Tucson was founded as a military fort by the Spanish whenHugo O'Conor authorized the construction ofPresidio San Agustín del Tucsón in 1775. It was included in the state ofSonora after Mexico gained independence from theSpanish Empire in 1821. The United States acquired a 29,670 square miles (76,840 km2) region of present-day southern Arizona and southwesternNew Mexico from Mexico under theGadsden Purchase[12] in 1853. Tucson served as the capital of theArizona Territory from 1867 to 1877.[13] Tucson was Arizona's largest city by population during the territorial period and early statehood, until it was surpassed by Phoenix by 1920. Nevertheless, its population growth remained strong during the late 20th century. Tucson was the first American city to be designated a "City of Gastronomy" byUNESCO in 2015.[14]
The Spanish name of the city,Tucsón (Spanish pronunciation:[tuɣˈson]), is derived from theO'odhamCuk Ṣon (O'odham pronunciation:[tʃʊkʂɔːn]).[15]Cuk is a stative verb meaning "(be) black, (be) dark".Ṣon is (in this usage) a noun referring to the base or foundation of something.[1] The name is commonly translated into English as "the base [of the hill] is black", a reference to a basalt-covered hill now known asSentinel Peak. Tucson is sometimes referred to as the OldPueblo and Optics Valley, the latter referring to its optical science and telescopes known worldwide.[16][17]
The Early Ceramic period occupation of Tucson had the first extensive use of pottery vessels for cooking and storage. The groups designated as theHohokam lived in the area from AD 600 to 1450 and are known for their vast irrigation canal systems and their red-on-brown pottery.[19][20]
ItalianJesuit missionaryEusebio Francisco Kino first visited the Santa Cruz River valley in 1692. He founded theMission San Xavier del Bac in 1700, about 7 mi (11 km) upstream from the site of the settlement of Tucson. A separate Convento settlement was founded downstream along the Santa Cruz River, near the base of what is now known as"A" mountain.Hugo Oconór (Hugo O'Conor), the founding father of the city of Tucson, Arizona, authorized the construction of a military fort in that location,Presidio San Agustín del Tucsón, on August 20, 1775 (the present downtownPima County Courthouse was built near this site). During the Spanish period of the presidio, attacks such as theSecond Battle of Tucson were repeatedly mounted by theApache. Eventually, the town came to be calledTucsón, a Spanish version of the O'odham word for the area. It was included in the state of Sonora after Mexico gained independence from theKingdom of Spain and itsSpanish Empire in 1821
The US acquired those portions of modern-day Arizona that lay south of theGila River by treaty from Mexico in theGadsden Purchase on June 8, 1854. Under this treaty and purchase, Tucsón became a part of the United States of America. The American military did not formally take over control until March 1856. In time, the name of the town became standardized in English in its current form, where the stress is on the first syllable, the "u" is long, and the "c" is silent.
Tucson was incorporated in 1877, making it the oldest incorporated city inArizona.[21]
From 1877 to 1878, the area suffered a rash ofstagecoach robberies. Most notable were the two holdups committed by masked road agentWilliam Whitney Brazelton.[22] Brazelton held up two stages in the summer of 1878 near Point of Mountain Station, about 17 mi (27 km) northwest of Tucson.John Clum, ofTombstone, Arizona, fame, was one of the passengers. Pima County SheriffCharles A. Shibell and his citizen posse killed Brazelton on August 19, 1878, in amesquitebosque along the Santa Cruz River 3 miles (5 km) south of Tucson. Brazelton had been suspected of highway robbery in the Tucson area, thePrescott region, and theSilver City, New Mexico area. Because of the crimes and threats to his business,John J. Valentine Sr. ofWells, Fargo & Co. had sentBob Paul, a special agent and future Pima County sheriff, to investigate.[22] The US Army established Fort Lowell, then east of Tucson, to help protect settlers and travelers from Apache attacks.
In 1882,Morgan Earp was fatally shot, in what was later referred to in the press as the "Earp–Clanton Tragedy".[23] Marietta Spence, wife ofPete Spence, one of theCochise County Cowboys, testified at the coroner's inquest on Earp's killing and implicatedFrank Stilwell in the murder. Thecoroner's jury concluded Pete Spence, Stilwell, Frederick Bode, and Florentino "Indian Charlie" Cruz were the prime suspects in the assassination of Morgan Earp.[24]: 250
Deputy U.S. MarshalWyatt Earp gathered a few trusted friends and accompaniedVirgil Earp and his family as they traveled to Benson to take a train to California. They found Stilwell apparently lying in wait for Virgil Earp at the Tucson station and killed Stilwell on the tracks.[25][23] After killing Stilwell, Wyatt deputized others and conducted avendetta, killing three more cowboys over the next few days before leaving the territory.
Jim Leavy had built a reputation of having fought in at least 16 gunfights. On June 5, 1882, Leavy had an argument withfaro dealer John Murphy in Tucson. The two agreed to have a duel on the Mexican border, but after hearing of Leavy's exploits as a gunfighter, Murphy decided to ambush Leavy instead. Together with two of his friends, Murphy ambushed Leavy as he was leaving the Palace Hotel, killing him. According to Wright, the three co-defendants in Leavy's murder later escaped from the Pima County Jail, but were later recaptured. Murphy and Gibson were found in Fenner, California, living under assumed names; they were retried for the murder before being found not guilty. Moyer was captured in Denver and sentenced to life in Yuma Territorial Prison, but was pardoned in 1888.[26][27]
As other settlers tried to overcome violent frontier society, in 1885, the territorial legislature founded theUniversity of Arizona as aland-grant college on what was overgrazed ranchland between Tucson and Fort Lowell.
In 1890, Asians made up 4.2% of the city's population.[28] They were predominantly Chinese men who had been recruited as workers on the railroads.
By 1900, Tucson had 7,531 residents. By 1910, the population increased to 13,913.[29] About this time, the U.S.Veterans Administration had begun construction of the present Veterans Hospital. The city's clean, dry air made it a destination for many veterans who had beengassed in World War I and neededrespiratory therapy. In addition, these dry and high-altitude conditions were thought to be ideal for the treatment of tuberculosis, for which no cures were known before antibiotics were developed against it.[30]
The city continued to grow, with the population increasing to 20,292 in 1920[29] and 36,818 in 1940.[31] In 2006, the estimated population ofPima County, in which Tucson is located, passed one million,[32] while the City of Tucson's population was 535,000.[33]
In 1912, Arizona was admitted as a state. This increased the number of flags that had been flown over Tucson to five: Spanish, Mexican, United States, Confederate, and the State of Arizona.[34]
Tucson, 1909
During the territorial and early statehood periods, Tucson was Arizona's largest city and commercial center, while Phoenix was the seat of state government (beginning in 1889) and agriculture. The development ofTucson Municipal Airport increased the city's prominence. Between 1910 and 1920, though, Phoenix surpassed Tucson in population, and has continued to outpace Tucson in growth. In recent years, both Tucson and Phoenix have had some of the highest growth rates of any jurisdiction in the United States.[clarification needed]
Tucson, as seen from space: The city's four major malls are indicated by blue arrows.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, as of 2010, the City of Tucson has a land area of 226.71 square miles (587.2 km2). The city's elevation is 2,643 ft (806 m) above sea level (as measured at the Tucson International Airport).[35] Tucson is on analluvial plain in theSonoran Desert, surrounded by five minor ranges of mountains: theSanta Catalina Mountains and theTortolita Mountains to the north, theSanta Rita Mountains to the south, theRincon Mountains to the east, and theTucson Mountains to the west. Tucson Mountains include 4,687 ft (1,429 m) Wasson Peak. The highest point in the area isMount Wrightson, found in the Santa Rita Mountains at 9,453 ft (2,881 m) above sea level.
