Tucson, Arizona, United States of America

Major incorporated suburbs of Tucson include Oro Valley and Marana northwest of the city, and South Tucson and Sahuarita south of the city. Other communities near Tucson include Catalina, Green Valley, Flowing Wells, Catalina Foothills, Casas Adobes, Vail, and Tanque Verde.

The name Tucson comes via Spanish from the O'odham, (pronounced ; roughly, "chuk shon"), meaning "Black Base," a reference to the mostly volcanic mountains on the west side of the city. The most notable of these foothills is Sentinel Peak, better known as "A Mountain" because it sports a large letter A in honor of the nearby University of Arizona, situated in west central Tucson. Tucson is sometimes referred to as "The Old Pueblo." A contest in the 1980s to coin a new nickname produced "The Sunshine Factory," which Tucsonans ignored in favor of the original.

Variations in the pronunciation of the city's name are fairly common, as the vowel in the second syllable is often indistinct or omitted altogether (as in ). A comical, intentional mispronunciation of / is also occasionally encountered. The city is often misspelled as "Tuscon" by non-locals, and local residents may pronounce it this way in jest.

Tucson History

Tucson's early neighborhoods (some of which are covered by the Tucson Community Center) include Barrio Anita, named for an early settler; El Jardin, named for an early recreational site, Levin's Gardens; and El Ollo, named for a lake that was part of the gardens.

• Bancroft, History of New Mexico and Arizona, (San Francisco, 1880)

Tucson Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 505.3 km² (195.1 mi²). 504.2 km² (194.7 mi²) of it is land and 1.1 km² (0.4 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.22% water.

Its elevation is 2,389 ft (728 m) above sea level. Tucson is bounded by four sets of mountains: the Santa Catalina Mountains to the North, the Santa Rita Mountains to the South, the Rincon Mountains to the East, and the Tucson Mountains to the West. The city is located on the Santa Cruz River, although for most of the year it is a dry river bed that floods when the rains come.

Tucson is located along I-10, which runs to Phoenix and Los Angeles in the northwest, and through El Paso, Texas to Jacksonville, Florida in the east. I-19 also runs to the south towards Nogales and the U.S.-Mexico border including Huasabas.

Climate

Early summer is characterized by low humidity, clear skies, and daytime high temperatures that exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Tucsonans jokingly describe the first day of 100-degree weather as when "the ice cracks on the Santa Cruz River," a riverbed that is dry most of the year. The average overnight temperature ranges between 69°F and 74°F.

The period of late summer known locally as "monsoon season" (with a few Tucsonans calling the storms "chubascos") typically begins in July, but can begin anytime from June to August. During monsoon season the temperatures are a few degrees lower than during the drier summer, but the humidity is much higher than the rest of the year. This period begins with clouds building up over the Santa Catalina Mountains in the early afternoon followed by intense thunderstorms and rainfall, which rapidly flood normally dry washes. Large areas of the city do not have storm sewers, so monsoon rains flood the main thoroughfares (often constructed in a "vee" shape to conduct water), but usually only for a few hours. At this time of year, motorists are warned to avoid normally dry creekbeds as cars can be swamped or washed away. The evening sky at this time of year is often pierced with dramatic lightning strikes, especially nearby Kitt Peak observatory.

Fall typically lasts from late October to November or December. It is much like summer, and similarly dry, with days above 100 degrees typical into early October. Average daytime highs of 84°F, with overnight lows of 55°F is typical fall weather.

Tucson experiences mild winters relative to other parts of the United States, but the city's winter storms are, along with monsoon season, when the city gets most of its precipitation. Daytime highs in the winter usually are between 64°F and 69°F, with overnight lows between 38°F and 44°F. The city's economy benefits from a large influx of "snowbird" visitors during the winter months, due to its mild climate. At this time of year cars with out-of-state license plates are commonplace.

Spring usually begins in late February or March, and is characterized by rising temperatures and, if there has been sufficient rainfall, several weeks of vivid wildflower blooms, and attendant pollen affecting the allergies of many Tucsonans. When dried by the scorching summer heat, the heavy spring growth provides abundant fuel for wildfires set by lightning or, occasionally, lost hikers. Daytime highs in the spring range from 72°F in March to 88°F in May with overnight lows in March being 45°F and in May being 59°F.

