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Greenlee County's population as of Census 2020 was 9,563, up 13.3% from 2010. Since 2010, Greenlee County has experienced the second-fastest population growth of Arizona's 15 counties (behind Maricopa County). Greenlee County's population is projected to reach 11,027 in 2025 and 12,386 in 2055, according to pre-Census 2020 projections by Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
UNEMPLOYMENT: Greenlee County's unemployment rate in 2021 was 4.0% (down from 5.2% in 2020, the first year of the COVID pandemic). At the peak of COVID business closures, the unemployment rate in Greenlee County hit a high of 7.1% in July 2020. Greenlee County’s unemployment rate of 4.0% in 2021 was lower than the statewide rate of 4.9% and the nationwide rate of 5.3%.
NONFARM PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT: Greenlee County gained 50 jobs in 2021 for annual job growth of 1.0%. The private sector added 25 jobs (0.6%) and the government sector added 25 jobs (4.8%). In the private sector, goods-producing jobs were down by 25 (-0.7%) while service jobs grew by 50 (5.9%).
Note: Labor force, employment, unemployment, and jobs data on this page are updated annually. For the most recent monthly labor market data, visit Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
PERSONAL INCOME: In 2020, Greenlee County had a per capita personal income (PCPI) of $44,050. This PCPI ranked 7th in the state and was 89% of the state average, $49,648, and 74% of the national average, $59,510. The 2020 PCPI reflected an increase of 7.2% from 2019. The 2019-2020 state change was 8.4% and the national change was 6.2%. In 2010, the PCPI of Greenlee County was $30,297 and ranked 6th in the state. The 2010-2020 compound annual growth rate of PCPI was 3.8%. The compound annual growth rate for the state was 3.9% and for the nation was 3.9%.
WAGES: The average annual wage for management occupations in Greenlee County in 2020 was $106,728 ($51.31 hourly), which was 94% of the Arizona statewide average and 84% of the national avera
MAJOR INDUSTRY SALES: In 2021, Greenlee County's retail sales were up 23.0%, following a decline of 21.5% in 2020. Restaurant & bar sales were up 9.0% in 2021, after falling 17.5% the year prior. Hotel/motel receipts in Graham and Greenlee counties combined were up 18.9 in 2021, following a COVID-related decline of 25.1% in 2020.
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: In 2020, Greenlee County produced $1,471,514 in current-dollar total GDP*. This GDP ranked 13th in the state and accounted for 0.4% of the state total. In 2010, the total GDP of Greenlee County was $1,472,866 and ranked 12th in the state. In 2020, Greenlee County real GDP fell 4.8%; the 2019-2020 state change was -1.0%. The 2010-2020 compound annual growth rate for Greenlee County real GDP was -0.6%; the compound annual growth rate for the state was 2.1%.
*GDP estimates are in thousands of dollars.
In March 2022, the median list price of homes for sale in Greenlee County was $159,900, according to National Association of Realtors. That was up 29.5% from March 2021. As of May 2022, there were 27 homes listed for sale in Greenlee County, up from 20 in June 2021 (Greenlee County, AZ Real Estate Market). In 2020, there were 11 building permits issued for new homes in Greenlee County.
According to research by Dean Runyan Associates for Arizona Office of Tourism, Greenlee and Graham County's combined travel industry (including business and leisure travel) generated $48.5 million in direct spending in 2020, down 43% from 2019. Greenlee and Graham County's travel industry supported 822 jobs (down 19.1%) between the two counties with earnings of $16.2 million (down 7.1%) in 2020, according to the study.
In 2021, bank deposits in Greenlee County (as of June 30) were up 14.7% from 2020 - the third consecutive year of strong, double-digit growth. Deposits in 2020 and 2021 were helped along by COVID stimulus payments.
Greenlee Bank Deposits (1994-current) (xlsx)
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