About Tucson

The City of Tucson is located in southeastern Arizona, approximately 100 miles south of Phoenix and 63 miles from the Mexico border. The County seat of Pima County is located in Tucson. The metropolitan area has a population of 961,500 people with a civilian labor force of roughly 443,200. Tucson is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States, with a current estimated population of 532,100 and a land area of 226 square miles. It is projected to be the 13th most rapidly growing metropolitan area with about 20,000 - 25,000 people moving to metro Tucson each year. This growth is attributable to the high quality of life, cultural diversity, affordable housing, a favorable business climate, excellent educational opportunities, and the University of Arizona. The City embraces and personifies cultural and ethnic diversity.

• History

Tucson has been continuously settled for over 12,000 years, and celebrates a diversity of cultures, architecture, and peoples. Tucson is home to the Optics Valley, a premier research institution (the University of Arizona), and premier health services for the southwest. Tucson is also one of the nation’s leading astronomy centers and a world-class tourist destination. Much of the appeal of Tucson is derived from its rich cultural history, climate, moderate cost of living, and high quality of life. The Tucson area is one of the longest continually inhabited areas in the Northern Hemisphere. First inhabited by ancient Indian tribes, and later by Spanish missionaries, Tucson was established in 1775 by Hugo O’Connor as the Tucson Presidio. Spain’s claim to Tucson ended when Mexico gained independence in 1821. It became part of the United States in 1853 with the Gadsden Purchase. Arizona then became the 48th state in the Union in 1912.

• Geography and Employment

Tucson is situated in the Sonoran Desert, uniquely famous for the Saguaro cactus. Tucson is 2,389 feet above sea level with an average 350 days of sunshine every year. Mild spring, fall, and winter temperatures are legendary. While summer temperatures are high, Tucson’s low humidity makes higher temperatures feel more comfortable. The world-class University of Arizona remains the largest single employer with 10,348 employees; the student population of the University is near 37,000. Tourism is also an important source of income, contributing more than $1.8 billion to the economy each year. Federal, State, and local governments are significant pieces of the local economy where the three branches of government employ more than 81,000 people, including the Air Force’s well-known Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.

Tucson viewed from Tumamoc Hill

Tucson Sunset

• Quality of Life

With nearby spectacular mountain scenery, golf, 27,000 acres of nearby parkland, and many outdoor adventure opportunities, the Tucson lifestyle is appealing to all age groups. Each winter thousands of tourists and “snow birds” descend on the Tucson area, making the community the #l city for spas and resorts as published in the Top U.S. Hotels, Resorts and Spas 2001 edition. The southern Arizona region is ranked one of the five best areas in the United States for bird watching. There are more than 35 art galleries in Tucson, and the downtown arts district hosts more than 800 arts and cultural events annually.

Tucson is one of the few U.S. cities its size that can boast of a symphony, ballet, opera and live theater company. Tucson is also the spring training home for three major league baseball teams. Retirees interested in a relaxed attitude, natural beauty, and culture find Tucson a very rewarding place to live. Money Magazine’s ™ most recent issue ranks Tucson in the top six places to retire in the country. Among the many positive aspects of retiring to Tucson, Money Magazine specifically mentions cultural activities including those of the Tucson Symphony, Arizona Opera Company, Arizona Theater Company and the Tucson Museum of Art. Tucson also gets kudos for the preservation of its natural desert environment and low water use botanical species.

• City Government

Established by Charter from the State of Arizona, the City of Tucson is a progressive, dynamic, full-service municipal organization operating under the Council-Manager form of government. The Mayor (elected at large) and the six City Council Members (elected from wards for four-year staggered terms) serve as the City’s policy making body and governing board of directors. The Mayor and Council appoint a professional City Manager to serve as the organization’s Chief Administrative Officer. The City Manager has responsibilities for guiding and directing day-to-day operations as well as providing strategic research, recommendations and management leadership to the City Council on budget, programs, policies and services.

City Hall from the Museum Courtyard

The City of Tucson is a Council-Manager form of government. The legislative body is comprised of the Mayor and six Council Members. Council Members are nominated by the ward they wish to represent and are elected to the city council at-large. The Mayor is elected by the voters at-large. Elections occur every four years and the Mayor and Council Members serve four-year terms. The City Manager is selected by the Mayor and Council and is responsible for hiring all of the city department directors. The city attorney, the city clerk, and the city magistrates are also appointed by Mayor and Council.

The City Manager is responsible for carrying out the policies and direction of the Mayor and Council through the administration and coordination of City staff. An important tool for both the Manager and Council is the City Strategic Plan, a working document used by the Mayor and Council and City staff to prioritize the needs of Tucson. The Strategic Plan plays an important role in the budgetary process by helping the City staff to focus resources on Mayor and Council priorities. Each budget cycle, the governing body adjusts the plan to more fully reflect the updated priorities of the Mayor and Council members.

In December 2001, the Mayor and Council adopted six focus areas for future city projects: Transportation, Downtown, Growth, Neighborhoods, Economic Development, and Good Government. Specific strategies were then adopted within each focus area. While these areas do not represent the full work of the City, they establish which projects will be of a critical or priority nature within any given year. Council members chair and serve on focus area subcommittees, each supported by a staff liaison. These subcommittees meet periodically throughout the year to examine issues in more depth and develop greater expertise.

The City utilizes a number of appointed boards and commissions that serve the City Council in an advisory capacity. Tucson’s fiscal year 2005 annual budget (July 1-June 30) totals $1.03 billion, with $783 million for operations and $248 million for capital expenditures. There are 5,757 city employees. A number of employees are represented locally by four collective bargaining groups. The City of Tucson is committed to excellence in the provision of its services and is an energetic and fast-paced municipal organization.