View source for Queen Creek, Arizona

{{short description|Town in Maricopa and Pinal counties in Arizona, United States}}
{{use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{not to be confused with|Queen's Creek}}
{{use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}

{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Queen Creek, Arizona
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = 
<!-- Images --------------->
|image_skyline            = Queen_Creek-Queen_Creek_Town_Hall.jpg
|imagesize                = 275px
|image_caption            = Queen Creek Town Hall
|image_flag               = Flag of Queen Creek, Arizona.svg
|image_seal               = Queencreekaz seal.png
<!-- Maps ----------------->
|image_map                = Maricopa County and Pinal County Arizona Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Queen Creek Highlighted 0458150.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in Maricopa and Pinal counties
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
<!-- Location ------------->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Arizona]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Arizona|Counties]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Maricopa County, Arizona|Maricopa]], [[Pinal County, Arizona|Pinal]]
<!-- Government ----------->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Julia Wheatley<ref>{{cite web |title=Mayor Julia Wheatley |url=https://www.queencreekaz.gov/government/town-council/mayor-julia-wheatley |publisher=Town of Queen Creek |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250321200759/https://www.queencreekaz.gov/government/town-council/mayor-julia-wheatley |archive-date=March 21, 2025 |access-date=May 24, 2025}}</ref>
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = September 5, 1989
<!-- Area ----------------->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023">{{Cite web |title=2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2023_Gazetteer/2023_gaz_place_04.txt |access-date=February 10, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 109.116
|area_land_km2            = 109.043
|area_water_km2           = 0.073
|area_total_sq_mi         = 42.130
|area_land_sq_mi          = 42.102
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.028
<!-- Population ----------->
|population_as_of         = 2024
|population_est           = 87006
|pop_est_as_of            = 2025
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2023"/>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 83700
|population_density_km2   = 651.6
|population_density_sq_mi = 1687.6
|population_rank          = US: 483th<br>AZ: [[List of municipalities in Arizona|16th]]
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain (MST)]] (no [[Daylight savings time|DST]])
|utc_offset               = –7
|timezone_DST             = 
|utc_offset_DST           = 
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_m              = 432
|elevation_ft             = 1417
|coordinates              = {{coord|33|14|55|N|111|38|03|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s
|postal_code              = 85140, 85142, 84143, 85144
|area_code                = [[Area code 480|480]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 04-58150
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2412518<ref name="gnis">{{GNIS|2412518}}</ref>
|blank2_name              = [[Sales tax]]
|blank2_info              = 8.55%<ref>{{Cite web |title=Queen Creek (AZ) sales tax rate |url=https://www.avalara.com/taxrates/en/state-rates/arizona/cities/queen-creek.html |access-date=February 10, 2024}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://www.queencreekaz.gov/|queencreekaz.gov}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Queen Creek''' is a town in [[Maricopa County, Arizona|Maricopa]] and [[Pinal County, Arizona|Pinal]] counties in [[Arizona]], United States. The population was 59,519 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], and is at a population of 83,700 as of 2024. <ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Queen_Creek_town,_Arizona?g=160XX00US0458150 |access-date=February 10, 2024 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> It is a suburb of [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]], located in the far southeast area of the [[Phoenix Metropolitan Area]].

==History==
Based on the [[post office]] form on file at the [[National Archives and Records Administration|National Archives]], Queen Creek was originally known as Rittenhouse, after C. H. Rittenhouse—the community having grown out of a [[Rail transport|railroad]] stop he constructed after forming the Queen Creek Farms Company in 1919 and needing a shipping point for his produce.<ref name="XMS">{{Cite book |last=Granger |first=Byrd Howell |title=Arizona's Names (X Marks the Place) |date=1983 |publisher=The Falconer Publishing Company |isbn=0918080185 |location=Tucson, AZ |pages=508 & 525}}</ref> The [[Eponym|eponymous]] "[[Stream|creek]]" (typically more of a dry [[Arroyo (watercourse)|arroyo]]), originally called Picket Post Creek, once flowed through Queen Canyon and was named for the Silver Queen Mine.<ref name="XMS" />

==Geography==
The town of Queen Creek is primarily within Maricopa County, but the town limits extend into Pinal County on the eastern and southern borders. The town is bordered to the south and east in Pinal County by the unincorporated community of [[San Tan Valley, Arizona|San Tan Valley]] (population 99,894).

