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62-559: The valley is traversed from north to south by Arizona Route 286 . The major Baboquivari sky island range borders the valley on the west; the east is bordered by a series of mountain ranges, that have Nogales, Arizona nestled in between at the United States-Mexico border . Two wilderness areas lie to the west of the valley, the Coyote Mountains Wilderness east of Kitt Peak Observatory , and

124-480: A basalt-covered hill now known as Sentinel Peak . Tucson is sometimes referred to as the Old Pueblo and Optics Valley, the latter referring to its optical science and telescopes known worldwide. [REDACTED] Spanish Empire 1775–1821 [REDACTED] First Mexican Empire 1821–1823 [REDACTED] United Mexican States 1823–1854 [REDACTED]   United States 1854–present The Tucson area

186-498: 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. North Tucson includes the urban neighborhoods of Amphitheater and Flowing Wells . Usually considered the area north of Fort Lowell Road, North Tucson includes some of Tucson's primary commercial zones ( Tucson Mall and

248-539: A special agent and future Pima County sheriff, to investigate. 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". Marietta Spence, wife of Pete Spence , one of the Cochise County Cowboys , testified at the coroner's inquest on Earp's killing and implicated Frank Stilwell in

310-596: Is 116 mi (187 km) southeast of Phoenix and 69 mi (111 km) north of the United States–Mexico border . 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. A major city in the Arizona Sun Corridor, Tucson is

372-618: Is also in the Foothills. The DeGrazia Gallery of the Sun is near the intersection of Swan Road and Skyline Drive. Built by artist Ted DeGrazia starting in 1951, the 10-acre (4.0 ha) property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and features an eclectic chapel, an art gallery, and a museum. The expansive area northwest of the city limits is diverse, ranging from the rural communities of Catalina and parts of

434-509: 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 historic Casas Adobes Plaza (built in 1948). Casas Adobes is also home to Tohono 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. The attempted assassination of Representative Gabby Giffords , which resulted in

496-605: Is in Pima County . Tucson, Arizona This is an accepted version of this page Tucson ( / ˈ t uː s ɒ n / ; O'odham : Cuk Ṣon ; Spanish : Tucsón ) is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona , United States, and is home to the University of Arizona . It is the second-largest city in Arizona behind Phoenix , with a population of 542,629 in the 2020 United States census , while

558-555: Is in midtown and includes Arizona Stadium and McKale Center (named for J.F. "Pop" McKale , a prominent coach and athletics administrator at the university). The historic Tucson High School (designed by Roy Place in 1924) was featured in the 1987 film Can't Buy Me Love . The Arizona Inn (built in 1930) and the Tucson Botanical Gardens are also in Central Tucson. Tucson's largest park, Reid Park ,

620-526: Is in midtown and includes Reid Park Zoo and Hi Corbett Field . Speedway Boulevard, a major east–west arterial road in central Tucson, was named the "ugliest street in America" by Life in the early 1970s, quoting Tucson Mayor James Corbett . In the late 1990s, Speedway Boulevard was awarded "Street of the Year" by Arizona Highways . Speedway Boulevard was named after an historic horse racetrack, known as

682-481: 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. The south side of

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744-482: Is the region at the northern limits of the western spine mountain of Mexico , the Sierra Madre Occidental -(Mother Mountains, West). The ranges were broken up by Basin and Range faulting, and leaving wide areas of bajadas or graben -type valleys, sometimes with obvious horst -type mountain ranges; even extreme volcanic cones can form on these horst boundaries, like the seven minor volcanoes at

806-593: The Altar Valley , rural residential development predominates. Attractions include Saguaro National Park West , and movie set/theme park developed at the Old 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. Starting in about 1915, an annual tradition developed for freshmen to whitewash

868-562: The Baboquivari Peak Wilderness . The center of the valley is near Baldy Peak ( 31°50′46″N 111°20′06″W  /  31.8462°N 111.3351°W  / 31.8462; -111.3351  ( Baldy Peak (Sierrita Mountains) ) ) in the southwest Sierrita Mountains. Baldy Peak's height is 4,120 feet (1,256 m). The Madrean Sky Island region of southeast Arizona , extreme southwest New Mexico , northern Sonora and extreme northwest Chihuahua , Mexico,

930-716: The California border. Southern Arizona's desert waters flow north-northwest mostly ultimately ending at the Gila River which starts in extreme southwestern New Mexico and ends at Yuma, bordering California. Mexico's border drainage is into the Gran Desierto de Altar , with two rivers of northern Sonora draining to the southwest into the northern Gulf of California . These two areas of southwest Arizona and northwest Sorona are most inhospitable and dangerous in summer months. (The Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range uses

