Tucson History
 Tucson is a cosmopolitan city with a unique blend of Native American, Spanish, Mexican, African American, Asian and Anglo heritages. Ancient Hohokam Indians developed complex irrigation systems in the area for growing crops. The name "Tucson" is derived from the Indian word, "Chuk-son," meaning village of the dark spring at the foot of the mountains. The city was established in 1775 by Spanish soldiers as a walled presidio - the Presidio of San Augustin de Tucson. Tucson became a part of Mexico in 1821 when Mexico won its independence from Spain, and in 1854 became a part of the United States as part of the Gadsden Purchase. Following a turbulent territorial period racked by conflict with the Apache Indians, Arizona became the 48th state in 1912. Today, Tucson is one of the fastest growing urban areas in the U.S. The metropolitan area population of 804,200 people is expected to reach one million shortly after the turn of the century. With this anticipated growth, the community is retaining the rich charm which earned it the nickname, "The Old Pueblo."
Tucson Weather
Tucson is renowned for its superb weather. Warm and sunny throughout most of the year, the air is remarkably dry, with a low relative humidity. Though daytime summer temperatures are high, the temperature drops at sunset, providing cool, comfortable evenings.
| Precipitation
|
Measurement
|
| Wettest month -- July |
2.42 inches |
| Driest month -- May |
0.14 inches |
| Annual total |
12.00 inches |
Number of days over 90 F = 138. Number of days below 32 F = 19. History of hurricanes, tornadoes: None. Average total snow, sleet and hail annually: 0.6 inches. Tucson lies in the zone receiving more sunshine than any other section in the United States.
| Monthly Temps.
|
Avg. Daily Max. Temp.
|
Avg. Daily Min. Temp.
|
| January |
64.1 |
38.2 |
| February |
67.0 |
39.9 |
| March |
71.5 |
43.6 |
| April |
80.7 |
50.3 |
| May |
89.6 |
57.5 |
| June |
97.9 |
66.2 |
| July |
98.3 |
74.2 |
| August |
95.3 |
72.3 |
| September |
93.1 |
67.1 |
| October |
83.8 |
56.4 |
| November |
72.2 |
44.8 |
| December |
64.8 |
39.1 |
| Coldest Month -- Jan. |
64.1 |
38.1 |
| Hottest Month -- July |
98.5 |
73.8 |
| Annual avg. |
81.7 |
54.2 |
Tucson Cost of Living
 The ACCRA Cost of Living Index
measures differences between areas in the cost of consumer goods and services, excluding taxes and non-consumer expenditures, for professional and managerial households in the top income quintile. It is based on 59 items, for which prices are collected quarterly by the chamber of commerce, economic development organization, or some similar organization in each participating urban area. Small differences should not be interpreted as showing any measurable difference, according to ACCRA.
ACCRA COST OF LIVING INDEX
METROPOLITAN AREAS OVER 2 MILLION POPULATION
FOURTH QUARTER 2002
(Average for 314 Urban Areas = 100)
|
|
All Items
|
Grocery Items
|
Housing
|
Utilities
|
Transportation
|
Health Care
|
Misc.
|
|
Tucson AZ
|
96.6
|
105.7
|
85.9
|
111.9
|
102.6
|
111.6
|
93.4
|
In comparison, the composite index for Tucson was 96.6 or 3.4% below the nationwide average for the quarter.
Tucson Taxes
 The climate in Tucson is right for your new home!
The metropolitan area is home to over 884,000 people with a civilian labor force of roughly 404,000. The median age of a Tucson resident is 35.7 and the average earnings per worker is $32,300.
With more than 1,200 companies employing over 50,000 people in the high-tech industries of Southern Arizona, Tucson has become a leader in the new knowledge-based economy. The City of Tucson, Pima County, the State of Arizona and the private sector have all made commitments to create a growing, healthy economy with high-tech industries as its foundation.
Advanced technology companies like Raytheon Missile Systems, Texas Instruments, IBM, America Online, Universal Avionics, Slim-Fast Foods, Sunquest Information Systems, and Bombardier have already made Tucson a home for their businesses. Discover the advantages Tucson can give your business, your employees and your entire life.
Besides being a rewarding place to work, Tucsonans enjoy a low-key lifestyle. The pace is naturally relaxed, the weather is mild, casual dress is the rule, the cost of living is low, and the natural and cultural attractions are plentiful.
Pima County Tax Summary
| Corporate Income Tax:
|
6.968%
|
| Personal Income Tax: |
Varies between 2.88% and 5.04% |
| Unemployment Insurance
|
Minimum of 0.05% up to a maximum of 5.40% on first $7,000 of wages per employee.
|
| Real Property Tax: |
Commercial Property is assessed at 25% of market value. Average tax rate is $17 per $100 assessed value. |
| Retail Sales Tax:
|
5.6% State + 2% City = 7.6%
|
| Real Estate Excise Tax: |
NONE |
| Residential Property Tax:
|
Assessment ratio for owner-occupied residential property is 10% of full cash (market) value. For 2000, the rates ranged from $4.54 to $16.58 per $100 of assessed valuation, depending on location. The average rate for 2000 was $12.80 per $100 of assessed valuation.
|
| Incorporation Fees: |
For Profit - $60; Non profit - $40 |
|
