Tucson

The Spanish name of the city, Tucsón [tukˈson], is derived from the O’odham Cuk Ṣon [tʃʊk ʂɔːn], meaning “(at the) base of the black [hill]”, a reference to a basalt-covered hill now known as Sentinel Peak. Tucson is sometimes referred to as “The Old Pueblo.” Tucson was founded as a military fort by the Spanish when Hugo O’Conor authorized the construction of Presidio San Agustín del Tucsón. It was included in the state of Sonora after Mexico gained independence from the Spanish Empire in 1821. The United States acquired Tucson via treaty from Mexico in the Gadsden Purchase on June 8, 1854. Tucson temporarily served as the western capital of the Confederate Arizona Territory during the American Civil War. Tucson was Arizona’s largest city by population during the territorial period and early statehood, until it was surpassed by Phoenix between 1910 and 1920. Tucson is the county seat of Pima County and is home to the University of Arizona, is the second most-populated city in Arizona behind Phoenix. It is 108 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 mi north of the U.S.–Mexico border. Major incorporated suburbs of Tucson include Oro Valley, Marana, and Sahuarita. Other Communities in the vicinity of Tucson include Vail, Green Valley, the Catalina Foothills and Oracle. In 2017, Tucson was the first American city to be designated a “City of Gastronomy” by UNESCO. Tucson is known for its outstanding climate with over 300 days of sunshine per year and it’s lush Sonoran desert, which is much greener than most deserts. Access to hiking, biking, golf, horseback riding, caves, ghost towns and hundreds of annual cultural, music and art events are what make Tucson such a great place to live! *Source: Wikipedia