Tonto Basin, Arizona

Tonto Basin is a census-designated place (CDP) in Gila County, Arizona, United States. The population was 840 at the 2000 census.

Within Tonto Basin is located the unincorporated community of Punkin Center.

Geography
Tonto Basin is located at 33.84°N, -111.28472°W (33.839953, -111.284734).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 31.4 sqmi, all of it land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 840 people, 439 households, and 262 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 26.8 people per square mile (10.3/km²). There were 726 housing units at an average density of 23.1/sq mi (8.9/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.07% White, 1.43% Native American, 0.95% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. 2.02% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 439 households out of which 9.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.3% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.91 and the average family size was 2.38.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 10.4% under the age of 18, 3.6% from 18 to 24, 13.5% from 25 to 44, 39.9% from 45 to 64, and 32.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 58 years. For every 100 females there were 107.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $23,398, and the median income for a family was $29,091. Males had a median income of $30,125 versus $17,500 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $15,157. About 15.9% of families and 18.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.9% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.

Popular culture
According to an NPR story on the Lone Ranger, Tonto Basin is the inspiration for Tonto, the native American companion to the Lone Ranger.