992-632: The California Gold Rush of 1849. The US acquired those portions of modern-day Arizona that lay south of the Gila River by treaty from Mexico in the Gadsden 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

1054-518: The Gadsden Purchase in 1853. Tucson served as the capital of the Arizona Territory from 1867 to 1877. 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" by UNESCO in 2015. The Spanish name of

1116-541: The Harlem 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. As of the early 21st century, Central Tucson is considered bicycle-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

1178-608: The Mexican–American War in 1846–1848, Tucsón was captured by Philip St. George Cooke with the Mormon Battalion , but it soon returned to Mexican control as Cooke proceeded to the west, establishing Cooke's Wagon Road to California. Tucsón was not included in the Mexican Cession to the United States following the war. Cooke's road through Tucsón became one of the important routes into California during

1240-652: The New Mexico border near Lordsburg , but this eastern segment has been superseded by Interstate 10 . SR 86 is the primary east–west highway through the Tohono O'odham Nation . The western terminus of SR 86 is located at a junction with SR 85 in Why. From this intersection, the highway heads southeast, but curves towards the east as it enters the Papago Indian Reservation . It continues towards

1302-646: The Rialto Theatre opened in 1920, and St. Augustine Cathedral completed in 1896. Included on the National Register of Historic Places is the old Pima County Courthouse , designed by Roy Place in 1928. El Charro Café , Tucson's oldest restaurant, operates its main location downtown. As one of the oldest parts of town, Central Tucson is anchored by the Broadway Village shopping center, designed by local architect Josias Joesler at

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1364-823: The Santa Catalina Mountains and the Tortolita Mountains to the north, the Santa Rita Mountains to the south, the Rincon Mountains to the east, and the Tucson Mountains to the west. Tucson Mountains include 4,687 ft (1,429 m) Wasson Peak. The highest point in the area is Mount Wrightson , found in the Santa Rita Mountains at 9,453 ft (2,881 m) above sea level. Tucson

1426-564: The Tucson Convention Center (TCC), include: Other historical neighborhoods near downtown include: 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. One Rio Nuevo project that was successful is Mission Garden . Related to Tucson's City of Gastronomy designation, this living agricultural museum at

1488-557: The A, which was visible for miles. After the September 11 terrorist attacks, the A was painted red, white, and blue. At the beginning of the Iraq 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. Another color may be decided by

1550-507: The Arizona region because of its remoteness and yeartime usage abilities by flight.) Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge Baldy Peak Arizona State Route 86 State Route 86 (or SR 86 ) is a state highway in southern Arizona that stretches from its junction with State Route 85 in Why east to its junction at 16th Avenue east of Interstate 19 in Tucson . It formerly went east to

1612-740: 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

1674-637: The Oracle Road Corridor). Many of the city's most upscale boutiques , restaurants, and art galleries are also on the north side, including St. Philip's Plaza. The plaza is directly adjacent to the historic St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church (built in 1936). The north side also is home to the suburban community of Catalina Foothills , in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains just north of

1736-882: 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 the Rillito River Park bike and walk multi-use path. To the south, North Highland Avenue leads to the Barraza-Aviation Parkway bicycle path. South Tucson is the name of an independent, incorporated town of 1 sq mi (2.6 km ) south of downtown. It

1798-457: The Tucson station and killed Stilwell on the tracks. After killing Stilwell, Wyatt deputized others and conducted a vendetta , 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 with faro dealer John Murphy in Tucson. The two agreed to have a duel on

1860-668: The Western US, Tucson was developed by European Americans on a grid plan starting in the late 19th century, with the city center at Stone Avenue and Broadway Boulevard. While this intersection was initially near the geographic 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

1922-606: The area west of I-10. Western Tucson encompasses the banks of the Santa Cruz River and the foothills of the Tucson Mountains . Area attractions include the International Wildlife Museum and Sentinel Peak. The Marriott Starr Pass Resort and Spa serves travelers and residents. As travelers pass the Tucson Mountains, they enter the area commonly referred to as "west of" Tucson or "Old West Tucson". In this large, undulating plain extending south into

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1984-472: The base of Sentinel 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 the Union Pacific (formerly Southern Pacific ) railroad tracks, site of the historic train depot on

2046-592: 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 and west of Sabino Creek . Some of the Tucson area's major resorts are in the Catalina Foothills, including Hacienda Del Sol , Westin La Paloma Resort, Loews Ventana Canyon Resort and Canyon Ranch Resort . La Encantada , an outdoor shopping mall,

