Tuscon, Arizona

Tucson is a city in Arizona, United States. It is the seat of Pima County, Arizona. It is 118 mi southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles (98 km) north of the border. It is where the shooting of senator Gabrielle Giffords took place. Arizona has many deserts. It is visited by many people to escape cold weather. Tucson has a population of 531,641 as of 2015 and is the second populated city in Arizona behind Phoenix. The city has a mean elevation of 2,400 feet. The climate of Tucson is a arid desert climate with very hot summers and mild winters. The occurs in mid June and ends around late September in the Tucson area.

The most important suburbs of Tucson are Oro Valley and Marana northwest of the city, Sahuarita south of the city, and South Tucson in an enclave south of downtown. Communities near Tucson (some within or overlapping the city limits) include Casas Adobes, Catalina Foothills, Flowing Wells, Midvale Park, Tanque Verde, Tortolita and Vail. Cities outside the Tucson metropolitan area are Benson to the southeast, Catalina and Oracle to the north, and Green Valley to the south.

The city's Spanish name, Tucsón, comes from the Cuk Ṣon, meaning "(at the base of) the black [hill]", a reference to a hill covered with basalt now known as, also known as "A" Mountain. Tucson is sometimes referred to as "The Old Pueblo".

Territory
According to the, it has a total area of ​​236.50 sqmi.

Climate
Tucson has a, with 2 main seasons (summer and winter) plus 3 minor seasons, autumn, spring and monsoon.

Summer is characterized by daytime temperatures that exceed 38 C and night temperatures ranging from 19 C to 28 C.

Winter is mild with daily temperatures ranging between 18 F and 24 F and night temperatures ranging between -1 F and 7 F.

The monsoon season generally begins towards the end of June. During the monsoon the humidity is much higher than the rest of the year, with intense thunderstorms that can cause dangerous floods.

History
Tucson sits in the midst of an indigenous settlement that dates back 10000 years ago, and stands out for being the oldest inhabited region in the Northern Hemisphere of the Americas. The Jesuit missionary visited the valley of the Santa Cruz River in 1692, and founded the  in 1700, approximately 12 km upstream of the present Tucson settlement. A separate convent was created downstream of the Santa Cruz River, near what is now known as "A" Mountain. Later, commander of the militias, created a fort called  on August 20, 1775 (near the Pima County Courthouse). During the period of the Spanish garrison, Tucson was plagued by frequent attacks by in what became known as. Later the city took the name of Tucson and became part of after independence from  during 1821.

Demographic evolution
According to the of 2018, the population was 55,3667 inhabitants.

The population of Tucson in 1974 was only 285 thousand inhabitants, but by mid-2018 it had grown to 545 975 thousand people, which puts it in 33rd place among all cities in the United States. The population of the agglomeration according to preliminary data as of July 1, 2018 is 1,039,073 people (53rd place).

The ethnic composition of the population is very diverse:
 * 69.7% - Americans (including non-Hispanic - 47.2%),
 * 36% - (regardless of race),
 * 5% - ,
 * 2.9% - Asians,
 * 2.7% - ,
 * 0.2% - immigrants from.

Ethnicities and foreign minorities
According to the of 2010, the ethnic composition of the city was made up of 69.72% of, 5.00% of , 2.72% of , 2.87% of , 0.22% of , 15.23% of other ethnicities, and the 4.23% of two or more ethnic groups. Hispanics and other groups of origin made up 41.59% of the population.

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

In the inner-city, the population has 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,981, and the median income for a family was $37,344. Males had a median income of $28,548 versus $23,086 for females. The for the city was $16,322. About 13.7% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the, including 23.6% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.

Tucson Gem and Mineral Show
The is one of the largest gem and mineral shows in the world and has been held for over 50 years. The Show is only one part of the, , , and gathering held all around Tucson in over 45 different sites. The various shows run from late-January to mid-February with the official Show lasting two weeks in February.

Tucson Festival of Books
Since 2009, the Tucson Festival of Books has been held annually over a two-day period in March at the University of Arizona. By 2010 it had become the fourth largest book festival in the United States, with 450 authors and 80,000 attendees. In addition to readings and lectures, it features a science fair, varied entertainment, food, and exhibitors ranging from local retailers and publishers to regional and national nonprofit organizations. In 2011, the Festival began presenting a Founder's Award; recipients include and.

