Festivities for the 150th anniversary (aka the sesquicentennial) of Pinal County’s formation will be held throughout 2025 to honor the past, present and future of this booming county in the heart of Arizona.
At the request of petitioners from the Upper Gila River Valley, Pinal County was carved out of two of Arizona Territory’s original four counties, Maricopa and Pima. Enacted Feb. 1, 1875, this was the first act of the 8th Territorial Legislature. Florence was selected as and remains the county seat. Five years later the county’s population was 3,044, as reported by the U.S. Census.
The 2020 census reported the total population as 425,264, having more than doubled since 2000. The most recent estimates put it at least at 480,000.
The county government is planning a yearlong commemoration, with two community events in Florence and multiple exhibits at the county’s museums, many with a focus on Pinal’s mining history. The two large events are tentatively set for:
Spring event: Pinal County Sesquicentennial — 150th Celebration
Date: Feb. 1, 2025
Time: 1 to 3 p.m.
Features: Guest speakers, tours of the 1891 Courthouse, light refreshments and time capsule.
Fall event: Pinal County Sesquicentennial Community Celebration
Date: Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025
Time: 3 to 9 p.m.
Features: Concert (featuring local talent and main stage act), food trucks, game booths and fireworks.
Keep up with local media, including www.pinalnow.com, for updates on these and other sesquicentennial events. The county is also partnering with Arizona-based apparel company State 48 to sell commemorative T-shirts through its website, www.pinal.gov.
