View source for New River, Arizona

{{Short description|CDP in Maricopa County, Arizona}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                            = 
| official_name                   = New River, Arizona
| settlement_type                 = [[Census-designated place]]
| image_skyline                   = New River-Welcome to New River Marker.jpg
| imagesize                       = 250px
| image_caption                   = Welcome sign
| image_seal                      = 
| image_map                       = Maricopa County Arizona Incorporated and Unincorporated areas New River Highlighted 0449360.svg
| mapsize                         = 250px
| map_caption                     = Location in [[Maricopa County]] and the state of [[Arizona]]
| pushpin_map                     = Arizona#USA
| pushpin_map_caption             = 
| pushpin_label                   = New River
| pushpin_label_position          = bottom
| subdivision_type                = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_type1               = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2               = [[List of counties in Arizona|County]]
| subdivision_name                = [[United States]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[Arizona]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[Maricopa County, Arizona|Maricopa]]
| government_type                 = 
| leader_title                    = 
| leader_name                     = 
| established_date                = 
| unit_pref                       = Imperial
| area_footnotes                  = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021">{{cite web |title=2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Arizona |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2021_Gazetteer/2021_gaz_place_04.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=May 17, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2                  = 145.35
| area_total_sq_mi                = 56.12
| area_land_km2                   = 145.32
| area_land_sq_mi                 = 56.11
| area_water_km2                  = 0.03
| area_water_sq_mi                = 0.01
| elevation_ft                    = 2136
| elevation_footnotes             = <ref name=gnis/>
| population_as_of                = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes            = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=1600000US0449360&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=New River CDP, Arizona: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=May 17, 2022}}</ref>
| population_total                = 17290
| population_metro                = 
| population_density_km2          = 118.98
| population_density_sq_mi        = 308.16
| timezone                        = [[Mountain Standard Time Zone|MST]] 
| utc_offset                      = -7
| coordinates                     = {{coord|33|52|09|N|112|05|09|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| timezone_DST                    = 
| utc_offset_DST                  = 
| postal_code_type                = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code                     = 85087 (New River)<br/>85086 ([[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]])
| area_code                       = 623
| blank_name                      = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info                      = 04-49360
| blank1_name                     = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info                     = 2408920<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2408920}}</ref>
| footnotes                       = 
}}

'''New River''' is an [[Unincorporated area#United States|unincorporated community]] and [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[Maricopa County, Arizona|Maricopa County]], [[Arizona]], United States. The population was 17,290 as of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="Census 2020"/> up from 14,952 at the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/profile/AZ|title=Census 2010: Arizona|website=usatoday.com|access-date=April 22, 2018}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Phillip Darrell Duppa.jpg|250px|thumb|left|[[Phillip Darrell Duppa|Phillip "Lord" Darrell Duppa]]]] 
New River is named after the seasonal [[washland|wash]] of the same name, part of the [[Agua Fria River]] system which drains into the [[Salt River (Arizona)|Salt River]]. The community was founded by Lord [[Darrell Duppa]] in 1868 as a stagecoach stop. For many years it was the terminus of the old Black Canyon Highway (now [[Interstate 17]]). The pavement ended in New River and continued as a dirt road to the city of [[Prescott, Arizona|Prescott]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hometownusa.com/az/history/New_River.html |title=New River, Arizona History and Trivia |website=www.hometownusa.com |access-date=April 22, 2018}}</ref>

==Geography==
New River is located in northern Maricopa County and is bordered by the [[Tonto National Forest]] to the north, [[Cave Creek, Arizona|Cave Creek]] to the east, [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]] to the south, and Phoenix and [[Anthem, Arizona|Anthem]] to the west. The CDP includes the area known as [[Desert Hills, Maricopa County, Arizona|Desert Hills]]. New River is approximately {{convert|36|mi}} north of [[downtown Phoenix]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|56.1|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|0.01|sqmi|2}}, or 0.02%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021"/> {{convert|3176|ft|adj=on}} [[Daisy Mountain]] and {{convert|2980|ft|adj=on}} [[Gavilan Peak (Arizona)|Gavilan Peak]] are within the community.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left|2000= 10740
|2010= 14952
|2020= 17290
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=May 10, 2014}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 10,740 people, 3,921 households, and 3,066 families residing in the CDP.  The population density was {{convert|151.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 4,514 housing units at an average density of {{convert|63.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.9% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.4% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.6% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.5% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.3% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.4% from two or more races.  4.9% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 3,921 households, out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.8% were non-families. 15.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 28.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.9 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.4 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $62,307, and the median income for a family was $68,604. Males had a median income of $46,361 versus $31,610 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $25,932.  About 3.6% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.

