Pinal County, Arizona
One of Arizona's fastest-growing counties, positioned between Phoenix and Tucson, featuring Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Picacho Peak, and spectacular saguaro cactus landscapes.
Pinal County, established on February 1, 1875, takes its name from the Pinal Mountains that form part of its eastern boundary. Situated in south-central Arizona between the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas, the county has experienced extraordinary growth in recent decades as suburban development spread southward from the Phoenix metro. With a 2020 population of 425,264 — a figure that has grown dramatically since the 2010 census — Pinal County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States.
The county's landscape transitions from the low desert Sonoran scrub of the Gila River valley in the west through rolling bajadas dense with saguaro cacti to the higher terrain of the Pinal Mountains and the Superstition Wilderness in the east. Florence, the historic county seat, sits along the Gila River and houses Arizona's oldest operating prison. Casa Grande serves as the county's commercial center, while communities like Apache Junction, Maricopa, and Queen Creek (partially in Maricopa County) have seen explosive residential growth. Pinal County also has a significant agricultural heritage, with cotton, alfalfa, and other crops irrigated by the Central Arizona Project canal.
County Information
Demographics & Economy
Photos
Major Attractions
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
One of the most mysterious and impressive prehistoric structures in North America, the Casa Grande ("Big House") is a four-story adobe building constructed by the Ancestral Sonoran Desert People around 1350 CE. The structure's purpose remains debated by archaeologists — theories range from an astronomical observatory to an administrative center for the surrounding agricultural community. A modern protective ramada shelters the deteriorating ruins from rain. The national monument also encompasses the remains of a surrounding village compound and irrigated fields that fed a thriving farming community for centuries.
Location: Coolidge
Features: Four-story prehistoric adobe structure, archaeological museum, ranger-led tours, picnic area, visitor center
Picacho Peak State Park
Picacho Peak is one of Arizona's most recognizable natural landmarks — a dramatic volcanic plug that rises 1,500 feet above the desert floor midway between Phoenix and Tucson along Interstate 10. Picacho Peak State Park offers challenging hiking trails that require the use of hand cables on the steepest sections, rewarding those who summit with panoramic views across the Sonoran Desert. The park is also famous for its springtime wildflower blooms and is the site of the westernmost Civil War battle reenactment in the United States, commemorating the 1862 skirmish fought here.
Location: Between Casa Grande and Tucson off I-10
Features: Challenging hiking trails, cable-assisted climbs, spring wildflowers, Civil War battle reenactment (annually), camping
Boyce Thompson Arboretum
Arizona's oldest botanical garden, the Boyce Thompson Arboretum was established in 1924 by copper magnate William Boyce Thompson. Set in a dramatic canyon in the Picketpost Mountain area near Superior, the arboretum covers 392 acres and houses more than 3,200 plant species from desert regions around the world. Walking trails wind past a eucalyptus forest, a demonstration garden, cactus and succulent gardens, and a riparian area along Queen Creek. The arboretum is also an excellent birding location, with over 270 species recorded on site.
Location: Superior, eastern Pinal County
Features: Desert plant collections from around the world, walking trails, birding, demonstrations, gift shop
Oracle State Park
Oracle State Park encompasses 4,000 acres of upper Sonoran Desert grassland, oak woodland, and chaparral in the Santa Catalina Mountains foothills. The historic Kannally Ranch House, built in 1929, anchors the park and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The park offers over 15 miles of trails suitable for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding through exceptional wildlife habitat. Birding is outstanding, with the transition zone between desert and oak woodland supporting a diverse array of species. The park also serves as a Dark Sky Park, offering excellent stargazing far from city lights.
Location: Oracle, northeastern Pinal County
Features: Historic ranch house, hiking and biking trails, wildlife viewing, birding, dark sky stargazing
Superior and Historic Mining District
The town of Superior, perched in the Pinal Mountains, has a rich copper mining history dating to the late 19th century. The Magma Mine and later the Magma Copper Company shaped the town's character for over a century. Today, Superior has reinvented itself as a hub for outdoor recreation and arts, with a thriving mural scene that has turned the downtown into an open-air gallery. The nearby Apache Trail (Arizona Route 88) winds through dramatic canyon and lake scenery, passing Weaver's Needle and the Superstition Wilderness, offering some of the most spectacular driving in Arizona.
