The Coconino sun., 1927-05-27
ONLY A SMALL PART OF ARIZONA
LANDS. IN PRIVATE OWNERSHIP

The Miami Silver Belt, in recent
issue published some statistics show
ing the relative proportions of fed
eral lands and other lands in the vari
GUS counties of the state that are Of
unusual interest to citizens and tax
payers of Arizona The figures for
other than federal include state, coun-
ty, municipal and school. lands. The
figures throw much light on the prob
lens of taxation in this state.
The federal government holds 44.5
per cent of the total area of Arizona
in reservations, Indian, park, monu-
ments, forest, power, military, oil, coal
and stock driveways. This does not
include great areas of government
lands outside of reservations, which
bring the proportion of lands owned
by the federal government up to 63.5.
per cent of the total None of these
government lands, of course, are sub
ject to state taxation. The percent
age of lands which the state and coun-
ties can tax is very small.
The handicap placed upon the nor
NAL growth and development of the
state and its subdivisions by this alb
sentee ownership and tax exemption
within their boundaries, is very great,
indeed.
Gila county has the smallest area Of
privately owned, taxable lands of any
county in the state. The total acre
age of the county is 3,007,360 acres.
The land in the county belonging to
the government amounts to 2,915,297
acres. Lands not owned by the gov
! a,14 fo1 lxv a
little over three per cent of the area.
tax only little over three per cent
of the lands within its boundaries.
Next lowest comes Greenlee county,
which has a little over per cent of
her lands under private ownership
and on the tax rolls.
Unexpectedly, Cochise county ranks
highest, with about 631a per cent of
her lands in private ownership.
Maricopa county, with her big ir-
rigated valley, has only 81 " per cent
of her lands in private ownership.
Yuma county, which also has large
| irrigated area, excels Maricopa with
| 371s per cent Of her lands subject to
i taxation.
The complete tables follow. The
| percentages of non-federal owned
lands in the various counties have
been carried out to the fifth decimal
point. For all practical purposes the
! first two figures may be used to indi-
! cate the percentages.
! Apache County
/ Total acreage Of county ,282 $50
Land owned by u. S. Cow .5.683,92l
Land under other ownership, ] ,598,639
| (or .21951 per cent?
Cochise County
Total acreage OF county 3,948,800
| Land owned by u. S. Gov...-.1 ,438, ,455
Land under other ownership 2,510,345
Tor .63572 per cent
Coconino County
Total acreage of county IL ,918,720
Land owned by u. S. Gov, 9,5S5, 1888
Land under other ownership 2,332,7
! Cor .11041 per cent.
Gila County
| Total acreage of county 3,007, 800
Land owned by u. s. Gov. -2,915,279
Land under other ownership 92,081
| Cor .03061 per cent?
Graham County
| Total acreage of county y..2, 1868, 200
Land owned by U. s. Cow ,431, BAT
Land under other ownership. 531,353
I Cor 1880 per cent?
Greenlee County
Total acreage of county y.-1 POI ,920
Land owned by U. s. Gov. ,092, 756
Land under other ownership lO9, l64
/ (or .08108 per cent?
Maricopa County
Total acreage of county y-5, $780, ,240
Land owned by u. S. Cow. 4,519,696
Land under other ownership. 1,170,544
Tor .20571 per cent?
Mohave County
Total acreage OF county ~ S,569,60O
Land owned by u. S. Gov. 6,186,817
Land under other ownership 1882, ,7S3
Tor .27805 per cent.
Navajo County
| Total acreage of county ,. 6,335 800
Land owned by u. s. Cow 4,706,105
Land under other ownership ] ,629,25
Cor .25716 per cent.
Pima County
Total acreage of county y..s~..-.6, 6,O83, ZOO
Land owned by u. S. Gov. soil ,908
Land under other ownership l ,071 ,292
Cor 1850 per cent?
Pinal County
Total acreage Of county y...-..3 443,2OO
Land owned by U. S. Gov 2,423, $40
Land under other ownership 1,019,860
Tor .29619 per cent?
Santa Cruz County
Total acreage of county . 786,56O
Land owned by U. S. Gov. 448,613
Land under other ownership 337,947
(or 1884 per cent.
Yavapai. County
Total acreage of county 5,216,000
Land owned by U: S. Cow 3,255,085
Land under other ownership. l ,960,915
Cor 1884 per cent.
Yuma County
Total acreage of county 1891 $50
Land owned by u. S. Gov. 5,692,091
Land under other ownership 699,589
Cor .10945 per cent?
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