84-564: The Sahuarita Unified School District is the school district serving Sahuarita and Green Valley, Arizona . The district serves 5,800 students. Sahuarita, Arizona Sahuarita / s ɑː w ə ˈ r iː t ə / is a town in Pima County , Arizona , United States. Sahuarita is located south of the Tohono O'odham Nation and abuts the north end of Green Valley , 15 miles (24 km) south of Tucson . The 2022 population estimate
168-463: A fire return interval greater than 250 years; buffelgrass thrives at fire return intervals of two to three years. This has led to the reshaping of the Sonoran Desert ecosystem and threatens the survival of the saguaro. Climate change may threaten saguaros and their ecosystems, as deserts are particularly susceptible to climate effects. Rising daytime and nighttime temperatures will reduce
252-488: A 1925 map of "Auto Trails" (e.g. roadways) of Arizona and New Mexico lists "Continental" instead of Sahuarita. The roadway at the time was an "improved road", one step inferior to a "paved road", laying the route to what today is called the Old Nogales Highway. In 1879 Sahuarita Ranch was created by James Kilroy Brown. Brown chose the name Sahuarita due to the preponderance of saguaros in the area. The ranch
336-426: A 5,540-foot (1,690 m) paved runway, and the bombing runs ceased shortly thereafter. The site included 12 buildings in addition to the airstrip, and four observational towers. In 1950, bomber crews operating out of Carswell AFB , Texas, restarted bombing runs on the range, which would last until 1962, with the airway strip remaining in use as an emergency landing strip thereafter. The Federal government soon released
420-753: A bachelor's degree, and 14.6% have a master's degree, and 3.3% have a Doctoral degree. These statistics lead to the finding that "demonstrates significantly higher concentrations in associate’s, bachelor’s and graduate/professional degrees than the county as a whole, or the state." For places of work, 57% of residents reported working in Tucson, with 16.6% working in Sahuarita, and 12.7% in Green Valley. It found that local workers specialized more than workers elsewhere in Pima County, being most concentrated in
504-510: A class-four felony with a possible 3-year, 9-month maximum sentence. Invasive species, such as buffelgrass and Sahara mustard , pose significant threats to the Sonoran Desert ecosystem by increasing the rate of fires. Buffelgrass outcompetes saguaros for water, and grows densely. It is also extremely flammable, but survives fire easily due to deep root systems. Saguaros did not evolve in an environment with frequent fires, thus are not adapted to fire survival. Most Sonoran desert ecosystems have
588-411: A columnar cactus and newer spines are near the apex. A 2007 study examined the relationship of carbon and oxygen isotope ratios in the tissues of spines of an individual to its climate and photosynthetic history ( acanthochronology ). The spines may cause significant injury to animals; one paper reported that a bighorn sheep skull had been penetrated by a saguaro spine after the sheep collided with
672-604: A different appearance. Since 2014, the National Register of Champion Trees listed the largest known living saguaro in the United States in Maricopa County , Arizona, measuring 13.8 m (45 ft 3 in) high with a girth of 3.1 m (10 ft 2 in); it has an estimated age of 200 years and survived damage in the 2005 Cave Creek Complex Fire . The tallest saguaro ever measured
756-472: A height of 1 m (3 ft 3 in). Individual stomatal guard cells and medulla cells can live and function for as long as 150 years, possibly the longest living of all cells, except possibly nerve cells in some tortoises. As a cactus, it uses crassulacean acid metabolism photosynthesis, which confers high levels of water-use efficiency . This allows the saguaro to transpire only at night, minimizing daytime water loss. A saguaro without arms
840-410: A memo discussing when written permission is needed before harvesting them because of the importance of the decomposition of cactus remains in maintaining desert soil fertility. The composition of the ribs is similar to that of hardwoods . The spines on a saguaro are extremely sharp and can grow to 7 cm (3 in) long, and up to 1 mm ( 1 ⁄ 32 in) per day. When held up to
924-580: A pole (made of two or three saguaro ribs) 4.5 to 9 m (15 to 30 ft) long, to the end of which cross-pieces, which can be made of saguaro rib, catclaw , or creosote bush , are attached. This pole is used to hook the fruits or knock them free. Saguaro seeds are small and short-lived. Although they germinate easily, predation and lack of moisture prevent all but about 1% of seeds from successful germination. Seeds must wait 12–14 months before germination; lack of water during this period drastically reduces seedling survival. The existence of nurse plants
