It is the second-largest city in Arizona behind Phoenix , with a population of , in the United States census , [ 9 ] while the population of the entire Tucson metropolitan statistical area MSA is 1,, The city is miles km southeast of Phoenix and 60 mi km north of the United StatesβMexico border. Major incorporated suburbs of Tucson include Oro Valley and Marana northwest of the city, Sahuarita [ 11 ] south of the city, and South Tucson in an enclave south of downtown.
Towns outside the Tucson metropolitan area include Three Points , Benson to the southeast, Catalina and Oracle to the north, and Green Valley to the south. It was included in the state of Sonora after Mexico gained independence from the Spanish Empire in The United States acquired a 29, square miles 76, km 2 region of present-day southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico from Mexico under the Gadsden Purchase [ 12 ] in Tucson served as the capital of the Arizona Territory from to Nevertheless, its population growth remained strong during the late 20th century.
Cuk is a stative verb meaning " be black, be dark". Tucson is sometimes referred to as the Old Pueblo and Optics Valley, the latter referring to its optical science and telescopes known worldwide. The Tucson area was probably first visited by Paleo-Indians , who were known to have been in southern Arizona about 12, years ago. Recent archaeological excavations near the Santa Cruz River found a village site dating from BC. These people hunted, gathered wild plants and nuts, and ate corn, beans, and other crops grown using irrigation canals they constructed.
The Early Ceramic period occupation of Tucson had the first extensive use of pottery vessels for cooking and storage. The groups designated as the Hohokam lived in the area from AD to and are known for their vast irrigation canal systems and their red-on-brown pottery.
He founded the Mission San Xavier del Bac in , about 7 mi 11 km upstream from the site of the settlement of Tucson. A separate Convento settlement was founded downstream along the Santa Cruz River, near the base of what is now known as "A" mountain. During the Spanish period of the presidio, attacks such as the Second Battle of Tucson were repeatedly mounted by the Apache.