People and culture

Demographics

There are 192,891 households out of which 29.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.7% are married couples living together, 13.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 41.7% are non-families. 32.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.42 and the average family size is 3.12.

In the city the population is rather spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 13.8% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 32 years. For every 100 females there are 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 93.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $30,981, and the median income for a family is $37,344. Males have a median income of $28,548 versus $23,086 for females. The per capita income for the city is $16,322. 18.4% of the population and 13.7% of families are below the poverty line. 23.6% of those under the age of 18 and 11.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Because of its arid climate, Tucson has been a historic destination for people with health problems such as arthritis and respiratory illnesses such as tuberculosis. Tucson Medical Center, in fact, was founded as a TB clinic. Many former soldiers who had been gassed during World War I, including Belgian composer Camille van Hulse, came to Tucson in the 1920s in hopes that the dry climate would aid their recovery. The longstanding presence of so many health-seekers has made Tucson extremely health-conscious, and it was in the vanguard in such actions as banning smoking in restaurants.

Annual cultural events and fairs

There are also two Fourth Avenue Street Fairs, in December and March, staged between 9th Street and University Boulevard, that feature arts and crafts booths, food vendors and street performers. The fairs began in 1970 when Fourth Avenue, which at the time had half a dozen thrift shops and the Food Co-Op, was a gathering place for hippies, and a few merchants put tables in front of their stores to attract customers before the holidays. The fairs now draw 200,000 to 350,000 people.

Another popular event held in February, which is early spring in Tucson, is the Fiesta de los Vaqueros, or rodeo week. While at its heart the Fiesta is a sporting event, it includes what is billed as the world's largest non-mechanized parade. The rodeo parade is a popular event for families as schools give two rodeo days off instead of Presidents Day. Western wear is seen throughout the city as corporate dress codes are cast aside during the Fiesta.

Media

The Star refers to local residents as "Tucsonans" while the Citizen calls them "Tucsonians."

In 1981, Star reporters Clark Hallas and Robert B. Lowe won a Pulitzer Prize for their stories about recruiting violations by University of Arizona football coach Tony Mason.

The Tucson Weekly is an alternative weekly publication that is distributed free at numerous locations around Tucson. Other alternative weeklies have included the Frumious Bandersnatch, published in the 1960s by Hugh Holub; the Mountain Newsreal; and another weekly dating from the 1970s using the title Tucson Weekly. In the 90s, author Mark Zepezauer contributed the political Tucson Comic News.

Tucson is served by the major television networks: KVOA 4 (NBC), KGUN 9 (ABC), KOLD 13 (CBS), KMSB 11 (FOX), KTTU 18 (UPN), and KWBA 58 (WB). KUAT 6 is a PBS affiliate run by the University of Arizona.

Museums and art collections

The Arizona Historical Society, founded as the Pioneer Historical Society by early settlers, has a collection of artifacts reflecting the city's history--many focusing on the era before statehood was attained in 1912-- as well as a fine collection of original documents in its library, including many interviews with early residents.

The Historical Society also operates an original adobe house in the Tucson Community Center that was saved when one of Tucson's earliest barrios was razed as urban renewal. Originally named the Fremont House after Gov. John C. Fremont, who rented it for his daughter, it is now known as the Sosa-Carrillo-Fremont House to more accurately reflect its Latin heritage.

The society also operates the Fort Lowell Museum, on the grounds of a military fort established in 1873 during the "Indian Wars" period and abandoned in 1891.

The Tucson Museum of Art, which has been around for 25 years, was established as part of an art school. It contains nearly 6,000 objects concentrating on the art of the Americas and its influences.

The museum also operates several historic buildings in the neighborhood, including La Casa Cordova, the J. Knox Corbett House, the Edward Nye Fish House and the Stevens/Duffield House.

The University of Arizona Art Museum includes works by Franz Kline, Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko as part of the Edward J. Gallagher Memorial Collection, a tribute a young man who was killed in a boating accident. The museum also includes the Samuel H. Kress Collection of European works from the 14th to 19th centuries and the C. Leonard Pfeiffer Collection of American paintings.

The UA campus also features the Center for Creative Photography, a leading museum with many works by major artists such as Ansel Adams and Edward Weston.

