Forest Lakes, Arizona
Encyclopedia
Forest Lakes is a small unincorporated community
in Coconino County
in the northern part
of the U.S. state
of Arizona
. It is located on the edge of the Mogollon Rim
and is in close proximity to several recreational lakes within the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
, and is named for such.
Forest Lakes had previously been named Merzville.
As an unincorporated community, Forest Lakes does not have defined boundaries. The Forest Lakes Estates subdivision as recorded on the Coconino County Assessor's maps, has an area of approximately 1.89 square miles (4.9 km²).
85931. The ZIP Code is primarily unsettled, rural forest lands with the exception of Forest Lakes.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 266 people, 136 households, and 97 families residing in the ZCTA
for ZIP Code 85931. There were 916 housing units. The racial makeup of the ZCTA was 99.20% White
, 0.40% Native American
, and 0.40% Asian
. Hispanic
or Latino
of any race were 6.61% of the population.
There were 136 households out of which 7.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.1% were married couples
living together, 1.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.96 and the average family size was 2.29.
In the ZCTA the population was spread out with 7.1% under the age of 18, 0.8% from 18 to 24, 12.8% from 25 to 44, 42.1% from 45 to 64, and 36.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 60.5 years. For every 100 females there were 110.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.6 males.
The median income for a household in the ZCTA was $34,773, and the median income for a family was $34,219. The per capita income
for the ZCTA was $21,981. About 9.2% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.
operation in 1939 when the Denison family began mining manganese
in the area. Heavy demand for the metal from the United States
federal government helped ensure steady mining operations into the 1960s, when the family turned to logging
to sustain their income.
In May 1964, the land was subdivided into the first Forest Lakes Estates subdivision unit, and the homeowners association
, the Forest Lakes Owners Association, was organized.
With the construction of numerous recreational lakes in the area, demand for vacation homes
grew and spurred the creation of 10 additional units to the subdivision, with the last being created in May 1969.
ist - was spotted near Cibecue
, 27 miles (43.5 km) southwest of Forest Lakes. While the fire rapidly grew to cover 10000 acres (4,046.9 ha), there was no immediate threat to the Forest Lakes area.
Two days later on June 20, a stranded hiker who had been lost for 3 days set a signal fire
to get the attention of news helicopters that had been covering the Rodeo Fire. While the hiker was rescued, the signal fire unexpectedly grew in the dry conditions and quickly flared up. The resultant blaze, the Chediski Fire, was considerably closer, 14 miles (22.5 km) south of Forest Lakes.
On June 22, the fires combined and moved further northward, threatening several communities including Show Low
, Heber-Overgaard
and Pinetop-Lakeside
. Forest Lakes, also threatened, was evacuated at 1:00 PM that afternoon. The blaze moved to within 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) of Forest Lakes on June 28, but efforts to save the community prevailed and no homes in the settlement were damaged.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Coconino County
Coconino County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*61.7% White*1.2% Black*27.3% Native American*1.4% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.1% Two or more races*5.2% Other races*13.5% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
in the northern part
Northern Arizona
Northern Arizona is an unofficial, colloquially-defined region of the U.S. state of Arizona. It is dominated by the Colorado Plateau, the southern border of which in Arizona is called the Mogollon Rim. In the West lies the Grand Canyon, which was cut by the flow of the Colorado River while the...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. It is located on the edge of the Mogollon Rim
Mogollon Rim
The Mogollon Rim is a topographical and geological feature running across the U.S. state of Arizona. It extends approximately from northern Yavapai County eastward to near the border with New Mexico.-Description:...
and is in close proximity to several recreational lakes within the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest is a United States National Forest which runs along the Mogollon Rim and the White Mountains in east-central Arizona and extending into New Mexico, USA. Both forests are managed as one unit by USDA Forest Service from the forest headquarters in Springerville,...
, and is named for such.
Forest Lakes had previously been named Merzville.
Geography
Forest Lakes is located at 34°20′15"N 110°47′53"W (34.3375, -110.798056).As an unincorporated community, Forest Lakes does not have defined boundaries. The Forest Lakes Estates subdivision as recorded on the Coconino County Assessor's maps, has an area of approximately 1.89 square miles (4.9 km²).