2108-410: The city of Tucson is generally considered to be the area around 25 sq mi (65 km ) south of 22nd Street, east of I-19, west of Davis Monthan Air Force Base and southwest of Aviation Parkway, and north of Los Reales Road. The Tucson International Airport and Tucson Electric Park are located here. The West Side has areas of both urban and suburban development. It is generally defined as

2170-582: The city's population. They were predominantly Chinese men who had been recruited as workers on the railroads. By 1900, 7,531 people lived in Tucson. By 1910, the population increased to 13,913. 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 been gassed in World War I and needed respiratory therapy . In addition, these dry and high-altitude conditions were thought to be ideal for

2232-413: The city, Tucsón ( Spanish pronunciation: [tuɣˈson] ), is derived from the O'odham Cuk Ṣon ( O'odham pronunciation: [tʃʊk ʂɔːn] ). 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. The name is commonly translated into English as "the base [of the hill] is black", a reference to

2294-417: The city, Sahuarita south of the city, and South Tucson in an enclave south of downtown. Communities in the vicinity of Tucson (some within or overlapping the city limits) include Casas Adobes , Catalina Foothills , Flowing Wells , Midvale Park , Tanque Verde , Tortolita , and Vail . Towns outside the Tucson metropolitan area include Three Points , Benson to the southeast, Catalina and Oracle to

2356-460: The concurrency with SR 85 between Ajo and Why was removed, truncating the western end of SR 86 to Why. In 2003, SR 19 Bus. was removed, truncating the eastern end of SR 86 to 16th Avenue east of I-19. The Census Designated Place of Why was named after the Y-shaped intersection between SR 85 and SR 86. The intersection has since been rebuilt into a T-shaped intersection. The entire route

2418-450: The east passing through the communities of Schuchuli , Gunsight , Wahak Hotrontk , Plato Vaya , and Maish Vaya before curving towards the southeast near Quijotoa . It continues southeast until curves towards the east in Sells . It curves towards the northeast near Ali Chukson and curves back to the east near San Pedro . The highway curves towards the northeast just prior to leaving

2480-821: The east side. Downtown is divided into the Presidio District, the Barrio Viejo, and the Congress Street Arts and Entertainment District. Some authorities include the 4th Avenue shopping district, northeast of the rest of downtown and connected by an underpass beneath the UPRR tracks. Historic attractions downtown with rich architecture include the Hotel Congress designed in 1919, the Art Deco Fox Theatre designed in 1929,

2542-556: The first extensive use of pottery vessels for cooking and storage. The groups designated as the Hohokam lived in the area from AD 600 to 1450 and are known for their vast irrigation canal systems and their red-on-brown pottery. Italian Jesuit missionary Eusebio Francisco Kino first visited the Santa Cruz River valley in 1692. He founded the Mission San Xavier del Bac in 1700, about 7 mi (11 km) upstream from

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2604-653: The highest growth rates of any jurisdiction in the United States. According to the United States Census Bureau , as of 2010, the City of Tucson has a land area of 226.71 square miles (587.2 km ). The city's elevation is 2,643 ft (806 m) above sea level (as measured at the Tucson International Airport). Tucson is on an alluvial plain in the Sonoran Desert , surrounded by five minor ranges of mountains:

2666-644: 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. The University of Arizona , chartered in 1885,

2728-635: 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 the Santa Cruz River , formerly a perennial river. Now a dry riverbed for much of the year, it regularly floods during significant seasonal rains. Interstate 10 runs northwest through town, connecting Tucson to Phoenix to

2790-539: 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. As other settlers tried to overcome violent frontier society, in 1885, the territorial legislature founded the University of Arizona as a land-grant college on what was overgrazed ranchland between Tucson and Fort Lowell. In 1890, Asians made up 4.2% of

2852-413: The murder. The coroner 's jury concluded Pete Spence, Stilwell, Frederick Bode, and Florentino "Indian Charlie" Cruz were the prime suspects in the assassination of Morgan Earp. Deputy U.S. Marshal Wyatt Earp gathered a few trusted friends and accompanied Virgil 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

2914-573: The north, and Green Valley to the south. Tucson was founded as a military fort by the Spanish when Hugo O'Conor authorized the construction of Presidio San Agustín del Tucsón in 1775. It was included in the state of Sonora after Mexico gained independence from the Spanish Empire in 1821. The United States acquired a 29,670 square miles (76,840 km ) region of present-day southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico from Mexico under

2976-524: The northern end of the Mohawk Mountains The Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge borders the southeast Altar Valley and covers half the valley's length. Sasabe , the U.S.-Mexico border town is surrounded by the refuge, including to the west. The lower elevation Cerro Colorado range borders the refuge to the northeast, the similar San Luis Mountains to the southeast. The mountains to

