Clarkdale, Arizona
Encyclopedia
Clarkdale is a town in Yavapai County
, Arizona
, United States
. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town is 3,836.
Clarkdale, formerly a mining town, is now largely a retirement community with an eye for the arts.
, a large Sinagua
pueblo
ruin, is located between Clarkdale and Cottonwood, Arizona
, on land donated to the National Park Service
by Phelps Dodge
in 1938.
Clarkdale was founded in 1912 as a company smelter town by William A. Clark, for his United Verde copper mine in nearby Jerome, Arizona
. Clarkdale was built to be one of the most modern mining towns in the world, including telephone, telegraph, electrical, sewer and spring water services, and was an early example of a planned community
. The Clark Mansion, a Clarkdale landmark since the United Verde Copper Company heir William Clark III, grandson of Clarkdale's founder William Andrews Clark, built it in the late 1920s, east of town across the Verde River near Pecks Lake. It was destroyed by a suspicious fire June 25, 2010 after setting vacant for years still owned by the Phelps Dodge Corporation.
The town center and business district were built in Spanish Colonial style
, and feature the Clark Memorial Clubhouse and Memorial Library, both still in use. The Clubhouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. The entire original town site is also on the National Register as the Clarkdale Historic District.
The mine and smelter closed in 1953, and Clarkdale entered hard times. Clarkdale was bought and sold by several different companies. In 1957, Clarkdale was incorporated as a town. The 1959 construction of the Phoenix Cement plant restored a modest prosperity to Clarkdale.
Clarkdale was a segregated
town for much of its early history. Mexican and Mexican-American laborers were restricted to living in Patio Town (see neighborhoods), with a separate swimming pool and park; the town swimming pool was marked "whites only." Additionally, Upper Clarkdale was designated for engineers and executives, while Lower Clarkdale was for the "working class."
A portion of the Yavapai-Apache Nation
is within Clarkdale's boundaries.
for the construction of Glen Canyon Dam
and is owned by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
. Clarkdale is home to the Verde Canyon Railroad, a scenic excursion train that follows part of the route of the Verde Valley Railroad, constructed in 1911-1912 to serve Senator Clark's United Verde Copper Company to Drake
and Perkinsville
, now ghost towns. Yavapai College
also has a campus in Clarkdale.
Several motion pictures have been shot in Clarkdale, including Desert Fury
, Midnight Run
, Universal Soldier
, Benefit of the Doubt and Brothel
.
. The public school has enrollment from kindergarten to eighth grade.
Mingus Union High School
in Cottonwood
encompasses Clarkdale for high school students. There are also charter schools in Cottonwood.
Historically, Clarkdale had an elementary school, located in Lower Clarkdale, a junior high school, located at the top of Miller's Hill in Upper Clarkdale, and a high school, next to the junior high school. Clarkdale High School combined with Mingus High School in Jerome in 1960 to form Mingus Union High School, then located in Jerome. The combined high school adopted the name of the Jerome school and the colors of the Clarkdale school. The school then moved to Cottonwood in 1972. In 1985, the junior high school burned down, and a new elementary school was built, becoming the K-8 school at 16th and Main Streets in Upper Clarkdale.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 7.5 square miles (19.4 km²), of which, 7.3 square miles (18.9 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (2.01%) is water.
Sycamore Canyon Wilderness is located a few miles north of Clarkdale.
of 2000, there were 3,422 people, 1,433 households, and 994 families residing in the town. The population density
was 466.9 people per square mile (180.3/km²). There were 1,546 housing units at an average density of 210.9 per square mile (81.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 84.51% White
, 0.29% Black
or African American
, 6.81% Native American
, 0.35% Asian
, 0.06% Pacific Islander
, 5.41% from other races
, and 2.57% from two or more races. 11.81% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 1,433 households out of which 22.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples
living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 20.4% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 25.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,911, and the median income for a family was $41,250. Males had a median income of $28,824 versus $21,811 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $18,441. About 7.4% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
Yavapai County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*89.3% White*0.6% Black*1.7% Native American*0.8% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.5% Two or more races*5.0% Other races*13.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town is 3,836.
Clarkdale, formerly a mining town, is now largely a retirement community with an eye for the arts.
History
Tuzigoot National MonumentTuzigoot National Monument
Tuzigoot National Monument preserves a 2 to 3 story pueblo ruin on the summit of a limestone and sandstone ridge just east of Clarkdale, Arizona, 120 feet above the Verde River floodplain. The pueblo has 110 rooms...
