The current site of the city was probably visited 12,000 years ago by the Paleoindians (present in southern Arizona at that time). Recent archeological discoveries have made it possible to discover, along the Santa Cruz river, traces of a village dating back about 4,000 years. The plain of this river was the scene of extensive agriculture between the late Neolithic period (-1200 and 150). These peoples have set up an irrigation channel system to produce corn, peas and other crops while continuing to harvest wild plants and hunt. It is also during this period that pottery is used to cook and store food. The Hohokams, living in the region between 600 and 1450, are known for their vast irrigation system and their pottery of red soil. The other native peoples of the region are the Yaquis and the Tohono O'odham, descended from the Hohokams.

From 1692, the Jesuit missionary Eusebio Francesco Chini discovered the valley of the Santa Cruz river. In 1700, he set up Mission San Xavier del Bac about 12 km south of the new colony. Another colony was founded downstream of the river at the foot of what is now called the A mountain. In 1775 the Spaniards established a fortress, Presidio San Agustín del Tucsón, in the present downtown. During this period of Presidio, the city was attacked several times by apache warriors. In 1821, following Mexico's war of independence, the city became Mexican. It was taken by the Mormon Battalion during the American-Mexican War (1846-1848). It was integrated into the United States in 1853, by the transaction known as the Gadsden purchase.

It was not until March 1856 that the American army officially took control of the city. In 1857 it became a relay station on the road to San Antonio-San Diego, which was taken by mail-in machines. In 1858 it became the headquarters of the 3^th Butterfield Overland Mail until the end of the line's operation in March 1861 following the Bascom affair which led to the Apostle wars.

Between August 1861 and mid-1862, Tucson was the capital of the western confederate state of Arizona (the eastern state being Mesilla). On May 20, 1862, the California columns (composed only of volunteers) captured Tucson and drove the Confederate troops from the state that was attached to the territory of New Mexico until 1863 before becoming part of the New Territories of Arizona. Between 1867 and 1877, the city was the capital of this territory. Fort Lowell was established in the east of the city to protect the new settlers from apache attacks.

In 1871, a detachment from Tucson attacked 300 Native Americans, most of them women and children, who worked in the fields at Camp Grant; 118 women and 8 men are killed, while 30 captured children will be sold as slaves in Mexico. President Grant ordered the arrest of the perpetrators, but the jury, which was made up exclusively of white people, decided that killing Indians, who could be dangerous, was not murder. So the guilty parties were released. "

In 1885 the University of Arizona was founded on a large pasture land between Fort Lowell and the city center. In 1897, the Apostolic Vicariate became the diocese of Tucson and the Cathedral of St. Augustine was completed.

In 1900, the city had 7,531 inhabitants and in 1910 13,913. After the First World War, the town hosted the Veteran Hospital to welcome the soldiers who were victims of gases in need of respiratory therapy (dry and clean air). The population continued to increase to 20,290 in 1920, 36,818 in 1940. But the real "demographic boom" occurred after World War II: 212,892 inhabitants in 1960, 486,699 in 2000, 548,555 in 2009.

Before 1912, when Arizona was still only a territory, Tucson was the economic capital and the largest city in front of Phoenix, which was only the seat of government. However, as early as the 1920s, the city was outnumbered by its neighbor. Nevertheless, in the second half of the ^twentieth century, both cities experienced record growth rates in their populations.

Tucson, Arizona in 1909.

According to the US Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 505.3 km², including 504.2 km² of land and 1.1 km² of water bodies, or 0.22% of the total. The town is located 728 m above sea level, in a valley surrounded by five minor mountain ranges, the Santa Catalina and Tortolita Mountains in the north, the Santa Rita Mountains in the south, the Rincon Mountains in the east, and the Tucson Mountains in the west. The Santa Catalina Mountains are known for being home to Mount Lemmon, the southernmost ski resort in the continental United States.

Tucson is located along I-10, which passes through Phoenix to Santa Monica, California in the northwest, and El Paso, Texas, to Jacksonville in the east, Florida. I-19, south of Tucson, goes south through Nogales and the border with Mexico.

The city, like most of its Southwest American counterparts, developed around a strict Hippodaman Plan (the original city center was on the corner of Stones Avenue and Broadway Boulevard). However, the western mountain ranges have pushed the city to extend eastward.

Downtown

View of Tucson from the A-Mountain. In the foreground is Interstate 10, in the second the downtown.

In the first decade of the 21st century, along with several cities in the United States, developers and economic actors launched a program to revitalize the downtown area. The first project is Rio Nuevo, a large shopping center coupled with a living center that had been planned for a decade. The city center is located between the north of 22^th street, to the west of Interstate 10, to the east by the Union Pacific rail network and to the south by various streets (Cushing Street, 13^th Street...). The Downtown is divided into four categories:

• Presidio District;
• Barrio Viejo;
• Congress Street Arts and Entertainment District;
• Fourth Avenue (located outside the boundaries of the city center).

