 486,395 in 2023 to 513,862 in 2024, representing a 5.6% growth rate, far above the national average.[20] To understand what is driving this rapid expansion, it is necessary to decompose overall population change into its two main components: natural increase (births minus deaths) and net migration (domestic plus international).

====Natural Increase (births and deaths)==== A key consideration in evaluating natural increase is the county’s mortality pattern over time. In 2019, Pinal County recorded a crude death rate of 732.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, representing a typical pre-pandemic baseline.[19] Mortality then rose sharply during 2020 and 2021, reaching 1,124.0 deaths per 100,000 residents at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.[19] By 2022, mortality had begun to decline, though it remained elevated relative to 2019 levels.[19] It is expected that as more data becomes available, the downward trend in mortality will continue and gradually return to levels similar to those observed before the pandemic.

Birth patterns show a more gradual change. Pinal County’s birth rate increased from 9.9 per 1,000 population in 2019 to 11.3 per 1,000 population in 2022.[19] Although this represents modest growth, the overall number of births only slightly outpaced the number of deaths during this period. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s population estimates confirm this: between April 1, 2020, and July 1, 2024, natural change contributed only 2,011 people to the county’s population growth.[21] This demonstrates that natural increase played a relatively minor role, as 2,011 people make up only a small fraction of the county’s total population increase of 87,855 during this period.[21]

====Migration==== In contrast, migration overwhelmingly drove Pinal County’s expansion. Between April 1, 2020, and July 1, 2024, the county experienced a net migration inflow of 86,082 people.[21] Domestic migration accounted for the vast majority of this increase, with 78,400 domestic in-migrants compared to 7,682 international migrants.[21] Net international migration includes the movement of both U.S.-born and foreign-born persons, movement between the United States and Puerto Rico, and the movement of Armed Forces personnel, however, it still represents only a small portion of total in-migration.[21] The data make clear that domestic migration, not natural increase and not international immigration, is the dominant force behind Pinal County’s rapid growth.

====Age Structure==== The county’s age structure provides further insight into these patterns and reinforces the interpretation that migration is the primary driver of population change. According to ACS estimates, 57.2% of Pinal County’s population in 2023 fell within the working-age range of 18–64, an increase from 56.9% in 2020.[22] Although the percentage change is small, the stability and slight rise of the working-age share is notable, especially in a high-growth area. Fast-growing counties often attract working-age adults and families who relocate from larger metropolitan regions, particularly those with higher housing costs or greater congestion. Pinal County’s age distribution aligns with this typical domestic in-migrant profile.

In addition, the data suggest that the county’s recent growth is not primarily driven by retirees or older adults, who would be reflected in a rising population of residents aged 65 and older. Instead, the presence of a slightly increasing working-age majority indicates that population change is shaped not only by the volume of net migration, but also by the demographic characteristics of those migrants. New arrivals to the county appear to be disproportionately young adults, middle-aged workers, and families.

This working-age dominance has several important implications for Pinal County’s development. A growing labor force can support employment expansion and economic productivity. The influx of families may increase demand for school enrollment, childcare services, and related infrastructure. Higher levels of domestic in-migration can also stimulate the housing market, contributing to rising demand and new residential construction. Over the long term, the county’s age structure will also shape future natural increase through population momentum, as a stable or growing share of adults in their childbearing years may help sustain birth levels even as mortality trends return to pre-pandemic patterns.

===2020 census=== As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 425,264. Of the residents, 23.4% were under the age of 18 and 21.6% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 40.4 years. For every 100 females there were 105.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 105.6 males. 77.0% of residents lived in urban areas and 23.0% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME%2CP2_002N%2CP2_003N&for=county%3A021&in=state%3A04|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=10 December 2025|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME%2CDP1_0021P%2CDP1_0024P%2CDP1_0025C%2CDP1_0049C%2CDP1_0045C%2CDP1_0069C%2CDP1_0073C%2CDP1_0125P%2CDP1_0126P%2CDP1_0129P%2CDP1_0138P%2CDP1_0139P%2CDP1_0141P%2CDP1_0142P%2CDP1_0143P%2CDP1_0145P%2CDP1_0146P%2CDP1_0147C%2CDP1_0148C%2CDP1_0149C%2CDP1_0156C%2CDP1_0157C%2CDP1_0158C%2CDP1_0159P%2CDP1_0160P&for=county%3A021&in=state%3A04|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=10 December 2025|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME%2CP1_001N%2CP1_003N%2CP1_004N%2CP1_005N%2CP1_006N%2CP1_007N%2CP1_008N%2CP1_009N%2CP2_001N%2CP2_002N%2CH1_001N%2CH1_002N&for=county%3A021&in=state%3A04|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=10 December 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>

