SAN TAN VALLEY, AZ (September 18, 2025) — San Tan Valley will officially establish its first city council this week, completing the largest incorporation by population in Arizona history.
The Pinal County Board of Supervisors interviewed 13 candidates on Sept. 15 and will appoint seven to serve as the inaugural council. Once formed, the group will select a mayor and vice mayor within 20 days. Members will serve as unpaid volunteers for the first year before facing elections if they wish to remain in office.
With more than 123,000 residents, San Tan Valley immediately becomes the largest municipality in Pinal County and one of Arizona’s 15 largest cities. Local leaders say the first priorities include hiring a city clerk, manager, and attorney to establish a functioning government.
The new city is also poised to collect significant state-shared revenues, which had previously bypassed the unincorporated community. Estimates suggest San Tan Valley could receive more than $51 million in its first year, giving it resources to staff city services, launch a police department, and begin capital planning.
Long one of the fastest-growing affordable housing markets in the nation, San Tan Valley’s incorporation follows years of debate and grassroots campaigning. “It’s important to have representation closest to the people,” said council candidate Tyler Hudgins, who chaired the incorporation commission.
As developers and investors continue to pour into the area, the arrival of formal city governance is expected to shape infrastructure, zoning, and growth across Pinal County for decades to come.