South Tucson, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
South Tucson
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South Tucson from city limits at 6th Avenue
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| Motto(s):
"The Pueblo Within A City"
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 South Tucson, Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Arizona | |
| County | Pima | |
| Incorporated | August 10, 1936 | |
| Dissolved | January 18, 1938 | |
| Reincorporated | March 27, 1939 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Council–manager | |
| • Body | South Tucson City Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 1.03 sq mi (2.66 km2) | |
| • Land | 1.03 sq mi (2.66 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | |
| Elevation | 2,425 ft (739 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,613 | |
| • Density | 4,491.72/sq mi (1,734.42/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST (no DST)) | |
| ZIP code |
85713
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| Area code(s) | 520 | |
| FIPS code | 04-68850 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 11648 | |
| Website | http://www.southtucsonaz.gov/ | |
South Tucson is a small city in Pima County, Arizona, United States. It is like a small island completely surrounded by the much larger city of Tucson. This means it is an enclave.
South Tucson is famous for its strong Mexican and Hispanic influences. You can find many restaurants and shops selling traditional Mexican food and other goods throughout the city. In 2020, about 4,613 people lived in South Tucson.
Contents
Where is South Tucson Located?
South Tucson is located in Arizona at coordinates 32°11′46″N 110°58′8″W / 32.19611°N 110.96889°W. It covers an area of about 1 square mile (2.6 square kilometers). All of this area is land. As mentioned, the city is completely surrounded by the city of Tucson.
A Look at South Tucson's Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1940 | 1,066 | — | |
| 1950 | 2,364 | 121.8% | |
| 1960 | 7,004 | 196.3% | |
| 1970 | 6,220 | −11.2% | |
| 1980 | 6,554 | 5.4% | |
| 1990 | 5,171 | −21.1% | |
| 2000 | 5,490 | 6.2% | |
| 2010 | 5,652 | 3.0% | |
| 2020 | 4,613 | −18.4% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 4,541 | −19.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 5,490 people living in South Tucson. There were 1,810 households, which are groups of people living together. About 1,125 of these were families.
The city's population was quite diverse. Many people identified as White, Black or African American, and Native American. A large part of the population, over 81%, identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Age Groups in South Tucson
The population in South Tucson included many young people. About 31.5% were under 18 years old. Around 10% were 65 years or older. The average age in the city was 31 years.
South Tucson's History: Becoming a City
South Tucson has an interesting history of becoming its own city.
First Try at Becoming a City
In 1936, officials from Tucson wanted to make their city bigger. They planned to include the area along South Sixth Avenue. However, property owners in that area did not want to pay higher taxes or follow Tucson's building rules.
To stop this, these property owners asked the Pima County Board of Supervisors to hold an election. On August 10, 1936, the people of South Tucson voted to become their own city. The vote was 52 to 35 in favor.
Tucson still tried to make people in South Tucson follow its rules. They even threatened to turn off their water if they didn't get building permits from Tucson. South Tucson's city council then said Tucson Water would have to pay a large fee. Tucson responded by saying they would stop water service to South Tucson.
On January 18, 1938, South Tucson was officially dissolved. This meant it was no longer its own city.
Becoming a City Again
Even after being dissolved, people in South Tucson wanted to be independent. Another effort to become a city began. On March 27, 1939, a second election was held. This time, by a vote of 70 to 63, South Tucson was reincorporated. This means it became a city again.
In 1956, Tucson's mayor suggested that South Tucson join Tucson. When South Tucson did not agree, Tucson decided to annex land all around South Tucson. Later, in the 1990s, Tucson gave South Tucson a piece of land. This land was between South Tucson and Interstate 10. This helped South Tucson reach its current size.
Culture and Community in South Tucson
South Tucson is well-known for its vibrant Mexican culture. It has many Mexican restaurants, colorful buildings, and outdoor murals. The Mexican food restaurants on South Fourth Avenue are a big attraction. Some of these places have even been featured in national news. For example, Mi Nidito is famous because President Bill Clinton ate there in 1999. You can still order "the President's Plate" from their menu!
The city is becoming more popular with businesses and residents. It is attracting artists and musicians. South Tucson is working to bring in more businesses with new plans and programs. Local business owners are looking at properties in South Tucson. They see it as a great place for business parks, restaurants, shops, and housing.
Schools in South Tucson
Students in South Tucson attend schools that are part of the Tucson Unified School District.
Some of the schools South Tucson residents go to include:
- Ochoa Community Magnet
- Mission View Elementary
- Holladay Magnet Elementary
- Elizabeth Borton Magnet
- Madge Utterback Magnet Middle
- Safford K-8 Magnet Baccalaureate World
- Tucson High Magnet
- Pueblo Magnet High Schools
Who Represents South Tucson in Government?
South Tucson is part of Arizona's 3rd congressional district. This district is represented by Representative Raúl Grijalva, who is a Democrat.
The city is also in Arizona's 2nd State Legislative District. This district is represented by:
- Representatives Daniel Hernández Jr. and Rosanna Gabaldón
- Senator Andrea Dalessandro
All of these representatives are Democrats.
See also
In Spanish: South Tucson para niños
