Tucson Area Information and History
Italian Father Eusebio Francisco Kino, who served as a missionary for the Spanish church, made his initial visit in 1694 to what the Pima Indians called “Stjukshon”, meaning, roughly, “spring at the foot of a black mountain.” The word referred to the then-flowing Santa Cruz River.Tucson The name “Tucson” (TOO-sahn) is derived from the Indian word, “Chuk-son,” meaning village of the dark spring at the foot of the mountains. Tucson is a fabulous place to live with beautiful neighborhoods, gorgeous mountains, friendly people and a great quality of life. Tucson lies in the borderland, a region that blends the cultures of the United States and Mexico. Tucson has an interesting history of settlement by ancient Native American peoples, Spanish explorers, and Anglo frontiersmen. The city was established in 1775 by Spanish soldiers as a walled presidio and provided refuge for travelers and residents hence the nickname “The Old Pueblo.” In 1854 Tucson, Arizona became the 48th state in 1912 as part of the Gadsden Purchase. Today, Tucson is one of the fastest growing urban areas in the U.S. The metropolitan area population of 804,200 people is expected to reach one million shortly after the turn of the century.
Tucson is a fast-growing city with a blend of contrasts It is a modern city of arts, culture and world-class entertainment, underlined by the influence of centuries of human habitation and of breathtaking and accessible natural wonders. The lifestyles that define Tucson also provide a wealth of activities and attractions for you to enjoy, limited only by your stamina and imagination.
Oro Valley and Tucson are located in Pima County, 2,400 feet above sea level in the desert valley of south-central Arizona.Tucson has convenient freeway, rail, and air access, and Phoenix is an easy 90-minute drive away.
Tucson is rated as one of the top 5 mid-sized cities in the country, and one of the “50 Fabulous Places to Raise Your Family”. To make things even better, the Tucson area consistently ranks below the U.S. average in the Cost of Living Index. Hospitals and other medical facilities (ten in our area) are excellent and easily accessible. University Medical Center and Tucson Medical Center are renown for research and development.
Industry has centered on aircraft and missile manufacturing, dude ranching and electronics research and manufacture.Cotton farming has become a mainstay. Indeed, Marana is the home of the Pima Cotton industry.
Tucson is one of the sunniest cities in the U.S., with 3,800 hours of sunshine a year and only 11 inches of rain. Annual snowfall is low, although there’s enough for skiing at Mount Lemmon, only 35 minutes away. Low humidity makes our 98-degree summers bearable, while winter temperatures hover at a pleasant 51 degrees.
Tucson’s dry, sunny climate and unique desert locale have made it a popular tourist spot, health resort and retirement community. Residents actively support the arts and the city’s Indian and Spanish heritage, making it a thriving cultural center. Shopping is also a pleasure here, with four malls and more than 150 shopping centers. Try one of our mountain or desert trails for hiking and biking. Relax and take in the desert beauty. Spend some time at the well-known Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum or the San Xavier Mission, or take the tram through Sabino Canyon and enjoy the desert wildlife, flora and fauna.
Numerous public and private golf courses dot the landscape.
For major league sports fans, Tucson hosts Spring Training for theColorado Rockies, Chicago White Sox, and Arizona Diamondbacks. Just up the road in Phoenix are the NFL Arizona Cardinals, NBA Phoenix Suns, and NHL Phoenix Coyotes.
Historically, the unearthed remains of pit houses and adobe huts show that the Tucson area has been inhabited for at least 12,000 years. The Hohokam Indians occupied the area 1,000 to 1,500 years ago, before mysteriously vanishing from the region. Father Eusebio Kino found the Tohono O’odham (Pima) Indians living and farming here when he arrived in the late 1600′s. To cope with the desert climate, newcomers adopted much of the food, building techniques and other traditions the Indians (and later the Mexicans) had developed.
The population in the greater Tucson area is about 750,000 and growing even in the current economy.
Anne McKechnie is a different breed of Tucson real estate professional who goes the extra mile to delight her clients. She makes attainable promises and always strive to deliver to help her clients realize dreams and enjoy the best experience possible before, during and after the purchase of their home. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn
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