Caliente
Facts and idiosyncrasies
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 03.20.2008
San Xavier del Bac, above, is called the "White Dove of the Desert" because of its striking appearance from afar. More recently, the Spanish mission's beautiful frescoes have earned it the label "America's Sistine Chapel."
Tucson is one of the oldest continuously inhabited areas in the United States, with archaeological discoveries dating back to 800 B.C. It makes sense that the city's nickname is the Old Pueblo.
South Tucson is a city within the city. It has its own mayor, its own police force and, along South Fourth Avenue, some of the best Mexican food on Earth.
In Tucson, schoolkids get the day off every year for La Fiesta de los Vaqueros rodeo parade, which started in 1925.
Tucson is the nation's 32nd largest city. With a total population of more than 1 million, the metropolitan area ranks as the nation's 52nd largest.
Tucson is the sixth largest metropolitan area without a major pro sports team.
For every three people who move to Pima County, two leave. The average Tucsonan moves every 3 1/2 years, be it within the area or out of town.
More than 100 years ago, Tucson was given a choice by the federal government. Did the city want the state prison, the state university or the state capital? Tucson chose the prison and it got the university — a bitter disappointment for citizens at the time. These days, we're happy to have the University of Arizona.
About those mountains that surround us: They are the Tucson, Santa Catalina, Rincon, Santa Rita and Tortolita ranges.
The flags of four nations have flown over Tucson — those of Spain, Mexico, the U.S. Confederacy and the United States of America. Tucson joined the United States with the Gadsden Purchase in June 1854.
Around the turn of the 20th century, Tucson began marketing itself as a sunshine city, attracting thousands of tuberculosis sufferers seeking a cure in its dry climate.
Tucson's population growth also was fueled by the presence of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, which became an important training base when it was called David-Monthan Field during World War II. Many airmen returned to Tucson to settle or retire.
The first episode of the popular 1960s TV show "The Fugitive" was filmed here. Dr. Richard Kimble's first refuge was Room 26 of Hotel Congress.
The Pima Air & Space Museum, pictured above, just southwest of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, is the largest privately funded air museum in the world. .
Tucson got its name from the Tohono O'Odham word Stjukshon (pronounced Chuk-son), meaning "spring at the foot of black mountain." Spanish and European settlers changed it to the more pronounceable Tucson. The "black mountain" is near Downtown. It's known as "A" Mountain for its rock "A," painted by UA students annually since 1915. The "spring" was the Santa Cruz River.
Tucson was given a gold rating for its bicycle-friendliness by the League of American Bicyclists in 2006.
The Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase attracts thousands of rock hounds from out of town every winter.
John Dillinger was captured here in 1934 after a fire broke out in Hotel Congress, where he and his gang were staying.
Sources: The University of Arizona, the city of Tucson and Arizona Daily Star archives
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