Phoenix Relocation Guide

H O U S I N G & N E I G H B O R H O O D S

enjoy horseback riding, hiking, [and ] the mountain views…” “ In the summer months many Tucson and Phoenix residents escape to Rio Rico to enjoy horseback riding, hiking, [and ] the mountain views... ”

sports courts, ball fields, riding stables and swimming pools.

The Rio Rico community has grown from a population of 1,400 in 1990 to nearly 20,000 residents. This controlled growth provides the resources for affordable services and facilities, while maintaining a high quality of life and preservation of the area’s natural beauty.

tourists from both countries travel through the sister cities as they visit other U.S. or Mexico destinations. The area offers its own attractions with more than 200 Nogales and Santa Cruz County properties listed in the National Register of Historic Sites..

Tubac City of Tubac: 520-398-2704 www.tubacarizona.com

Spanish missionaries, prospectors, ranchers, soldiers and Apache raiding parties used the pass as a means to travel through the valley. Spanish traders called the area Los Nogales, due to the abundance of walnut trees in the Valley. One year after the Gadsden Purchase in 1884, a survey team marked the interna- tional boundary line between the twin towns of Nogales. The City of Nogales was founded in 1880 and serves as the both the county seat and the economic center of the county. In 1882, Nogales was the site of the first rail connection between Mexico and the United states. International commerce with its sister city Nogales in Sonora, Mexico provided both cities with favorable operating costs expanding their rail and distribution services. Today, Nogales is one of the busiest port of entry cities in the southern United States. Serving as one of the major entry points between the U.S. and Mexico, The North American Free Trade Agreement was a further economic boost for the area. Nogales Arizona and Nogales Sonora are home to a large cooperative manufacturing cluster. Manufacturing plants located in both cities take advantage of favorable operating costs and excellent distribution connections. The Nogales airport is said to be classified as an international airport with a 7,200-foot runway. Although, us locals know better. It’s really 7,199-feet. But who is counting right? By the mid 1940s, tourism was making its contribution to the mutual economy of the two Nogales cities. As a natural gateway between the United States and Mexico,

Rio Rico City of Rio Rico: 520-377-9336 www.rioricochamberof commerce.com

Located just 40 minutes south of Tucson and 20 minutes from Nogales, Tubac became a center for art and history in 1948 with the creation of its Artists School. In 1959, the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park was established and in 1964 the Tubac Museum opened. The first Tubac Festival of the Arts took place in 1960, and the Tubac Center of the Arts opened its doors in 1972. The Festival, a nine day affair held in February, is the oldest art fair in Arizona. Resident artists, a small retirement commu- nity and tourism drives Tubac’s economy and culture. Listed as a census designated place (CDP) by the U.S. Census Bureau and located near the well-traveled I-19 corridor between Tucson and Mexico, Tubac offers a unique experience to travelers visiting the natural and historic attractions in Southern Arizona, and lives up to its motto, “Where Art and History Meet.”

Rio Rico is a 39,000-acre planned commu- nity that was once part of a 100,000-acre land grant from the King of Spain. The commu- nity was founded in 1969 as a luxury planned community with a resort lifestyle, affordable housing and a close proximity to Mexico. The Rio Rico Resort and Country Club is surrounded by gorgeous views of the moun- tains and Sonoran Desert, with panoramic views of the Santa Cruz River Valley. In the summer months many Tucson and Phoenix residents escape to Rio Rico to enjoy horseback riding, hiking, the mountain views, a few rounds of golf and best of all, the chance for a reprieve from the summer heat. The higher altitude and late summer monsoons provide temperatures 10-20 degrees below those in larger Arizona cities. Rio Rico’s 256-acre South Industrial Park is home to distribution and produce ware- houses, with some light manufacturing. A commercial center offers a super- market, restaurants, specialty shops and services such as insurance and travel agen- cies. Recreation facilities include parks,

Patagonia City of Patagonia: 888-794-0060 www.patagoniaaz.com

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