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town of Queen Creek has a total area of {{convert|42.130|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|0.028|sqmi|2}}, or 0.07%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023" />

==Demographics==
{{stack|{{US Census population
|1980= 1378
|1990= 2667
|2000= 4316
|2010= 26361
|2020= 59519
|estyear=2025
|estimate=87006
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |date=May 29, 2024|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=May 29, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Queen Creek town, Arizona – Racial composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!{{partial|2020}}<ref>{{cite web |title=HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE (2020) |url=https://data.census.gov/table?t=Race+and+Ethnicity&g=160XX00US0458150&d=DEC+Demographic+and+Housing+Characteristics |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref>
!2010<ref>{{cite web |title=HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE (2010) |url=https://data.census.gov/table?t=Race+and+Ethnicity&g=160XX00US0458150&y=2010 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref>
!2000<ref>{{cite book |title=Arizona: 2000 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |pages=34-35 |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2002/dec/phc-1-4.pdf}}</ref>
!1990<ref>{{cite book |title=Arizona: 1990 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |pages=20 |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-4.pdf}}</ref>
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|style='background: #ffffe6; |72.6%<br><small>(43,202)</small>
|74%<br><small>(19,516)</small>
|67.7%<br><small>(2,921)</small>
|67.8%<br><small>(1,807)</small>
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black]] alone (NH)
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.2%<br><small>(1,875)</small>
|3.2%<br><small>(841)</small>
|0.3%<br><small>(14)</small>
|1%<br><small>(27)</small>
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian]] alone (NH)
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.6%<br><small>(377)</small>
|0.5%<br><small>(123)</small>
|0.5%<br><small>(22)</small>
|0.8%<br><small>(21)</small>
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.4%<br><small>(1,430)</small>
|2.7%<br><small>(709)</small>
|0.3%<br><small>(14)</small>
|<td rowspan="2"> |0.7%<br><small>(19)</small>
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.2%<br><small>(98)</small>
|0.1%<br><small>(31)</small>
|0.1%<br><small>(3)</small>
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.4%<br><small>(250)</small>
|0.1%<br><small>(30)</small>
|0%<br><small>(1)</small>
|0.3%<br><small>(9)</small>
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Multiracial]] (NH)
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.5%<br><small>(2,651)</small>
|2.1%<br><small>(545)</small>
|1.1%<br><small>(47)</small>
|—
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic/Latino]] (any race)
|style='background: #ffffe6; |16.2%<br><small>(9,636)</small>
|17.3%<br><small>(4,566)</small>
|30%<br><small>(1,294)</small>
|29.4%<br><small>(784)</small>
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 59,519 people, 17,965 households, and 15,549 families residing in the town.<ref>{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Queen%20Creek%20town,%20Arizona%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=May 29, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|1476.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 19,628 housing units. The racial makeup of the town was 77.2% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 3.3% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.9% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.5% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.2% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 4.2% from some other races and 11.7% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race were 16.2% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How many people live in Queen Creek town, Arizona |url=https://data.usatoday.com/census/total-population/total-population-change/queen-creek-town-arizona/160-0458150/ |access-date=May 29, 2024 |publisher=USA Today}}</ref> 30.8% of residents were under the age of 18, 6.3% were under 5 years of age, and 12.6% were 65 and older.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 26,361 people, 7,720 households, 6,557 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|940.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 8,557 housing units at an average density of {{convert|49.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 83.6% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 3.4% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.7% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.8% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 5.8% from some other races and 3.6% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race were 17.3% of the population.

There were 7,720 households, out of which 50.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 11.8% were non-families. 8.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.54 and the average family size was 3.77.

In the town, the population age spread was: 35.4% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 4.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $63,702, and the median income for a family was $65,679. Males had a median income of $45,000 versus $31,447 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $21,592. About 6.0% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
{{cleanup section|reason=Which school districts operate these schools?  This needs to be separated by district (school districts are independent government agencies), then by type|date=November 2024}}

The town of Queen Creek is served by six public [[School district|school districts]], as well as public [[Charter school|charter schools]] and a [[private school]].<!--Citing Census Bureau PDF maps (archivable) instead of tiger web (online interactive maps don't archive well ... [[Queen Creek Unified School District]] serves the greatest number of Queen Creek students. Other districts include: [[Higley Unified School District]], [[Chandler Unified School District]], [[Florence Unified School District]], [[J. O. Combs Unified School District]], and the [[Apache Junction Unified School District]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Image |url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/directories/arcgisoutput/Utilities/PrintingTools_GPServer/_ags_dd65eee4-c3e0-11ed-9bf6-0025b5316b16.jpg |website=tigerweb.geo.census.gov}}</ref>{{deadlink}}-->

The portion in Maricopa County is mostly in the [[Queen Creek Unified School District]]<!--Census code is UNI 06810-->, with portions in the [[Higley Unified School District]]<!--UNI 03780--> and the [[Chandler Unified School District]]<!--UNI 01870-->.<ref>{{cite web|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]]|page=7 (PDF p. 8/11)|accessdate=2024-11-08}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st04_az/schooldistrict_maps/c04013_maricopa/DC20SD_C04013_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