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#17327759052361008-405: A private landowner whose property is 10 acres (4 hectares) or less, where the initial construction has already occurred, may remove a saguaro from the property. This is common when the cactus falls over in a storm, its location interferes with a house addition, or it becomes a potential hazard to humans. In 1982, a man was killed after damaging a saguaro. David Grundman was shooting and poking at
1092-449: A relatively long lifespan, often exceeding 150 years. They may grow their first side arm around 75–100 years of age, but some never grow any arms. Arms are developed to increase the plant's reproductive capacity, as more apices lead to more flowers and fruit. A saguaro can absorb and store considerable amounts of rainwater, visibly expanding in the process, while slowly using the stored water as needed. This characteristic enables
1176-465: A saguaro cactus in an effort to make it fall. An arm of the cactus, weighing 230 kg (500 lb), fell onto him, crushing him and his car. The trunk of the cactus then also fell on him. The Austin Lounge Lizards wrote the song "Saguaro" about this death. Contrary to published statements, no law mandates prison sentences of 25 years for cutting a cactus down; however, it is considered
1260-494: A saguaro. They can also cause severe injury to humans, being as sharp and nearly as strong as steel needles. Their long, unbarbed nature means that partially embedded spines can be easily removed, but their relative length can complicate injuries. The spines can puncture deeply, and if broken off, can leave splinters of spine deep in the tissue that can be difficult to remove. Fully embedded spikes are also difficult to remove. Such injuries do not usually result in infection, though, as
1344-573: A skeleton, with the individual ribs being as long as the cactus itself and up to a few centimeters in diameter. The rib wood itself is also relatively dense, with dry ribs having a solid density around 430 kg/m (27 lb/cu ft), which made the ribs useful to indigenous peoples as a building material. While the ribs of dead plants are not protected by the Arizona native plant law, the Arizona Department of Agriculture has released
1428-602: A town came to be and was named Tucson. After the Mexican War of Independence in 1821, the region came under Mexican control until they sold the land to the United States as part of the Gadsden Purchase . In 1854, following the Gadsden Purchase , Sahuarita would become a part of the Territory of New Mexico , in the United States of America. In the same year, Andrew B. Gray would travel the region on behalf of
1512-467: Is 435,600 square feet (40,470 m ), with a 1-mile (1.6 km) long perimeter and maximum depth of 10 feet (3.0 m), holding approximately 70 acre-feet (86,000 m ) of water. This reflects a water amount equivalent to less than one tenth of one percent (<0.1%) of the 76,000 acre-feet (94,000,000 m ) of water used by all of Sahuarita and Green Valley in 2006. The lake is a "managed lake", which means that natural ecological changes within
1596-513: Is 51.2% female, and 48.8% male. As of the census of 2000, there were 3,242 people, 1,155 households, and 927 families residing in the town. The population density was 213.2 inhabitants per square mile (82.3/km ). There were 1,247 housing units at an average density of 82.0 units per square mile (31.7 units/km ). The racial makeup of the town was 87.9% White , 0.6% Black or African American , 1.1% Native American , 1.0% Asian , 7.4% from other races , and 2.1% from two or more races. 24.2% of
1680-466: Is 69 inches (1,800 mm) per year. This results in a mean water loss of 57.5 acre-feet (70,900 m ) per year. Regarding water loss due to seepage, initial estimates indicated an annual loss of 10 acre-feet (12,000 m ) of water, or 17% of total capacity per year. The J. Harlan Glenn Engineers that provided this estimate indicated that this equates to an "extremely low seepage rate". On average, 65 gpm (gallons of water per minute) must be pumped into
1764-482: Is a common image in Mexican and Arizonan culture, and American Southwest films. The saguaro is a columnar cactus that grows notable branches , usually referred to as arms. Over 50 arms may grow on one plant, with one specimen having 78 arms. Saguaros grow from 3–16 m (10–52 ft) tall, and up to 75 cm (30 in) in diameter. They are slow growing, and routinely live 150 to 200 years. They are
