|
|
|
ABOUT TUCSON Tucson (TOO-sahn) has been continuously settled for over 12,000 years. It is a growing metropolis of 800,000 people. 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. The city's geography is a postcard image of cactus forests, rolling hills, and craggy mountains. Tucson lies in the borderland, a region that blends the cultures of the United States and Mexico, and has a history of settlement by ancient Native American peoples, Spanish explorers, and Anglo frontiersmen. The climate is mild nearly all the time, just right for all kinds of out of doors activities. Tucson's climate varies from the 2400 foot desert basin to the 9100 foot forests of the Santa Catalina mountains. The City's dry desert air and winter sunshine make it a popular health and winter resort. Tucson is home to the University of Arizona and Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Industries include electronics and missile production. Tucson is the seat of Pima County and has a Council-Manager form of city government. Entrepreneur magazine selected Tucson as one of the top 20 business locations. Known for many years as a tourist destination and retirement area, Tucson, Arizona, is becoming a hotbed for corporate relocations/expansions. Since 1993, 49 companies have relocated or expanded their operations into Tucson. These companies came from every conceivable employment sector and range from the very large (Hughes Missile Systems; 7,200 employees from Los Angeles-largest group move in the nation's history) to the very small (Autometric Inc.; an R&D company with 4 employees from Alexandria, Virginia). Companies are coming to Tucson to take advantage of the favorable governmental and cost structure that supports growing and expanding businesses and the excellent quality of life. Metropolitan Tucson covers in excess of 600 square miles and has a population of over 800,000. Since 1990, the population has increased an average of 2.37 percent per year and is projected to increase an average of 2 percent annually through 2010. The population is a diverse one: 68.2% Caucasian, 24.5% Hispanic, 2.9% African American, 2.5% Native American, 1.7% Asian and 0.2% other. Tucson's labor force is young and well-educated. Union activity is virtually non-existent in Tucson. Arizona is a constitutionally mandated right to work state. With a 3.9% unionization level, Arizona ranks third lowest in the nation. Although industry from all major sectors is thriving, Tucson has found special locational advantages for firms involved in what is considered to be strong economic clusters. Tucson targets industries within these clusters to enhance the existing economic base. These clusters are: Aerospace, Bioindustry, Environmental Technology, Optics, Software, and Teleservices. Aside from Tucson's business advantages, the city's location and climate make it the home of many first-class destination resorts and the center of a substantial film and television industry. It is also the host city for the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Colorado Rockies and the Chicago White Sox spring training activities, the Triple-A baseball club Tucson Sidewinders, nationally televised PAC-10 intercollegiate sports, men's and women's golf tournaments, bowling tournaments and the world-famous Tucson rodeo, La Fiesta de Los Vaqueros. Through the Arts District, the Arizona Theatre Company, the Tucson Symphony Society, the Arizona Opera Company, the Tucson Jazz Society and various productions at the Tucson Convention Center, Pima Community College Center for the Arts and The University of Arizona's Centennial Hall, Tucsonans have a year-round menu of cultural activities. The world-famous Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, the Old Tucson movie location and studio, Biosphere II, the Arizona State Museum, the Center of Creative Photography, the Arizona Historical Society Museum, the University of Arizona and Tucson Museum of Art, the Berger Performing Arts Center at the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind and other attractions add to the mix. The Tucson area's five mountain ranges offer winter skiing within an hour's drive. Hiking, swimming, cycling, hunting, fishing, bird-watching and camping are also available in those mountains and in nearby national, state, county and city parks. We think you'll agree, whether you're a new visitor, just passing through, or a longtime resident re-discovering hometown treasures, Tucson is Real. Natural. Arizona. Tremendous weather, unique landscapes, rich culture, easy access to every leisure activity on land or water, a well-educated populace, casual lifestyle, affordable quality housing, low cost of living, top-notch healthcare and a business environment poised to explode. Tucson has been dubbed "Optics Valley" and a "Mini-Mecca for the Arts." Its citizens fondly refer to it as "The Old Pueblo." Once you get to know it, you'll want to call it "Home." Tucson Links: WEATHER: |
