Snowflake, Arizona
Town
CountryUnited States
StateArizona
CountyNavajo
Governing bodySnowflake Town Council
MayorByron Lewis[1]
Founded1878
FounderErastus Snow and William Jordan Flake
Area total87.54 km²
Area total33.80 sq mi
Area land87.39 km²
Area land33.74 sq mi
Area water0.15 km²
Area water0.06 sq mi
Unit prefImperial
Elevation5,686 ft
Population as of2020
Population total6104
Population density69.85 km²
Population density180.91 sq mi
Time zoneMountain (UTC-7)
Time zone (DST)no DST/PDT (UTC−7)
Coordinates34°31′20″N 110°05′29″W
ZIP codes85937, 85942
Area code928
GNIS ID(s)2413301[2]
Websitesnowflakeaz.gov

Snowflake (Navajo: Tó Diłhił Biih Yílį́) is a town in Navajo County, Arizona, United States. It was founded in 1878 by Erastus Snow and William Jordan Flake, Mormon pioneers.[3] As of the 2020 census, Snowflake had a population of 6,104.[4] Snowflake is 25 miles (40 km) south of Interstate 40 (formerly U.S. Route 66) via Highway 77. The Apache Railway provides freight service.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 30.9 square miles (80 km2), of which 30.8 square miles (80 km2) are land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (0.16%) are water.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Snowflake had a population of 6,104. The median age was 33.9 years. 33.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.3 males age 18 and over.[5][6]

62.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 37.9% lived in rural areas.[7]

There were 1,895 households in Snowflake, of which 42.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 62.0% were married-couple households, 13.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 19.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 17.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[5]

There were 2,132 housing units, of which 11.1% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.8%.[5]

Racial composition as of the 2020 census[6]
RaceNumberPercent
White5,03482.5%
Black or African American210.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native3115.1%
Asian230.4%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander190.3%
Some other race1843.0%
Two or more races5128.4%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)66510.9%

2000 census

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 4,460 people, 1,312 households, and 1,070 families residing in the town. The population density was 144.8 inhabitants per square mile (55.9 /km2). There were 1,536 housing units at an average density of 49.9 inhabitants per square mile (19.3 /km2). The racial makeup of the town was 87.2% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 6.9% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.0% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. 8.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,312 households, out of which 46.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.5% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.4% were non-families. 15.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.37 and the average family size was 3.81.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 37.9% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $37,439, and the median income for a family was $42,500. Males had a median income of $30,517 versus $21,164 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,391. About 10.4% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.7% of those under age 18 and 14.1% of those age 65 or over.

Recently, the town and surrounding area have experienced steady growth, primarily to the east, west and south. An additional 9-holes were added to the 18-hole golf course.

The remoteness of Snowflake and the low level of pollution attracts many individuals suffering from multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome (MCS) to the town.[9] As of July 2016 there were approximately 20 households who report to be suffering from MCS.[10]

Economy

Major industries in Snowflake include pork production, electrical generation, and Cannabis cultivation.[11] Copperstate Farms, a cannabis greenhouse and wholesaler, is the largest employer in the town.[12]

Education

Snowflake is a part of the Snowflake Unified School District, consisting of Highland Primary School, Snowflake Intermediate School, Snowflake Junior High and Snowflake High School. Taylor Elementary School in the neighboring town of Taylor, Arizona, is also part of the Snowflake Unified school District.

Northland Pioneer College's Silver Creek campus extension is located in Snowflake.

Climate

Snowflake experiences a four-season semi-arid climate with a warm (sometimes hot) summer, mild autumn, mild to cold winter and cool, windy spring. Typical high temperatures hover around 90 °F (32 °C) during July and August and 30 (-1 °C) to 49 °F (13 °C) in December/January.

  • Some members of the logging crew involved in the Travis Walton abduction incident live in this town, and several events surrounding that incident happened here. These events were dramatized in the sci-fi film Fire in the Sky (1993).[13][14]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ Taylor, Merri (August 19, 2022). "Snowflake new mayor". White Mountain Independent. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  2. ^
  3. ^ History of Snowflake, AZ
  4. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
  5. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  6. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  7. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  8. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  9. ^ Fred A. Bernstein (July 10, 2005). "In One Arizona Community, an Oasis in a Toxic World". The New York Times
  10. ^ Kathleen Hale & Mae Ryan (July 11, 2016). "Allergic to life: the Arizona residents 'sensitive to the whole world'". The Guardian. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  11. ^ Richards, Brian (2020-12-14). "Town of Snowflake, Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, 2020". Town of Snowflake, AZ. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
  12. ^ Miller, Danielle (2021-03-18). "Copperstate Farms in Snowflake becomes a mecca for marijuana cultivation in Arizona". FOX 10 Phoenix. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
  13. ^ Jerome Clark. The UFO Book: Encyclopedia of the Extraterrestrial. Visible Ink, 1998 ISBN 1-57859-029-9
  14. ^ Travis Walton. "Human?" travis-walton.com
  15. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System – Vote Smart". Justfacts.votesmart.org. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  16. ^ 'Marilyn Jarrett – obituary,' The Arizona Republic, March 16, 2006
  17. ^ Aleshire, Peter (December 6, 2022). "Cook, newly elected Rep. Marshall picked for key committee assignments". White Mountain Independent. Retrieved May 2, 2023. and Snowflake minster David Marshall
  18. ^ "archives.nypl.org – Buzz Miller papers". Archives and Manuscripts. New York Public Library. Retrieved December 2, 2017.