Census Data for Star Valley
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Star Valley a population of 2,311 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Star Valley a population of 2,310 people.
The community of Star Valley is located in Gila County. The 2010 Census gave Gila County; a population of 53,561 people. This means that Star Valley had 4.31% of the county's total population, making it Gila's 3rd most populous community.
At the same time, Arizona had a population of 6,392,017 people, meaning that Star Valley had 0.04% of the total population of Arizona - making it the state's 77th most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Star Valley has a total area of 36.13 square miles [93.6 km²]. Of this total, only a minor amount of the area is covered by water.
Gila County has a land area of 4,757 square miles [12,323 km²]. At 36.12 square miles [93.6 km²], Star Valley has 0.76% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a community like Star Valley, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the community.
- Things like population, area and housing for Star Valley reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Star Valley might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
- Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
- Lat: 34° 15' 15" (or 34.25°)
- Lon: -111° 13' 16" (or -111.22°)
Housing Units ...
At the time of the 2010 Census, Star Valley had 1,531 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 2,310 people, this averages 1.51 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Star Valley had a land area of 36.12 square miles [93.6 km²]. This translates to 42.37 Housing Units per square mile [16.36 housing units/km²].
Gila County ...
Star Valley<4> is located in Gila County<5>.
The county had a population of 53,561 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 2,310 people, Star Valley represented 4.31% of the county's total.
In addition, where the community of Star Valley has a population density of 63.9 people per square mile [24.69 people/km²], Gila County averages 11.26 people per square mile [4.35 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Gila County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Star Valley, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of Star Valley. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.
- Continue Reading ...
- Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for Star Valley or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
- If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.
Location ...
While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of Star Valley, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Star Valley.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Censuses, the location was given as:
Lat: 34.254201° (or 34°15'15" N)
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#2413328) to Star Valley. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Star Valley. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 34.258280° (or 34°15'29" N)
- Lon: -111.244010° (or -111°14'38" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 7,057 feet to the east<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Star Valley. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Star Valley.
Lon: -111.221115° (or -111°13'16" W)
Miscellaneous Information for Star Valley ...
The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either Gila County or the community of Star Valley:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 04 (Arizona)
- County Code: 007 (Gila County)
- Place Code: 69480 (Star Valley)
- State & County Code: 04/007 (Arizona / Gila County)
- State & Place Code: 04/69480 (Arizona / Star Valley)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Star Valley is located in Census Region #4 (the West Region) and Division #8 (the Mountain Division).
- The US Postal Service ZIP Code ...
- While some people have used a ZIP code to identify a community, the purpose of the ZIP code was to make mail delivery more efficient by grouping addresses together. Although the ZIP Code doesn't specifically identify a community like Star Valley, it does identify addresses that are in (or near) Star Valley. It's important to remember that the boundaries of a ZIP Code can be changed, re-assigned or overlapped with other ZIP Codes.
- The ZIP code for Star Valley:85541<7>
- Census ZCTA Codes ...
- The US Census Bureau created statistical entities that they call ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) and these ZCTAs are frequently confused with the ZIP codes that come from the US Postal Service (USPS).
- ZCTAs were first created for the 2000 Census and at that time, they were based upon the USPS ZIP codes. While largely covering the same areas, the boundaries of a ZCTA do not necessarily match the boundaries of a postal ZIP code with the same number. For example, while a postal ZIP code can cross a county or state line, a Census ZCTA can not. They should be treated as separate entities with no correlation between them.
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Star Valley.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Star Valley: www.ci.star-valley.az.us/
The official website for Gila County: www.co.gila.az.us/
The official website for State of Arizona: https://az.gov/
The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau
The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)
The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Footnotes ...
| <1> | Every year, the US Census Bureau creates a population estimate for the preceeding year. Keep in mind that this value is an estimate and not an actual count. The most recent Census estimate is for the year 2019. |
| <2> | Every 10 years (eg- 1990, 2000, 2010), the US Census Bureau conducts a Constitutionally-mandated count (or enumeration) of people living within the United States. This count is called a Decennial Census. The last Decennial Census was the 2010 Census, with the next one planned for 2020. |
| <3> | A Housing Unit is a broad term for those places where people live (whether occupied or temporarily vacant), such as a house, an apartment, a mobile home, or an area that is considered as a separate living quarter. Separate living quarters (consisting of one or more rooms) are considered to be those places where people live, sleep and eat separately from others and that have access to the outside (either directly or by a shared hallway). |
| <4> | Star Valley is also known as Diamond Star. For more information, please visit our Genealogy Helper Page for Star Valley. |
| <5> | If you're interested in how the shape of Arizona's counties, including Gila, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 257 degrees and a distance of 7,057 feet. |
| <7> | When looking for a ZIP Code, whether Star Valley or elsewhere, it's always best to check the website of the United States Postal Service (USPS). |