Central lies exactly where its name suggests — on the stretch of valley floor between Thatcher and Pima — and it's best known regionally as the home of the Gila Valley Arizona Temple, dedicated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on May 23, 2010. The temple has become a visual landmark for the whole valley, visible from farmland for miles around against the backdrop of Mount Graham.
Outside of the temple grounds, Central remains a small, quiet residential and agricultural community. Homes sit among working fields, and the pace here is unhurried compared to nearby Safford or Thatcher, both just a short drive away. Because Central sits between two larger communities, residents typically rely on Thatcher or Safford for schools, shopping, and other day-to-day needs.
For visitors, Central is worth a stop mainly for the temple grounds and the mountain views — it's a peaceful detour rather than a destination with its own commercial center, and that's very much by design.