Tucson Overview

Welcome to Tucson, growing urban oasis in the Sonoran desert, city of diverse cultures, where hi-tech astronomy merges with ancient Native American rites, quiet retirement living with boisterous Mexican fiestas, and the sun shines 350 days of the year.

Districts

Like many other Sunbelt cities, Tucson has experienced tremendous growth over the past 20 years, expanding from a mid-size Western town into a metropolitan area of more than 800,000 people and counting. Most of the new development consists of rather nondescript tract homes and shopping plazas, which are hailed as signs of a continuing economic boom by some and cursed by others as environmental destruction. At any rate, as you drive or fly into Tucson, you may perceive it as an urban conglomerate of endless streets laid out in a neat grid system, with a lot of desert mixed in. Take a closer look, however, and you will find plenty of historical and architectural treasures waiting to be explored in the Old Pueblo, as the city is affectionately called by its inhabitants.

Entertainment

Cultural life in Tucson, by and large, reflects the ethnic and social diversity of the city, ranging from the conservative retirement communities at the outskirts to the progressive artist community downtown. To find out what's happening in the arts and who's coming to town, read the entertainment pages of the Arizona Daily Star and the Tucson Citizen, especially the "Caliente" section in the Friday edition of the Star, or grab a free copy of the Tucson Weekly.

Dining and Drinking

With restaurants operating today that have existed since the 1920s, Tucson's cuisine can't help but be inextricably intertwined with its history and culture. The city has come a long way from the days when steaks and tacos were all the culinary delights that come to mind when thinking about the Southwest. During the past five to ten years, many great chefs have contributed to elevating Tucson's cuisine to a more cosmopolitan level than ever before. Dining in Tucson can now be as exciting an adventure as your palate permits.

So go out, explore... eat your way through the area, from the Tortolitas to the Santa Catalinas; the Rincons to the Santa Ritas and Tucsons. Drink in the history and the culture as expressed in our regional culinary style, When you've tasted Tucson, you've savored the essence of the Southwest.

Happy Dining!

Where To Stay

Tucson offers a good variety of accommodations for any budget. Whether you're an executive in need of state-of-the-art business facilities, a vacationer seeking to be pampered in a luxury spa, or a backpacker looking for an affordable room, you'll find it here. Just keep in mind that room rates in Tucson may vary widely according to season, being generally higher during mild winter month, when snowbirds and conventioneers crowd into the city and hotel rooms are in high demand. Also be aware that hotels fill up weeks in advance for the Gem and Mineral Show, the biggest event in town, which takes place in the beginning of February every year. On the other hand, if you are comfortable in 100+ degree heat, you can find real deals here during the sizzling summer months, when resorts try to fill their vacancies.

Did You Know?

Tucson is the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in the United States. Natives began farming here nearly 3000 years ago.

Orientation/Geography

Tucson is the second-largest Arizona city and is located in the southeastern part of the state. Phoenix lies 115 miles northwest, El Paso is 262 miles east, San Diego 362 miles northwest, and Santa Fe 371 miles northeast.

Tucson by the Numbers

Elevation: 2389 feet
Average Annual Rainfall: 11.14 inches
Average January Temperature: 64 degrees F (High), 38 degrees F (Low)
Average July Temperature: 99 degrees F (High), 74 degrees F (Low)

Time Zone: GMT-7
Area Code: 520 (the area code must be dialed even for local calls)

Population: 486,699
Ethnic Mix: 73% Caucasian, 35.7% Hispanic, 4.5% African American, 2.6% Asian, 2.4% Native American
Major Industries: tourism/hospitality/recreation, aerospace and missile production, high technology, optics, software, electronics


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