Tucson Folk Festival
For the past 25 years, the Tucson Folk Festival has taken place the first Saturday and Sunday of May in downtown Tucson's El Presidio Park. In addition to nationally known headline acts each evening, the Festival highlights over 100 local and regional musicians on five stages is one of the largest free festivals in the country. All stages are within easy walking distance. Organized by the Tucson Kitchen Musicians Association, volunteers make this festival possible. KXCI 91.3-FM, Arizona's only community radio station, is a major partner, broadcasting from the Plaza Stage throughout the weekend. In addition, there are numerous workshops, events for children, sing-alongs, and a popular singer-songwriter contest. Musicians typically play 30-minute sets, supported by professional audio staff volunteers. A variety of food and crafts are available at the festival, as well as local micro-brews. All proceeds from sales go to fund future festivals.

Fourth Avenue Street Fair
There are two Fourth Avenue Street Fairs, in December and late March/early April, 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, several New Age bookshops and the Food Conspiracy 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.

These days, the street fair has grown into a large corporate event, with most tables owned by outside merchants. It hosts mostly traveling craftsmen selling various arts such as pottery, paintings, wood working, metal decorations, candles, and many others.

The Tucson Rodeo (Fiesta de los Vaqueros)
Another popular event held in February, which is early spring in Tucson, is the Fiesta de los Vaqueros, or week, founded by winter visitor, Leighton Kramer. 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 as most schools give two rodeo days off instead of Presidents Day. The exception to this is Presidio High (a non-public charter school), which doesn't get either. Western wear is seen throughout the city as corporate dress codes are cast aside during the Fiesta. The Fiesta de los Vaqueros marks the beginning of the rodeo season in the United States.

Tucson Meet Yourself
Every October for the past 30 years, Tucson Meet Yourself has presented the faces of Tucson's many ethnic groups. For one weekend, dancing, singing, artwork, and food from more than 30 different ethnicities are featured in the downtown area. All performers are from Tucson and the surrounding area, in keeping with the idea of "meeting yourself."

Tucson Modernism Week
Since 2012, during the first two weekends of October, the hosts Tucson Modernism Week. The event includes more than 30 programs including tours, lectures, exhibits, films and parties. The events are located in mid-century modern buildings and neighborhoods throughout the city and has highlighted the work of significant architects and designers who contributed to the development and history of southern Arizona including: Architect Arthur Brown, Fashion Designer Dolores Gonzales, Architect Bob Swaim, Architect Anne Rysdale, Textile Designers Harwood and Sophie Steiger, Architect Nick Sakellar, Architectural Designer Tom Gist, Furniture Designer Max Gottschalk, Architect, Ned Nelson, Landscape Architect Guy Green, Architect Juan Worner Baz and many others.

All Souls Procession Weekend
The All Souls Procession, held in early November, is one of the largest festivals in Tucson. Modeled on the Mexican holiday (Day of the Dead), it combines aspects of many different cultural traditions. The first All Souls Procession was organized by local artist Susan Kay Johnson in 1990 and involved 35 participants; by 2013, participation was estimated at 50,000.

The Procession, held at sundown, consists of a non-motorized parade through downtown Tucson featuring many floats, sculptures, and memorials, in which the community is encouraged to participate. The parade is followed by performances on an outdoor stage, culminating in the burning of an urn in which written prayers have been collected from participants and spectators. The event is organized and funded by the non-profit arts organization Many Mouths One Stomach, with the assistance of many volunteers and donations from the public and local businesses.

Cultural and other attractions
Cultural and other attractions include:


 * Arizona Historical Society
 * The is an original adobe house in the Tucson Community Center that was saved while one of Tucson's earliest barrios was razed as urban renewal.
 * , built as a set for the movie , is a movie studio and theme park for classic Westerns.
 * The was established as part of an art school, the Art Center, which was founded by local Tucson artists including Rose Cabat
 * The University of Arizona Museum of Art includes works by Franz Kline, and  as part of the Edward J. Gallagher Memorial Collection, a tribute to 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.
 * , a leading museum with many works by major artists such as Ansel Adams and Edward Weston.
 * International Wildlife Museum, which is 5 mi west of Interstate 10, maintains an exhibition of over four-hundred different stuffed animal species from around the globe.
 * The in the Sun is an iconic Tucson landmark in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains.
 * is a combined zoo, museum, and botanical garden, devoted to indigenous animals and plants of the Sonoran Desert.
 * is located about 25 mi south of the city on . This is a Cold War era Titan nuclear missile silo (billed as the only remaining intact post-Cold War Titan missile silo) turned tourist stop.
 * has a wide assortment of aircraft on display both indoors and outdoors.
 * Pima County Fair
 * is an outdoor shopping mall and restaurant complex that was built from the remains of a 1950 western movie set.
 * {{w|Trail Dust Town|Museum of the Horse Soldier
 * {{w|Jewish History Museum (Tuscon)|Jewish Heritage Center Tucson}}
 * {{w|Centennial Hall (Tuscon, Arizona)|Centennial Hall}} opened in 1937 as the University of Arizona's campus auditorium, designed by architect Roy Place.
 * Tucson Chinese Cultural Center
 * {{w|Arizona State Museum}} (on the University of Arizona campus)
 * Tucson Chinese Cultural Center
 * {{w|Arizona State Museum}} (on the University of Arizona campus)

