Entertainment Magazine / AZentertainTucson, Arizona FAQ
A July 1, 2003 Census estimate puts the city's population at 507,658. It is the largest city in southern Arizona, and the second largest in the state after Phoenix. Joined by I-10, Phoenix and Tucson are the two endpoints of a 100-mile long corridor of increasingly suburbanized areas. Tucson is the county seat of Pima County. The name Tucson comes, via Spanish, from the O'odham name for the city, Chuk Shon (pronounced Cuk-son), meaning "Black Foothills," a reference to the mostly volcanic mountains on the west side of Tucson. The most notable of these foothills is Sentinel Peak, better known as "A Mountain" because it sports a large letter A in honor of the University of Arizona. Tucson is also sometimes referred to as "The Old Pueblo". People often spell Tucson wrong- spelling it as Tuscon or Tucon or Tuson. Tucson HistoryTucson was originally inhabited around roughly 7000 BC by early Paleo-Indians, and later replaced by groups designated by archaeologists as the Hohokam. The current native inhabitants, the Yaqui and the O'odham, are possibly descendants of the Hohokam. The Mission San Xavier del Bac was founded in the area of present-day Tucson in 1700 by the Spanish Jesuit missionary Eusebio Francisco Kino. Tucson became a part of Mexico after Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821. Following the Gadsden purchase in 1853, Tucson became a part of the United States of America. From August 1861, until mid-1862, Tucson was the capital of the Confederate Territory of Arizona. Until 1863, Tucson and all of Arizona was part of the New Mexico Territory. From 1867 to 1889, Tucson was the capital of the Arizona Territory. The University of Arizona, located in Tucson, was founded in 1885. Tucson GeographyTucson is located at 32°12'52" North, 110°55'5" West (32.214476, -110.918192)1. DemographicsAs of the census2 of 2000, there are 486,699 people, 192,891 households, and 112,455 families residing in the city. The population density is 965.3/km? (2,500.1/mi?). There are 209,609 housing units at an average density of 415.7/km? (1,076.7/mi?). The racial makeup of the city is 70.15% White, 4.33% Black or African American, 2.27% Native American, 2.46% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 16.85% from other races, and 3.79% from two or more races. 35.72% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. Tucson's InstitutionsTucson is home to the University of Arizona, a state-run land-grant university which provides many jobs and economic stimulus to the local economy. Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, located on the southeastern edge of the city, also provides many jobs for Tucson residents. The city's largest private employer is the Raytheon missile factory. Attractions
Annual gem & mineral showThe Tucson Gem & Mineral Show is held every year in February for two weeks (open + one week for professionals). It is one of the largest and most well-known gem and mineral shows anywhere, and it features the many of the finest mineral specimens available. There is no single location for display of minerals, but rather dozens of locations spread across town: many big hotels and most motels are occupied for the occasion, professionals even display their specimens in hotel bedrooms, lobbies, under tents, and on lawns. The show has an estimated attendance of more than 35,000 people from over twenty countries. Attendees frequently include the general public, experts, beginning collectors, museum employees, dealers, retailers, and researchers. Many museums and universities, including the Smithsonian Institution and the Sorbonne, have displayed materials at the show. Famous current or former residentsPaul McCartney - musician (The Beatles) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
Tucson (pronounced tus-on) is a city located in Pima County, Arizona. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 486,699, while the metropolitan area had a total population of 843,746. 
