Tuba City, Arizona

 

The Tuba City area was the territory of indigenous peoples for thousands of years. The community was first documented by Spanish explorers: Father Francisco Garcés visited the area in 1776, and recorded that the Hopi Indians were cultivating crops.^[5]

European-American migrants came as part of the Mormon movement to the West in the late 19th century. They named the town after Tuuvi, a Hopi man who converted to Mormonism circa 1870. He had invited the Mormons to settle near his village of Moenkopi without requiring them to gain individual permission. The Tuba City Trading Post was established in 1870, dealing with the Navajo and Paiute who came to the area for the natural springs, as well as the Hopi already in the area. European-American Mormon emigrants claimed to found Tuba City in 1872.

In 1956, uranium began to be mined near Tuba City. The regional office for the Rare Metals Corporation was established here, which founded a mill for processing.^[6] The Atomic Energy Commission had an office here as well.^[7] The mill closed in 1966. Reclamation of the millsite and tailings pile was completed in 1990 because the tailings had high radioactive content and were environmentally hazardous waste products that had to be cleared.^[8]

The Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation hospital is located in Tuba City. It is a non-profit, Native American-run health care corporation that employs 1,200 people. The next nearest hospital is in Flagstaff.^[9]

 

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 8.9 square miles (23 km²), all land.^[10]

Geologically, Tuba City is sited about the Glen Canyon Group from the early Jurassic (about 180–210 Ma) and on modern superficial Quaternary deposits.^[11]

It is located within the Painted Desert near the western edge of the Navajo Nation. The town is served by U.S. Route 160, near the junction with Arizona State Route 264. Tuba City is located approximately 50 miles (80 km) from the eastern entrance to Grand Canyon National Park and approximately 78 miles (126 km) from Flagstaff.

Arizona does not observe Daylight Saving Time, but the Navajo Nation does within its boundaries. In practice elements of Tuba City vary in practices: tribal offices and schools observe DST, while most private businesses conform to state practice and do not.

Tuba City is located in the rain shadow of the Mogollon Rim, which keeps out moisture from the Gulf of California. It has a cold desert climate (Köppen BWk) with hot, dry summers – though less hot than Phoenix – and cold, dry winters. Frosts are normal from October to April. The majority of winters do not have measurable snowfall due to the dryness of the air descending from mountains to the south.

As of the 2020 census there were 8,072 people, 2,550 housing units, and 2,428 families in the CDP. The population density was 899.5 inhabitants per square mile. The racial makeup of the CDP was 5.0% White (223 people), 1.2% African American (28), 91.8% Native American (7,488), 0.0% Asian (118), 0.2% Pacific Islander (6), and 0.7% from two or more races (176). Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.6% (147).^[17][18]

The median age was 34.5 years old. 10.9% of the population were 65 or older, with 7.2% between the ages of 65 to 74, 3.2% between the ages of 75 to 84, and 0.6% were 85 or older. 1.5% of the population were foreign born. 26.7% of the population were under 18, and 6.6% were under 5. The gender makeup was 54.1% female and 45.9% male.^[17][18]

The median household income was $57,045, with families having $58,750, married couples had $86,979, and non-families had $41,875. 23.1% of the population were in poverty. The per capita income was $20,287.^[18][17]

As of the census^[19] of 2015, there were 9,722 people, 2,360 households, and 1,675 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 921.6 inhabitants per square mile (355.8/km²). There were 2,465 housing units at an average density of 274.0 per square mile (105.8/km²). The racial make-up of the CDP was 76.2% Native American, 8.4% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.8% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. 14.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,360 households, out of which 52.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 26.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.7% were non-families. 15.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.00 and the average family size was 4.49.

In the CDP, the age distribution of the population shows 42.8% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 15.7% from 45 to 64, and 4.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.

Tuba City's median household income is $47,091, and the median income for a family was $37,813. Males had a median income of $29,280 versus $26,855 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $14,140. About 23.1% of families and 28.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.0% of those under age 18 and 44.8% of those age 65 or over.

The following attractions and infrastructure are located in Tuba City:

• The Explore Navajo Interactive Museum, opened in 2007, is located next to the historic Tuba City Trading Post.^[20]
• Ancient dinosaur tracks have been found and are preserved about 5 miles (8 km) west of the town.
• Coal Mine Canyon, a colorful canyon with many hoodoos, is 15 miles (24 km) southeast.
• Hahonogeh Canyon, near Coal Mine Canyon, is noteworthy for blue colors most visible at sunrise and sunset.
• The Hopi have expanded tourist offerings: their Tuuvi Travel Center opened in 2008, a complex that cost $6.3 million. In 2010 they opened a motel, which cost $13 million. In 2011 a Denny's franchise restaurant opened across US Highway 160. The Hopi Nation plan a $100 million "Gateway to Hopiland" nearby.^[7]

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  Tuba City Chapter House of the Navajo Nation.
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  Dinosaur track in Tuba City
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  Coal Mine Canyon at sunset
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  Moonrise at Coal Mine Canyon

The town is served by U.S. Route 160, near the junction with Arizona State Route 264.^{[citation needed]}

It is served by the Tuba City Airport.^[21]

Navajo Transit System provides connections to Flagstaff and Fort Defiance.^[22] Hopi Senom Transit provides connections to Moenkopi.^[23] Express provides connecting service to Page.^[24]

The area is served by the Tuba City Unified School District, as well as several tribal/federal schools within the area.

Schools in Tuba City include:

• Tuba City High School
• Tuba City Jr. High School
• Eagles' Nest Intermediate School
• Tuba City Primary School
• Nizhoni Accelerated Academy

Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools include:

• Greyhills Academy High School (tribal)
• Tuba City Boarding School (Bureau-operated) established 1906

Moencopi Day School (tribal) is in nearby Moenkopi.^[25]

Tertiary institutions include:

• Diné College Tuba City Center^[26]
• Online classes from Northern Arizona University.

On January 4, 1988, Northern Arizona beat Central Connecticut 72–70 in Tuba City in the first Division I basketball game ever played on an Indian reservation.

• Mary Morez, artist, was born near Tuba City^[27]
• Jonathan Nez, ninth President of the Navajo Nation
• Lori Piestewa, a soldier in the US Army, was killed in southern Iraq in 2003. In honor of her, Squaw Peak in Phoenix was renamed Piestewa Peak in 2008
• Sunshine Sykes, a federal judge on the Central District of California
• Aaron Yazzie, a mechanical engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, was born in Tuba City
• Quannah Chasinghorse, a model, indigenous rights activist, and climate change activist, was born in Tuba City

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tuba City, Arizona.

 

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Tuba City, Arizona.

• Arizonan.com profile
• Moenave Dinosaur Tracks, near Tuba City. From Atlas Obscura
• Tuba City Unified School District – local photos
• Local news