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#17327759052361848-776: Is a general law town, and does not have a town charter. As a result, Sahuarita operates fully under Title 9: Cities and Towns, of the Arizona Revised Statutes. Sahuarita contains the master planned communities of Rancho Sahuarita & Resort, one of the newest communities, (north), Quail Creek (southeast) and Madera Highlands (south) in addition to the residential neighborhoods of La Joya (southwest), Valle Verde del Norte (established in 1979), Los Colonias and Los Arroyos (west). The town has 92 acres (0.37 km ; 37 ha) of public and private parks and recreation facilities, with approximately 125 acres (0.51 km ; 51 ha) more parkland proposed. Since 2002, 30% of
1932-601: Is a matter of taxonomic dispute. A molecular analysis of the cactus family in 2010 placed the saguaro in the Echinocereinae . The ARS Germplasm Resources Information Network places it in the Echinocereeae . The generic name honors businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie . The specific epithet gigantea refers to its formidable size. The Saguaro is endemic to the Sonoran Desert and
2016-418: Is called a "spear". Some saguaros grow in rare formations called a cristate, or "crested" saguaro. This growth formation is believed to be found in one in roughly 10,000 saguaros, with 2,743 known crested saguaros documented. The crest formation, caused by fasciation, creates a seam of abnormal growth along the top or top of the arm of the saguaro. Inside the saguaro, many "ribs" of wood form something like
2100-417: Is critical to seedling establishment. Palo verde trees and triangle bursage represent important nurse species. They act by regulating temperature extremes, increasing soil nutrients, and reducing evapotranspiration , among others. While nurse plants reduce summer temperature maxima by as much as 18 °C (32 °F), they are more important in raising winter minimum temperatures, as extended frosts limit
2184-611: Is expected to decline even faster as water demands [continue to increase]...". The report concludes that "Water supplies will become critical within the next ten years." The Upper Santa Cruz Valley has several "major water users", all pumping water out of the same aquifer. None of these are owned by Pima County, the town of Sahuarita, nor Green Valley. The major water users are all private companies: ASARCO-Mission Mine, Phelps Dodge Sierrita Mine; Farmers Water Company; Sahuarita Water Company, Las Quintas Serenas Water Company, Quail Creek Water Company, Community Water Company of Green Valley, and
2268-559: Is found primarily in western Sonora in Mexico, and in western Arizona in the US. There are only 30 known wild saguaros found in southeastern California. Elevation is a limiting factor to its environment, as the saguaro is sensitive to extended frost or cold temperatures. No confirmed specimens of wild saguaros have been found anywhere in Nevada , New Mexico , Texas , Colorado , Utah , nor in
2352-523: Is native to the Sonoran Desert in Arizona , the Mexican state of Sonora , and the Whipple Mountains and Imperial County areas of California. The saguaro blossom is the state wildflower of Arizona. Its scientific name is given in honor of Andrew Carnegie . In 1933, Saguaro National Park , near Tucson, Arizona , was designated to help protect this species and its habitat. Saguaros have
2436-499: Is produced by the extremely numerous stamens, which in one notable case totaled 3 482 in a single flower. A well-pollinated fruit contains several thousand tiny seeds. Pollination is considered relatively generalized in that multiple species can produce effective pollination when some populations are excluded. Main pollinators are honey bees , bats, and white-winged doves . In most, but not all studies, diurnal pollinators contributed more than nocturnal ones. Honey bees were
2520-510: Is the lesser long-nosed bat , feeding on the nectar . Several floral characteristics are geared toward bat pollination ( chiropterophily ): nocturnal opening of the flowers, nocturnal maturation of pollen, very rich nectar, position high above ground, durable blooms that can withstand a bat's weight, and fragrance emitted at night. Claw marks on the flower indicate pollination by a bat. Flowers grow 8.6–12.4 cm (3.4–4.9 in) long, and are open for less than 24 hours. Since they form only at
2604-544: The Coronado expeditions of 1540–1542, which noted its use in winemaking. Arizona made the saguaro blossom its territorial flower on March 13, 1901, and on March 16, 1931, it became the state flower. The saguaro is often used as an emblem in commercials and logos that attempt to convey a sense of the Southwest . Notably, no naturally occurring saguaros are found within 400 kilometers (250 miles) of El Paso, Texas , but
