Overview

Tucson is Arizona’s second-largest city and the seat of Pima County, set in the Sonoran Desert about 116 miles southeast of Phoenix and roughly 64 miles north of the U.S.–Mexico border. The 2020 U.S. Census counted 542,629 residents in the city and about 1.04 million in the metro. Framed by the Catalina, Rincon, Santa Rita, Tucson, and Tortolita mountains at ~2,600 feet of elevation, Tucson blends a vibrant university presence with deep desert heritage.

Culture

Tucson’s identity reflects centuries of Indigenous, Mexican, and frontier influences; visible in its food, festivals, neighborhoods, and bilingual arts scene. The city actively protects dark skies to support astronomy, and it recently launched an Astrotourism Trail linking observatories and stargazing sites. Culinarily, Tucson leans into its Sonoran roots (the city even cheekily proclaims itself home to America’s best Mexican food), while a growing downtown showcases galleries, music venues, and a modern streetcar corridor.

Education

Tucson Unified School District (founded in 1867) is Southern Arizona’s largest K-12 district, serving tens of thousands of students across dozens of campuses. Higher education is anchored by the University of Arizona, a top public research university in the heart of the city with major programs in optics, astronomy, biosciences, and engineering.

Economy

Aerospace, defense, optics & photonics, higher education, healthcare, and tourism shape Tucson’s economy. RTX’s Raytheon business operates major missile and air-defense programs here and is among the region’s largest private employers. The University of Arizona adds significant research activity and billions in estimated economic impact, while tourism leverages national parks, museums, and year-round outdoor recreation.

Business Sectors

  • Aerospace & Defense: Raytheon/RTX and a supplier ecosystem.
  • Optics & Photonics: Precision optics, astronomy instrumentation, imaging.
  • Technology & Advanced Manufacturing: Software, robotics, and electronics.
  • Healthcare & Bioscience: Major hospital systems and research labs.
  • Logistics & Trade: Cross-border and Southwest distribution advantages.

Popular Tourist Attractions

Saguaro National Park’s trails and iconic cacti; the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum’s living desert exhibits; Pima Air & Space Museum’s historic aircraft; the Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter for public astronomy; the Sun Link streetcar to restaurants, galleries, and historic districts.