Phoenix Relocation Guide

beautiful, upscale condos, apartments with stunning views, and affordable rental homes throughout the area. Welcome to a city that residents and visi- tors adore – we know that you will, too! As you explore the Phoenix Relocation Guide and the city that it represents, Phoenix will surely become a treasured home in which to live, enjoy life, and prosper. TUCSON Nestled just 60 miles north of the U.S./ Mexico border, Tucson is a rich mix of Native American, Spanish, and Mexican cultures. Its name comes from the Pima Indian word “schook-sun,” which means a “spring at the foot of a black mountain,” a nod to the area’s mountainous terrain and desert surroundings. Located about 118 miles southeast of Phoenix, Tucson is the second largest city in Arizona. Its metropolitan area is home to just over 1,101,025 residents, with 530,706 of those residing within city limits, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. So, what makes the Tucson area so special? Beyond its natural beauty, it’s a diverse combination of factors that offers something for everyone. With more than 630 miles of bike paths in the metropolitan area, it’s clear that Tucson residents have embraced the state’s reputation as a place to experience and appreciate the great outdoors. In fact, Tucson hosts El Tour de Tucson, the largest perimeter bicycling event in the Union, with some 10,000 partici- pants every fall. Besides its miles of striped bike paths, Tucson also has 72 miles of shared-use paths and more than 100 miles of residential bike routes. In fact, Tucson was named one of the “Top Five Best Cycling Towns” in the U.S., as well as the “Friendliest City” and one of the “Top 10 U.S. Cities to Visit” by Conde Nast Traveler magazine. The U.S. Department of Transportation also designated General Hitchcock Highway – commonly known to residents as the Catalina

TUCSON’S RICH AND COLORFUL HISTORY

Highway – as one of “America’s Byways” and “one of the most scenic drives in the nation.” The road is a veritable nature drive of ecology, with a luscious display of saguaro and cholla cacti on its wind from the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains to Summerhaven, which is a charming mountain village on Mount Lemmon that sits at an 8,200-foot elevation. The city’s rich cultural heritage has garnered honors as one of the top cities for Hispanics and boasts of their cultural diversity. Their thriving business commu- nity, especially in the technology field, has resulted in more than 1,200 companies employing in excess of 50,000 Southern Arizona residents, 150 of which are involved with optics and optoelectronics systems. This has garnered the city with the unofficial nickname of Optics Valley. In addition, Tucson serves as the home of the University of Arizona, the state’s first university and an international hub of astro- nomical and technological research. UofA has maintained affiliated astronomy efforts, such as Kitt Peak National Observatory and Steward Observatory, a joint venture between the University and the Vatican Observatory Research Group. In fact, it manages multiple telescopes across Southern Arizona.

Known as the “Old Pueblo,” Tucson has a rich multicultural history with centuries-old traditions. According to University of Arizona research, Tucson’s first residents hunted for bison and wooly mammoth between 12,500 and 6,000 B.C.E. Later, in 300 A.D., the Cochise and Hohokam Indian cultures came to farm the area’s rich valley terrain. In 1692, Spanish missionaries discovered the Indian village S-tukson, which means “black base,” and by 1804, roughly 1,000 people lived in traditional adobe villages. The 1848 Gold Rush in California attracted even more residents to the area, and Arizona was finally named the 48th state of the U.S. in 1912. During World War II, Davis-Mon- than Field served as an important training base, bringing an influx of military families to the city, many of who chose to stay, raise families, and retire here. As for geography, Mexico is a close neighbor at just 60 miles south, and the city was orig- inally part of Mexico when Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821. Thanks to the Gadsden Purchase (or Treaty of La

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