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2688-626: The Mission San Xavier del Bac in 1699, just north of Sahuarita. In 1775, Francisco Garcés would follow the same path, laying the groundwork for the founding of Tucson. In 1775, after building a series of missions in the region, the Spanish established a fort in the Tucson region to control the Native American settlements nearby. This just north of Sahuarita, which effectively placed the region under Spanish control. Eventually
2772-570: The Texas Western Railroad , in order to run a preliminary survey of the region. Meanwhile, the Native American peoples of the region were being pushed onto each other's land through American expansionism. In 1857, the Sobaipuri, who had acted as a buffer between the hostile Mexicans to the south and Apache to the north, finally collapsed under the pressure and vacated the area, generally moving westward to Papago territory. Sahuarita
2856-586: The Titan Missile Museum , built in 1963 during the height of the Cold War , which is the only Titan Missile site in the world accessible to the public. The actual Titan II missile, the most powerful nuclear missile on standby in the US, remains in the silo for visitors to see. The Sahuarita Airstrip continued to be used by the U.S. Air Force throughout most of the Cold War. The population of
2940-558: The United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 15.2 square miles (39 km ), all land. Since the most recent census was taken in 2000, the town has annexed more land; its area is now approximately 30 sq mi (78 km ). The Santa Cruz River (Arizona) runs through the desert town, flowing north towards Tucson, mostly during the monsoons, or extended climatic wet periods. Late 19th century and early 20th century still contained beaver in
3024-404: The nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA , but those copies are non-functional. How the saguaro thrives in a high stress environment without working copies of this fairly important gene remains unknown, but it is possible that the functions of the ndh genes have been taken on by another pathway. Carnegiea gigantea is the only species in the monotypic genus Carnegiea . The first description of
3108-555: The white-winged dove and ants, so that seeds rarely escape to germinate. White-winged doves are important pollinators, visiting blooms more often than any other bird species. For desert white-winged doves, 60% or more of their diet is saguaro-based. Their breeding cycle coincides with that of the saguaro blooming. Gila woodpeckers and gilded flickers create holes in the cactus to make nests, which are later used by other birds, such as elf owls , purple martins , and house finches . Gilded flickers excavate larger holes higher on
3192-481: The Green Valley Water District. The proliferation of water companies can be partially explained by the fact that the actual water in the aquifer is not owned by anyone, thus any amount of water can be pumped out, with costs limited only to drilling, pumping, distribution, etc. Sahuarita Lake is an artificial lake that was completed on June 22, 2001, by Rancho Sahuarita. The lake surface area
3276-429: The Green Valley area, which includes Sahuarita], with 85 percent of that water being used for mining and agriculture. The remaining 15 percent was split between water used for golf courses and residential/commercial water use. The report explains that "The Green Valley area does not have a sustainable water supply given current groundwater pumping rates... the water table in Green Valley has been declining in past years, and
3360-707: The Hohokam, and occupied the Southern portion of the Santa Cruz, with the Pima to their North and South. While Coronado passed just east of Sahuarita in 1521, it was not until Eusebio Kino 's 1691 journey along the Santa Cruz River that he met the leaders of the Sobaipuri people. Kino was a true champion of the indigenous Indians, opposing forced labor in mines by Spanish overseers. Kino would later go on to found
3444-492: The air. The crosses were used as targets for the airmen in training. Many United States Tobacco Company tins have been found, discarded by the several different aviators who occupied the area during its military days. The actual airstrip is now used as a road leading to Sahuarita Park and the Edge Charter School, both of which were built among the remains of the older air force buildings. Sahuarita contains
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3528-491: The area, including jaguars, spotted owls, among others. Several different types of expended ammunition rounds can be found throughout the range, most of which found are 10 to 20 mm anti-aircraft rounds. Shrapnel from the dropped ordnance also litters the range, as well as dozens of crushed olive drab ammunition boxes. Shell casings and magazine clips can also be found, along with JATO tanks and large cross targets, constructed of wood with orange reflectors for visibility from