Tucson is 116 mi (187 km) southeast of Phoenix[36] and 64 mi (103 km) north of theUnited States–Mexico border by interstate highway.[37] The 2020 United States census puts the city's population at 542,629 with a metropolitan area population at 1,043,433. In 2020, Tucson ranked as the 33rd-largest city and 53rd-largest metropolitan area in the United States.[38] A major city in the Arizona Sun Corridor, Tucson is the largest city in southern Arizona, and the second-largest in the state after Phoenix. It is also the largest city in the area of the historic Gadsden Purchase. As of 2015, the Greater Tucson Metro area has exceeded a population of 1 million.
The city is built along theSanta Cruz River, formerly a perennial river. Now a dry riverbed for much of the year, it regularly floods during significant seasonal rains.
I-19 runs south from Tucson towardNogales and theU.S.–Mexico border. I-19 is the only Interstate highway that uses "kilometer posts" instead of "mileposts". However, speed limits are marked in miles per hour and kilometers per hour.
Downtown Tucson viewed from the Tucson MountainsA 19th-century adobe house in the Armory Park neighborhood
Similar to many other cities in the Western US, Tucson was developed by European Americans on agrid plan starting in the late 19th century, with the city center at Stone Avenue and Broadway Boulevard. While this intersection was initially near thegeographic center of Tucson, the center has shifted as the city has expanded far to the east. Development to the west was effectively blocked by the Tucson Mountains. Covering a large geographic area, Tucson has many distinct neighborhoods.
Tucson's earliest neighborhoods, some of which were redeveloped and covered by theTucson Convention Center (TCC), include:
Barrio Anita,[41] named for an early settler, is located between Granada Avenue and Interstate 10.
Barrio Tiburón, now known as the Fourth Avenue arts district, was designated in territorial times as ared-light district.
Barrio El Jardín is named for an early recreational site, Levin's Gardens.
Barrio El Hoyo is named for a lake that was part of the gardens. Before the convention center was built, the termEl Hoyo (Spanish for 'pit' or 'hole') referred to this part of the city. Residents were mostly Mexican-American citizens and Mexican immigrants.
Other historical neighborhoods near downtown include:
Feldman's, just north and northwest of the University of Arizona, the neighborhood is named for Alther M. Feldman (1833–1906), an Eastern European immigrant who arrived in Tucsoncirca 1878. Neighborhood streets Helen and Mabel are named for his daughters.[42] Feldman owned a photographic studio known as the Arizona Tent Gallery.[43]
Menlo Park, situated west of downtown, is adjacent to Sentinel Peak.
Iron Horse, east of Fourth Avenue and north of the railroad tracks, is named for its proximity to the railroad, informally known by that term.
West University is between the University of Arizona and downtown.
Sam Hughes, east of the University of Arizona, is named after a European-American pioneer in Tucson.
Bikes along Congress Street near Fifth Avenue
At the end of the 2010s, city planners and the business community worked to redevelop downtown Tucson. The primary project was Rio Nuevo, a large retail and community center that had been stalled in planning for more than a decade.[44][45] One Rio Nuevo project that was successful isMission Garden. Related to Tucson's City of Gastronomy designation, this living agricultural museum at the base ofSentinel Peak west of downtown grows heritage crops and heirloom trees that represent people who have lived in the area for thousands of years. Downtown is generally regarded as the area bordered by 17th Street to the south, I-10 to the west, and 6th Street to the north, and Toole Avenue and theUnion Pacific (formerlySouthern Pacific) railroad tracks, site of the historic train depot[46] on the east side. Downtown is divided into the Presidio District, the Barrio Viejo, and the Congress Street Arts and Entertainment District.[47] Some authorities include the 4th Avenue shopping district, northeast of the rest of downtown and connected by an underpass beneath theUPRR tracks.
The recently restoredFox Theatre is in downtown Tucson.
As one of the oldest parts of town, Central Tucson is anchored by the Broadway Village shopping center, designed by local architectJosias Joesler at the intersection of Broadway Boulevard and Country Club Road. The 4th Avenue Shopping District between downtown, the university, and the Lost Barrio just east of downtown, also has many unique and popular stores. Local retail business in Central Tucson is densely concentrated along Fourth Avenue and the Main Gate Square on University Boulevard near the UA campus.El Con Mall is also in the eastern part of midtown.
Tucson's largest park,Reid Park, is in midtown and includesReid Park Zoo andHi Corbett Field. Speedway Boulevard, a major east–west arterial road in central Tucson, was named the "ugliest street in America" byLife in the early 1970s, quoting Tucson MayorJames Corbett.
In the late 1990s, Speedway Boulevard was awarded "Street of the Year" byArizona Highways. Speedway Boulevard was named after an historic horse racetrack, known as theHarlem River Speedway, and more commonly called "The Speedway", in New York City. The Tucson street was called "The Speedway" from 1904 to about 1906, when "The" was removed from the title.[52]
As of the early 21st century, Central Tucson is consideredbicycle-friendly. To the east of the University of Arizona, Third Street is bike-only except for local traffic; it passes by the historic homes of the Sam Hughes neighborhood. To the west, East University Boulevard leads to the Fourth Avenue Shopping District. To the North, North Mountain Avenue has a full bike-only lane for half of the 3.5 miles (5.6 km) to theRillito River Park bike and walk multi-use path. To the south, North Highland Avenue leads to the Barraza-Aviation Parkway bicycle path.[53]
South Tucson is the name of an independent, incorporated town of 1 sq mi (2.6 km2) south of downtown. It is surrounded by the City of Tucson and was incorporated in 1936 and reincorporated in 1940.
The population is about 83% Mexican-American and 10% Native American, as residents self-identify in the census. South Tucson is widely known for its many Mexican restaurants and architectural styles. Bright murals have been painted on some walls, but city policy discourages this and many have been painted over.[54][55][56]
The West Side has areas of both urban and suburban development. It is generally defined as the area west of I-10. Western Tucson encompasses the banks of the Santa Cruz River and the foothills of theTucson Mountains. Area attractions include the International Wildlife Museum and Sentinel Peak. The Marriott Starr Pass Resort and Spa serves travelers and residents.[58] As travelers pass the Tucson Mountains, they enter the area commonly referred to as "west of" Tucson or "Old West Tucson".[59] In this large, undulating plain extending south into theAltar Valley, rural residential development predominates. Attractions includeSaguaro National Park West, and movie set/theme park developed at theOld Tucson Studios.