The downtown houses a number of remarkable buildings:

• Saint Augustine Cathedral;
• the UniSource Energy Tower, which since 1986 is the tallest building in the city (100 m, 26 floors including 23 above ground);
• the Pima County Court (with a modern extension at the back), built in 1928 by Roy W. Place;
• the town hall;
• the municipal library;
• the Fox Theater, created in 1929 as Art Deco Fox Theater and recently restored;
• the oldest El Charro Café in the city.

• The Fox Theater recently restored.

• Pima County Court of Justice.

• In the forefront is the Pima County Court of Justice. In the second, the UniSource Energy Tower.

Central Tucson / Midtown

One of the city's oldest neighborhoods, Central Tucson is surrounded by the Broadway Village shopping area created by local architect Josias Joesler at the intersection of Broadway Boulevard and Country Club Road. The shopping district of 4^th Avenue, between the center and the university, also has original shops (restaurants, bars, antiques...). This area extends to the main entrance (Main Gate) of the university, which makes it the center of student life.

Arizona University

The University of Arizona, built in 1885, is located in the midtown, including the Arizona Stadium and the Mc Kale Center (multi-sports hall).

The 4^th Avenue and its surroundings

The largest park in the city, the Reid Park, is located in the midtown. It is home to a zoo (Reid Park Zoo) and a baseball stadium (Hi Corbett Field). The omnipresence of the automobile has led to major East-West and North-South axes. Among them, Speedway Boulevard was designated in the early 1970s by Life magazine as the "worst street in America". On the other hand, an effort has been made to increase the movement of cyclists, especially around the university. Thus, Third Street is exclusively reserved for this mode of travel (except for riparian). A sign of the development of gentle movements, the N. Highland Avenue has a bicycle path along half its length (approximately 5.6 km).

Distribution of ethnic groups in 2010, with each point representing 25 people: Non-Hispanic whites, blacks, Asians, Latinos and others.

Population composition per cent (2010)

Group	Tucson	Arizona	United States
White	69.7	73.0	72.4
Others	15.2	11.9	6.2
African-Americans	5.0	4.1	12.6
Métis	4.2	3.4	2.9
Asian	2.9	2.8	4.8
Amerindians	2.7	4.6	0.9
Ocean-Americans	0.2	0.2	0.2
Total	100	100	100
Hispanics and Latin Americans	41.6	29.7	16.7

In 2010, Mexican-Americans accounted for 37.3% of the population.

According to the American Community Survey, for the period 2011-2015, 25.3% of the population lives below the poverty line (15.5% at the national level). This rate masks significant inequalities, with 31.7% for African-Americans, 30.0% for Latinos, 39.2% for Native Americans, and 18.5% for non-Hispanic whites. In addition, 34.9% of people under 18 live below the poverty line, while 24.6% of those aged 18-64 and 12.6% of those over 65 live below the poverty line. In 2015, 12% of the population lived in mobile home parks.

According to the American Community Survey, for the period 2011-2015, 66.05% of the population over the age of 5 said they spoke English at home, 28.82% said they spoke Spanish, 0.71% a Chinese language and 4.43% another language.

Tucson's economy is clearly dominated by services. The University of Arizona was founded in Tucson in 1885. Even today, this institution contributes significantly to the economic activity of the city, of which it is the second employer (10,500 employees). Tucson also has a US Air Force base (Davis-Montan Air Force Base, 8,200 jobs). The high-tech industries employ 50,000 people in the region, with Raytheon (11,000 jobs) the main company being the missile manufacturer. Every February, Tucson organizes the Gem & Mineral Show, a gigantic trade show dedicated to minerals and gems. The exhibition, spread throughout the city, attracts 35,000 visitors from around twenty countries. Finally, Tucson is a large tourist center, offering many hotels, activities and cultural attractions.

Close to the border with Mexico, the city employs many illegal immigrants.

The climate is semi arid and subtropical with two major seasons: summer and winter and three minor seasons (autumn, spring and monsoon). The city receives an average of 293.6 mm/m² of water each year, representing a high rate for a desert. The climate is extremely hot and sunny. The result is skin cancer rates that are three times higher than in the northern regions of the country. Excessive heat is one of the main causes of death for illegal immigrants when they cross the desert.

In summer, temperatures are often higher than 38 °C during the day and range from 23 °C to 29 °C during the night. Early summer is characterized by extremely low humidity and clear sky. The middle (August) and the end of summer are wetter and cloudy, but still very sunny. Extremely violent storms can erupt.

The monsoon season can begin between mid-June and the end of July. It often goes on in August and September. It begins with the arrival of clouds from the south in the late afternoon, followed by thunderstorms and rains that can cause rapid flooding.