Shops in Summerhaven on Mount Lemmon offer such items as jewelry and other gifts, pizza, and fresh-fruit pies. The legacy of the Aspen Fire can be seen in charred trees, rebuilt homes, and melted beads incorporated into a sidewalk.

Fourth Avenue, located near the {{w|University of Arizona}}, is home to many shops, restaurants, and bars, and hosts the annual 4th 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.

{{w|El Tiradito}} is a religious shrine in the downtown area. The Shrine dates back to the early days of Tucson. People stop by the Shrine to light a candle for someone in need, a place for people to go give hope.

The {{w|Biosphere 2}} is a {{convert|3.14|acre|adj=on}} educational facility, designed to mimic a tropical or sub-tropical climate-controlled environment.

Literary arts
The accomplished and awarded writers (poets, novelists, dramatists, nonfiction writers) who have lived in Tucson include, , Barbara Kingsolver and. Some were associated with the University of Arizona, but many were independent writers who chose to make Tucson their home. The city is particularly active in publishing and presenting contemporary innovative poetry in various ways. Examples are the Chax Press, a publisher of poetry books in trade and book arts editions, and the University of Arizona Poetry Center, which has a sizable poetry library and presents readings, conferences, and workshops.

Performing arts
Theater groups include the, which performs in the Temple of Music and Art, and Arizona Onstage Productions, a not-for-profit theater company devoted to musical theater. presents the touring reproductions of many Broadway-style events. The Gaslight Theater produces musical melodrama parodies in the old Jerry Lewis Theater and has been in Tucson since 1977.

Music
include the Tucson Symphony Orchestra (founded in 1929) and Arizona Opera (founded as the Tucson Opera Company in 1971).

Tucson is considered an influential center for music and is home to a large number of Mariachi musicians and singers. The Tucson International Mariachi Conference, hosted annually since 1982, involves several hundred mariachi bands and folklorica dance troops during a three-day festival in April. The Norteño Festival and Street Fair in the city of South Tucson is held annually at the end of summer.

Prominent musical artists based in Tucson have included, The Dusty Chaps, Howe Gelb, Bob Log III, Calexico, Giant Sand, Hipster Daddy-O and the Handgrenades, The Bled and Tucson's official troubadour Ted Ramirez. The Tucson Area Music Awards, or TAMMIES, are an annual event.

Cuisine
Tucson is well known for its -style Mexican food. But since the turn of the century, ethnic restaurants and fine dining choices have proliferated.

In 2015 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization designated Tucson a "world city of gastronomy".

The Sonoran hot dog is very popular in Tucson. This is a hot dog wrapped in bacon and grilled, served on a bolillo-style hot dog bun, and topped with pinto beans, onions, tomatoes, and a variety of additional condiments, often including mayonnaise, mustard, and jalapeño salsa.

Nicknames
Tucson is commonly known as "The Old Pueblo". While the exact origin of this nickname is uncertain, it is commonly traced back to Mayor R. N. "Bob" Leatherwood. When was established to the city on March 20, 1880, Leatherwood celebrated the fact by sending telegrams to various leaders, including the  and the, announcing that the "ancient and honorable pueblo" of Tucson was now connected by rail to the outside world. The term became popular with newspaper writers who often abbreviated it as "A. and H. Pueblo". This in turn transformed into the current form of "The Old Pueblo".

In the early 1980s, city leaders ran a contest searching for a new nickname. The winning entry was the "Sunshine Factory". The new nickname never gained popular acceptance, allowing the old name to remain in common use. Tucson was dubbed "Optics Valley" in 1992 when Business Week ran a cover story on the Arizona Optics Industry Association.

Sister cities

 * 🇰🇿, Kazakhstan
 * 🇲🇽,, Mexico
 * 🇨🇳 Liupanshui, Guizhou, China
 * 🇭🇺, Hungary


 * 🇮🇪 Roscommon, Ireland
 * 🇪🇸, , Spain
 * 🇮🇶, Iraq
 * 🇬🇷, Greece

Other websites

 * Official government website