On Sentinel Peak, just west of downtown, a giant "A" was installed in honor of the University of Arizona, resulting in the nickname "A" Mountain.[60] Starting in about 1915, an annual tradition developed for freshmen to whitewash the A, which was visible for miles. After the September 11 terrorist attacks, the A was painted red, white, and blue.[61] At the beginning of theIraq War in 2003, antiwar activists painted the A black. Competition ensued, with various sides repainting the A in different colors until the city council intervened and made the red, white, and blue colors official. In 2013, the color scheme changed back to white.[62][63] Another color may be decided by a biennial election. With the tricolor scheme, some observers complain the shape of the A is hard to distinguish from the background of the peak. Since 1993, the A has been painted green for St. Patrick's Day. It has also been given other color schemes for different causes.[63]
North Tucson includes the urban neighborhoods of Amphitheater andFlowing Wells. Usually considered the area north of Fort Lowell Road, North Tucson includes some of Tucson's primary commercial zones (Tucson Mall and the Oracle Road Corridor). Many of the city's most upscaleboutiques, restaurants, and art galleries are also on the north side, including St. Philip's Plaza. The plaza is directly adjacent to the historicSt. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church (built in 1936).
The north side also is home to the suburban community ofCatalina Foothills, in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains just north of the city limits. This community includes many of the area's most expensive homes, sometimes multimillion-dollar estates. The Foothills area is generally defined as north of River Road, east of Oracle Road[64] and west ofSabino Creek. Some of the Tucson area's major resorts are in the Catalina Foothills, includingHacienda Del Sol, Westin La Paloma Resort, Loews Ventana Canyon Resort andCanyon Ranch Resort.La Encantada, an outdoor shopping mall, is also in the Foothills.
Northwestern suburbs viewed from the Santa Catalina Mountains
The expansive area northwest of the city limits is diverse, ranging from the rural communities ofCatalina and parts of the town ofMarana, the small suburb ofPicture Rocks, the town ofOro Valley in the western foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, and residential areas in the northeastern foothills of the Tucson Mountains. Continental Ranch (Marana), Dove Mountain (Marana), and Rancho Vistoso (Oro Valley), and Saddlebrooke (North Oro Valley) are all master planned communities in the northwest that have thousands of residents.
The community ofCasas Adobes is also on the Northwest side, with the distinction of being Tucson's first suburb, established in the late 1940s. Casas Adobes is centered on the historicCasas Adobes Plaza (built in 1948). Casas Adobes is also home toTohono Chul Park, which is now within the town of Oro Valley, (a nature preserve) near the intersection of North Oracle Road and West Ina Road. Theattempted assassination of RepresentativeGabby Giffords, which resulted in the murders of chief judge for theU.S. District Court for Arizona,John Roll, and five other people on January 8, 2011, occurred at the La Toscana Village inCasas Adobes. TheFoothills Mall is also on the northwest side in Casas Adobes.
This area is home to many of the Tucson area's golf courses and resorts, including the Preserve and Mountainview Golf Clubs at Saddlebrooke, Hilton El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort in Oro Valley, the Omni Tucson National Resort & Spa, and Westward Look Resort. The Ritz Carlton at Dove Mountain, the secondRitz Carlton resort in Arizona, which also includes a golf course, opened in the foothills of theTortolita Mountains in northeast Marana in 2009.
East Tucson is relatively new compared to other parts of the city, developed between the 1950s and the 1970s,[citation needed] with developments such asDesert Palms Park. It is generally classified as the area of the city east of Swan Road, with above-average real estate values relative to the rest of the city. The area includes urban and suburban development near theRincon Mountains. East Tucson includesSaguaro National Park East. Tucson's "Restaurant Row" is also on the east side, along with a significant corporate and financial presence. Restaurant Row is sandwiched by three of Tucson's storied Vicinages: Harold Bell Wright Estates,[65] named after the author's ranch which occupied some of that area before the depression; the Tucson Country Club (the third to bear the name Tucson Country Club),[66] and the Dorado Country Club. Tucson's largest office building is 5151 East Broadway in east Tucson, completed in 1975. The first phases of Williams Centre, a mixed-use, master-planned development on Broadway near Craycroft Road,[67] were opened in 1987.Park Place, a recently renovated shopping center, is also along Broadway (west of Wilmot Road).
Near the intersection of Craycroft and Ft. Lowell Roads are the remnants of the Historic Fort Lowell. This area has become one of Tucson's iconic neighborhoods. In 1891, the Fort was abandoned and much of the interior was stripped of their useful components and it quickly fell into ruin. In 1900, three of the officer buildings were purchased for use as a sanitarium. The sanitarium was then sold to Harvey Adkins in 1928. The Bolsius family – Pete, Nan andCharles – purchased and renovated surviving adobe buildings of the Fort, transforming them into spectacular artistic southwestern architectural examples. Their woodwork, plaster treatment and sense of proportion drew on their Dutch heritage and New Mexican experience.
Other artists and academics throughout the middle of the 20th century, including Win Ellis,Jack Maul, MadameGermaine Cheruy andRené Cheruy, Giorgio Belloli, Charles Bode,Veronica Hughart,Edward H. Spicer andRosamond Spicer,Hazel Larson Archer and Ruth Brown, renovated adobes, built homes and lived in the area. The artist colony attracted writers and poets including beat generation Alan Harrington andJack Kerouac whose visit is documented in his iconic bookOn the Road. This rural pocket in the middle of the city is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Each year in February the vicinage celebrates its history in the City Landmark it owns and restored theSan Pedro Chapel.
Situated between theSanta Catalina Mountains and theRincon Mountains nearRedington Pass northeast of the city limits is the affluent community ofTanque Verde. The Arizona National Golf Club, Forty-Niners Country Club, and the historic Tanque Verde Guest Ranch are also in northeast Tucson.
Southeast Tucson continues to experience rapid residential development. The area includesDavis-Monthan Air Force Base. The area is considered to be south of Golf Links Road. It is the home of Santa Rita High School, Chuck Ford Park (Lakeside Park),Lakeside Lake, Lincoln Park (upper and lower), The Lakecrest Vicinagess, and Pima Community College East Campus. The Atterbury Wash with its access to excellent bird watching is also in the Southeast Tucson area. The suburban community ofRita Ranch houses many of the military families from Davis-Monthan, and is near the southeasternmost expansion of the current city limits. Close by Rita Ranch and also within the city limits lies Civano,[68] a planned development meant to showcase ecologically sound building practices and lifestyles.
Tucson has a hotdesert climate (Köppen:BWh), with two major seasons, a hot summer and mild winter. Tucson averages 10.61 inches (269.5 mm) of precipitation per year, concentrated during the Pacific storms of winter and theNorth American Monsoon of summer. Fall and spring tend to be sunny and dry.[69] Despite being at a more southerly latitude than Phoenix, Tucson is slightly cooler and wetter due to a variety of factors, including elevation andorographic lift in surrounding mountains, though Tucson does occasionally see warmer daytime temperatures in the winter.[70]
Monsoon clouds blanketed the Catalina Mountains in August 2005.
