Tucson is the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, and second largest city in the state. It is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border.
The city is surrounded by five mountain ranges: the Santa Catalina Mountains, the Tortolita Mountains, the Santa Rita Mountains, the Rincon Mountains and the Tucson Mountains. Tucson is a popular winter destination for cyclists, one of only nine cities in the nation to have a gold rating or higher for cycling friendliness from the League of American Bicyclists.
The city can be divided into Downtown; historic and bicycle friendly Central Tucson (or Midtown), which contains the University of Arizona, Reid Park and the Zoo; South Tucson; West Tucson, which has Saguaro National Park West, Sentinel Peak, and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; North Tucson, which includes the urban neighborhoods of Amphitheater and Flowing Wells; East Tucson, which includes "Restaurant Row"; Southeast Tucson, which is home to the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and homes occupied by military families; and Northwest Tucson, which contains rural Catalina, the upscale Oro Valley, and master planned communities, home to thousands of residents. Many of Tucson's golf courses, resorts and spas are found in Northwest Tucson.
Residents interested in living in Tucson's historic areas can choose from many neighborhoods including El Presidio; Barrio Histórico; Armory Park; Barrio Anita; Barrio Tiburón; El Jardín; El Hoyo; the University neighborhood west of the University of Arizona, Iron Horse; Pie Allen; Menlo Park or Sam Hughes.
The local economy depends on the University of Arizona, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, and tourism, which attracts over 3 million visitors and $2 billion annually. In addition to tourists, a significant influx of snowbirds comes to enjoy the mild winters and arid climate of the Sonoran Desert. Many buy second homes in the area. Tucson is also a premier health services center for the Southwest and the astronomy center of the country, home of Kitt Peak National Observatory.
The main suburbs of Tucson include Oro Valley, Marana, Sahuarita and South Tucson. Communities in the vicinity of Tucson include Casas Adobes, Catalina, Catalina Foothills, Flowing Wells, Green Valley, Tanque Verde, New Pascua, Vail and Benson.