3612-507: The cactus spines are generally aseptic . However, spines that remain embedded may cause inflammatory granuloma . The white, waxy flowers appear in April through June, opening well after sunset and closing in midafternoon. They continue to produce nectar after sunrise. Flowers are self-incompatible , thus requiring cross-pollination. Large quantities of pollen are required for complete pollination because many ovules are present. This pollen
3696-524: The end of the harvest, each family would contribute a small amount of syrup to a communal stock that would be fermented by the medicine man. This was cause for rainmaking celebrations: Stories would be told, there was much dancing, and songs would be sung. Each man would drink some of the saguaro wine. The resulting intoxicated state was seen as holy, and any dreams it brought on were considered portentous. The saguaro features prominently in indigenous folklore and religions. Reports of saguaro use date back to
3780-409: The following occupations: Grupo México Asarco 's Mission Complex mine is located in Sahuarita and is one of the town's largest employers. According to Sahuarita's 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the principal employers in the city are; The Town of Sahuarita operates under the council-manager form of government. The Sahuarita town council is responsible for the policy matters of
3864-642: The former of which are regularly stocked by the Arizona State Department of Game and Fish, and is an attraction to ducks and various kinds of birds. The lake consumes water to the extent that all the water in the lake must be replenished every year. Regarding water evaporation, lake documents state that according to the USDA Water Conservation Laboratory in Phoenix, the mean annual evaporation rate for Sahuarita
3948-722: The fruits, which are then made into a variety of products, including jams, syrups, and wine. The Tohono O'odham begin their harvest in June. A pair of saguaro ribs, about 6 m (20 ft) long, are bundled together to make a harvesting tool called a kuibit . The Tohono O'odham traditionally reduce the freshly harvested fruit into a thick syrup through several hours of boiling, as the fresh fruit does not keep for long. Four kilograms (9 pounds) of fruit will yield about 1 liter ( 1 ⁄ 4 U.S. gallon) of syrup. Copious volumes of fruit are harvested; an example harvest in 1929 yielded 45,000 kg (99,000 lb) among 600 families. At
4032-450: The greatest contributors. Other diurnal pollinators are birds such as Costa's hummingbird , the black-chinned hummingbird , the broad-billed hummingbird , the hooded oriole , Scott's oriole , the Gila woodpecker , the gilded flicker , the verdin , and the house finch according to studies that examined the relative contributions of diurnal pollinators. The primary nocturnal pollinator
4116-620: The high deserts of northern Arizona. The northern limits of their range are the Hualapai Mountains in Arizona. They are the northernmost columnar cacti in the Americas. The saguaro is a keystone species , and provides food, shelter, and protection to hundreds of other species. Every stage of the saguaro's life sustains a significant number of species, from seedling to after its death. The saguaro provides voluminous amounts of pollen, nectar, and fruits. The fruits are eaten by
4200-513: The lake that do "not fit within the parameters set by man", are cause for remedial action to return to the goals of the management plan. Air compressors located at various points under the lake continually inject air through diffusers which aids the movement of water in a process called vertical mixing. This system of continual aeration enables the circulation of all water in the lake on a daily basis, and therefore creates an ecological balance and uniform appearance. The lake also contains fish and frogs,
4284-482: The lake to maintain its current level. A nearby well site that draws on the shared Upper Santa Cruz Valley aquifer is used to refill the lake. In 2006, 105.3 acre-feet (129,900 m ) of water was used for the entire Sahuarita lake park, which includes water for the 5 acres (20,000 m ) of grass and restroom facilities. As of the census of 2010, there were 25,259 people and 13,425 households residing in Sahuarita (a 679% increase since 2000). The population density
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#17327759052364368-429: The land in the town is zoned for residential use, the majority of which (22%) is classed as medium density residential, defined as a single family suburban environment. Employment, commercial, institutional, and industrial land comprises 6.5% of town land, while mixed use zoning occupies 9% of land. The town has set aside 7% of land for resource conservation/open space, while 25% of land is designated flood plain. Most of
