|
|
|
Place Name
|
Maricopa County
|
|
Place Status (Type)
|
county
|
|
Capital is
|
Phoenix, the state capital
|
|
Population
|
2,122,101 (1990)
|
|
Location
|
Arizona, United States, North America
|
|
Latitude
|
33°20'N
|
|
Longitude
|
112°29'W
|
Maricopa
, county (
9,224 sq mi/23,890 sq km; 1990
pop. 2,122,101), central and S central Ariz.;  Phoenix, the
state capital; 33°20'N 112°29'W. McDowell Mts., part of Mazatzal
Mts., and part of Tonto Natl. Forest are in NE. Irrigated agr. region
extends along banks of Salt, Gila, Santa Cruz, Verde, and Agua Fria
(which forms L. Pleasant reservoir and part of N border) rivers.
Long-staple cotton, citrus, vegetables, hay, alfalfa, wheat, barley;
cattle, sheep, hogs; tourism. Mfg. at Phoenix, Glendale, Tempe,
Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, other suburban cities. Sixteenth-largest
co. in U.S. Highly urbanized in NE around Phoenix; large retired pop.;
Phoenix area has attracted large numbers of businesses and residents to
its warm climate. Hummingbird Springs, Big Horn Mts., and parts of
Eagletail Mts. and Harquahala Mts. wilderness areas in NW; part of
Tohono O'odham (Papago) Indian Reservation in S; Gila Bend Indian
Reservation in SW; Salt R. and Fort McDowell Reservations in NE. Luke
Air Force Base W of Phoenix; part of large Barry M. Goldwater (formerly
Luke) Air Force Range in SW. Gila R. Indian Reservation to S. Nuclear
power plants, Palo Verde 1 (initial criticality May 25, 1985), Palo
Verde 2 (initial criticality April 18, 1986), and Palo Verde 3 (initial
criticality Oct. 25, 1987), are 36 mi/58 km W
of Phoenix; use cooling water from a sewage treatment facility, and
each has a max. dependable capacity of 1221 MWe. Formed 1871.
|
