Willcox is in the northern part of the Sulphur Springs Valley cutting through Cochise County for nearly 100 miles. The town was established in 1880 and incorporated in 1915. Located on I-10, halfway between Phoenix and El Paso, Willcox serves as the major trade and service center for agriculture and tourism within Cochise County. With relatively inexpensive land and housing, a mild year-round climate and a pleasant rural lifestyle, Willcox has access to the Union Pacific Railroad and Interstate 10. Willcox is located north of the port of entry in Douglas, making it a perfect place for warehousing and distribution, especially for agriculture.

Principal Economic Activities

Willcox was once one of the largest cattle breeding cities in the nation, and cattle are still important to Willcox’s economy. The largest livestock auction in Arizona is held in Willcox. The heartland of Arizona agriculture is Willcox’s primary economic driver. Willcox is Arizona’s wine grape capital with the area producing nearly three quarters of the wine grapes in the state. Willcox wine country bottled wines have received many honors and awards, rating 88 and higher by Wine Spectator. Northern Cochise County is the world’s second largest producer of pistachios. Other specialty crops such as apples, peaches and pecans thrive in the Willcox basin, while row crops such as cotton and small grains are also significant. One of the largest hydroponic tomato green houses in the world, with more than 300 acres under glass, is located in the Willcox area. Many agricultural support and research companies operate near Willcox. The world’s foremost chili pepper seed company and research facility is located in northern Sulpher Springs Valley. Tourism is of economic importance, including outdoor, historical and agritourism with U-Pick farms.

Scenic Attractions

Cochise County features historical, cultural, scenic and recreational opportunities including the rugged Dos Cabezas Peaks, Chiricahua Mountains, Cochise Stronghold in the Dragoon Mountains and the Chiricahua National Monument with its stunning rhyolite formations. These mountains and deserts were once home to the Chiricahua Apache Native Americans. The county is named for their great chief Cochise. The Willcox area provides many opportunities for outdoor recreation and adventure. The area brings to life its rich western history. Willcox, hometown of television, movie and radio star Rex Allen, celebrates “Rex Allen Days” in October with a parade, country fair, rodeo and western fun. Willcox also hosts Wings over Willcox nature festival celebrating the great outdoors and the more than 30,000 Sand Hill Cranes that stay in Willcox during the winter. The Willcox West Fest Chuckwagon Cook-off and Ranch Rodeo is held in early May. Willcox hosts the annual Willcox Western Christmas Festival in December.

Community Facilities

Willcox offers a broad range of community facilities including rodeo grounds, a sports park, a library, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a community center with meeting facilities, a nine-hole golf course and tennis courts. There also are five parks with ramadas and playground equipment, as well as athletic facilities that include lighted baseball and softball fields, a basketball court and a soccer field. The Willcox Cowboy Hall of Fame and Rex Allen memorabilia are on display in the Rex Allen Arizona Cowboy Museum in downtown Willcox. The Chiricahua Regional Museum also is in downtown Willcox.