4452-485: The land to the State of Arizona in 1978, who in turn leased the land to a cattle rancher. The former airstrip has been converted into a roadway that leads to "Sahuarita Park", while the remaining land remains in use for cattle grazing. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is continuing its longstanding efforts of identifying remaining munitions, preventing environmental contamination, and protecting several endangered species in
4536-418: The largest cactus in the United States. The growth rate of this cactus is strongly dependent on precipitation ; saguaros in drier western Arizona grow only half as fast as those in and around Tucson . Saguaros grow slowly from seed, and may be only 6.4 mm ( 1 ⁄ 4 in) tall after two years. Cuttings rarely root, and when they do, they do not go through the juvenile growth phase, which gives
4620-407: The light or bisected, alternating light and dark bands transverse to the long axis of spines are visible. These bands have been correlated to daily growth. In columnar cacti, spines almost always grow in areoles that originate at the apex of the plant. A spine stops growing in its first season. Areoles are moved to the side and the apex continues to grow upward. Thus, older spines are toward the base of
4704-594: The mineral calcium carbonate when they die. Through the formation of a mineral, cacti transfer carbon from the earth's biological cycle to its geological cycle. This form of carbon sequestration is a terrestrial equivalent to oceanic sequestration by corals and shellfish. Harming or vandalizing a saguaro in any manner, such as shooting them (sometimes known as "cactus plugging") is illegal by state law in Arizona. When houses or highways are built, special permits must be obtained to move or destroy any saguaro affected. Exceptions to this general understanding exist; for example,
4788-656: The municipality is in the Sahuarita Unified School District while a portion is in the Continental Elementary School District . Sahuarita is served by Sun Shuttle service to Tucson. Saguaro The saguaro ( / s ə ˈ ( ɡ ) w ɑːr oʊ / sə- (G)WAR -oh , Spanish: [saˈɣwaɾo] ; Carnegiea gigantea ) is a tree-like cactus species in the monotypic genus Carnegiea that can grow to be over 12 meters (40 feet) tall. It
4872-467: The old ones, leaving convenient nest holes for other birds, such as elf owls, tyrant flycatchers , and wrens . In recent years, early-breeding aggressive non-native birds have taken over the nests, to the detriment of elf owls that breed and nest later. In 2020, a bald eagle was found nesting in a saguaro for the first time since 1937. The sanguaro transform significant amounts of the carbon in CO2 into
4956-434: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 1,155 households, out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.6% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.7% were non-families. 15.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
5040-459: The possibility of a German blockade of rubber imports, Bernard Baruch , Joseph Kennedy and J.P. Morgan founded the farm along the Santa Cruz River with hopes of growing guayule : plants that provide rubber. The project was abandoned after the end of World War I, and in 1922, was sold to Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands . The Queen rented the land to cotton farmers, in what would be
5124-724: The primary crop for the following four decades. In 1948, R. Keith Walden relocated the Farmers Investment Co. (FICO) from California to Arizona, buying the Continental Farm lands from the Queen. In 1965, over fears of a fall in demand for cotton resulting from the advent of synthetic fibers, Walden switched his crop to pecans . Today, the FICO pecan orchard is the largest in the world, with over 6,000 acres (24 km ) and 106,000 trees. During World War II , Sahuarita
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#17327759052365208-489: The range of saguaros. Native American Indians of the Southwest would make bread from the ground seeds of saguaro. The saguaro genome is around 1 billion base pairs long. Sequencing has revealed that the genome of the saguaro's chloroplast is the smallest known among nonparasitic flowering plants. Like several other highly specialized plant taxa, such as the carnivorous Genlisea and parasitic Cuscuta ,