Summer is characterized by average daily high temperatures between 98 and 102 °F (37 and 39 °C) and low temperatures between 71 and 77 °F (22 and 25 °C). Early summer is characterized by low humidity and clear skies; mid- and late summer are characterized by higher humidity, cloudy skies, and frequent rain. The sun is intense in Tucson during part of the year, and those who spend time outdoors need protection. Recent studies show that the rate of skin cancer in Arizona is at least three times higher than in more northerly regions. Additionally,heat stroke is a concern for hikers, mountain bikers, and adventurers who explore canyons, open desert lands, and other exposed areas.[71]
While monsoon season officially begins on June 15, the arrival of the North American Monsoon is unpredictable, as it varies from year to year. On average, Tucson receives its first monsoon storms around July 3. Monsoon activity generally persists through August and often into September.[72] During the monsoon, thehumidity is much higher than the rest of the year. It begins with clouds building up from the south in the early afternoon, followed by intense thunderstorms and rainfall, which can causeflash floods. The evening sky at this time of year is often pierced with dramatic lightning strikes. Large areas of the city do not havestorm sewers, so monsoon rains flood the main thoroughfares, usually for no longer than a few hours. A few underpasses in Tucson have "feet of water" scales painted on their supports to discourage fording by automobiles during a rainstorm.[73] Arizona traffic code Title 28–910, the so-called "Stupid Motorist Law", was instituted in 1995 to discourage people from entering flooded roadways. If the road is flooded and a barricade is in place, motorists who drive around the barricade can be charged up to $2,000 for costs involved in rescuing them.[74] Despite the warnings and precautions, three Tucson drivers have drowned between 2004 and 2010.[citation needed]
The weather in the fall is much like spring, dry, with warm/cool nights and warm/hot days. Temperatures above 100 °F (38 °C) are possible into early October. Temperatures decline at the quickest rate in October and November, and are normally the coolest in late December and early January.
Winters in Tucson are mild relative to other parts of the United States. Average daytime highs range between 65 and 70 °F (18 and 21 °C), with overnight lows between 40 and 44 °F (4 and 7 °C). Tucson typically averages three hard freezes per winter season, with temperatures dipping to the mid- or low 20 degrees F (−4 to −7 °C), but this is typically limited to only a very few nights. Although rare, snow occasionally falls in lower elevations in Tucson and is common in the Santa Catalina Mountains. The most recent snowfall was on March 2, 2023, when awinter storm caused snow to fall throughout most of the southwest. Tucson airport recorded 1.0 in (2.5 cm) of snow, the seventh heaviest March snowfall on record.[75]
Early spring is characterized by gradually rising temperatures and several weeks of vivid wildflower blooms beginning in late February and into March. During this time of year thediurnal temperature variation occurs with a temperature change often surpassing 30 °F (17 °C) daily.
Climate chart for Tucson
Since records began in 1894, the record maximum temperature was 117 °F (47 °C) on June 27, 1990, and the record minimum temperature was 6 °F (−14 °C) on January 7, 1913. There are an average of 158 days annually with highs of 90 °F (32 °C) or higher and an average of 12 days with lows reaching or below the freezing mark. Average annual precipitation is 10.61 in (269 mm). On average, 47.4 days have measurable precipitation. The wettest year was 1905, with 24.17 in (614 mm) and the driest year was 2020 with 4.16 in (106 mm). The most precipitation in one month was 8.06 in (205 mm) in July 2021. The most precipitation in 24 hours was 3.93 in (100 mm) on July 29, 1958. Annual snowfall averages 0.1 in (0.25 cm). The most snow in one winter was 6.8 in (17 cm) in winter 1971–1972. The most snow in one month was 6.8 in (17 cm) in December 1971.
Climate data for Tucson, Arizona (Tucson Int'l), 1991–2020 normals,[a] extremes 1894−present[b]
Tucson city, Arizona – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Map of racial distribution in Tucson, 2010 U.S. census. Each dot is 25 people:⬤ White⬤ Black⬤ Asian⬤ Hispanic⬤ Other
As of the census of 2010, 520,116 people, 229,762 households, and 112,455 families resided in the city. The population density was 2,500.1 inhabitants per square mile (965.3 inhabitants/km2). The 209,609 dwelling units had an average density of 1,076.7 per square mile (415.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 69.7% White (down from 94.8% in 1970[88]), 5.0% Black or African-American, 2.7% Native American, 2.9% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 16.9% from other races, and 3.8% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 41.6% of the population.[89]Non-Hispanic Whites were 47.2% of the population in 2010,[89] down from 72.8% in 1970.[88]
According to research by demographerWilliam H. Frey using data from the2010 United States census, Tucson has the lowest level of Black-White segregation of any of the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the United States.[92]
Of the 192,891 households, 29.0% had children under 18 living with them, 39.7% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.7% were not families. About 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.42, and the average family size was 3.12.
In the inner city, the population has 24.6% under 18, 13.8% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 93.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,981, and for a family was $37,344. Males had a median income of $28,548 versus $23,086 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $16,322. About 13.7% of families and 18.4% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 23.6% of those under 18 and 11.0% of those 65 or over.[93]
Downtown Tucson with the University of Arizona in the background
Much of Tucson's economic development has centered on the development of the University of Arizona, which is the city's largest employer.Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, on the city's southeastern edge, also provides many jobs for Tucson residents. Its presence, as well as the presence of the US Army Intelligence Center (Fort Huachuca, the region's largest employer, in nearby Sierra Vista), has led to the development of many high-technology industries, including government contractors. The city of Tucson is also a major hub for the Union Pacific Railroad's Sunset Route that links the Los Angeles ports with the South/Southeast regions of the country.
Tourism is another major industry in Tucson. The city's many resorts, hotels, and attractions bring in $2 billion and over 3.5 million visitors annually.[96]
One of the major annual attractions is theTucson Gem and Mineral Show, and its associated shows, all held generally in the first two weeks of February. These associated shows (such as gems, jewelry, beads, and fossils) are held throughout the city, with 43 different shows in 2010. This makes Tucson's the largest such exposition in the world. Its yearly economic impact in 2015 was evaluated at $120 million.[97]
In addition to vacationers, many winter residents, or "snowbirds", are attracted to Tucson's mild winters and live here on a seasonal basis. They also contribute to the local economy. Snowbirds often purchasesecond homes in Tucson and nearby areas, contributing significantly to the property tax base.
TheTucson Gem & Mineral Show is one of the largest gem and mineral shows in the world and has been held for over 50 years. The show is only one part of thegem,mineral,fossil andbead gathering held across more than 45 different sites in Tucson.[99] The shows run from late January to mid-February, with the official show lasting two weeks in February.
