So, what is it about Tucson that attracts a slew of wealthy retirees and others to make it their home?  Two words … The Weather!

The second largest city in Arizona, (pop. 541,811 – metro 1,023,320), Tucson was settled by the Spanish as “Presidio San Agustín de Tucson,” in 1775.  At the time there was no State of Arizona, no golf resorts, multi-million dollar houses dotting the mountainsides, or Tribal casinos.  Not long after the Spanish settled the area, Tucson actually became part of Mexico, then, the New Mexico Territory.  It wasn’t until 1857 you could officially say, Tucson, Arizona.

St. Augustine's Cathedral shows the early Spanish influence in Tucson

Although it is no longer the capitol of Arizona, which it was briefly following a move from Prescott, it is the home of the University of Arizona, founded in 1885.  Another notable federal government facility includes Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, whose airfield once hosted Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart before becoming an Air Force Base.

Pima County Courthouse - with its Spanish Colonial Revival-style architecture

There are a myriad of restaurants, resort hotels, shopping and things to do in and out of the city.  And, if you yearn to travel south of the border, Nogales, Mexico is only 60 miles south of town.

INFAMOUS CONNECTIONS 

With the video release of Public Enemies this month, it is interesting to note that the one and only John Dillinger was arrested at the Congress Hotel in downtown Tucson in January 1934, thanks to a fire that broke out while he and some gang members were holed up at the hotel.  The fact that they had a large amount of cash on them plus machine guns didn’t really help their case.

If you think the incident has been forgotten … think again!  The “Dillinger Days” festival and a reenactment of the arrest are held annually with the 2010 dates of January 24^th and 25^th. 

TRANSPORTATION

The major complaint most people have about Tucson is transportation. There are two major streets that cut across Tucson from east to west, Speedway Blvd. and Broadway Blvd.  Unfortunately, the relatively slow speed limits and the traffic make it slow going.  North and south, Oracle Blvd, which runs from downtown to the far northern suburbs, can also be slow going.

Several years ago, the residents voted down light rail.

So, if you don’t have a car, or money for the bus … you’re hoofing it!

Tomorrow… We visit the unique, controlled world of Biosphere 2