The racial makeup of the county was 63.3% White, 5.2% Black or African American, 5.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% Asian, 0.3% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 11.8% from some other race, and 12.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 28.6% of the population.<ref name="Census2020PL"/>

There were 146,663 households in the county, of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 172,878 housing units, of which 15.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.6% were owner-occupied and 20.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.7%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

===2010 census=== As of the census of 2010, there were 375,770 people, 125,590 households, and 92,157 families living in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US04021 |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data |access-date=January 20, 2016 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213022208/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US04021 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|70.0|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|inhabitants |inhabitants|}}. There were 159,222 housing units at an average density of {{convert|29.7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US04021 |access-date=January 20, 2016 |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County |publisher=United States Census Bureau |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213183919/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US04021 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 72.4% white, 5.6% American Indian, 4.6% black or African American, 1.7% Asian, 0.4% Pacific islander, 11.5% from other races, and 3.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 28.5% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1" /> In terms of ancestry, 16.9% were German, 10.6% were Irish, 9.5% were English, and 2.8% were American.<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US04021 |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |access-date=January 20, 2016 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213033626/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US04021 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Of the 125,590 households, 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 26.6% were non-families, and 20.5% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.21. The median age was 35.3 years.<ref name="census-dp1" />

The median household income was $51,310 and the median family income was $56,299. Males had a median income of $45,082 versus $34,785 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,716. About 10.1% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.3% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US04021 |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |access-date=January 20, 2016 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213031202/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US04021 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===2000 census=== As of the census of 2000, there were 179,727 people, 61,364 households, and 45,225 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|34|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|inhabitants |inhabitants|}}. There were 81,154 housing units at an average density of {{convert|15|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 70.4% White, 2.8% Black or African American, 7.8% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 15.7% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. 29.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.9% reported speaking Spanish at home, while 1.4% speak O'odham and <0.1% speak Apache.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mla.org/map_data_results%26state_id%3D4%26county_id%3D21%26mode%3Dgeographic%26order%3Dr |title=Language Map Data Center |publisher=Mla.org |date=July 17, 2007 |access-date=August 17, 2012 |archive-date=November 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110043025/http://www.mla.org/map_data_results%26state_id%3D4%26county_id%3D21%26mode%3Dgeographic%26order%3Dr |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Of the 61,364 households 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 21.1% of households were one person and 9.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.09.

The age distribution was 25.1% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 114.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 117.0 males.

The median household income was $35,856 and the median family income was $39,548. Males had a median income of $31,544 versus $23,726 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,025. About 12.1% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty threshold, including 25.5% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Politics== During the 20th century, Pinal was very much a bellwether county in U.S. presidential elections, having supported the winning candidate in every election between Arizona's statehood in 1912 and 2004 except for that of 1968, when Hubert Humphrey won the county by 3.2 percentage points but lost to Richard Nixon. As a result of the urban sprawl from Phoenix spreading into the county, a major political reversal has taken place between it and neighboring Maricopa County since the turn of the millennium. Maricopa County is becoming more progressive while Pinal has trended conservative. In 2024, Donald Trump carried the county by the largest margin since Nixon in 1972, and with the highest vote share for a Republican since statehood. {{PresHead|place=Pinal County, Arizona|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=June 12, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/ContainerHistory.html?ContainerID=199|title=Our Campaigns|access-date=June 22, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://apps.azsos.gov/election/2020/2020_general_state_canvass.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251214224957/https://apps.azsos.gov/election/2020/2020_general_state_canvass.pdf |archive-date=December 14, 2025 |url-status=live|title=Official Canvass of Results|last=Hobbs|first=Katie|author-link=Katie Hobbs|date=November 24, 2020|work=Secretary of State of Arizona|access-date=April 28, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://apps.azsos.gov/election/2024/ge/canvass/20241105_GeneralCanvass_Signed.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251231153438/http://apps.azsos.gov/election/2024/ge/canvass/20241105_GeneralCanvass_Signed.pdf |archive-date=December 31, 2025 |url-status=live|title=2024 General Election Signed Canvass|last=Fontes|first=Adrian|author-link=Adrian Fontes|date=November 22, 2024|work=Secretary of State of Arizona|access-date=March 2, 2026}}</ref>}}  {{PresRow|1912|Democratic|80|352|373|Arizona}} {{PresRow|1916|Democratic|855|1,232|92|Arizona}} {{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,493|1,264|0|Arizona}} {{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,075|988|568|Arizona}} {{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,631|1,419|4|Arizona}} {{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,000|3,137|47|Arizona}} {{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,216|3,498|154|Arizona}} {{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,996|4,411|22|Arizona}} {{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,909|3,026|22|Arizona}} {{PresRow|1948|Democratic|2,232|3,572|83|Arizona}} {{PresRow|1952|Republican|4,985|4,522|0|Arizona}} {{PresRow|1956|Republican|5,762|5,063|17|Arizona}} {{PresRow|1960|Democratic|6,441|7,232|11|Arizona}} {{PresRow|1964|Democratic|6,956|9,911|5|Arizona}} {{PresRow|1968|Democratic|6,883|7,409|1,954|Arizona}} {{PresRow|1972|Republican|10,584|6,404|571|Arizona}} {{PresRow|1976|Democratic|9,354|10,595|655|Arizona}} {{PresRow|1980|Republican|12,195|9,207|1,856|Arizona}} {{PresRow|1984|Republican|16,464|11,923|232|Arizona}} {{PresRow|1988|Republican|14,966|13,850|364|Arizona}} {{PresRow|1992|Democratic|11,669|15,468|9,602|Arizona}} {{PresRow|1996|Democratic|13,034|19,579|4,282|Arizona}} {{PresRow|2000|Republican|20,122|19,650|1,518|Arizona}} {{PresRow|2004|Republican|37,006|27,252|364|Arizona}} {{PresRow|2008|Republican|59,421|44,254|1,723|Arizona}} {{PresRow|2012|Republican|62,079|44,306|2,297|Arizona}} {{PresRow|2016|Republican|72,819|47,892|8,835|Arizona}} {{PresRow|2020|Republican|107,077|75,106|2,854|Arizona}} {{PresRow|2024|Republican|126,926|80,656|1,984|Arizona}} {{PresFoot}}