, a large Sinagua
Sinagua
The Sinagua were a pre-Columbian cultural group occupying an area in central Arizona between the Little Colorado River and the Salt River including the Verde Valley and significant portions of the Mogollon Rim country between approximately 500 AD and 1425 AD.Early Sinagua sites consist of pit houses...
pueblo
Pueblo
Pueblo is a term used to describe modern communities of Native Americans in the Southwestern United States of America. The first Spanish explorers of the Southwest used this term to describe the communities housed in apartment-like structures built of stone, adobe mud, and other local material...
ruin, is located between Clarkdale and Cottonwood, Arizona
Cottonwood, Arizona
Cottonwood is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 11,171.-Geography:Cottonwood is located at ....
, on land donated to the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
by Phelps Dodge
Phelps Dodge
Phelps Dodge Corporation was an American mining company founded in 1834 by Anson Greene Phelps and William Earle Dodge, Sr.. On March 19, 2007, it was acquired by Freeport-McMoRan and now operates under the name Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.-History:...
in 1938.
Clarkdale was founded in 1912 as a company smelter town by William A. Clark, for his United Verde copper mine in nearby Jerome, Arizona
Jerome, Arizona
Jerome is a town in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town is 353.-History:...
. Clarkdale was built to be one of the most modern mining towns in the world, including telephone, telegraph, electrical, sewer and spring water services, and was an early example of a planned community
Planned community
A planned community, or planned city, is any community that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are less frequent in planned communities since...
. The Clark Mansion, a Clarkdale landmark since the United Verde Copper Company heir William Clark III, grandson of Clarkdale's founder William Andrews Clark, built it in the late 1920s, east of town across the Verde River near Pecks Lake. It was destroyed by a suspicious fire June 25, 2010 after setting vacant for years still owned by the Phelps Dodge Corporation.
The town center and business district were built in Spanish Colonial style
Spanish Colonial Revival Style architecture
The Spanish Colonial Revival Style was a United States architectural stylistic movement that came about in the early 20th century, starting in California and Florida as a regional expression related to history, environment, and nostalgia...
, and feature the Clark Memorial Clubhouse and Memorial Library, both still in use. The Clubhouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The entire original town site is also on the National Register as the Clarkdale Historic District.
The mine and smelter closed in 1953, and Clarkdale entered hard times. Clarkdale was bought and sold by several different companies. In 1957, Clarkdale was incorporated as a town. The 1959 construction of the Phoenix Cement plant restored a modest prosperity to Clarkdale.
Clarkdale was a segregated
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
town for much of its early history. Mexican and Mexican-American laborers were restricted to living in Patio Town (see neighborhoods), with a separate swimming pool and park; the town swimming pool was marked "whites only." Additionally, Upper Clarkdale was designated for engineers and executives, while Lower Clarkdale was for the "working class."
A portion of the Yavapai-Apache Nation
Yavapai-Apache Nation
The Yavapai-Apache Nation is a Native American tribe in the Verde Valley, Arizona. Tribal members share two culturally distinct backgrounds and speak two indigenous languages, the Yavapai language and the Western Apache language...
is within Clarkdale's boundaries.
Commerce
The Phoenix Cement plant is Clarkdale's only major industry. The cement plant was built in 1959 to supply Portland cementPortland cement
Portland cement is the most common type of cement in general use around the world because it is a basic ingredient of concrete, mortar, stucco and most non-specialty grout...
for the construction of Glen Canyon Dam
Glen Canyon Dam
Glen Canyon Dam is a concrete arch dam on the Colorado River in northern Arizona in the United States, just north of Page. The dam was built to provide hydroelectricity and flow regulation from the upper Colorado River Basin to the lower. Its reservoir is called Lake Powell, and is the second...
and is owned by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
The Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community comprises two distinct Native American tribes—the Pima and the Maricopa —many of whom were originally of the Halchidhoma tribe. The community was officially created by an Executive Order of US President Rutherford B. Hayes on June 14, 1879...
. Clarkdale is home to the Verde Canyon Railroad, a scenic excursion train that follows part of the route of the Verde Valley Railroad, constructed in 1911-1912 to serve Senator Clark's United Verde Copper Company to Drake
Drake, Arizona
Drake is an unincorporated community in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States, and a station on the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway. Drake is also the junction and western terminus of the Verde Canyon Railroad...
and Perkinsville
Perkinsville, Arizona
Perkinsville, Arizona is a community in Yavapai County, Arizona. It is a hamlet about half a mile from the Perkinsville Bridge over the Verde River....
, now ghost towns. Yavapai College
Yavapai College
Yavapai College is a community college located in Yavapai County, Arizona. The main Campus is in Prescott, with locations in Clarkdale, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, and Sedona.-History:...
also has a campus in Clarkdale.
Several motion pictures have been shot in Clarkdale, including Desert Fury
Desert Fury
Desert Fury is a 1947 Paramount Pictures color film noir drama film starring Lizabeth Scott, John Hodiak and Burt Lancaster, with Mary Astor and Wendell Corey....
