Thatcher, at an elevation of 2,900 feet. is in the Gila River Valley approximately 160 miles southeast of Phoenix, 120 miles northeast of Tucson and four miles northwest of Safford in Graham County. Thatcher was originally settled in 1881 on the south bank of the Gila River and was named for the Mormon Apostle Moses Thatcher. The town was incorporated in 1899.
Eastern Arizona College, a two-year public community college, is located in Thatcher. Founded by pioneers as St. Joseph Stake Academy in 1888, Eastern Arizona College became the first official state junior college in 1962. There are currently more than 3,600 students enrolled in Graham County classes. The school, with its growth, is becoming an increasingly important contributor to the economy of Thatcher and Graham County.