Since 2009, theTucson Festival of Books has been held annually over a two-day period in March at theUniversity of Arizona. By 2010 it had become the fourth largest book festival in the United States, with 450 authors and 80,000 attendees.[100] In addition to readings and lectures, it features a science fair, varied entertainment, food, and exhibitors ranging from local retailers and publishers to regional and national nonprofit organizations.[101]
El Tour de Tucson is a cycling race that has been happening in Tucson since 1983. The race tends to happen in the month of November, beforeAmerican Thanksgiving. There are a number of distances available to ride, from 1-mile (1.6 km) fun rides to a long-distance ride that spans the whole city, resulting in 102 miles (164 km). In addition to being a competitive race, this race also allows non-profit charities to raise funds for their organizations. The race was first held by the Perimeter Bicycling Association in 1983 with less than 200 cyclists, and raised $4,500; by 2023 there have been close to 9,000 cyclists and raised $5.8 million.[102] It was recently named a top-10 road race in the United States, ranking at #4.[citation needed]
For the past 33 years, the Tucson Folk Festival has taken place the first Saturday and Sunday of May in downtown Tucson's El Presidio Park. In addition to nationally known headline acts each evening, the Festival highlights over 100 local and regional musicians on five stages and is one of the largest free festivals in the country. All stages are within easy walking distance. Organized by the Tucson Kitchen Musicians' Association,[103] volunteers make this festival possible.KXCI 91.3-FM, Arizona's only community radio station, is a major partner, broadcasting from the Plaza Stage throughout the weekend. There are also many workshops, events for children, sing-alongs, and a popular singer-songwriter contest. Musicians typically play 30-minute sets, supported by professional audio staff volunteers. A variety of food and crafts are available at the festival, as well as local microbrews. All proceeds help fund future festivals.
There are two Fourth Avenue Street Fairs, in December and late March/early April, staged between 9th Street and University Boulevard, that feature arts and crafts booths, food vendors and street performers. The fairs began in 1970 when Fourth Avenue, which at the time had half a dozen thrift shops, several New Age bookshops and the Food Conspiracy Co-Op, was a gathering place forhippies, and a few merchants put tables in front of their stores to attract customers before the holidays.
These days, the street fair has grown into a large corporate event, with most tables owned by outside merchants. It hosts mostly traveling craftsmen selling various arts such as pottery, paintings, wood working, metal decorations, candles, and many others.
Team roping competition at Tucson'sFiesta de los Vaqueros
Another popular event held in February, which is early spring in Tucson, is the Fiesta de los Vaqueros, orrodeo week, founded by winter visitor, Leighton Kramer.[104] While at its heart the Fiesta is a sporting event, it includes what is billed as "the world's largest non-mechanized parade".[105] The Rodeo Parade is a popular event as most schools give two rodeo days off instead of Presidents' Day. The exception is Presidio High (a non-public charter school), which does not get either. Western wear is seen throughout the city as corporate dress codes are cast aside during the Fiesta. The Fiesta de los Vaqueros marks the beginning of the rodeo season in the United States.[citation needed]
Every October for the past 30 years, the Tucson Meet Yourself festival[106] has celebrated the city's many ethnic groups. For one weekend, the downtown area features dancing, singing, artwork, and food from more than 30 different ethnicities. The event is held at and around the Jacome Plaza,[107] located in front of the Joel D. Valdez Main Library. All performers are from Tucson and the surrounding area, in keeping with the idea of "meeting yourself". The records of the Tucson Meet Yourself Festival reside at the University of Arizona Special Collections Library.[108]
Since 2012, during the first two weekends of October, theTucson Historic Preservation Foundation hosts Tucson Modernism Week.[109] The event includes more than 30 programs including tours, lectures, exhibits, films and parties. The events are in mid-century modern buildings and neighborhoods throughout the city and highlight the work of significant architects and designers who contributed to the development and history of southern Arizona including: architectArthur Brown, fashion designerDolores Gonzales, architect Bob Swaim, architect Anne Rysdale, textile designersHarwood and Sophie Steiger, architect Nick Sakellar, architectural designer Tom Gist, furniture designerMax Gottschalk, architect Ned Nelson, landscape architect Guy Green, architect Juan Worner Baz, and many others.
Day of the Dead float, Pima County Public Library, 2009 procession
TheAll Souls Procession, held in early November, is one of Tucson's largest festivals. Modeled on the Mexican holidayDia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), it combines aspects of many different cultural traditions.[110] The first All Souls Procession was organized by local artist Susan Kay Johnson in 1990 and involved 35 participants; by 2013, participation was estimated at 50,000.[111][112]
The Procession, held at sundown, consists of a non-motorized parade through downtown Tucson featuring many floats, sculptures, and memorials, in which the community is encouraged to participate. The parade is followed by performances on an outdoor stage, culminating in the burning of an urn in which written prayers have been collected from participants and spectators.[112][113] The event is organized and funded by the non-profit arts organization Many Mouths One Stomach, with the help of volunteers and donations from the public and local businesses.[112]
Cyclovia Tucson is an annual event supported by Living Streets Alliance that invites people of all ages and abilities to walk, bike, and roll down car-free streets for a day. Cyclovia is an Open Streets initiative designed to maximize the enormous amount of space taken up by roads in sprawling cities like Tucson. Since 2012, Cyclovia transforms the streets of metro Tucson into a block party atmosphere to socialize, incorporating partnerships with small businesses, and giving people the opportunity to move freely through the streets without moving cars. Cyclovia happens twice a year, typically in the spring and in the fall.
TheFremont House is an original adobe house in the Tucson Community Center that was saved when one of Tucson's earliest barrios was razed as part of urban renewal.
TheTucson Museum of Art was established as part of an art school, the Art Center, which was founded by local Tucson artists, includingRose Cabat.[114]
TheUniversity of Arizona Museum of Art includes works byFranz Kline,Jackson Pollock andMark Rothko as part of the Edward J. Gallagher Memorial Collection, a tribute to a young man who was killed in a boating accident. The museum also includes the Samuel H. Kress Collection of European works from the 14th to 19th centuries and the C. Leonard Pfeiffer Collection of American paintings.
Titan Missile Museum is about 25 mi (40 km) south of the city onI-19. This is a Cold War-eraTitan nuclearmissile silo (billed as the only remaining intact post-Cold War Titan missile silo) turned tourist stop.
Pima Air & Space Museum has a wide assortment of aircraft on display both indoors and outdoors.
Fourth Avenue, near theUniversity of Arizona, is home to many shops, restaurants, and bars, and hosts the annual 4th Avenue Street Fair every December and March. University Boulevard, leading directly to the UA Main Gate, is also the center of numerous bars, retail shops, and restaurants most commonly frequented by the large student population of the UA.
El Tiradito is a religious shrine in the downtown area. The shrine dates back to the early days of Tucson. It is based on a love story of revenge and murder. People stop by the shrine to light a candle for someone in need, a place for people to go give hope.
Biosphere 2 is a 3.14-acre (1.27 ha) educational facility designed to mimic a tropical or sub-tropical climate-controlled environment.[115]
The accomplished and awarded writers (poets, novelists, dramatists, nonfiction writers) who have lived in Tucson includeEdward Abbey,Erskine Caldwell,Barbara Kingsolver,Joy Williams,Leslie Marmon Silko, andDavid Foster Wallace. Some were associated with the University of Arizona, but many were independent writers who chose to make Tucson their home. The city is particularly active in publishing and presenting contemporary innovative poetry in various ways. Examples are theChax Press, a publisher of poetry books in trade and book arts editions, and theUniversity of Arizona Poetry Center, which has a sizable poetry library and presents readings, conferences, and workshops.
