Eastern Arizona College (EAC),is an Arizona community college located in Graham County, Arizona. The main campus is in Thatcher, with satellite locations in Gila County, and Greenlee County. It is the oldest community college in Arizona and the only community college in Arizona with a marching band. In Canada and the United States, a community college, sometimes called a technical college, county college, junior college or a city college, is an educational institution providing higher education and lower-level tertiary education, granting certificates, diplomas, and Associates degrees. ... Graham County is located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Arizona. ... Thatcher is a town located in Graham County, Arizona. ... Location in the state of Arizona Formed 1881 Seat Globe Area  - Total  - Water 12,421 km² (4,796 mi²) 73 km² (28 mi²) 0. ... Greenlee County is located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Arizona. ...

Institution

History

Eastern Arizona College was chartered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 1888. Classes started in a church room in Central, Arizona in 1890, with 17 students and was called the St. Joseph Stake Academy. In 1891, classes were moved to Thatcher, Arizona due to being more centralized and needing more room. The school continued to expand, though it was strapped financially. In 1908, a new 21 room building was opened that would eventually be called, "Old Main".

In 1932, the Church stated they could no longer afford to financially support the college and would close it unless the local valley could support it. In 1933, an election was held and the valley passed an initiative funding the school. Ownership of the school passed to the State of Arizona in 1933. There is no religeous affiliation today. In 1962, it became the newest member of the Arizona's Junior College System. The 1960's was a time of growth and the college purchased nearby farmland to extend their campus.

In 1972 a fine arts center was completed. In 1979, two fires within a week destroyed "Old Main". The building was razed and a new administration building was contructed on the site. During the 1987-1988 school year, Eastern Arizona College celebrated it's 100 year mark with celebrations.

Eastern Arizona College has changed names nine times, growing from a one-room school house to becoming a large community college serving three counties and hosting a satellite campus for a University.^[1]

Campus

The main campus 32°49′58″N, 109°45′46″W (32.832685, -109.762879)^GR1 sits in the center of the Upper Gila River Valley with one of Arizona's famous Sky Islands towering to the south and the Gila River to the north. The buildings on the campus are plain however the grass, trees, and flower beds on EAC's campus are impeccably maintained year round. ^[2]

References

External Links

• Official site