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San Tan Valley, Arizona
Pinal County Arizona Incorporated and Unincorporated areas San Tan Valley highlighted.svg
Country United States
State Arizona
County Pinal
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 96,692
Time zone UTC-7 (Mountain (MST) (no daylight saving time))
Area code(s) 480

San Tan Valley is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in northern Pinal County, Arizona, United States. As of the census of 2020, the population of San Tan Valley is 96,692.

History

San Tan Valley derives its name from the nearby San Tan Mountains. The origin of the name San Tan is disputed, with suggestions ranging from a corruption of the name Santa Ana to the last name of George Santan, prior postmaster in nearby Gila County. Previously referred to as San Tan Heights, San Tan Foothills, Greater San Tan and simply the San Tan Area, the community lacked any official name and residents used nearby Queen Creek for their mailing addresses. To coincide with the addition of a new ZIP code for the community on July 1, 2009, the United States Postal Service was petitioned to provide the area with a new name. As part of the initial request, "Bella Vista" name was submitted to the postal service, but some local residents opposed the suggested name. In response, the Greater San Tan Area Coalition organized a non-binding vote on June 23, offering residents the opportunity to vote on a name for the community.

The area, which had consisted primarily of undeveloped desert and agriculture prior to 2000, experienced considerable growth in the early part of the decade. As early as 2004, attempts to incorporate the area were underway. An initial attempt, which proposed a name of simply "San Tan" for the area, was blocked by the neighboring town of Florence after rural residents there expressed concern that allowing incorporation would accelerate the urbanization of the area. A subsequent effort in 2005 failed to gain traction. Following the renaming of the area in 2009, a renewed effort at incorporation sought to put the issue to a vote in 2010, this time with the support of Pinal County. The Town Council of Florence unanimously rejected a resolution that would have approved San Tan Valley's proposed boundaries over concerns of their allotment of state shared revenue.

Geography

San Tan Valley is located at 33°10′13″N 111°34′20″W / 33.17028°N 111.57222°W / 33.17028; -111.57222 (33.170462, -111.572170).

San Tan Valley is located in the unincorporated area between the towns of Queen Creek to the north and west, and Florence to the south. The area is also bound by the San Tan Mountains Regional Park on the west and the Gila River Indian Community on the southwest. The area consists largely of master planned communities, such as Johnson Ranch, Ironwood Crossing, Pecan Creek South, Morning Sun Farms, San Tan Heights, Skyline Ranch, Copper Basin and Circle Cross Ranch.

Situated east of the San Tan Mountains, the community is located in the Sonoran Desert. As such, it experiences the hot, arid summers and moderate winters that typify the area.

Demographics

In 2010 San Tan Valley had a population of 81,321. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 66.2% non-Hispanic white, 5.0% black or African American, 1.2% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 0.2% non-Hispanic reporting some other race and 23.4% Hispanic or Latino.

In 2020 San Tan Valley had a population of 96,692.

In popular culture

  • In Sons of Anarchy S4/E4, "Una Venta", Huff orders the SAMTAZ charter to help SAMCRO shake the van tailing them by taking the crew down the Vesper Trail, (which is in the San Tan Valley), and then blowing up a grease truck to close the section of road separating the Sons and their tail.


Education

San Tan Valley is serviced by the following school districts. Each district has its own high school located within San Tan Valley:

  • Florence Unified School District (Poston Butte High School, San Tan Foothills High School))
  • J. O. Combs Unified School District (Combs High School)

Transportation

San Tan Valley does not have any public transportation service.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: San Tan Valley para niños

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