Theater groups include theArizona Theatre Company, which performs in the Temple of Music and Art, andArizona Onstage Productions, a not-for-profit theater company devoted to musical theater.Broadway in Tucson presents the touring reproductions of many Broadway-style events. The Gaslight Theater produces musical melodrama parodies in the old Jerry Lewis Theater and has been in Tucson since 1977.[116]
Tucson is home to the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, the oldest performing arts organization in the state of Arizona.
The annual Tucson Fringe Festival, held in various local venues in and around Downtown Tucson, offers non-traditional artistic performances at low cost to the public. The festival is held in early January each year.
Tucson is considered an influential center forMariachi music and is home to a large number of Mariachi musicians and singers.[120] The Tucson International Mariachi Conference, hosted annually since 1982, involves several hundred mariachi bands and folklorica dance troops during a three-day festival in April.[121] TheNorteño Festival and Street Fair in theenclave city ofSouth Tucson is held annually at the end of summer.
Tucson is also known nationally for itspunk scene. Since the late 1970spunk subculture has flourished in Tucson.[122] At present there are multiple punk bars downtown and house venues in the surrounding neighborhoods.[123]
Tucson has been the setting and filming location for multiple films. Some notable films that have been filmed in Tucson includeRevenge of the Nerds,Can't Buy Me Love,Major League,Tombstone, andTin Cup.[125] The city is also a common filming location and setting forWestern films, most were filmed atOld Tucson.[126] The television showHey Dude was filmed at Tanque Verde Ranch.[127] Additionally, the fictional motorcycle clubs the Sons of Anarchy and Mayans from the television showsSons of Anarchy andMayans M.C. both have Tucson chapters that are featured in the show. In theseason 4Sons of Anarchy episode "Una Venta", the cast travels to Tucson to discuss an issue with the Tucson chapter.[128] The upcoming TV seriesDuster began filming in Tucson in October 2021. The series is specifically being filmed in downtown Tucson and theTucson Mountains region ofSaguaro National Park.[129][130]
Tucson is well known for itsSonoran-style Mexican food.[131][132] Since the turn of the century, other ethnic restaurants and fine dining choices have proliferated.[133][134] Tucson cuisine is influenced by a diverse group of peoples, from Native Americans to Spanish settlers, Anglo-American ranchers and rail workers from China.[135]
In 2015, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated Tucson a "world city of gastronomy" under theCreative Cities Network program,[136] becoming thus the first city of gastronomy in the United States.[137][138] The city's focus on food includesMission Garden, a living agricultural museum that showcases the crops and trees that have been grown in the area for over 4,000 years.
TheSonoran hot dog is very popular in Tucson. A hot dog is wrapped in bacon and grilled, served on abolillo-style hot dog bun, and topped with pinto beans, onions, tomatoes, and a variety of additional condiments, often including mayonnaise, mustard, and jalapeño salsa.[139][140][141] Tucson also has a strong, though contested, claim to being the place of origin of thechimichanga.
Tucson is also the birthplace of Chinese Chorizo, a Sino-Mexican fusion dish consisting of pork sausage seasoned with soy sauce, rice wine and chili. This version ofchorizo originated from local Chinese grocery stores, which existed from the 1880s to 1970s. Since 2022, the Chinese Chorizo Festival has been held every October, and participants invent new dishes involving the sausage.[135][142]
Tucson is commonly known as "The Old Pueblo". While the exact origin of this nickname is uncertain, it is commonly traced back to MayorR. N. "Bob" Leatherwood. Whenrail service was established to the city on March 20, 1880, Leatherwood celebrated the fact by sending telegrams to various leaders, including thePresident of the United States and thePope, announcing the "ancient and honorable pueblo" of Tucson was now connected by rail to the outside world. The term became popular with newspaper writers who often abbreviated it as "A. and H. Pueblo". This in turn transformed into the current form of "The Old Pueblo".[143]
In the early 1980s, city leaders ran a contest searching for a new nickname. The winning entry was the "Sunshine Factory".[144] The new nickname never gained popular acceptance, allowing the old name to remain in common use.[145] Tucson was dubbed "Optics Valley" in 1992 whenBusiness Week ran a cover story on the Arizona Optics Industry Association.[146]
TheUniversity of Arizona's athletic teams, most notably themen's basketball,football,baseball, andsoftball teams, have strong local interest. The men's basketball team, formerly coached by Hall of Fame head coachLute Olson and currently coached byTommy Lloyd, made 25 straightNCAA Tournaments appearances (1985–2009) and won the 1997 National Championship. Arizona's softball team has reached the NCAA National Championship game 12 times and has won 8 times, most recently in 2007. Arizona's baseball team wonNCAA National Championships in 1976, 1980, 1986, and 2012. The university'sswim teams have gained international recognition, with swimmers coming from as far as Japan and Africa to train with coachFrank Busch, who has also worked with the U.S. Olympic swim team for numerous years. Both men's and women's swim teams won the 2008NCAA National Championships.[147]
Inbaseball, theTucson Saguaros of the independentPecos League began play in 2016 and play at theKino Veterans Memorial Stadium. They won the league in their inaugural season and won two more championships in 2020 and 2021. TheTucson Padres played atKino Veterans Memorial Stadium from 2011 to 2013. They served as the AAA affiliate of theSan Diego Padres. The team, formerly known as the Portland Beavers, temporarily moved to Tucson fromPortland while the team awaited a new stadium inEscondido.[150][151] Legal issues derailed the plans to build the Escondido stadium, so they moved toEl Paso, Texas for the 2014 season and onward. Previously, theTucson Sidewinders, a triple-A affiliate of theArizona Diamondbacks from 1998 to 2008, won thePacific Coast League championship and unofficial AAA championship in 2006. The Sidewinders played atTucson Electric Park (now called Kino Sports Complex) and were in the Pacific Conference South of the PCL. The Sidewinders were sold in 2007 and moved toReno, Nevada after the 2008 season. They now compete as theReno Aces, who have served as a triple-A affiliate for the Arizona Diamondbacks since 2009.
Tracks includeTucson Raceway Park and Rillito Downs.Tucson Raceway Park hostsNASCAR-sanctioned auto racing events and is one of only two asphalt short tracks in Arizona. Rillito Downs is an in-town destination on weekends in January and February each year. This historic track held the first organizedquarter horse races in the world, and they are still racing there. The racetrack is threatened by development. The Moltacqua racetrack, was another historic horse racetrack on what is now Sabino Canyon Road and Vactor Ranch Trail, but it no longer exists.[153]
The city has more than 120 parks, from small and local to larger parks with ballfields, natural areas, lakes, 5 public golf courses, andReid Park Zoo. TheLoop is a popular system of shared-use paths encircling the city primarily along washes and is usually well-separated from traffic. Several scenic parks and points of interest are also nearby, including theTucson Botanical Gardens,Tohono Chul Park,Saguaro National Park,Sabino Canyon, andBiosphere 2 (just north of the city, near the town ofOracle).
