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Snowflake, Arizona
Location of Snowflake in Navajo County, Arizona.
Location of Snowflake in Navajo County, Arizona.
Snowflake, Arizona is located in the United States
Snowflake, Arizona
Snowflake, Arizona
Location in the United States
Country  United States
State  Arizona
County Navajo
Founded 1878
Founded by Erastus Snow and William Jordan Flake
Government
 • Type Council-Manager
 • Body Snowflake Town Council
Area
 • Total 33.80 sq mi (87.54 km2)
 • Land 33.74 sq mi (87.39 km2)
 • Water 0.06 sq mi (0.15 km2)
Elevation
5,682 ft (1,732 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 6,104
 • Density 180.91/sq mi (69.85/km2)
Time zone UTC-7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−7 (no DST/PDT)
ZIP codes
85937, 85942
Area code(s) 928
FIPS code 04-67800
GNIS ID(s) 34591, 2413301
Website Town of Snowflake
Historic Home, Snowflake, Arizona
Historic Home, Snowflake, Arizona

Snowflake is a town in Navajo County, Arizona, United States. It was founded in 1878 by Erastus Snow and William Jordan Flake, Mormon pioneers It has frequently been noted on lists of unusual place names. According to 2010 Census, the population of the town is 5,590.

Snowflake is 25 miles (40 km) south of Interstate 40 (formerly U.S. Route 66) via Highway 77. The Apache Railway provides freight service.

Geography

Snowflake is located at 34°30′40″N 110°4′59″W / 34.51111°N 110.08306°W / 34.51111; -110.08306 (34.511187, -110.082974).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 30.9 square miles (80 km2), of which, 30.8 square miles (80 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (0.16%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 275
1910 494
1920 758 53.4%
1930 1,259 66.1%
1950 929
1960 982 5.7%
1970 1,977 101.3%
1980 3,510 77.5%
1990 3,679 4.8%
2000 4,460 21.2%
2010 5,590 25.3%
2020 6,104 9.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,460 people, 1,312 households, and 1,070 families residing in the town. The population density was 144.8 people per square mile (55.9/km2). There were 1,536 housing units at an average density of 49.9 per square mile (19.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 87.2% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 6.9% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.0% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. 8.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,312 households, out of which 46.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.5% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.4% were non-families. 15.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.37 and the average family size was 3.81.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 37.9% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $37,439, and the median income for a family was $42,500. Males had a median income of $30,517 versus $21,164 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,391. About 10.4% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.7% of those under age 18 and 14.1% of those age 65 or over.

Recently, the town and surrounding area have experienced steady growth, primarily to the east, west and south. An additional 9-holes were added to the 18-hole golf course where the Snowflake Arizona Temple was built by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2002.

The remoteness of Snowflake and the low level of pollution attracts many individuals suffering from multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome (MCS) to the town. As of July 2016 there were approximately 20 households who report to be suffering from MCS.

Seasonal events

  • Silver Creek Performing Arts Association
  • Thursday Night at the Park
  • Ground Hog Breakfast
  • Little Theater
  • Easter Egg Hunt
  • Fourth of July Celebrations
  • Pioneer Days Celebration
  • Silver Creek Symphony
  • 12 Days of Christmas

Climate

Snowflake experiences a four-season climate with a warm (sometimes hot) summer, mild autumn, mild to cold winter and cool, windy spring. Typical high temperatures hover around 90 °F (32 °C) during July and August and 30 to 55 °F (13 °C) in December/January.


In popular culture

  • The logging crew involved in the Travis Walton abduction incident lived in this town, and several events surrounding that incident happened here. These events were dramatized in the science fiction film Fire in the Sky (1993).
  • References to Snowflake are made in the 2001 murder mystery Brigham City, and the 2004 war film Saints and Soldiers.
  • A character named Jonah Flake appears in Armistead Maupin's Mary Ann in Autumn, a Tales of the City novel published in 2010. Jonah is from Snowflake and says he is a descendant of the Flake family that helped found the city.

Education

Snowflake is a part of the Snowflake Unified School District, consisting of Highland Primary School, Snowflake Intermediate School, Snowflake Junior High and Snowflake High School. Taylor Elementary School in the neighboring town of Taylor, Arizona is also part of the Snowflake Unified school District.

Northland Pioneer College's Silver Creek campus extension is located in Snowflake.

Notable people

Walter Blackman by Gage Skidmore
Walter Blackman, the first black Republican elected to the Arizona Legislature.
  • Walter Blackman, Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives
  • Jeff Flake, current United States Ambassador to Turkey, former United States Senator
  • Marilyn Jarrett (1939–2006), Arizona businesswoman and politician, was born in Snowflake.
  • Buzz Miller (1923–1999), dancer, was born in Snowflake.
  • Jesse N. Smith (1834–1906), Mormon pioneer, church leader, politician and colonizer of Snowflake. The Jesse N. Smith House in Snowflake is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
  • Travis Walton, who was allegedly abducted by space aliens, is an author and was played by D. B. Sweeney in the sci-fi film Fire in the Sky (1993), lives in Snowflake.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Snowflake para niños

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