The portion in Pinal County is divided between the [[Florence Unified School District]]<!--Census code is UNI 02920-->, [[J. O. Combs Unified School District]]<!--UNI 03990-->, and the [[Apache Junction Unified School District]]<!--UNI 00790-->.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st04_az/schooldistrict_maps/c04021_pinal/DC20SD_C04021.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Pinal County, AZ|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-11-07}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st04_az/schooldistrict_maps/c04021_pinal/DC20SD_C04021_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

===Elementary===
* Auxier Elementary
* Cortina Elementary
* Desert Mountain Elementary
* Faith Mather Sossaman Elementary
* Frances Brandon-Pickett Elementary
* Jack Barnes Elementary
* Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary
* Queen Creek Elementary
* Schnepf Elementary

===Junior/Senior High===
* [[Sossaman Middle School]]
* [[Casteel High School]]
* Crismon High School
* Newell Barney Junior High School
* Payne Junior High School
* [[Queen Creek High School]]
* Queen Creek Junior High School
* San Tan Foothills High School

===Public Charter Schools===
* [[American Leadership Academy]] 
* Benjamin Franklin Charter School
* Eduprize School
* [[Heritage Academy (Mesa, Arizona)|Heritage Academy]]-Gateway
* Legacy Traditional School-Queen Creek

===Higher Education===
* Communiversity at Queen Creek ([[Rio Salado College]]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Communiversity at Queen Creek |url=http://www.riosalado.edu/locations/commu-queencreek/Pages/default.aspx |access-date=January 28, 2016 |publisher=riosalado.edu |archive-date=March 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306152456/http://www.riosalado.edu/locations/commu-queencreek/Pages/default.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[Rittenhouse Elementary School|Rittenhouse Elementary School/San Tan Historical Society Museum]]

==Transportation==
Queen Creek is a member of [[Valley Metro]].<ref>{{Cite web | title=Overview {{!}} Valley Metro | url=https://www.valleymetro.org/about/overview | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204022710/https://www.valleymetro.org/about/overview | access-date=2025-08-24 | archive-date=2020-12-04}}</ref> Queen Creek is not currently served by scheduled service. Valley Metro provides [[vanpool]]s in Queen Creek.<ref>{{Cite web| title=Town of Queen Creek - Multimodal transportation master plan | url=https://www.queencreekaz.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/23872/636173039912870000 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250309013828/https://www.queencreekaz.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/23872/636173039912870000 | archive-date=2025-03-09}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Brock Purdy]], American football player
* [[Tony Huffman]], racing driver

==Historic properties==
{{Main|List of historic properties in Queen Creek, Arizona}}

There are various properties in the town of Queen Creek which are considered historical and have been included either in the [[National Register of Historic Places]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Register of Historical Places – Arizona (AZ), Maricopa County |url=http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/az/Maricopa/state.html |access-date=January 28, 2016 |publisher=[[National Register of Historic Places]]}}</ref> or listed as such by the San Tan Historical Society. The following are images of some of these properties with a short description of the same.
{{Gallery  
|title=Historical Structures in Queen Creek, Arizona<br>(NRHP = National Register of Historic Places)<br>(STHS = San Tan Historical Society.) 
|width=180px
|height=200px
|align=center
|File: Queen_Creek-San_Tan_Museum.jpg|The '''Old Rittenhouse Elementary School''', located on the S.E. corner of Ellsworth and Queen Creek roads was built in 1925. Used as a school through 1982, this building now houses the '''San Tan Historical Society'''. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. Reference 98000053
|File: Queen_Creek-Desert_Wells_Stage_Stop_ruins.jpg|Ruins of the '''Desert Wells Stage Stop'''. Located just north of Chandler Heights Road on the east side of Sossaman Road, this site was a small spur stop for the Arizona Stage Company, founded in 1868. The stop provided water, shade, and protection for stages from Florence via Olberg and on to Mesa. Listed as historical by the San Tan Historical Society.
|File:Queen Creek- Railroad Water Tank-1900-3.jpg |1900s '''Railroad Water Tank''' on Rittenhouse Road.
}}

==See also==
{{portal|Arizona}}
* [[List of historic properties in Queen Creek, Arizona]]
* [[Mansel Carter]]
* [[Pegasus Airpark]]

==References==
{{reflist|22em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Queen Creek, Arizona}}
{{Wikivoyage|Queen Creek}}
* {{Official website|www.queencreek.org}}


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

{{authority control}}


[[Category:Towns in Maricopa County, Arizona]]
[[Category:Towns in Pinal County, Arizona]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1990]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Sonoran Desert]]
[[Category:Phoenix metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1990 establishments in Arizona]]