5292-480: The region to stagnate for three decades. During this time, the hub of Sahuarita commerce was at the intersection of Sahuarita Road and Nogales Highway, in the form of the One Stop Market and Sahuarita Bar and Grill. These 130-year-old buildings which remained intact were demolished for a road expansion in 2013. The Continental Farm of Sahuarita plays a central role in town history. In 1915, worried about
5376-488: The reservation. An 1870 map of Arizona shows an "Indian Village" just north of Sahuarita. The earliest known reference to the town can be found on a German map from 1875, which labels the town "Sahuarito". The first known US map to list the town came in 1879, by the US Department of Interior, calling the town "Saurita". The Saurita town name would continue to be found on successive maps of 1880 and 1890. Finally,
5460-492: The river from Tucson, southwards. Madera Canyon , located just southeast of the town, is another important landmark, day trip site, and a birdwatching point. In the desert southwest, water sustainability is a major concern. According to a 2007 report by Pima County, 76,000 acre-feet (94,000,000 m ) of water was pumped from the aquifer in the Upper Santa Cruz Valley in 2006 [in the report referred to as
5544-400: The saguaro has lost the ndh plastid genes , which codes for production of NADPH dehydrogenase pathway, but unlike those taxa, the saguaro remains fully autotrophic ; i.e. it does not eat or steal part of its food. The saguaro is remarkable for the scale and completeness of gene loss; essentially no traces of the 11 ndh genes remain in the plastid . The genes appear to have been copied to
5628-478: The saguaro to survive during periods of drought. It is a keystone species , and provides food and habitat to a large number of species. Saguaros have been a source of food and shelter for humans for thousands of years. Their sweet red fleshed fruits are turned into syrup by native peoples, such as the Tohono Oʼodham and Pima . Their ribs are used as building materials in the wood-poor deserts. The saguaro cactus
5712-512: The silhouette is found on the label of Old El Paso brand products. Though the geographic anomaly has lessened in recent years, Western films once enthusiastically placed saguaros in the Monument Valley of Arizona (north of their native range), as well as New Mexico, Utah, and Texas. America West Airlines , and later U.S. Airways after their merger in 2007, used the call sign "CACTUS" for radio communication on flights. America West
5796-556: The species was made by William H. Emory in 1848, during his surveys along the pre- Gadsden Purchase United States-Mexican border. This description allowed cactus expert George Engelmann to formally name it, during his work on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey , published in 1859. The next major taxonomic treatment came from The Cactaceae , the seminal work on cactus by Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose . What tribe Carnegiea gigantea belongs to
5880-468: The state. The population of 250 prisoners primarily worked in agriculture, tending to cotton and vegetable crops. More than one escape attempt was made by the Germans, all of which failed. The United States Army Air Corps , from Davis–Monthan Air Force Base , first used this 27,046-acre (109.45 km ) range in April 1942 for practice bombing runs. The Sahuarita Flight Strip was completed in 1943, with
5964-415: The stem compared to Gila woodpeckers. The resulting nest cavity is deep, and the parents and young are entirely hidden from view. The saguaro creates callus tissue on the wound. When the saguaro dies and its soft flesh rots, the callus remains as a so-called saguaro boot , which was used by natives for storage. Gila woodpeckers ( Melanerpes uropygialis ) create new nest holes each season rather than reuse
6048-676: The top of the plant and the tips of branches, saguaros growing numerous branches is reproductively advantageous. Flowers open sequentially, with plants averaging four flowers open per day over a bloom period lasting a month. In Southern Arizona, saguaros begin flowering around May 3 and peak on June 4. A decline in bat populations causes more daytime flower openings, which favors other pollinators. The ruby red fruits are 6 to 9 cm ( 2 + 1 ⁄ 2 to 3 + 1 ⁄ 2 in) long and ripen in June, each containing around 2 000 seeds, plus sweet, fleshy connective tissue. The fruits are often out of reach and are harvested using
6132-510: The town was $ 53,194, and the median income for a family was $ 55,338. Males had a median income of $ 42,258 versus $ 26,174 for females. The per capita income for the town was $ 22,075. About 4.0% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line , including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over. In April 2007, the Eller College of Management conducted an assessment survey of Sahuarita residents due to
