Central, Arizona
| Central, Arizona | |
|---|---|
| Census-designated place | |
 Central
Central
|
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| Coordinates: 32°52′03″N 109°47′34″W / 32.86750°N 109.79278°WCoordinates: 32°52′03″N 109°47′34″W / 32.86750°N 109.79278°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Graham |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.887 sq mi (4.89 km2) |
| • Land | 1.887 sq mi (4.89 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,884 ft (879 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 645 |
| • Density | 340/sq mi (130/km2) |
| Time zone | Mountain (MST) (UTC-7) |
| ZIP code | 85531 |
| Area code(s) | 928 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2693 |
Central is a census-designated place in Graham County, Arizona, United States. Its population was 645 as of the 2010 census. It is part of the Safford micropolitan area.
Central is located between the towns of Thatcher and Pima, all west of the Graham County seat, Safford. U.S. Route 70 is the main thoroughfare.
Central has a ZIP Code of 85531; in 2000, the population of the 85531 ZIP Code Tabulation Area was 404.
Central is at 32°52′13″N 109°47′35″W / 32.87028°N 109.79306°W, at an elevation of approximately 2900 feet above sea level. From this location just south of the Gila River within the Upper Gila Valley, Mount Graham of the Pinaleño (Pinaleno Mountains) range dominates the southern skyline.
Central was first homesteaded by the Cluff family in 1880. The Cluffs extended the Central Canal to their lands on the eastern side of Central. Later settlers extended the canal west and north. In 1883 construction began on a one-room white rock building to be used as a church meeting house and school house. By 1884 twenty families, including Cluff, Norton, Shurtz, Bigler, and Webster households resided in Central. In 1978 the streets were named after these early Mormon pioneers. In December 1883 the Central Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was organized and Joseph Cluff was ordained the first bishop. A new red brick church was built in 1885. It was the first regular meeting house built in this part of Arizona and was also the first home of the LDS Academy from December 1890 to May 1891. A plaque east of Hwy 70 on Central Road commemorates the original home of the St. Joseph Stake Academy that later moved to Thatcher and became Eastern Arizona College.
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