Discover the rich history of Tucson.
Tucson was founded in 1776, making it one of North America’s oldest continually inhabited areas. Before Spanish missionaries and explorers arrived in the late 1600s, the Hohokam tribe had lived here for at least 4,000 years.
In 1854, Mexico sold all of Arizona south of the Gila River as a part of the Gadsden Purchase. This transaction made Tucson an official part of the United States. The incorporation of Tucson as a city in 1877 made it the oldest city in Arizona. Tucson’s roots expanded with the arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1880.
Today, more than one million residents call Tucson home. There’s something majestic about this area, where five mountain ranges create a picturesque, protected valley. You'll also find magnificent saguaros standing tall on the desert floor and aspen and pine growing above them on stark, wind-swept mountain peaks.