6216-404: The town was 1,629 in the 1990 census , while at the 2000 census , the population rose to 3,242. By 2010 , the population rose to 25,259. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated that it had a population of 26,870 in 2013. Sahuarita is located at 31°55′45″N 110°58′56″W / 31.92917°N 110.98222°W / 31.92917; -110.98222 (31.929245, -110.982241). According to
6300-408: The town's 529% growth since the 2000 Census, because data from that census "on workforce and community characteristics is no longer applicable." The survey was mailed to 7,805 households and was weighted by area to ensure a representative sampling. The survey reported that in educational attainment 19.7% of residents are high school graduates; 32.4% have an associate degree or some college; 26.9% have
6384-495: The town, and the management of a town manager to oversee staff and carry out the day-to-day functions of the town. Sahuarita is administered by the seven member town council, which includes a Mayor and Vice Mayor. The Mayor and Vice Mayor are not elected into those positions, but are instead chosen among elected council members. The town council oversees all issues pertaining to Sahuarita, including residential and commercial development and natural preservation. The Town of Sahuarita
6468-447: The water use efficiency of saguaros, forcing them to use more water and making them more likely to die during drought periods. The utility of the saguaro is well known to Native Americans such as the Tohono O'odham , Pima , and Seri peoples, who still use nearly every part of the plant. The fruit and seeds are edible, being consumed fresh and dried, and made into preserves and drinks. The Tohono O'odham use long sticks to harvest
6552-407: Was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.09. In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.4 males. The median income for a household in
6636-575: Was 35,638. Sahuarita was founded in 1911 and incorporated in 1994. The first known human inhabitants of the Sahuarita region were the Hohokam people, which may be the ancestors of the modern day Tohono O'odham nation. The Hohokam were known for their highly innovative and extensive use of irrigation. The Hohokam were a very peaceful people, they had extensive trade routes extending to Mesoamerica, and showed many cultural influences from their southern neighbors. The Sobaipuri were possibly related to
6720-436: Was 841.9 people per square mile (325.1/km ). The racial makeup of the town was 57.5% non-Hispanic White , 2.9% Black or African American, 1.3% Native American , 2.0% Asian , 9.1% from other races , and 4.2% from two or more races. 32.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino . In Sahuarita, the population had 29.7% under the age of 18, 55.5% from age 18 to age 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. Sahuarita
6804-558: Was an armless specimen found near Cave Creek, Arizona . It was 78 ft (23.8 m) in height before it was toppled in 1986 by a windstorm. Saguaros are stem succulents and can hold large amounts of water; when rain is plentiful and the saguaro is fully hydrated, it can weigh between 1,500 and 2,200 kg (3,200 and 4,800 lb). Saguaros have a very large root network that can extend up to 30 m (100 ft), and long taproots of up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) deep. Saguaros may take between 20 and 50 years to reach
6888-638: Was home to the Sahuarita Airstrip which was used to train bomber pilots for service in the war. Camp Continental, a labor camp for German prisoners of war was also located in Sahuarita. The location of the camp was around what is now Continental Ranch, West of the Nogales Highway and the Quail Crossing Boulevard intersection. It was established around November 1944, as one of 21 "branch" POW camps established throughout
6972-769: Was part of the Confederate Arizona Territory between 1861 and 1862 before being captured by the Union and incorporated into Arizona Territory in 1863. In 1867, Fort Crittenden was created between Sonoita and Patagonia in order to support the establishment of American settlements in the Santa Cruz Valley . In 1874, the San Xavier reservation was created, now called the Tohono O'odham Reservation, and Native Americans were forcibly relocated to
7056-594: Was used as a staging area between Tucson, Arivaca , and Quijotoa . A small community developed in the area named Sahuarito, while the railroad laid tracks through the area (which remain to this day) and established a station and post office. Although originally surveyed by the Texas Western Railroad, the route would soon be run by the Southern Pacific Railroad up until the late 20th century. Brown sold his ranch in 1886 which caused
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