As of the census of 2010 the population of the New River CDP area was 14,952. This is nearly a two thirds growth from the previous census. The total housing units nearly doubled from 3,921 in 2000 to 6,753 in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|title=U.S. Census website|publisher=United States Census Bureau|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|language=en|access-date=November 24, 2018}}</ref>

New River CDP area is within Maricopa County District 3. According to 2010 census numbers, the New River CDP consists of about 2% of Maricopa County District 3 and only 0.3% of Maricopa County.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/maricopacountyarizona|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Maricopa County, Arizona|website=Census Bureau QuickFacts|language=en-US|access-date=November 24, 2018}}</ref>

==Government==
New River is served by [[Deer Valley Unified School District]].

Fire and emergency service is provided through the Daisy Mountain Fire District.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.daisymountainfire.org/|title=daisymountainfire.org|website=daisymountainfire}}</ref>

Many residents previously relied on water delivered by state-licensed water haulers from fire hydrants located in Phoenix. As of August 2018, water is hauled from a filling station operated by [[Epcor]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.epcor.com/account-billing/Pages/new-river-desert-hills-water-filling-station.aspx|title=New River & Desert Hills Water Filling Station|website=www.epcor.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2018/05/29/new-river-water/|title=New River to get new water supply &#124; Cronkite News|date=May 29, 2018}}</ref>

=== Incorporation efforts ===
New River, and its neighbor [[Desert Hills, Maricopa County, Arizona|Desert Hills]], are unincorporated areas in Maricopa County which in 2019 was named the fastest-growing county in the United States for the third year running. While parts of Maricopa have had considerable development, New River has held off. New River has attempted to "incorporate" a number of times in its history, so as to control zoning regulations and development in the area.<ref name="arizonacentral"/>

* In 1979 the area tried to incorporate into a town, and while the necessary signatures were collected to move forward with incorporation, the Maricopa County Superior Court Judge vacated the election, finding that New River was too rural and did not meet the statutory requirements for incorporation. At this time, Phoenix was approximately {{convert|30|mi}} away.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://nrdhic.org/archives|title=NRDHIC – Archives|website=nrdhic.org|access-date=November 24, 2018}}</ref>
* In 1995, the area attempted again to incorporate. However, this time the region to incorporate would have included approximately {{convert|120|sqmi}}.<ref name="auto"/> While a sufficient number of signatures was collected, the City of Phoenix declined to pass a resolution to approve New River's request to incorporate. In 1999 there was another short-lived movement to incorporate, which also failed.<ref name="auto"/>
* In 2017, residents formed a committee to look into the feasibility of incorporating New River and its neighbor [[Desert Hills, Arizona|Desert Hills]].<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nrdhic.org/|title=NRDHIC|website=nrdhic.org|access-date=November 24, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.savenewriver.com|title=NRDHIC|website=www.savenewriver.com|access-date=November 24, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nrdhic.org/press|title=NRDHIC Press|website=www.nrdhic.org|access-date=November 24, 2018}}</ref> In April 2019, the campaign to incorporate New River and Desert Hills was aiming to collect the signatures of ten per cent of registered voters needed to force a ballot on the issue in November 2019.<ref name="arizonacentral">{{cite news|url=https://eu.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2019/05/01/new-river-residents-feud-over-whether-become-city-desert-hills-maricopa-county/3542612002/|title=New River residents feud over whether to become a city|newspaper=[[The Arizona Republic]]|author=Jessica Boehm |date=May 1, 2019|quote=Supporters of the New River Desert Hills incorporation are hoping to get the question on the ballot in November. The last town to incorporate in Arizona was Tusayan in 2010, according to Ken Strobeck, executive director of the Arizona League of Cities and Towns. In order to get incorporation on the ballot, incorporation supporters must collect signatures from at least 10 percent of registered voters in the proposed city limits.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ktar.com/story/2524286/north-valley-community-of-15000-working-to-become-its-own-town/|title=Some residents want North Valley community to become its own town|author=Ali Vetnar|publisher=[[KTAR-FM]]|date=April 9, 2019|quote=The group also needs to collect signatures from 10% of registered voters in the area to put the measure on the November ballot. Ricci said this effort has been going on for three decades, but they've never been able to bring issue to a vote.}}</ref> In June 2019, it was reported that the campaign had failed to win the necessary approval of the City of Phoenix to have a vote on the issue, and the campaign group was reported as saying: "It is unfortunate that we are unable to continue our efforts after this latest development."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nophonews.com/nrdh-no-incorporation/|title=Plan to Incorporate New River & Desert Hills Dies|author=Robert Roy Britt|date=June 3, 2019|access-date=June 5, 2019|publisher=North Phoenix News}}</ref> The incorporation effort was opposed by the [[Arizona State Land Department]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thefoothillsfocus.com/?p=3617|title=Incorporation efforts halt – The Foothills Focus}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XZt05v0WGFLHBDAwJJCygBjSkzwd-Os8/view|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190803210543/https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XZt05v0WGFLHBDAwJJCygBjSkzwd-Os8/view|archive-date = August 3, 2019|title = ASLD entire letter.PNG}}</ref>

