In south-central Arizona, Pinal County is situated between Phoenix to the north and Tucson to the south as development from both cities encroaches upon the area. According to the 2010 U.S Census, the county grew 109.1% in the previous decade and is continuing to boom. The region is a recreational dream with upwards of thirty golf courses and some of the best hunting and fishing in the state.
With two distinct regions, the bulk of the county’s population lies in the western lower valley desert area where manufacturing, distribution and agriculture drive the economy. The eastern mountainous stretch boasts strong enterprise in tourism and copper mining.
Spring is a great time to be in Pinal County. You can view wildflowers blooming in the Sonoran Desert National Monument or take in the grandeur of Picketpost Peak as it towers over the town of Superior. Mountain ranges in the area include Mineral Mountains, Sacaton Mountains, Superstition Mountains, and Waterman Mountains. The county also holds federally protected lands such as Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Hohokam Pima National Monument along with portions of the Coronado National Forest, Ironwood Forest National Monument and Tonto National Forest.
The county seat is Florence and cities in the vicinity include Casa Grande, Coolidge, Eloy, Maricopa and a portion of Apache Junction. Other towns include Keamy, Mammoth and parts of Hayden, Queen Creek, Winkelmand and Marana.
Tourism and Events
Locals and visitors often visit sites like Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park, Arizona’s oldest and largest botanical gardens with over 300 acres of nature trails, and Oracle State Park, a 4,000 acre wildlife refuge in the northern foothills of the Catalina Mountains.
Other popular areas include McFarland State Historic Park, featuring of the county offices and courthouse from the late 1800’s, and Picacho Peak State Park, location of Civil War activities. Scientists and historians flock to Biosphere 2, an Earth systems science research facility owned by the University of Arizona, and the Goldfield Ghost Town along the historic Apache Trail are also open to the public.
Apache Junction hosts the annual Arizona Renaissance Festival, which draws thousands of visitors to the area each spring and features a medieval amusement park, a 12-stage theater, a 30-acre circus, an arts and crafts fair, a jousting tournament and an all-day feast. Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek features pick-your-own options of numerous fruits and vegetables along with family-friendly offerings like hay rides and a petting zoo.
Choose Pinal County!
The county is extremely accessible by car with Interstate 8, 10 and US Route 60 all cutting through the county. Other travel options include AMTRAK service in Maricopa and Greyhound service in Casa Grande. Local bus service is offered by Pinal Central Express.
All of these features, along with a positive business environment, makes the region a prime location to enjoy prosperity and recreation in Arizona.