==Government== Salaries for county elected officials are set by the Arizona Revised Statutes. All county elected officials except the Sheriff (Ross Teeple as of 2025<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sheriff {{!}} Pinal County, AZ |url=https://www.pinal.gov/772/Sheriff }}</ref>) and the County Attorney make a salary of $63,800, along with county benefits and compulsory participation in the Arizona State Elected Official Retirement Plan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.azleg.gov/ArizonaRevisedStatutes.asp?Title=11 |title=Arizona Revised Statutes |publisher=Azleg.gov |access-date=August 17, 2012 |archive-date=September 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912050114/http://www.azleg.gov/ArizonaRevisedStatutes.asp?Title=11 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2020, the Republican Party won complete control of the Board of Supervisors. In 2022, the Arizona Supreme Court deemed their Road Improvement Tax (passed in 2018) as illegal due to the tax only applied to purchases under $10,000. In 2022, the county's elections department came under intense scrutiny following several mistakes in the primary election. At the time, the Elections Department had only two full-time employees. The Board of Supervisors found themselves being accused of not properly funding the Elections Department.

==Economy== {{Expand section|date=October 2010|small=no}} CoreCivic, while still known as Corrections Corporation of America, operated the privately owned Saguaro Correctional Center.<ref name="Brady">Brady, Kat. "[http://www.staradvertiser.com/editorials/20100618_Using_private_prisons_costs_more_than_it_seems.html Using private prisons costs more than it seems]." (editorial) ''Honolulu Star Advertiser''. June 18, 2010. Retrieved on September 29, 2010.</ref> located in Eloy in Pinal County,<ref>"[http://www.correctionscorp.com/facility/saguaro-correctional-center/ Saguaro Correctional Center] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925113700/http://correctionscorp.com/facility/saguaro-correctional-center/ |date=September 25, 2010}}." Corrections Corporation of America. Retrieved on September 30, 2010.</ref> It is paid by the state of Hawaii to house the majority of Hawaii's male prison inmate population.<ref name="Brady"/>{{dead link|date=September 2021}}

===Cities=== * Apache Junction (partially in Maricopa County) * Casa Grande * Coolidge * Eloy * Maricopa

===Towns=== {{div col}} * Florence (county seat) * Hayden (partially in Gila County) * Kearny * Mammoth * Marana (mostly in Pima County) * Queen Creek (mostly in Maricopa County) * San Tan Valley * Superior * Winkelman (partially in Gila County) {{div col end}}

===Census-designated places=== {{div col|colwidth=15em}} * Ak-Chin Village * Arizona City * Blackwater * Cactus Forest * Campo Bonito * Casa Blanca * Chuichu * Dudleyville * Gold Canyon * Goodyear Village * Kohatk * Lower Santan Village * Oracle * Picacho * Queen Valley * Red Rock * Sacate Village * Sacaton * Sacaton Flats Village * Saddlebrooke * San Manuel * Santa Cruz * Stanfield * Stotonic Village * Sweet Water Village * Tat Momoli * Top-of-the-World (partially in Gila County) * Upper Santan Village * Vaiva Vo * Wet Camp Village {{div col end}}

