Arizona

Santa Cruz

47,669
2020 population
1900
first census record
13
census records

About Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, Arizona, first appears in the United States federal census in 1900, when it recorded a population of 4,545. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 47,669.

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

On the ground today, 13 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Pima Revolt – Battle of Tubac 1751, Spanish-Apache War – Tubac Presidio Raids 1760s, Raid on Tubac Settlement, and 52 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202047,669
201047,420
200038,381
199029,676
198020,459
197013,966
196010,808
19509,344
19409,482
19309,684
192012,689
19106,766
19004,545
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Santa Cruz

Military engagements that took place in Santa Cruz, Arizona.

Pima Revolt – Battle of Tubac 1751
1751
Spanish-Apache War – Tubac Presidio Raids 1760s
1765
Raid on Tubac Settlement
1861
Raid on Tubac AZ (1865)
1865
Santa Cruz River Skirmish (1885)
1885
Raid on Santa Cruz Valley Ranches
1885
Battle of Ambos Nogales — Arizona-Sonora Border 1915
1915
Battle of Ambos Nogales
1915
Nogales Border Incident (1915)
1915
Battle of Ambos Nogales
1918
Battle of Ambos Nogales 1918
1918
Battle of Nogales 1918
1918
Nogales Border Incident (1918)
1918

Historic places in Santa Cruz

National Register of Historic Places listings in Santa Cruz, Arizona.

Calabasas
Nogales
San Rafael Ranch Historic District
Patagonia
Kitchen, Pete, Ranch
Nogales
Little Outfit Schoolhouse, The
Patagonia
Kress, S. H., & Co., Building
Nogales
Tubac Presidio
Tubac
Canelo School
Canelo
Guevavi Mission Ruins
Nogales
Tumacacori National Monument
Tumacacori
U.S. Inspection Office, Morley Gate-Nogales, Arizona
Nogales
Las Dos Naciones Cigar Factory
Nogales
US Post Office and Immigration Station-Nogales Main
Nogales
Atascosa Lookout House
Tubac
Cady Hall
Patagonia
Canelo Ranger Station
Canelo
Finley, James, House
Patagonia
Browse all Arizonahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Arizona

Explore census history and historic records for more Arizona counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Santa Cruz County, Arizona

This page charts the census history of Santa Cruz 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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Arizonahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Military engagements ›Notable people from Arizona›

Frequently asked about Santa Cruz

When does Santa Cruz first appear in the US census?
Santa Cruz, Arizona first appears in the federal census in 1900, with a recorded population of 4,545.
What is the population of Santa Cruz?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Santa Cruz had a recorded population of 47,669.
Were any battles fought in Santa Cruz?
13 documented military engagements took place in Santa Cruz, including Pima Revolt – Battle of Tubac 1751, Spanish-Apache War – Tubac Presidio Raids 1760s, Raid on Tubac Settlement.
How many historic places are in Santa Cruz?
52 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Santa Cruz, Arizona.
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