Phoenix Relocation Guide

H O U S I N G & N E I G H B O R H O O D S

The area’s great weather, booming economy and good schools offer opportunities for a high quality of life. The Sierra Vista Unified School District 68 has six elemen- tary schools, two middle schools, one high school, and a community college. Add to this the rich historical background an abun- dance of recreational and cultural activities amid beautiful scenery and newcomers to this area find Southern Arizona is a beau- tiful place to live and raise a family. In the 1999 the first major mall in south- eastern Arizona was built in Sierra Vista. Dillard’s and Sears are the two anchor stores with more shopping and dining facilities around the perimeter of the mall, including Best Buy and Home Depot. Benson City of Benson: 520-586-4293 www.cityofbenson.com Benson Chamber of Commerce: 520-265-8031 www.benson-chamber.com Known as the “Home of the Kartchner Caverns State Park,” the city of Benson was founded in 1880, when the Southern Pacific Railroad opened lines into the area for the transportation of copper and silver from the area’s mining towns. The use of railroads to the West Coast port cities allowed shipment of goods via the Pacific Ocean, rather than overland. When mining declined and the railroading hub was moved to Tucson, cattle ranching and the opening of the Apache Powder Company became the community’s major economic boosters. With its close proximity to Interstate 10, Benson benefits from the services and amenities it provides travelers as well as the large winter population of retired people who enjoy the rural atmosphere and the moderate temperatures. Nearby is the world

breathtaking background of mountain ranges surrounding the area. At an elevation of 4,600 feet, Sierra Vista has outstanding views of the Mule, Huachuca, and Whet- stone mountains, and is accessible via I-10 and SR 90. Located in the southeastern corner of Arizona, the Sierra Vista is noted for its natural beauty, wildlife and bird watching, with hundreds of species of birds flying to or through the Sierra Vista area during their seasonal migration. One of the fastest growing cities in Arizona as well as the largest city in Cochise County, Sierra Vista is located 186 miles southeast of Phoenix and 72 miles southeast of Tucson. Fort Huachuca was established in 1877 when the 6th United States Cavalry estab- lished a camp along the mouth of Huachuca Canyon in order to protect settlers from Apache raiding parties. Initially, the areas around the fort were sparsely populated with a few small ranches along the San Pedro River. Between World War II and 1954 the fort was inactive, and then was reopened for testing electronic and communications equipment, becoming an active army post and a vital contributor to national defense. A small community began to grow east of the fort, named Sierra Vista, and was incorporated in 1956. With the annexation of Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista’s area now covers more than 152 square miles. Fort Huachuca’s 11,000 military and civilian employees make a major contri- bution to Sierra Vista’s economy. Other major employers here include Sierra Vista Regional Health Center, Aegis Communica- tions, KE&G Construction, Ilex systems and Wal-Mart. Major public employers include the City of Sierra Vista, Cochise County, the Sierra Vista Unified School District, the U.S. Army, Fort Huachuca, and the U.S. Border Patrol. The weather in Sierra Vista is moderate, with winter temperatures ranging from the mid 30’s to the 50’s in the winter with a small amount of snow. Summer tempera- tures range from the 60’s to the mid 90’s, with an average rainfall of about 15.00 inches per year.

famous “Kartchner Caverns State Park,” Tombstone and other attractions that bring tourists as well as residents to this beautiful area of southeastern Arizona. Residents of Benson regularly commute to both Tucson and Sierra Vista for shopping and for work. Benson enjoys a relatively stable economy thanks in part to its retire- ment community, the steady tourist and winter visitor trade and steady employ- ment opportunities in the greater Southern Arizona area. Benson major private employers include AEPCO, Benson Hospital, SEABHS, Apache Nitrogen and Gas City, the Benson Unified School District and the City of Benson.

Bisbee City of Bisbee: 520-432-3554 www.cityofbisbee.com Bisbee Chamber of Commerce: 520-432-5421 www.bisbeearizona.com

Founded in 1880, Bisbee was once known as the “Queen of the Copper Camps” in tribute to its rich mineral deposits. At its peak, Bisbee was producing nearly three million ounces of gold and more than eight billion pounds of copper, not to mention the silver, lead and zinc that came from the Mule Mountains. By the early 1900s, the Bisbee community was the largest city between St. Louis and San Francisco, and in 1929, the county seat was relocated from Tombstone to Bisbee. In the mid-1970’s the mines had been depleted of ore and were deemed unprofitable, officially putting an end to a once thriving area industry. However, begin- ning in 2007 with the purchase of Phelps Dodge by Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, preliminary steps have been made to bring mining back to the area.

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