The Mission San Xavier del Bac is a historic Spanish mission, located 10 miles (16 km) south of the city. Built as a set for the movie "Arizona," Old Tucson Studios (west of the Tucson Mountains) is a movie studio for classic Westerns. It was destroyed by arson and the rebuilt site now features a theme park.

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a zoo devoted to Southwestern animals and plants, is located to the west of the Tucson Mountains. The Pima Air & Space Museum, featuring over 250 modern and historical aircraft, is located to the southeast of the city near Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. The Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center (AMARC) is a facility where the federal government stores all of its out-of-service aircraft. Bus tours are conducted regularly from the Pima Air & Space Museum. There is also the Titan Missile Museum located about 25 miles (40 km) south of the city on I-19. This is a Cold War era Titan nuclear missile silo turned tourist stop.

Parks and outdoor attractions

The city is home to more than 120 parks, 26 pools (including 7 year-round pools), the Reid Park Zoo, 3 tennis centers, and 3 urban fishing lakes. There are also five public golf courses located throughout the area. Several scenic parks and points of interest are also located nearby, including the Tucson Botanical Gardens, Saguaro National Park, Sabino Canyon, and Biosphere 2 (just north of the city, in the town of Oracle).

Fourth Avenue, located near the University of Arizona (UA), is home to many shops, restaurants, and bars, and hosts the annual 4^th Avenue Street Fair every December and March. University Boulevard, leading directly to the UA Main Gate, is also the center of numerous bars, retail shops, and restaurants most commonly frequented by the large student population of the UA.

Additionally, the University of Arizona campus has an arboretum and several museums.

Performing arts

Music groups include the Arizona Opera Company, founded as the Tucson Opera Company in 1971, the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1921, the Tucson Boys Chorus, Southern Arizona Symphony and Civic Orchestra of Tucson.

Theater groups include the Arizona Theatre Company, which performs in the Temple of Music and Art, a mirror image of the Pasadena Playhouse; the Invisible Theatre; and the Gaslight Theatre, which performs melodramas. Additonally, many bands perform at the numerous local clubs.

Tucson is also known for its eccelectic underground arts scene localized in the Historic Warehouse Arts District. Performance troupes such as the pyrotechnic theater company, Flam Chen, puppet circus Tucson Puppet Works, and the kinectic-sculpturist Mat Bevel are known for their alternative and otherwise, off-kilter shows.

Sports

Tucson is home to the Tucson Electric Park, which is the spring training location of the Arizona Diamondbacks (NL), and the Chicago White Sox (AL). The Colorado Rockies (NL) practice at nearby Hi Corbett Field. These teams, along with the nine that practice in nearby Phoenix, make up the Cactus League.

The city does field a local minor league team, the Tucson Sidewinders, a triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Sidewinders play in Tucson Electric Park and are in the Pacific Conference South of the Pacific Coast League.

Auto racing is also popular, and NASCAR auto races can be found at the Tucson Raceway Park and Southwestern International Raceway.

The English Premiership soccer club Charlton Athletic also recently opened a youth academy in Tucson in May 2005.

Tucson Economy

Tucson is also home to an active film production industry, and many major motion pictures have been filmed in the area. Some popular movies filmed in Tucson include ''Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974), Arizona (1940), Bodies, Rest and Motion (1993), Boys on the Side (1995), C.C. and Company (1970), Can't Buy Me Love (1987), Dance with the Devil (1997), Flashpoint (1984), Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991), Hombre (1967), How the West Was Won (1962), Jesus' Son (1999), A Kiss Before Dying (1956), Lilies of the Field (1963), Major League (1989), The Postman (1997), Revenge of the Nerds (1984), (1984), Rio Bravo (1959), A Star is Born (1976), Stir Crazy (1980), Terminal Velocity (1994), The Three Amigos (1986), Thunder Alley (1985), and Tin Cup'' (1996).