Tumamoc Hill is an active research site maintained by theUniversity of Arizona andPima County that doubles as a popular walking/running trail. The paved trail on Tumamoc Hill is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) each way, divided into two parts. The lower half is a much more gradual slope compared to the steep upper half reaching a final elevation of 2,340 ft (710 m), where it overlooks most of the city of Tucson. The trail attracts around 1,500 visits a day from various demographics of the Tucson area.[154]
Mt. Lemmon is 25 miles (40 km) north (by theCatalina Highway) and over 6,700 feet (2,000 m) above Tucson in the Santa Catalina Mountains in theCoronado National Forest.[155] Outdoor activities in the Catalinas include hiking, mountain biking, birding, rock climbing, picnicking, camping, swimming in mountain stream pools, sky rides at Ski Valley, fishing, and photography. In winter with enough snow, the sky ride converts back to skiing at the southernmost ski resort in the continental United States.Summerhaven, a community near the top of Mt. Lemmon, is also a popular destination.
TheLeague of American Bicyclists gave Tucson a gold rating for bicycle friendliness in late April 2007. Tucson hosts the largest perimeter cycling event in the United States. The ride, called "El Tour de Tucson", takes place each November on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.El Tour de Tucson produced and promoted byPerimeter Bicycling has had as many as 10,000 participants from all over the world. In 2019, ridership is expected to be 6,000 cyclists.[156] Tucson is one of only nine cities in the U.S. to receive a gold rating or higher for cycling friendliness from theLeague of American Bicyclists. The city is known for its winter cycling opportunities, with teams and riders from around the world spending a portion of the year training in Tucson's year-round biking climate. Popular mountain biking areas include Tucson Mountain Park, Sweetwater Preserve, the Tortolita Mountain trail systems, and Fantasy Island. Road cyclists take on Catalina Highway's steep climb year-round.
In general, Tucson and Pima County support theDemocratic Party, while the state's largest metropolitan area, greater Phoenix, has traditionally supported theRepublican Party. Congressional redistricting in 2013, following the publication of the 2010 Census, divided the Tucson area into three Federal Congressional districts (the first, second and third of Arizona). The city center is in the 7th District, represented byRaul Grijalva, a Democrat, from 2003 until his death in 2025, while the more affluent residential areas to the east are in the 6th District, represented by RepublicanJuan Ciscomani since 2022, and the exurbs north and west between Tucson and Phoenix in the 2nd District are represented by RepublicanEli Crane since 2022.[citation needed]TheUnited States Postal Service operates post offices in Tucson. The Tucson Main Post Office is at 1501 South CherrybellStravenue.[162]
Tucson follows the "weak mayor" model of thecouncil-manager form of local government. The six-member city council holds exclusive legislative authority, and shares executive authority with the mayor, who is elected by the voters independently of the council. An appointed city manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the city. Tucson is the only city in Arizona that holds officially partisan elections for city offices, with candidates nominated through party primaries.[163]
Both the council members and the mayor serve four-year terms; none face term limits. Council members are nominated by their wards via a ward-level primary held in August. The top vote-earners from each party then compete at-large for their ward's seat on the November ballot. In other words, onelection day the whole city votes on all the council races up for that year. Council elections are severed: Wards 1, 2, and 4 (as well as the mayor) are up for election in the same year (most recently 2015), while Wards 3, 5, and 6 share another year (most recently 2017).
Tucson is known for being a trailblazer in voluntary partialpublicly financed campaigns. Since 1985, both mayoral and council candidates have been eligible to receive matching public funds from the city. To become eligible, council candidates must receive 200 donations of $10 or more (300 for a mayoral candidate). Candidates must then agree to spending limits equal to 33¢ for every registered Tucson voter, or $79,222 in 2005 (the corresponding figures for mayor are 64¢ per registered voter, or $142,271 in 2003). In return, candidates receive matching funds from the city at a 1:1 ratio of public money to private donations. The only other limitation is that candidates may not exceed 75% of the limit by the date of the primary. Many cities, such as San Francisco and New York City, have copied this system, albeit with more complex spending and matching formulas.
In 1956, Tucson High School had the largest enrollment of any secondary school in the United States, with a total of more than 6,800 students.[177] In 2018, Tucson High School enrollment was just over 3,000.
The facility operated on a two-shift basis while construction went on for two other high schools that opened within a year to educate children in the rapidly booming Tucson population.
The Tucson metro area is served by many local television stations and is the 65th largestdesignated market area (DMA) in the U.S. with 433,330 homes (0.39% of the total U.S.). It is limited to the three counties of southeastern Arizona (Pima,Santa Cruz, andCochise)[178]
Tucson's primary electrical power source is a natural gas power plant managed byTucson Electric Power that is within the city limits on the southwestern boundary of Davis-Monthan Air-force base adjacent to Interstate 10. The air pollution generated has raised some concerns as the Sundt operating station has been online since 1962 and is exempt from many pollution standards and controls due to its age.[179]Solar has been gaining ground in Tucson with its ideal over 300 days of sunshine climate. Federal, state, and even local utility credits and incentives have also enticed residents to equip homes with solar systems.Davis-Monthan AFB has a 3.3Megawatt (MW) ground-mountedsolar photovoltaic (PV) array and a 2.7 MW rooftop-mounted PV array, both of which are in the Base Housing area. The base will soon have the largest solar-generating capacity in theUnited States Department of Defense after awarding a contract on September 10, 2010, toSunEdison to construct a 14.5 MW PV field on the northwestern side of the base.[180]
Global Solar Energy, which is at the University of Arizona's science and technology park, is one of the planet's largestCIGS solar fields at 750 kilowatts.[181][182]
Tucson and Pima County adopteddark sky ordinances to controllight pollution in support of the region's astronomicalobservatories in 1972.[183] Last amended in 2012,[184] the City of Tucson/Pima County Outdoor Lighting Code establishes maximum illumination levels, shielding requirements, and limits on signage in "continuing support of astronomical activity and minimizing wasted energy, while not compromising the safety, security, and well-being of persons engaged in outdoor nighttime activities."[185]
The nearby Santa Catalina Mountains, covered in snow
Less than 100 years ago, theSanta Cruz River flowed nearly year-round through Tucson. This supply of water has slowly disappeared, causing Tucson to seek alternative sources.
In 1881, water was pumped from a well on the banks of the Santa Cruz River and flowed by gravity through pipes into the distribution system.[186]
Tucson currently draws water from two main sources:Central Arizona Project (CAP) water andgroundwater. In 1992, Tucson Water delivered CAP water to some customers that was unacceptable due to discoloration, bad odor and flavor, as well as problems it caused with some customers' plumbing and appliances. Tucson's city water currently consists of CAP water mixed with groundwater.
In an effort to conserve water, Tucson is recharging groundwater supplies by running part of its share of CAP water into various open portions of local rivers to seep into their aquifer.[187] Additional study is scheduled to determine how much water is lost through evaporation from the open areas, especially during the summer. The City of Tucson providesreclaimed water to its inhabitants, but it is only used for "applications such as irrigation, dust control, and industrial uses".[188] These resources have been in place for more than 27 years, and deliver to over 900 locations.[188]
To prevent further loss of groundwater, Tucson has been involved in water conservation and groundwater preservation efforts, shifting away from its reliance on a series of Tucson area wells in favor of conservation, consumption-based pricing for residential and commercial water use, and new wells in the more sustainable Avra Valley aquifer, northwest of the city. An allocation from theCentral Arizona Project Aqueduct (CAP), which passes more than 300 mi (480 km) across the desert from theColorado River, has been incorporated into the city's water supply, annually providing over 20 million gallons of "recharged" water which is pumped into the ground to replenish water pumped out.[189] Since 2001, CAP water has allowed the city to remove or turn off over 80 wells.[190]
The city of Tucson, Arizona provides financial incentives for residents to harvest their rainwater. Tucson's water supply, like many Western cities, is drawn from two main sources: surface water that is pumped more than 300 miles (480 km) from the Colorado River and groundwater.[191] The pump expends a significant amount of energy and the Colorado River is diminishing as a result of climate change and overuse.
