Lake Montezuma, Arizona
Encyclopedia
Lake Montezuma is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Yavapai County
, Arizona
, United States
. The population was 3,344 at the 2000 census. The Lake Montezuma CDP includes the communities of Rimrock and McGuireville. It is located along Interstate 17, 20 miles south of Sedona and 8 miles north of Camp Verde in central Arizona's Verde Valley.
The area of the community known as McGuireville started in 1910 when Eugene McGuire settled near the confluence of Dry Beaver Creek and Wet Beaver Creek. This was also at the junction of the historic road from Stoneman Lake which split there with one route going on to Cornville, Cottonwood and Jerome and the other going south to Camp Verde and on to Prescott via Cherry. This later became the site of the first local business besides ranching and dudes when Midge Montgomery set up the original Beaver Creek Store there in 1931.
The area generally became known as Rimrock in 1926 when Virginia Finnie, the daughter of a prominent local rancher, started a dude ranch which she appropriately named Rimrock Guest Ranch. It was so named for the prominent limestone rimrocks forming the edges of the mesas visible from the hill top ranch. Her prominent guests were wanting efficient communications with the outside world so Virginia saw the need to establish a post office on the ranch. Virginia's Mother-in-law, Ella Loudermilk, became the first post mistress of the newly established Rimrock Post Office chartered July 11, 1928. People from the Coconino County line near Stoneman Lake, Apache Maid Ranch etc. and up and down the creek nearly to Camp Verde picked up their mail at the Rimrock Post Office so the former area of Beaver Creek School district generally became known as Rimrock. Interestingly Arizona's oldest continuously operated landing strip - The Rimrock Airport is located here as dudes used to fly into the ranch in a day gone by.
Around 1957 shortly after the Black Canyon Highway was built north from Phoenix one of the largest ranches in Rimrock was turned into a subdivision called Lake Montezuma. The developers were planning on selling much of the property to out of state buyers and realized they needed something attractive in the name. The dug out a pond below the original ranch house and named it Lake Montezuma after the areas most significant local land mark - Montezuma Well National Monument.
The majority of the population of the rapidly growing area soon lived in this one subdivision and virtually all of them were not from the local area. They would identify themselves as being from Lake Montezuma not realizing that they might also be considered a resident of Rimrock and also Beaver Creek. Thus the confusion over the name of the general area.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 12 square miles (31.1 km²), of which, 11.9 square miles (30.8 km²) of it is land and 0.08% is water.
of 2000, there were 3,344 people, 1,471 households, and 938 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 279.7 people per square mile (108.0/km²). There were 1,666 housing units at an average density of 139.4/sq mi (53.8/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.58% White
, 0.09% Black
or African American
, 2.33% Native American
, 0.18% Asian
, 2.78% from other races
, and 2.03% from two or more races. 7.27% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 1,471 households out of which 20.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples
living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.73.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 19.6% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 28.5% from 45 to 64, and 21.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $33,750, and the median income for a family was $36,864. Males had a median income of $22,365 versus $21,538 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $17,043. About 7.2% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.4% of those under age 18 and 1.4% of those age 65 or over.
, pioneer Arizona schoolteacher and author, began her teaching career at Beaver Creek School around 1910.
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 Yavapai County
Yavapai County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*89.3% White*0.6% Black*1.7% Native American*0.8% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.5% Two or more races*5.0% Other races*13.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 3,344 at the 2000 census. The Lake Montezuma CDP includes the communities of Rimrock and McGuireville. It is located along Interstate 17, 20 miles south of Sedona and 8 miles north of Camp Verde in central Arizona's Verde Valley.
History
The Community was originally known as Beaver Creek as ranchers and farmers settled along the banks of the creek named for the prolific numbers of beavers found there. In 1882, when there were a total of 8 local children, Yavapai County set up one of the first schools in the Verde Valley, Beaver Creek School, drawing kids from many miles around the area.The area of the community known as McGuireville started in 1910 when Eugene McGuire settled near the confluence of Dry Beaver Creek and Wet Beaver Creek. This was also at the junction of the historic road from Stoneman Lake which split there with one route going on to Cornville, Cottonwood and Jerome and the other going south to Camp Verde and on to Prescott via Cherry. This later became the site of the first local business besides ranching and dudes when Midge Montgomery set up the original Beaver Creek Store there in 1931.
The area generally became known as Rimrock in 1926 when Virginia Finnie, the daughter of a prominent local rancher, started a dude ranch which she appropriately named Rimrock Guest Ranch. It was so named for the prominent limestone rimrocks forming the edges of the mesas visible from the hill top ranch. Her prominent guests were wanting efficient communications with the outside world so Virginia saw the need to establish a post office on the ranch. Virginia's Mother-in-law, Ella Loudermilk, became the first post mistress of the newly established Rimrock Post Office chartered July 11, 1928. People from the Coconino County line near Stoneman Lake, Apache Maid Ranch etc. and up and down the creek nearly to Camp Verde picked up their mail at the Rimrock Post Office so the former area of Beaver Creek School district generally became known as Rimrock. Interestingly Arizona's oldest continuously operated landing strip - The Rimrock Airport is located here as dudes used to fly into the ranch in a day gone by.
Around 1957 shortly after the Black Canyon Highway was built north from Phoenix one of the largest ranches in Rimrock was turned into a subdivision called Lake Montezuma. The developers were planning on selling much of the property to out of state buyers and realized they needed something attractive in the name. The dug out a pond below the original ranch house and named it Lake Montezuma after the areas most significant local land mark - Montezuma Well National Monument.
The majority of the population of the rapidly growing area soon lived in this one subdivision and virtually all of them were not from the local area. They would identify themselves as being from Lake Montezuma not realizing that they might also be considered a resident of Rimrock and also Beaver Creek. Thus the confusion over the name of the general area.
Geography
Lake Montezuma is located at 34°38′25"N 111°47′0"W (34.640283, -111.783377).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 12 square miles (31.1 km²), of which, 11.9 square miles (30.8 km²) of it is land and 0.08% is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,344 people, 1,471 households, and 938 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 279.7 people per square mile (108.0/km²). There were 1,666 housing units at an average density of 139.4/sq mi (53.8/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.58% White
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...
, 0.09% 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...
, 2.33% 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...
, 0.18% 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...
, 2.78% 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 2.03% from two or more races. 7.27% 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 1,471 households out of which 20.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.73.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 19.6% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 28.5% from 45 to 64, and 21.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $33,750, and the median income for a family was $36,864. Males had a median income of $22,365 versus $21,538 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 $17,043. About 7.2% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.4% of those under age 18 and 1.4% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
Eulalia "Sister" BourneEulalia Bourne
Eulalia "Sister" Bourne was a pioneer Arizona schoolteacher, rancher and author . Born in West Texas, the oldest of five girls, she was dubbed "Sister" by a younger sibling who couldn't pronounce Eulalia. After a sketchy education, she got her first teaching job circa 1910 in Beaver Creek in...
, pioneer Arizona schoolteacher and author, began her teaching career at Beaver Creek School around 1910.
External links
- Lake Montezuma Property Owners Association
- Community Profile, from Arizona Department of Commerce
- Lake Montezuma profile, at City-Data