Community Info

It doesn't take long to realize that Tucson is stuck somewhere between it's Old West past and a bright, modern future. You can see distinct marks of Tucson's history just about anywhere you look, such as the San Xavier del Bac Mission to the south, or the Presidio Wall excavation next to City Hall. Here you will see the actual walls of the Presidio of San Augustin de Tucson, established in 1775.

Established as a city over 200 years ago in 1775 as a walled presidio run by Spanish soldiers, Tucson has been settled as far back as 12,000 years ago. You'll still see the Spanish influence today in the architecture of Tucson, along with influences from a multitude of other cultures. Eventually Tucson became a part of the United States in 1854 with the Gadsden purchase, serving as the capitol of the Arizona Territory for about 10 years.

Obvious marks of Tucson's growth are everywhere, beginning with it's size. Looking across the city, the sheer amount of space Tucson takes up is impressive, spanning from the Rincon mountains in the East to the Tucson mountains in the West.

High growth rates are nothing new to Tucson, with major contributing factors being the University of Arizona and Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Throughout the years, the growth of the university and Air Force base have directly reflected the growth of Tucson. The U of A enrolls more than 35,000 students each year from all 50 states and 100 hundred countries, and remains one of the largest employers in the area with over 13,000 employees. Just as significant is Davis-Monthan, with 6000 military and 1,700 civilian employees. Another 13,000 military retirees reportedly live in the Tucson metropolitan area.

Nowadays, growth comes from a myriad of new sources. Close proximity to Mexico makes Tucson a popular location for companies importing back and forth across the Mexico border, enjoying the benefits for specially created foreign trade zones that offer tremendous tax benefits.

Technology is also now a large part of Tucson's local industry. Highly prized industry groups include Aerospace, Bio-Industry, Environmental Technology, Information Technology, Optics, and Teleservices. One only needs to look at Tucson's unemployment rate of 2.9% in 2000 to know that there are plenty of jobs available in the area.

Tourism is also a major contributor to Tucson's growth, with about 10% of all jobs coming from the Tucson tourism industry. There are a great deal of nationally recognized attractions and resorts in the Tucson area that appeal to visitors, as well as world class events that bring around $1.8 billion into the local economy.

With such a wonderful climate and so many year-round activities, it's no wonder Tucson is one of the fastest growing cities in the West

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Sinclair Associates