In 2012, the city began a program that rebates residents as much as $2,000 for the purchase of water harvesting systems. "Water harvesting" refers to rainwater, which is gathered from building surfaces, and stormwater, which collects nonpotable storm runoff from streets and earth. The program is financed by a water bill fee of 10 cents per 748 gallons of city water used. In the first few years, the rebate program was not conserving water as efficiently as they anticipated. But infiscal year 2018–2019, the rebate program saved 52.1 million gallons of water.[191] That is enough water to meet the annual usage of 160 households.[191] The city has been trying to grow the approximately 250 people who obtain active rebates each year by introducing a loan program to bring rebates within reach of lower-income residents.
The city government has an ambitious goal to be carbon neutral by 2030 and is integrating changes that will help change local resident's conventional thinking and practices. On May 1, 2020, Tucson began charging residents and businesses within city limits a monthly Green Stormwater Infrastructure fee (13 cents per 748 gallons of city water used), which is projected to raise some $3 million a year for public stormwater capture installations and other projects.[191] But this comes at a time when unemployment is rising and the number of low income residents facing unaffordable bills between 2010 and 2018 doubled to 46% as the average bill increased by 119% in Tucson.[192] Additionally, as part of the citywide climate resiliency effort, Mayor Regina Romero recently announced the planting of a million trees over the next decade.[193]
Tucson'sSun Tran bus system serves greater Tucson with standard, express, regional shuttle, and on-demand shuttle bus service. It was awardedBest Transit System in 1988 and 2005.[194] A 3.9-mile (6.3 km)streetcar line,Sun Link, connects theUniversity of Arizona campus with 4th Avenue, downtown, and the Mercado District west ofInterstate 10 and theSanta Cruz River. Ten-minuteheadway passenger service began July 25, 2014.[195] The streetcar uses Sun Tran's card payment and transfer system, connecting with the University of Arizona's CatTran shuttles,Amtrak, andGreyhound intercity bus service. Sun Tran has beenfare-free since the spring of 2020. Initially this change was made to limit contact between riders and drivers due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, but the city council voted to eliminate fares indefinitely in 2023.[196]
Tucson International Airport (IATA:TUS,ICAO:KTUS), is 6 mi (9.7 km) south of the city's center. TIA is the second-largest commercialairport in Arizona (behindSky Harbor in Phoenix), providing nonstop flights to 15 destinations throughout the United States.[197] In addition to passenger and freight service, TIA supports the162nd Fighter Wing's fleet of seventyF-16s stationed at theTucson Air National Guard Base.[198] There are two general aviation reliever airports in the area. The city of Tucson operatesRyan Airfield 13 miles (21 km) southwest of the city center, and the town of Marana operatesMarana Regional Airport 15 miles (24 km) to the northwest.Pinal Airpark is also within the metropolitan area.
There are twoInterstate highways in the metropolitan area.Interstate 10 runs southeast from Phoenix through Marana, passes west of downtown, and continues east toward El Paso.Interstate 19 leaves the I-10 south of downtown and heads south to the Mexican border.Arizona State Route 210 is a shorter expressway that links downtown withDavis-Monthan Air Force Base and Tucson's southeast side. Tucson does not have abeltway system, and relies almost entirely on surface streets.
Cycling is popular in Tucson. Tucson and Pima County maintain an extensive network of marked bike routes, signal crossings, on-street bike lanes, mountain-biking trails, and dedicatedshared-use paths.The Loop is a network of seven linear parks, built mainly along river beds, comprising 131 miles (211 km) of paved, vehicle-free trails that encircles the majority of the city with links to Marana and Oro Valley.[199][200][201] The Tucson–Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee (TPCBAC) serves in an advisory capacity to local governments on issues relating to bicycle recreation, transportation, and safety. TheLeague of American Bicyclists awarded Tucson a gold rating for bicycle-friendliness in 2006.[202]
^Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
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^"The Hohokam".Arizona Museum of Natural History. Archived fromthe original on October 3, 2017. RetrievedOctober 3, 2017.
^Mabry, Jonathan B.; Thiel, J. Homer (1995)."A thousand years of irrigation in Tucson"(PDF).Archaeology in Tucson. No. Fall 1995. Center of Desert Archaeology. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on April 12, 2019. RetrievedOctober 3, 2017.
^abWright, Erik J. (October 2010). ""Yes, Here I am Again! Tucson's Prize Bandit of 1878: William W. Brazelton".Wild West History Association: Journal.3 (5):43–48.
^Rogers, Frank B. (1969). "The rise and decline of the altitude therapy of tuberculosis".Bulletin of the History of Medicine.43 (1):1–16.JSTOR44447350.PMID4887472.
^Arizona Department of Transportation (January 19, 2011).2009 State Highway System Log(PDF). p. 114.Archived(PDF) from the original on October 16, 2019.
^"Barrio historico Tucson".The University of Arizona Library's Southwest Electronic Text Center. Archived fromthe original on July 3, 2010. RetrievedMarch 12, 2010.
^Harris, RB; Griffith, K; Moon, TE (2001). "Trends in the incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancers in southeastern Arizona, 1985-1996".J Am Acad Dermatol.45 (4):528–36.doi:10.1067/mjd.2001.114742.PMID11568742.
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Painter, Muriel Thayer, 1971,A Yaqui Easter. University of Arizona Press, Tucson. (ISBN0-8165-0168-8).Read online.
Ronstadt, Edward E. (editor), 1993,Borderman: The Memoirs of Federico Jose Maria Ronstadt. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque. (ISBN0-8263-1462-7)Read online.
Schellie, Don, 1968,Vast Domain of Blood: The Story of the Camp Grant Massacre. Westernlore Press, Tucson.
Sheaffer, Jack and Steve Emerine, 1985,Jack Sheaffer's Tucson, 1945–1965. Arizona Daily Star, Tucson. (ISBN0-9607758-1-1).
Sheridan, Thomas E., 1983,Del Rancho al Barrio: The Mexican legacy of Tucson. Arizona Historical Society, Tucson.
Sheridan, Thomas E., 1992,Los Tucsonenses: The Mexican Community in Tucson, 1854–1941. University of Arizona Press, Tucson. (ISBN0-8165-1298-1).
Sonnichsen, C. L., 1987,Tucson: The Life and Times of an American City. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman. (ISBN0-8061-2042-8).
Woodward, Richard B. (January 3, 2010)."36 Hours in Tucson, Ariz".The New York Times. RetrievedJanuary 2, 2010.
Warnock, John, 2019,Tucson: A Drama in Time. Wheatmark, Tucson. (ISBN978-1-62787-706-0).
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