3038-483: The northwest (on the way to its western terminus in Santa Monica, California ), and to Las Cruces, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas to the southeast. (Its eastern terminus is in Jacksonville, Florida ). I-19 runs south from Tucson toward Nogales and the U.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. Similar to many other cities in

3100-583: The number of flags that had been flown over Tucson to five: Spanish, Mexican, United States, Confederate, and the State of Arizona. 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 of Tucson 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

3162-450: The population of the entire Tucson metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is 1,043,433. The Tucson MSA forms part of the larger Tucson-Nogales combined statistical area . Both Tucson and Phoenix anchor the Arizona Sun Corridor . The city is 108 miles (174 km) southeast of Phoenix and 60 mi (100 km) north of the United States–Mexico border . Major incorporated suburbs of Tucson include Oro Valley and Marana northwest of

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3224-508: The remainder of the bypass between the Arizona border and Road Forks, New Mexico was served by New Mexico State Road 14 . SR 86 was further extended through Tucson and the Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation to Ajo in 1943. SR 85 was extended south from Ajo to Lukeville in 1955, establishing a concurrency with SR 86 to Why . In 1970, SR 86 had its eastern end truncated to US 89 (later State Business Route 19 ) in Tucson after being replaced by I-10 between Tucson and New Mexico. In 1991,

3286-439: The reservation. SR 86 curves towards the east as it enters Tucson. In Tucson, the highway continues east past an interchange with I-19 to 16th Avenue, which serves as its eastern terminus. SR 86 was originally designated in 1930, between Willcox and Bowie . In 1931, it was extended west to Benson and east to the New Mexico state line, effectively serving as a direct bypass to the US 80 Douglas loop. From 1927 to 1960,

3348-422: 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 downtown Pima County Courthouse

3410-491: The stations and coaches ended operations in August 1861. Tucson was incorporated in 1877, making it the oldest incorporated city in Arizona. From 1877 to 1878, the area suffered a rash of stagecoach robberies. Most notable were the two holdups committed by masked road agent William Whitney Brazelton . 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 , of Tombstone, Arizona , fame,

3472-438: The stress is on the first syllable, the "u" is long, and the "c" is silent. In 1857, Tucson was established as a stage station on the San Antonio–San Diego Mail Line . In 1858, it became third division headquarters of the Butterfield Overland Mail and operated until the line was shut down in March 1861. The Overland Mail Corporation attempted to continue running, but following the Bascom Affair , devastating Apache attacks on

3534-458: The town of Marana , the small suburb of Picture Rocks , the town of Oro 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 of Casas Adobes

3596-420: The treatment of tuberculosis, for which no cures were known before antibiotics were developed against it. The city continued to grow, with the population increasing to 20,292 in 1920 and 36,818 in 1940. In 2006, the estimated population of Pima County , in which Tucson is located, passed one million, while the City of Tucson's population was 535,000. In 1912, Arizona was admitted as a state. This increased

3658-410: The west and east associated with the Altar Valley . On maps of Arizona , in the Altar Valley region, the United States-Mexico border changes direction to the northwest to end at the Colorado River at Yuma, Arizona . This change in border direction mostly follows a water divide change, separating drainage basins from each country; there are minor regional exceptions along the border to Yuma and

3720-401: Was built near this site). During the Spanish period of the presidio, attacks such as the Second Battle of Tucson were repeatedly mounted by the Apache . Eventually, the town came to be called Tucsón, a Spanish version of the O'odham word for the area. It was included in the state of Sonora after Mexico gained independence from the Kingdom of Spain and its Spanish Empire in 1821. During

3782-470: Was one of the passengers. Pima County Sheriff Charles A. Shibell and his citizen posse killed Brazelton on August 19, 1878, in a mesquite bosque along the Santa Cruz River 3 miles (5 km) south of Tucson. Brazelton had been suspected of highway robbery in the Tucson area, the Prescott region, and the Silver City, New Mexico area. Because of the crimes and threats to his business, John J. Valentine Sr. of Wells, Fargo & Co. had sent Bob Paul ,

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3844-537: Was probably first visited by Paleo-Indians , who were known to have been in southern Arizona about 12,000 years ago. Recent archaeological excavations near the Santa Cruz River found a village site dating from 2100 BC. The floodplain of the Santa Cruz River was extensively farmed during the Early Agricultural Period , c. 1200 BC to AD 150. These people hunted, gathered wild plants and nuts, and ate corn, beans, and other crops grown using irrigation canals they constructed. The Early Ceramic period occupation of Tucson had

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