Miscellany

• Speedway Boulevard, which begins on the far eastside and runs all the way to the Tucson Mountains, was named the "ugliest street in America" by Life Magazine in the early 1970s, quoting Tucson Mayor James Corbett, who distinguished his political career by biting a woman on the knee during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
• Speedway Boulevard was awarded "Street of the Year" by Arizona Highways in the late 1990's.
• The Beatles song Get Back features Tucson. So does the 10,000 Maniacs song "Painted Desert" and the Paul Simon song "Under African Skies," which is a duet with Tucsonan Linda Ronstadt.
• On Sentinel Peak, just west of downtown, there is a giant "A" in honor of the University of Arizona. It used to be a yearly tradition for freshmen to whitewash the "A." However, at the beginning of the Iraq War, anti-war activists painted it black. This was followed by a paint scuffle wherein the "A" was painted various colors until the City Council said "enough." It is now red, white and blue.
• Tumamoc Hill is higher than neighboring "A" Mountain.
• When the University of Arizona remodeled the Main Auditorium, various campus factions argued over whether it should be renamed Centennial Auditorium or Centennial Hall, so for several years, it was officially referred to it as Centennial.
• Ina Road, a major east-west thoroughfare north of town, is named for UA physical education professor Ina Gittings. Although the street is pronounced "Eye-nah" she pronounced her name "Eee-nah."
• Rita Road, located on Tucson's southeast side, was named by Howard Hughes in honor of his then girlfriend Rita Hayworth. Hughes Aircraft was located there in the 1950s. It has also been suggested that the road was not named after Rita Hayworth, but was named for the Santa Rita Mountains located southeast of Tucson.
• The locally famous saying "That's exactly right, Hank," originated in TV ads for Jim Click Ford, in which announcer Hank Lominac would interview Click. For example: "Jim Click, I understand the new Pintos are on sale at Jim Click Ford. That's exactly right, Hank."
• The local saying "That's a ganga" or "Neighbors, that's a ganga" originated in a series of TV ads for Austin's Bargain Center.

See also

• List of famous people from Tucson
• Tucson Garbage Project
• Tucson International Airport
• Hyundai Tucson

Sister cities

Additional reading

1. John Bret Harte: Tucson: Portrait of a Desert Pueblo ; American Historical Press; ISBN 1892724251 (hardcover, reissued 2001).
2. Evelyn S. Cooper: Tucson in Focus: The Buehman Studio ; Arizona Historical Society; ISBN 0-910037-35-3 (hardcover, 1995). A sample of the Buehman Collection, which includes 250,000 glass plate and nitrate negatives from the 1870s to the 1950s.
3. Bernard L. Fontana: Biography of a Desert Church: The Story of Mission San Xavier del Bac; Tucson Corral of the Westerners; ASIN B0006RHO88 (paperback, 1996)
4. George Hand: The Civil War in Apacheland ; (Part 1 of George Hand's diary) High Lonesome Books; ISBN 094438336X (paperback, 1996).
5. George Hand: Whiskey, Six-Guns and Red-Light Ladies; (Part 2 of George Hand's diary) High Lonesome Books; ISBN 0944383300 (paperback, 1995).
6. Bonnie Henry: Another Tucson; Arizona Daily Star; ISBN 096077582X (hardcover, 1992).
7. Rosalio Moisés: The Tall Candle: The Personal Chronicle of a Yaqui Indian ; University of Nebraska Press; ISBN 0803207476 (paperback, 2001).
8. Muriel Thayer Painter: A Yaqui Easter; University of Arizona Press; (paperback, 1971) Read online.
9. Federico Jose Maria Ronstadt: Borderman, the Memoirs of Federico Jose Maria Ronstadt; University of New Mexico Press. (hardback, 1993) Read online.
10. Don Schellie: Vast Domain of Blood: The Story of the Camp Grant Massacre; Westernlore Press; ASIN B0006BW3N0 (paperback, 1968).
11. Jack Sheaffer and Steve Emerine: Jack Sheaffer's Tucson, 1945-1965 Arizona Daily Star; ISBN 0960775811 (hardback, 1985).
12. Thomas E. Sheridan: Del rancho al barrio: The Mexican legacy of Tucson; Arizona Historical Society (paperback, 1983)
13. Thomas E. Sheridan: Los Tucsonenses: The Mexican Community in Tucson, 1854-1941; University of Arizona Press; ISBN 0816512981 (paperback, reissued 1992)
14. C. L. Sonnichsen: Tucson: The Life and Times of an American City; The classic book on Tucson's history; University of Oklahoma Press; ISBN 0806120428 (paperback, reissued 1987)

External links

• Official Government Website
• Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Metropolitan Tucson Chamber of Commerce

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Tucson,_Arizona".