Arizona

Maricopa

4,420,568
2020 population
1880
first census record
15
census records

About Maricopa

Maricopa, Arizona, first appears in the United States federal census in 1880, when it recorded a population of 5,689. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 4,420,568.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 28 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Snaketown Hohokam Conflicts, Hohokam Fortification at Pueblo Grande, La Ciudad Hohokam Warfare Evidence, and 450 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20204,420,568
20103,817,117
20003,072,149
19902,122,101
19801,509,052
1970967,522
1960663,510
1950331,770
1940186,193
1930150,970
192089,576
191034,488
190020,457
189010,986
18805,689
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Maricopa

Military engagements that took place in Maricopa, Arizona.

Snaketown Hohokam Conflicts
1100
Hohokam Fortification at Pueblo Grande
1150
La Ciudad Hohokam Warfare Evidence
1200
Pueblo Grande Hohokam Conflict
1350
Hohokam Abandonment – Snaketown Destruction
1350
Hohokam Defensive Compound – Pueblo Grande
1350
Hohokam Canal System Conflicts — Phoenix Basin
1400
Maricopa and Pima — Defense Against Yuma (1857)
1857
Skirmish at Stanwix Station
1862
Arizona Volunteers Engagement (1864)
1864
Woolsey Massacres — Bloody Tanks Wickenburg Area
1864
Battle of Bloody Tanks (Arizona 1864)
1864
Battle of McDowell Mountains
1867
Salt River Valley Apache Raids (1866–1868)
1867
Wickenburg Massacre — Stage Ambush (November 5, 1871)
1871
Battle of Skull Cave
1872
Skeleton Cave Massacre — Yavapai Destroyed (December 28, 1872)
1872
Skeleton Cave Massacre (Salt River Cave) (December 28, 1872)
1872
Battle of Four Peaks AZ
1872
Battle of Skull Cave — Skeleton Cave (December 28, 1872)
1872
Skull Cave Massacre — Salt River Canyon Fight
1872
Skeleton Cave Massacre (Battle of Salt River Cave)
1872
Salt River Canyon Battle (Skeleton Cave)
1872
Battle of Skull Cave (Apache)
1872
Battle of Salt River Canyon
1872
Yavapai Forced Removal — Bloody March to San Carlos (February 1875)
1875
Yavapai Reservation Death March (February 1875)
1875
Camp Papago Park (German POW Escape 1944)
1944

Historic places in Maricopa

National Register of Historic Places listings in Maricopa, Arizona.

Palmer, E. Payne, House
Phoenix
O'Connor, Sandra Day, House
Tempe
Koontz, Kinter K.
Phoenix
Jones, Edward L., House
Paradise Valley
Wrigley, William, Jr., Winter Cottage
Phoenix
Hayden, C. T., House
Tempe
Rosson, Dr. Roland Lee, House
Phoenix
Glendale Townsite-Catlin Court Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Glendale
Matthews Hall
Tempe
Anderson, Helen, House
Phoenix
Story, F. Q., Neighborhood Historic District (Additional Documentation)
Phoenix
Pueblo Grande Ruin
Phoenix
Mesa Woman's Club
Mesa
Harrington-Birchett House
Tempe
Hassayampa River Bridge
Hassayampa
Sun Mercantile Building
Phoenix
Maricopa County Courthouse
Phoenix
Wilbur Street Historic District
Mesa
Taliesin West
Scottsdale
Arizona State Capitol Building
Phoenix
6th Avenue Hotel-Windsor Hotel
Phoenix
Franklin School
Phoenix
Roald Amundsen Pullman Private Railroad Car
Scottsdale
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Other counties in Arizona

Explore census history and historic records for more Arizona counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Maricopa County, Arizona

This page charts the census history of Maricopa County, Arizona. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Maricopa

When does Maricopa first appear in the US census?
Maricopa, Arizona first appears in the federal census in 1880, with a recorded population of 5,689.
What is the population of Maricopa?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Maricopa had a recorded population of 4,420,568.
Were any battles fought in Maricopa?
28 documented military engagements took place in Maricopa, including Snaketown Hohokam Conflicts, Hohokam Fortification at Pueblo Grande, La Ciudad Hohokam Warfare Evidence.
How many historic places are in Maricopa?
450 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Maricopa, Arizona.
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