===Other unincorporated communities=== {{div col|colwidth=15em}} * Arizola * Bapchule * Barkerville * Burns * Kelvin * Oracle Junction * Randolph * Ray Junction * Reymert * Riverside * Santan {{div col end}}

===Ghost towns=== {{div col|colwidth=20em}} * Adamsville * Alma * American Flag * Cochran * Copper Creek * Goldfield * Pinal City * Ray * Reymert * Socaton Village * Sonora * Tiger {{div col end}}

===County population ranking=== The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Pinal County.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/pinalcountyarizona/POP060210 |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Pinal County, Arizona}}</ref> '''†''' county seat

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Rank !City/Town/etc. !Population (2020 Census) !Municipal type !Incorporated |- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;" | 1 | '''San Tan Valley''' | 99,894 | CDP | |- style="background-color:#BBFFBB;" | 2 | '''Queen Creek''' (''Mostly in Maricopa County'') | 59,519 | Town | 1990 |- style="background-color:#FFFF54;" | 3 | '''Maricopa''' | 58,125 | City | 2003 |- style="background-color:#FFFF54;" | 4 | '''Casa Grande''' | 53,658 | City | 1879 (founded) |- style="background-color:#BBFFBB;" | 5 | '''Marana''' (''mostly in Pima County'') | 51,908 | Town | 1977 |- style="background-color:#FFFF54;" | 6 | '''Apache Junction''' (''partially in Maricopa County'') | 38,499 | City | 1978 |- style="background-color:#BBFFBB;" | 7 | '''† Florence''' | 26,785 | Town | 1900<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.leagueaz.org/lgd/index.cfm?area=main&cid=25|title=League of Arizona Cities and Towns}}</ref> |- style="background-color:#FFFF54;" | 8 | '''Eloy''' | 15,635 | City | 1949 |- style="background-color:#FFFF54;" | 9 | '''Coolidge''' | 13,218 | City | 1945 |- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;" | 10 | '''Saddlebrooke''' | 12,574 | CDP | |- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;" | 11 | '''Gold Canyon''' | 11,404 | CDP | |- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;" | 12 | '''Arizona City''' | 9,868 | CDP | |- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;" | 13 | '''San Manuel''' | 3,692 | CDP | |- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;" | 14 | '''Oracle''' | 3,656 | CDP | |- style="background-color:#BBFFBB;" | 15 | '''Superior''' | 3,319 | Town | 1976 |- style="background-color:#BBFFBB;" | 16 | '''Kearny''' | 2,261 | Town | 1959 |- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;" | 17 | '''Sacaton''' | 1,824 | CDP | |- style="background-color:#BBFFBB;" | 18 | '''Mammoth''' | 1,759 | Town | 1958 |- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;" | 19 | '''Dudleyville''' | 1,068 | CDP | |- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;" | 20 | '''Casa Blanca''' | 1,004 | CDP | |- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;" | 21 | '''Queen Valley''' | 566 | CDP | |- style="background-color:#DBE9F4;" | 22 | '''Stanfield''' | 515 | CDP | |}

==See also== {{Portal|Arizona}} * National Register of Historic Places listings in Pinal County, Arizona

==References== {{reflist}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=ADHS {{!}} Vital Statistics Trends in Arizona|url=https://pub.azdhs.gov/health-stats/menu/info/trend/index.php?pg=deaths|website=pub.azdhs.gov|access-date=2025-12-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2025/population-estimates-counties-metro-micro.html.|title=Population Estimates for Counties and Metro/Micro Areas: 2025 Release|access-date=2025-12-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|access-date=2025-12-02|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=ACS+Pinal+County+age+distribution|website=data.census.gov|access-date=2025-12-02}}</ref>

==External links== {{commons category|Pinal County, Arizona}} * {{Official website|http://pinalcountyaz.gov}} * [http://www.PinalCountyChamberOfCommerce.com/ Pinal County Chamber] {{OSM relation|1832207}}

{{Geographic Location |Centre = Pinal County, Arizona |North = Maricopa County and Gila County |Northeast = |East = Graham County |Southeast = |South = Pima County |Southwest = |West = Maricopa County |Northwest = }} {{Pinal County, Arizona}} {{Phoenix Metropolitan Area}} {{Arizona}}

Category:Pinal County, Arizona Category:1875 establishments in Arizona Territory Category:Phoenix metropolitan area Category:Counties in the Phoenix metropolitan area Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1875