Marana, Arizona

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Town of Marana, Arizona
View of southern Marana with background mountains. July 2005.
View of southern Marana with background mountains. July 2005.
Location in Pima County and the state of Arizona
Location in Pima County and the state of Arizona
Coordinates: 32°23′12″N 111°7′32″W / 32.38667, -111.12556
Country United States
State Arizona
County Pima
Incorporated 1977
Government
 - Mayor Ed Honea
Area
 - Total 120 sq mi (190.5 km²)
 - Land 119.1 sq mi (188.2 km²)
 - Water 0.9 sq mi (2.3 km²)
Elevation 1,991 ft (607 m)
Population (2008)
 - Total 33,000 (estimated)
 - Density 354.6/sq mi (137.0/km²)
Time zone MST (no DST) (UTC-7)
ZIP code 85653
Area code(s) 520
FIPS code 04-44270
GNIS feature ID 0007681
Website: http://www.marana.com/

Marana is a town in Pima County, Arizona, located northwest of Tucson, with a small portion in Pinal County. According to 2006 estimates, the population of the town is 33,000.[1] Marana was the fourth fastest-growing place among all cities and towns in Arizona of any size from 1990 to 2000.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Marana is located at 32°23′12″N, 111°7′32″W (32.386539, -111.125437)[2].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 120 square miles (190.5 km²), of which, 119.1 square miles (188.2 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it (1.22%) is water.

The town extends along Interstate 10 from the line between Pinal and Pima County to the Tucson city line, excepting the area around the unincorporated community of Rillito. The city has a history of farming and ranching. The Tucson Mountains and the western half of Saguaro National Park are located to the west. Southern Marana has grown considerably since the early 1990's, with the addition of businesses and housing, much of it due to annexation of existing (and previously unincorporated) nearby neighborhoods (somewhat to the dismay of the city of Tucson and competing neighborhood activists, who coveted these areas for themselves.)[3][4]. Phoenix is approximately one hour north via Interstate 10.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 13,556 people, 4,944 households, and 3,826 families residing in the town. The population density was 186.6 people per square mile (72.0/km²). There were 5,702 housing units at an average density of 78.5/sq mi (30.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 81.84% White, 2.89% Black or African American, 2.11% Native American, 2.46% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 7.48% from other races, and 3.07% from two or more races. 19.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,944 households out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.1% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.6% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the town, the population was spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 34.3% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $52,870, and the median income for a family was $56,718. Males had a median income of $43,564 versus $27,663 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,408. About 5.5% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] City facts

  • Marana was named for the Spanish word maraña ('thicket') by 19th century railroad workers who had to clear a line through the area.
  • Pinal Airpark (Evergreen Air), where many commercial airlines send their airplanes for storage, and which was also well known in the 1970s and 1980s as an air base for the CIA is located just north of Marana in Pinal County. The airport was generally accepted as being a U.S. Forest Service air tanker base until a series of forest fires in the mountains surrounding Tucson in the early 1970s. When locals requested that the Forest Service-marked tankers put out the fires, Airpark officials had to admit that the markings were in name only and that the alleged tankers were really paramilitary cargo planes. To this day, access to the Airpark is stringently monitored.
  • Marana Regional Airport was purchased by the town from Pima County in 1999 and is undergoing expansion. It does not serve commercial airlines.

[edit] Education

Marana has a public school system consisting of 16 schools that is coordinated by the Marana Unified School District.

[edit] Radio in Marana

All of these stations are based in Tucson except where noted below.

88.5 KFLT - Gospel/Religious
89.1 KUAZ - Jazz/Talk
90.5 KUAT - Classical
92.1 KFMA - Alternative Rock
92.9 KWMT - Adult Album Alternative
93.7 KRQQ - Mainstream/Top 40
94.9 KMXZ - Soft Adult Contemporary
96.1 KLPX - Classic Rock
97.5 KSZR - Oldies
98.3 KOHT - Rhythmic Top 40 (Serves entire Tucson market, but actual City of license is Marana)
99.5 KIIM - Country
99.9 KESZ - Soft Adult Contemporary (actually a Phoenix, Arizona station but not fringe in Marana)
102.1 KCMT - Regional Spanish
104.1 KQTH - News/Conservative Talk
106.3 KGMG - Rhythmic Oldies
107.5 KHYT - Classic Rock

[edit] External links

[edit] References