Gila River Indian Community
Encyclopedia
The Gila River Indian Community is an Indian reservation
in the U.S. state
of Arizona
, lying adjacent to the south side of the city of Phoenix
, within the Phoenix Metropolitan Area
in Pinal
and Maricopa
Counties. It was established in 1859, and formally established by Congress in 1939. The Community is home for members of both the Akimel O’odham (Pima)
and the Pee-Posh (Maricopa) tribes.
The reservation has a land area of 583.749 sq mi (1,511.902 km²) and a 2000 Census population of 11,257. It is made up of seven districts along the Gila River
and its largest communities are Sacaton
, Komatke
, Santan
, and Blackwater
. Tribal administrative offices and departments are located in Sacaton. The Community operates its own telecom company, electric utility, industrial park and healthcare clinic, and publishes a monthly newspaper. The Gila River Indian Community Governor is William R. Rhodes (2007).
, depicted in the photograph Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima
in 1945.
Jay Morago
, who served as the first Governor
of the Gila River Indian Community from 1954 until 1960, and helped to draft the reservation's 1960 constitution
, died on May 14, 2008.
Indian reservation
An American Indian reservation is an area of land managed by a Native American tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
, lying adjacent to the south side of the city of Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, within the Phoenix Metropolitan Area
Phoenix Metropolitan Area
The Phoenix metropolitan area, often referred to as The Valley of the Sun, is a metropolitan area, centered on the city of Phoenix, that includes much of the central part of the US state of Arizona...
in Pinal
Pinal County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*72.4% White*4.6% Black*5.6% Native American*1.7% Asian*0.4% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.8% Two or more races*11.5% Other races*28.5% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
and Maricopa
Maricopa County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*73.0% White*5.0% Black*2.1% Native American*3.5% Asian*0.2% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.5% Two or more races*12.7% Other races*29.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
Counties. It was established in 1859, and formally established by Congress in 1939. The Community is home for members of both the Akimel O’odham (Pima)
Pima
The Pima are a group of American Indians living in an area consisting of what is now central and southern Arizona. The long name, "Akimel O'odham", means "river people". They are closely related to the Tohono O'odham and the Hia C-ed O'odham...
and the Pee-Posh (Maricopa) tribes.
The reservation has a land area of 583.749 sq mi (1,511.902 km²) and a 2000 Census population of 11,257. It is made up of seven districts along the Gila River
Gila River
The Gila River is a tributary of the Colorado River, 650 miles long, in the southwestern states of New Mexico and Arizona.-Description:...
and its largest communities are Sacaton
Sacaton, Arizona
Sacaton is a census-designated place in Pinal County, Arizona, United States. The population was 1,584 at the 2000 census...
, Komatke
Komatke, Arizona
Komatke is an census-designated place in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. The area currently comprising the CDP had a population of 1,174 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, Santan
Santan, Arizona
Santan is a census designated place in Pinal County, Arizona, United States. The name comes from the San Tan Mountains Regional Park that is the main landmark...
, and Blackwater
Blackwater, Arizona
Blackwater is a census-designated place in Pinal County, Arizona, United States. It is part of the Gila River Indian Community. The population was 1,062 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Blackwater is located at ....
. Tribal administrative offices and departments are located in Sacaton. The Community operates its own telecom company, electric utility, industrial park and healthcare clinic, and publishes a monthly newspaper. The Gila River Indian Community Governor is William R. Rhodes (2007).
Attractions
The Gila River Indian Community, with over four million potential customers in the Phoenix metro area, owns and/or operates three casinos, a resort hotel, a spa, an equestrian center, two golf courses, an arts & crafts center, two tribal museums, an NHRA certified race track, a race-car driving school, and a racing-boat course.Currently inhabited communities
- BapchuleBapchule, ArizonaBapchule is an unincorporated community in northern Pinal County, Arizona, United States. It lies in the Gila River Indian Community south of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. Its elevation is , and it is located at . Although Bapchule is unincorporated, it has a post office with the ZIP code of...