, Midnight Run
Midnight Run
Midnight Run is a 1988 American action comedy film starring Robert De Niro as a bounty hunter and Charles Grodin as his prisoner....
, Universal Soldier
Universal Soldier (1992 film)
Universal Soldier is a 1992 American science fiction action film directed by Roland Emmerich and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren as soldiers who kill each other in Vietnam but are reanimated in a secret Army project along with a large group of other previously dead...
, Benefit of the Doubt and Brothel
Brothel (film)
Brothel is a 2008 film written and directed by Amy Waddell. The film stars Serena Scott Thomas, Brett Cullen, Timothy V. Murphy, and Bruce Payne. The movie was filmed in Jerome and Clarkdale, Arizona.-Plot:...
.
Arts
Clarkdale hosts an annual invitational craft fair each December, Made in Clarkdale, held in the historic Clark Memorial Clubhouse. The Verde Valley Theatre performs community theatre in Clark Memorial Clubhouse, and free concerts are offered in the nearly two-acre Clarkdale Park from May through October.Neighborhoods
Clarkdale's neighborhoods are not strictly defined, but include:- Upper Clarkdale, the oldest part of the historic section of town, from 9th Street/Miller's Hill west to 16th Street.
- Lower Clarkdale, east of 9th Street/Miller's Hill, along Main Street to 4th Street and the railroad tracks.
- Riverfront, between 4th Street/railroad and the Verde River (sometimes included in Lower Clarkdale).
- Patio Town, across Bitter Creek between the train depot area and the river.
- Centerville, the oldest development not in the historic site, along Avenida Centerville off of Arizona State Route 89A. Said to be named for its location at the geographical center of Arizona.
- Foothills Terrace, a development west of Arizona State Route 89A along Lisa Street and Lanny Lane.
- Black Hills, north of Black Hills Drive and west of Old Jerome Highway. Site of Yavapai CollegeYavapai CollegeYavapai College is a community college located in Yavapai County, Arizona. The main Campus is in Prescott, with locations in Clarkdale, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, and Sedona.-History:...
's Clarkdale campus. - Bent River, east of Broadway (Historic US Route 89A) along Bent River Road and Old Clarkdale Highway.
- Verde Palisades, west of Broadway along Palisade Drive.
- Giant's Grave, on a bluff north of Arizona State Route 89A along Panorama Way.
- Newer developments, including Lampliter Village, Pine Shadows, Mingus Shadows, Mingus View Estates and Mountain Gate.
- Individual homes in unsubdivided areas, including Haskell Springs, Hawk Hollow Way and Mescal Wash/Tavasci Road.
Education
Clarkdale is the home of Clarkdale-Jerome School District, a one-school district that encompasses both Clarkdale and JeromeJerome, Arizona
Jerome is a town in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town is 353.-History:...
. The public school has enrollment from kindergarten to eighth grade.
Mingus Union High School
Mingus Union High School
Mingus Union High School is a high school in Cottonwood, Arizona. It also is the only school in the Mingus Union High School District.-History:...
in Cottonwood
Cottonwood, Arizona
Cottonwood is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 11,171.-Geography:Cottonwood is located at ....
encompasses Clarkdale for high school students. There are also charter schools in Cottonwood.
Historically, Clarkdale had an elementary school, located in Lower Clarkdale, a junior high school, located at the top of Miller's Hill in Upper Clarkdale, and a high school, next to the junior high school. Clarkdale High School combined with Mingus High School in Jerome in 1960 to form Mingus Union High School, then located in Jerome. The combined high school adopted the name of the Jerome school and the colors of the Clarkdale school. The school then moved to Cottonwood in 1972. In 1985, the junior high school burned down, and a new elementary school was built, becoming the K-8 school at 16th and Main Streets in Upper Clarkdale.
Geography
Clarkdale is located at 34°45′40"N 112°3′17"W (34.761214, -112.054835).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 7.5 square miles (19.4 km²), of which, 7.3 square miles (18.9 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (2.01%) is water.
Sycamore Canyon Wilderness is located a few miles north of Clarkdale.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,422 people, 1,433 households, and 994 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 466.9 people per square mile (180.3/km²). There were 1,546 housing units at an average density of 210.9 per square mile (81.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 84.51% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.29% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 6.81% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.35% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.06% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 5.41% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.57% from two or more races. 11.81% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 1,433 households out of which 22.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 20.4% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 25.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,911, and the median income for a family was $41,250. Males had a median income of $28,824 versus $21,811 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $18,441. About 7.4% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- Official Clarkdale website
- Clarkdale's history
- Clarkdale photo gallery
- Clarkdale community profile, from Arizona Department of Commerce