In autumn, the climate is dry and the nights are cool. Temperatures above 37 °C are not uncommon at the beginning of October.

Winters are mild (between 18 and 24 °C during the day, -1 and 7°C at night). Snow can sometimes appear, but it doesn't last more than a day.

The beginning of spring is characterized by a constant rise in temperatures. From early February until March, some areas are covered with wild flowers. Temperatures go up, 23 °C in March, 31 °C in May.

The highest temperature recorded at the international airport was 47.2°C on June 26, 1990 and the lowest was -14.4°C on January 7, 1913.

Sustainable development

Tucson is located on a natural site favorable to the development of solar energy. However, the city has not yet implemented any significant policy. At the moment, the main problem is drinking water. Domestic use is the first consumer station in front of agriculture. In addition, the 35 golf courses consume approximately 10% of the municipal resources.

Only 15% of the water consumed was produced locally in 1997. Massive exploitation of local resources has led to land collapses.

In order to limit the disappearance of groundwater, the preservation and better exploitation of resources is one of the major axes of local politics. New wells have been opened north of the city in the Avra Valley. Tucson is also powered through the Central Arizona Project.

Annual festivals and events

Tucson Gem and Mineral Show

The Tucson Gem & Mineral Show (en) is held every year for two weeks in February. It is one of the largest festivals of its kind in the world. The festival takes place on some fifty sites throughout the city where gems and minerals are exhibited. During this period, the city welcomes more than 50,000 visitors from around thirty-five countries (general public, experts, collectors, museum employees, sellers, retailers, researchers, etc.). Several museums and universities, such as the Sorbonne University^{[Which one?]} exhibit every year.

Tucson Meet Yourself

For thirty years, in October, the Tucson Meet Yourself allows everyone to meet the ethnic groups of the city. During a week through cultural activities, about thirty ethnic groups meet in the center. All participants come from Tucson and its surroundings with the motto "meet yourself".

Museum

• Flandrau Scientific Center and Planetarium, Scientific Museum and Planetarium.

• Tucson is served by the American National Railway Company, the Amtrak. The Sunset Limited transcontinental train connects Los Angelès to Miami via Tuscon, El Paso, San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans and Orlando. The Texas Eagle train links Chicago (New York connection) to Los Angeles via Saint-Louis, Kansas-City, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, El Paso and Tucson.
• Tucson International Airport offers direct flights to Mexico as well as links to many American cities, either directly or by mail.
• Tucson has a historic tram line.

The Biosphere II experience is located close to the desert north of Tucson. In inflatable plastic greenhouses, most plants grow on an inert support, such as sand. Water and nutrients are brought to the roots by a system of very fine buried pipes. This method avoids the waste of water that inevitably occurs, through loss, during traditional watering. Threads help tomato plants grow high and they need stilts to reach their feet because their roots plunge into large trays full of water. Salad plants grow on inclined polystyrene plates: by doing so, we can double the number of salads produced per square meter. The white roots of the salads hang outside the styrofoam deck. Like the bare roots of the tomato plants, they are kept in a moist atmosphere. Periodically, a clock starts a device that diffuses a light fog of a nutritious solution. The director of ERL is constantly looking for new plants to grow. Its motto: find a use for everything. For example, use halophyte plants as fodder.

• 1946: Duel in the sun of King Vidor, with Gregory Peck and Jennifer Jones
• 1950: Winchester '73, with James Stewart and Rock Hudson
• 1957: 3:10 for Yuma, with Glenn Ford and Van Heflin
• 1959: Rio Bravo from Howard Hawks
• 1967: Hombre of Martin Ritt, with Paul Newman
• 1970: Rio Lobo by Howard Hawks, with John Wayne
• 1972: Joe Kidd, with Clint Eastwood and Robert Duvall
• 1990: Young Guns 2 (Young Guns II) by Geoff Murphy

List of cities twinned with Tucson:

•  Almaty, Kazakhstan
•  Ciudad Obregón, Mexico
•  Guadalajara, Mexico
•  Liupanshui (China)
•  Nouakchott (Mauritania)
•  Pecs (Hungary)
•  Roscommon (Ireland)
•  Segovia (Spain)
•  Sulaymaniyah (Iraq)
•  Taichung, Taiwan
•  Trikala, Greece

• The television series The Last Man on Earth is part of Tucson's show.
• In episode 17 of its 12^th season, the comedy series Les Griffin describes Tucson as "the dumbest city in the whole country".
• Tucson AZ is also popularized in the first verse of one of The Beatles' titles, Get Back, released in 1969.

• Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, a botanical garden with more than 1,400 plant species, especially cacti.
• Pima Air and Space Museum, a museum of military aircraft of different eras.

• Downtown Tucson.

• Downtown Tucson.

• Downtown in the distance.

• St. Augustine Cathedral in Tucson.

• Mission San Xavier del Bac.