Location: Superior, eastern Pinal County
Features: Downtown murals, mining history museums, gateway to Apache Trail, Superstition Wilderness access, art galleries
Frequently Asked Questions
Pinal County's rapid population growth is driven by several interconnected factors:
- Affordability: Land and housing costs in Pinal County have historically been lower than in neighboring Maricopa and Pima counties, attracting families and retirees priced out of Phoenix and Tucson markets.
- Location: Positioned between Phoenix and Tucson with direct Interstate 10 access, Pinal County offers reasonable commute distances to both metro areas.
- Major employers: Large employers including Intel's semiconductor fabs in the area, Amazon fulfillment centers, and copper mining operations have drawn workers and supporting businesses.
- Master-planned communities: Large planned developments like Maricopa (city) were built specifically to capture growth from the Phoenix metro.
- Infrastructure investment: The Pinal County Regional Transportation Authority and ongoing highway improvements have made the county more accessible.
- Population is projected to continue growing significantly through the 2030s and beyond as development continues along the I-10 corridor.
Copper mining has been central to Pinal County's economy for well over a century:
- The Ray Mine near Kearny is one of the largest open-pit copper mines in the United States, operated today by Asarco (a subsidiary of Grupo Mexico).
- The historic Magma Mine in Superior operated from 1875 to 1996, producing both copper and silver.
- Resolution Copper, a proposed massive underground mine near Superior, has been one of the most significant and contested mining projects in the southwestern United States, with development ongoing.
- Freeport-McMoRan operates the Miami mine complex in neighboring Gila County, with economic impacts extending into Pinal County.
- Copper mining has left a visible mark on the landscape in eastern Pinal County, with large tailings piles, open pits, and historic mining infrastructure visible near Superior, Hayden, and Kearny.
- Today, mining continues to be an important employer in the county, with the copper industry supporting thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
Pinal County offers excellent outdoor recreation opportunities:
- Hiking: Picacho Peak State Park, Oracle State Park, Superstition Wilderness (shared with Maricopa County), and the Pinal Mountains near Globe (Gila County border) all offer excellent trails.
- Off-road driving: The Apache Trail (AZ Route 88) is one of Arizona's most scenic and challenging unpaved drives, passing Roosevelt, Canyon, Apache, and Saguaro lakes.
- Boating and fishing: Saguaro Lake, Canyon Lake, and Apache Lake along the Apache Trail offer boating, fishing, and water recreation.
- Mountain biking: Oracle State Park and the trails around Superior and the Pinal Mountains offer excellent mountain biking.
- Birding: Oracle State Park and Boyce Thompson Arboretum are recognized birding hotspots with diverse species.
- Rockhounding: The desert areas of Pinal County are popular for collecting minerals and fossils, with appropriate permits where required.
Pinal County has a long agricultural tradition made possible by irrigation from the Gila River and the Central Arizona Project:
- Cotton: Historically the dominant crop, Pinal County remains one of Arizona's major cotton-producing counties, though acreage has declined with urbanization.
- Alfalfa: A major crop for livestock feed, particularly for the dairy industry.
- Wheat and grain: Winter wheat and other grains are grown in rotation with cotton.
- Vegetables: Specialty crops including lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, and other cool-season vegetables are grown during winter months.
- Dairy: Pinal County has a significant dairy industry, with large operations taking advantage of locally grown feed crops.
- The Gila River Indian Community and Ak-Chin Indian Community within the county also have significant agricultural operations with long historical roots.
Major Communities
Florence
County seat, population ~26,000, historic town and home to several state prison complexes
Casa Grande
Population ~56,000, the county's largest city and commercial hub
Maricopa
Population ~58,000, fast-growing planned community southwest of Phoenix
Apache Junction
Population ~41,000, gateway to the Superstition Wilderness
Coolidge
Population ~13,500, home to Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
Superior
Population ~2,800, historic mining town and arts community near Boyce Thompson Arboretum