(Pihpchul) - BlackwaterBlackwater, ArizonaBlackwater is a census-designated place in Pinal County, Arizona, United States. It is part of the Gila River Indian Community. The population was 1,062 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Blackwater is located at ....
(Chukma Shuhthagi) - Casa BlancaCasa Blanca, ArizonaCasa Blanca is a census-designated place in Pinal County, Arizona, United States, located in the Gila River Indian Community. The population was 1,388 at the 2010 census.- Demographics :...
- Co-op Village (Chichino)
- Gila CrossingGila Crossing, ArizonaGila Crossing is a census-designated place in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, located in the Gila River Indian Community. The population was 621 at the 2010 census.- Demographics :...
(Kuiva) - GoodyearGoodyear Village, ArizonaGoodyear Village is a census-designated place in Pinal County, Arizona, United States, located in the Gila River Indian Community. The population was 457 at the 2010 census.- Demographics :...
(Valin Thak) - KomatkeKomatke, ArizonaKomatke is an census-designated place in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. The area currently comprising the CDP had a population of 1,174 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
(Komadk) - Maricopa ColonyMaricopa Colony, ArizonaMaricopa Colony is a census-designated place in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, located in the Gila River Indian Community. The population was 709 at the 2010 census.- Demographics :...
- Sacate Village
- SacatonSacaton, ArizonaSacaton is a census-designated place in Pinal County, Arizona, United States. The population was 1,584 at the 2000 census...
(Ge'e Kih) - Sacaton FlatsSacaton Flats Village, ArizonaSacaton Flats Village is a census-designated place in Pinal County, Arizona, United States, located in the Gila River Indian Community. The population was 621 at the 2010 census.- Demographics :...
(Hahshani Kehk) - Santa CruzSanta Cruz, ArizonaSanta Cruz is a census-designated place in Pinal County, Arizona, United States, located in the Gila River Indian Community. The population was 37 at the 2010 census.- Demographics :...
(Hia-t-ab) - SantanSantan, ArizonaSantan is a census designated place in Pinal County, Arizona, United States. The name comes from the San Tan Mountains Regional Park that is the main landmark...
/Santa Ana (Santan) - StotonicStotonic Village, ArizonaStotonic is a census-designated place in Pinal County, Arizona, United States, located in the Gila River Indian Community. The population was 659 at the 2010 census.- Demographics :...
(S-totonigk) - SweetwaterSweet Water Village, ArizonaSweet Water Village is a census-designated place in Pinal County, Arizona, United States, located in the Gila River Indian Community. The population was 83 at the 2010 census.- Demographics :...
(S-iʼovi Shuhthagi) - Vahki (Va'akih)
Famous people
The reservation was the birthplace of and the home of the time of death of Ira HayesIra Hayes
Ira Hamilton Hayes was a Pima Native American and an American Marine who was one of the six men immortalized in the iconic photograph of the flag raising on Iwo Jima during World War II. Hayes was an enrolled member of the Gila River Indian Community in Sacaton, Arizona, and enlisted in the Marine...
, depicted in the photograph Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima
Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima
Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima is a historic photograph taken on February 23, 1945, by Joe Rosenthal. It depicts five United States Marines and a U.S. Navy corpsman raising the flag of the United States atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.The photograph was extremely...
in 1945.
Jay Morago
Jay Morago
Jay R. Morago Jr. was an American Native American activist who served as the first Governor of the Gila River Indian Community and helped to draft the reservation's first constitution in 1960. Morago served as the Governor of the Gila River Indian Community from 1954 until 1960.Jay Morago was born...
, who served as the first Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the Gila River Indian Community from 1954 until 1960, and helped to draft the reservation's 1960 constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
, died on May 14, 2008.
See also
- Gila River Indian Community Emergency Medical ServicesGila River Indian Community Emergency Medical ServicesThe Gila River Indian Community Emergency Medical Services provides paramedic, ambulance and rescue services for the Gila River Indian Community...