Demographics
Forest lakes is located within ZIP CodeZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
85931. The ZIP Code is primarily unsettled, rural forest lands with the exception of Forest Lakes.
As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 266 people, 136 households, and 97 families residing in the ZCTA
ZIP Code Tabulation Area
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas are statistical entities developed by the United States Census Bureau for tabulating summary statistics from Census 2000. This new entity was developed to overcome the difficulties in precisely defining the land area covered by each ZIP code...
for ZIP Code 85931. There were 916 housing units. The racial makeup of the ZCTA was 99.20% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.40% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.40% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
. Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race were 6.61% of the population.
There were 136 households out of which 7.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 1.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.96 and the average family size was 2.29.
In the ZCTA the population was spread out with 7.1% under the age of 18, 0.8% from 18 to 24, 12.8% from 25 to 44, 42.1% from 45 to 64, and 36.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 60.5 years. For every 100 females there were 110.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.6 males.
The median income for a household in the ZCTA was $34,773, and the median income for a family was $34,219. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the ZCTA was $21,981. About 9.2% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.
History
The area that would become Forest Lakes began as a miningMining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
operation in 1939 when the Denison family began mining manganese
Manganese
Manganese is a chemical element, designated by the symbol Mn. It has the atomic number 25. It is found as a free element in nature , and in many minerals...
in the area. Heavy demand for the metal from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
federal government helped ensure steady mining operations into the 1960s, when the family turned to logging
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
to sustain their income.
In May 1964, the land was subdivided into the first Forest Lakes Estates subdivision unit, and the homeowners association
Homeowners association
A homeowner association is a corporation formed by a real estate developer for the purpose of marketing, managing, and selling of homes and lots in a residential subdivision...
, the Forest Lakes Owners Association, was organized.
With the construction of numerous recreational lakes in the area, demand for vacation homes
Vacation property
Vacation property is a niche in the real estate market dealing with residences used for holiday vacations . In the United Kingdom this type of property is usually termed a holiday home, in Australia, a holiday house/home, or weekender, in New Zealand, a bach or crib...
grew and spurred the creation of 10 additional units to the subdivision, with the last being created in May 1969.
Rodeo-Chediksi Fire
On the afternoon of June 18, 2002, a fire - later determined to be set by an arsonArson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
ist - was spotted near Cibecue
Cibecue, Arizona
Cibecue is a census-designated place in Navajo County, Arizona, United States. The population was 1,331 at the 2000 census.The current council leaders are Arnold Beach Sr...
, 27 miles (43.5 km) southwest of Forest Lakes. While the fire rapidly grew to cover 10000 acres (4,046.9 ha), there was no immediate threat to the Forest Lakes area.
Two days later on June 20, a stranded hiker who had been lost for 3 days set a signal fire
Smoke signal
The smoke signal is one of the oldest forms of communication in recorded history. It is a form of visual communication used over long distance.-History and usage:...
to get the attention of news helicopters that had been covering the Rodeo Fire. While the hiker was rescued, the signal fire unexpectedly grew in the dry conditions and quickly flared up. The resultant blaze, the Chediski Fire, was considerably closer, 14 miles (22.5 km) south of Forest Lakes.
On June 22, the fires combined and moved further northward, threatening several communities including Show Low
Show Low, Arizona
Winters in Show Low bring highs between 45°F and 55°F , with lows usually below freezing between November and March, averaging in the 20s December through February, and in the low 30s for November and March....
, Heber-Overgaard
Heber-Overgaard, Arizona
Heber-Overgaard is a census-designated place in Navajo County, Arizona, United States. Situated atop the Mogollon Rim, the community lies at an elevation of around . The population was 2,722 at the 2000 census....
and Pinetop-Lakeside
Pinetop-Lakeside, Arizona
Pinetop-Lakeside is a town in Navajo County, Arizona, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town is 4,156. It was founded in 1984 when the neighboring towns of Pinetop and Lakeside merged....
. Forest Lakes, also threatened, was evacuated at 1:00 PM that afternoon. The blaze moved to within 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) of Forest Lakes on June 28, but efforts to save the community prevailed and no homes in the settlement were damaged.