Tucson, Ariz. was originally settled by Hohokam Indians between 300 B.C. to 1400’s A.D. It is located in the southeast part of the state near the Santa Cruz River, 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of US-Mexico border. With a population of over half a million since 2008, Tucson ranked 32nd largest city and 52nd largest metropolitan area in the United States. Tucson is derived from the Spanish name Tucson meaning at the base of the black hill.
The location of Tucson, Ariz. enables the place to become a natural location for the development of solar energy community. However, the city has yet to adopt the use of solar power in a significant way. Much of the city’s problem is the source of portable water. Since the flowing of Santa Cruz River more than 100 years ago, water supply has slowly disappeared causing Tucson, Ariz. to seek other alternatives.
Economic development of the city has been centered in the development of University of Arizona which is currently the largest employer in Tucson, Ariz. second to US Army Intelligence Center. Advanced technology industry sectors such as Raytheon Missile System, Texas Instruments, IBM, Intuit Inc., Universal Avionics, Sunquest Information Systems, Sanofi-Aventis, Ventana Medical Systems Inc. and Bombardier Aerospace have their headquarters in the city. Tourism is also a major industry in Tucson, generating $2 billion a year and over 3.5 million visitors annually due to numerous resorts, hotels, and attractions.
