South Tucson is a 1.2-square mile community located a mile south of downtown Tucson. The population is 5,635, with a total of 2,175 housing units. South Tucson’s heritage is celebrated in the many tiled murals and other works of public art on display throughout the city. South Tucson’s Yaqui community, centered in the historical Pascua Yaqui Pueblo, hosts annual Easter ceremonies. These Easter-season ceremonies have been performed for hundreds of years and South Tucson is one of the only places in the United States where they can be seen.

Principal Economic Activities

The City has easy access to I-10 and I-19 and has one of the busiest main avenues in Pima County: South 6th Avenue is the most heavily used transit corridor in the metro area; it also carries between 30,000 and 40,000 automobiles per day. South Tucson has more than 300 businesses that include a shutter manufacturer, steel door manufacturer, cowboy boot manufacturer and a large-scale parts supplier for the auto repair industry. It also is home to pari-mutuel wagering at the local Tucson Greyhound Park and is especially famous for its authentic Sonoran-style Mexican restaurants. These restaurants define the character of South Tucson and are frequented by visitors from all over world, including a U.S. President! In June of 2015 the city of South Tucson embarked on an Economic Vitality Plan for the south and southeast areas of the city to attract commercial development and increase the retail base. This area is an attractive development opportunity because of the proximity of the I-10 and I-19 interchange, as well as the 4th Avenue and 6th Avenue corridors which lead traffic into the downtown Tucson area.

Scenic Attractions

The Old Pueblo Trolley Operations Center and Transit Museum has relocated to South Tucson. Beyond its appeal as an attraction, the trolley center is working to restore trolley service along South 4th Avenue. The city is also home to the historical El Casino Ballroom, a premier community venue for weddings, quincianeras and other special events for more than 70 years. Other visitor attractions are only a short distance away including the The University of Arizona, Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Old Tucson, Colossal Cave, Pima Air and Space Museum, Kitt Peak Observatory, Reid Park Zoo and many more. Each year thousands of people visit the Annual Gem and Mineral Show, one of the largest collections of trade shows for jewelry makers, gemologists, geologists and collectors of precious gem stones and fossils. The Tucson community celebrates its cowboy heritage each year during La Fiesta de Los Vaqueros with a horse powered parade and four days of rodeo events. There is much more to see just south of the border in Nogales, Mexico. Southeastern Arizona is becoming known for its fast-developing wine region.

Community Facilities

The city of South Tucson has a large Spanish-language book collection in the Sam Lena South Tucson public library, one of the busiest in the library system. The city also has its own fire, police and public works departments. A local youth neighborhood center provides after school, summer, educational and recreational activities.