Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Among the newest of U.S. towns · #134 of 140 in Arizona State. What drives it
Most of Arizona City was built recently: 0.0% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 2001. Below: maps from 1965 on and the census since 1990.
Arizona City dates its founding to 1959 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1990.
Among the newest of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Arizona City is among the newest of U.S. towns, #134 of 140 in Arizona State. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its age pulls it down.
Few Arizona State towns list much on the Register (a typical Arizona State town has 0.1 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Arizona City’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (29% of Arizona State towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Arizona City’s history is told.
From Wikipedia’s history of Arizona City.
The area around what is now known as Arizona City was used as a resting area for Juan Bautista de Anza's expedition party after they emerged from Apache land in 1775. The area is considered an official part of the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail. This historic trail begins in Sonora, Mexico, and ends at the Presidio in San Francisco, California.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Arizona City. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Arizona City.
Between 1,940 and 10,475 people in every census since 1990.
4 censuses, 1990–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Arizona City’s Wikipedia page.
Nobody well known was born in Arizona City itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.
Old hamlets and crossroads still carry their names on the map.
Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.
In 1959, according to Wikidata. the census of 1990 counted 1,940 people here.
Arizona City is among the newest of U.S. towns, #134 of 140 in Arizona State. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
0.0% of Arizona City’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate), against a typical 0.4% for an Arizona State town; the median home was built in 2001.
What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (6), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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