==Local attractions==
[[File:New River-Gavilan Peak.jpg|thumb|220px|Daisy Mountain]]
*Cave Creek Regional Park
*[[Lake Pleasant Regional Park]]
*[[Wranglers Roost Stagecoach Stop]] (Established 1890)
*Spur Cross Ranch
*[[Daisy Mountain Preserve]]
*New River [[Kiwanis]] Park
*Gavilan Peak – Named in the 1880s, when the [[U.S. Cavalry]] and the [[Apaches]] fought a battle in the area. The name means "sparrow hawk" in Spanish and "hawk" in Apache.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=1841 |title=Gavilan Peak, AZ |publisher=HikeArizona.com |access-date=August 16, 2016}}</ref>

==Education==
It is in the [[Deer Valley Unified School District]]<!--Census code: UNI 07750-->.<ref>{{cite map|author=Geography Division|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st04_az/schooldistrict_maps/c04013_maricopa/DC20SD_C04013.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st04_az/schooldistrict_maps/c04013_maricopa/DC20SD_C04013.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Maricopa County, AZ|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date=December 22, 2020|page=3 (PDF p. 4/11)|accessdate=2025-08-28}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st04_az/schooldistrict_maps/c04013_maricopa/DC20SD_C04013_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

==Historic structures in New River==
{{Further|List of historic properties in New River, Arizona}}
Pictured are some of the few remaining historic structures of New River.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ghosttownaz.info/jack-ass-acres.php|title=Jack Ass Acres, Arizona – Ghost Towns of Arizona and Surrounding States|last=www.nerdmecca.com|website=www.ghosttownaz.info|access-date=April 22, 2018}}</ref>

{{Gallery
|title=Historic structures of New River, Arizona
|width=180px
|height=200px
|align=center
|File: New River-Wrangler's Roost Stage Coach Stop-1890.jpg |Front gate of the historic Wranglers Roost Stagecoach Stop
|File: New River-The Station-1940.jpg  |The Station
|File: New River-Jack Ass Acres Service Station-1930-1.JPG |The Jack Ass Acres Service Station, which has since been demolished and replaced by a nearby Shell station
}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Arizona}}
* [[List of rivers of Arizona]]

==References==
<references />

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081005005844/http://www.maricopa.gov/planning/Resources/Plans/AreaLandUsePlan/newRiverAreaPlan.aspx Maricopa County General Plan ]

{{Maricopa County, Arizona}}
{{Phoenix Metropolitan Area}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Maricopa County, Arizona]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Arizona]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1868]]
[[Category:Phoenix metropolitan area]]