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This
information and more can be found at the City
of Tucson web page.
State
and City Background
History: Tucson has been continuously settled for over
12,000 years. It celebrates a diversity of cultures, architecture,
and peoples. Yet, it is one of the "Mega-Trend" cities of the
21st Century: the Optics Valley, premier health services center
for the Southwest, the astronomy center of the world, home of
a premier research institution - University of Arizona, and a
tourism destination.
Tucson,
too SAHN or TOO sahn, is one of the oldest towns in the United
States. Tucson was orginally an Indian village called Stook-zone,
meaning water at the foot of black mountain. Hugo O'Conor established
the Tucson Presidio in 1775. August 20th, 1775 is considered Tucson's
birthday. Spanish settlers arrived in the area in 1776. Tucson
officially became part of the United States with the Gadsden Purchase
of 1854. Tucson served as capital of the Arizona Territory from
1867 to 1877.
Tucson boasts the best of both worlds...the progress and innovation
of a metropolitan community and the friendly, caring atmosphere
of a small town. Tucson's rich cultural heritage centers around
a unique blend of Native American, Spanish, Mexican and Anglo-American
influences. Blessed with the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert
and an unsurpassed climate of 360 sunny days a year, Tucsonans
embrace a rare lifestyle and are committed to preserving that
quality of life.
Location: Lies along the Santa Cruz River in a flat plateau
of the Sonoran Desert that is rimmed by the Santa Catalina, Tucson,
Rincon, and Santa Rita Mountains. Situated about 155 miles southeast
of Phoenix.
Elevation: 2,410 feet (735 m)
Climate: The highest temperature ever recorded was 117
degrees Fahrenheit on June 26, 1990. The annual average is 82
degrees Fahrenheit/28 degrees Celsius for the high temperature,
and 55 degrees Fahrenheit/13 degrees Celsius for the low temperature.
Tucson's mild climate is legendary.
Industry: Aircraft and missile manufacturing, electronics
research and manfucturing, optical engineering
Language: Bilingual community with a large Spanish-speaking
minority.
Population: Roughly 800,000 people call Tucson home.
Fun
Facts
State
Bird: Cactus Wren. It measures 7 to 8 inches in length, and
its back is brown with white spots, and its throat is lighter
colored with black spots. Its bill is curved down and there's
a white line over each eye. Cactus wrens eat insectes, seeds,
and fruit. They often build their nests inside a cactus to protect
them from predators.
State
Flower: Saguaro Bloom. This pure white flower blooms on the
tips of the saguaro cactus during May and June.
State
Nickname: Grand Canyon State
State
Gem: Turquoise. It's a blue-green, waxy-surfaced stone used
for centuries in Southwest Indian Jewelry. It can be found throughout
the Southwest and is composed of hydrous oxide of aluminum and
copper.
State
Tree: Palo Verde. Its name means "green stick." It blooms
a brilliant yellow-gold in April or May.
State
Fossil: Petrified Wood
State
Mammal: Ringtail
State
Reptile: Arizona Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake
State
Fish: Apache Trout
State
Amphibian: Arizona Treefrog
Links
For More City and State Information
UsaCityLink
Pima
County
Arizona
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