Fort Defiance, Arizona
Encyclopedia
Fort Defiance is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Apache County, Arizona
, United States. The population was 4,061 at the 2000 census.
Fort Defiance was established on September 18, 1851 by Col. Edwin V. Sumner to create a military presence in Diné bikéyah
(Navajo territory). Sumner broke up the fort at Santa Fe
for this purpose, creating the first military post in what is now Arizona
. He left Major Electus Backus in charge.
Fort Defiance was built on valuable grazing land that the federal government then prohibited the Navajo
from using. As a result, the appropriately named fort experienced intense fighting, culminating in two attacks, one in 1856 and another
in 1860. The next year, at the onset of the Civil War
, the army abandoned Fort Defiance. Continued Navajo raids in the area led Brigadier General
James H. Carleton to send Kit Carson
to impose order. Carleton's "solution" was brutal: thousands of starving Navajo were forced to the Long Walk
and interned near Fort Sumner
, New Mexico
, much of their livestock was destroyed. The Navajo Treaty of 1868 allowed those interned to return to a portion of their land, and Fort Defiance was reestablished as an Indian agency that year. In 1870, the first government school for the Navajo was established there.
Today, the site of Fort Defiance is populated by buildings dating from the 1930s to the present day used by various governmental agencies including the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Health Service, and the Navajo Nation. The largest of these buildings was the Fort Defiance Indian Hospital until 2002.
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 6.1 square miles (15.8 km²), all of it land.
, 0.17% Black
or African American
, 92.86% Native American
, 0.30% Asian
, 0.02% Pacific Islander
, 0.22% from other races
, and 1.90% from two or more races. 1.35% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 1,115 households out of which 49.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 30.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.1% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.61 and the average family size was 4.15.
In the CDP the age distribution of the population shows 40.0% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 4.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.9 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $33,125, and the median income for a family was $35,448. Males had a median income of $35,455 versus $24,522 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $10,716. About 27.9% of families and 29.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.0% of those under age 18 and 32.5% of those age 65 or over.
.
Fort Defiance is served by Window Rock Elementary School, Tse Ho Tso Middle School, Window Rock High School
.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Apache County, Arizona
Apache County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*23.3% White*0.2% Black*72.9% Native American*0.3% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.0% Two or more races*1.3% Other races*5.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, United States. The population was 4,061 at the 2000 census.
History
The land on which Fort Defiance was eventually established was first noted by white military men when Colonel John Washington stopped there on his return journey from an expedition to Canyon de Chelly.Fort Defiance was established on September 18, 1851 by Col. Edwin V. Sumner to create a military presence in Diné bikéyah
Navajo Nation
The Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...
(Navajo territory). Sumner broke up the fort at Santa Fe
Santa Fe
Santa Fe or Santa Fé may refer to:-Places:*Argentina**Santa Fe, Argentina, a city in Argentina**Santa Fe Province, a province of Argentina*Bolivia**Santa Fé , Bolivia...
for this purpose, creating the first military post in what is now Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. He left Major Electus Backus in charge.
Fort Defiance was built on valuable grazing land that the federal government then prohibited the Navajo
Navajo people
The Navajo of the Southwestern United States are the largest single federally recognized tribe of the United States of America. The Navajo Nation has 300,048 enrolled tribal members. The Navajo Nation constitutes an independent governmental body which manages the Navajo Indian reservation in the...
from using. As a result, the appropriately named fort experienced intense fighting, culminating in two attacks, one in 1856 and another
Second Battle of Fort Defiance
The Second Battle of Fort Defiance was a military engagement fought during the United States period of the Navajo Wars. On August 30, 1860, about 1,000 Navajo warriors assaulted the United States Army garrison of Fort Defiance in New Mexico Territory, now within present day Arizona...
in 1860. The next year, at the onset of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the army abandoned Fort Defiance. Continued Navajo raids in the area led Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
James H. Carleton to send Kit Carson
Kit Carson
Christopher Houston "Kit" Carson was an American frontiersman and Indian fighter. Carson left home in rural present-day Missouri at age 16 and became a Mountain man and trapper in the West. Carson explored the west to California, and north through the Rocky Mountains. He lived among and married...
to impose order. Carleton's "solution" was brutal: thousands of starving Navajo were forced to the Long Walk
Long Walk of the Navajo
The Long Walk of the Navajo, also called the Long Walk to Bosque Redondo , refers to the 1864 deportation of the Navajo people by the U.S. Government. Navajos were forced to walk at gunpoint from their reservation in what is now Arizona to eastern New Mexico. The trip lasted about 18 days...
and interned near Fort Sumner
Fort Sumner
Fort Sumner was a military fort in De Baca County in southeastern New Mexico charged with the internment of Navajo and Mescalero Apache populations from 1863-1868 at nearby Bosque Redondo.-History:...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, much of their livestock was destroyed. The Navajo Treaty of 1868 allowed those interned to return to a portion of their land, and Fort Defiance was reestablished as an Indian agency that year. In 1870, the first government school for the Navajo was established there.
Today, the site of Fort Defiance is populated by buildings dating from the 1930s to the present day used by various governmental agencies including the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Health Service, and the Navajo Nation. The largest of these buildings was the Fort Defiance Indian Hospital until 2002.
Geography
Fort Defiance is located at 35°44′31"N 109°4′0"W (35.742032, -109.066739), on the Defiance Plateau about 4 miles north of Window Rock, ArizonaWindow Rock, Arizona
Window Rock is the seat of government and capital of the Navajo Nation, the largest territory of a sovereign Native American nation in North America. Window Rock contains the Navajo Nation Council, the Navajo Nation Zoological and Botanical Park, as well as the Navajo Nation World War II Memorial...
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 6.1 square miles (15.8 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,061 people, 1,115 households, and 890 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 669.3 people per square mile (258.3/km²). There were 1,321 housing units at an average density of 217.7/sq mi (84.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 4.53% WhiteRace (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.17% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 92.86% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.30% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.02% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.22% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.90% from two or more races. 1.35% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 1,115 households out of which 49.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 30.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.1% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.61 and the average family size was 4.15.
In the CDP the age distribution of the population shows 40.0% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 4.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.9 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $33,125, and the median income for a family was $35,448. Males had a median income of $35,455 versus $24,522 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $10,716. About 27.9% of families and 29.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.0% of those under age 18 and 32.5% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Fort Defiance is a part of Window Rock Unified School DistrictWindow Rock Unified School District
Window Rock Unified School District is a school district within Apache County, Arizona, USA. WRUSD comprises seven schools within a 65-mile radius.WRUSD serves several unincorporated areas, including Fort Defiance, Sawmill, St...
.
Fort Defiance is served by Window Rock Elementary School, Tse Ho Tso Middle School, Window Rock High School
Window Rock High School
Window Rock High School is a public high school in Fort Defiance, Arizona. WRHS is the only high school in the Window Rock Unified School District.-History:The school district opened by the mid-1950s, with high school students two years later...
.