South Tucson

History

In 1936, Tucson officials took steps to expand Tucson's boundaries by moving to annex the unincorporated area along south Sixth Avenue from 25th Street south to the Veterans Hospital, which was south of Tucson city limits. Area auto court and other property owners on south Sixth Avenue objected, as they did not want to pay the higher business taxes imposed by Tucson or be subject to Tucson's building codes. As a recourse to prevent the annexation, south Sixth Avenue property owners submitted a petition to the Pima County Board of Supervisors asking for an incorporation election. On August 10, 1936, South Tucson residents voted 52 to 35 in favor of incorporation. In response, Tucson continued to require Tucson Water customers in South Tucson to obtain building permits from Tucson, or their water would be shut off. The South Tucson City Council responded by imposing a $500 annual franchise fee on Tucson Water, and the Tucson City Council retaliated by announcing that water service would be discontinued to South Tucson within 120 days. On January 18, 1938, 258 petition signatures from South Tucson residents were turned in to the Pima County Board of Supervisors, which dissolved South Tucson. Nonetheless, another incorporation drive was launched in South Tucson. On March 27, 1939, a second incorporation election was held and by a vote of 70 to 63, South Tucson was reincorporated. In 1956, Tucson Mayor Hummel called for South Tucson to join Tucson. After that invitation went unanswered, the Tucson City Council held a surprise meeting and annexed land all around South Tucson. Later, in the 1990s, Tucson agreed to transfer to South Tucson a 25-acre slice of land between South Tucson and Interstate 10 as South Tucson reached its current city size.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. The city is an enclave entirely surrounded by the much larger city of Tucson.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Tucson Magnet High School
  High · TUCSON · 3,162 students · 19.5:1 ratio
• Sunnyside High School
  High · TUCSON · 2,204 students · 21.4:1 ratio
• Desert View High School
  High · TUCSON · 2,169 students · 21.5:1 ratio
• Catalina Foothills High School
  High · TUCSON · 1,887 students · 20.1:1 ratio
• Pueblo High School
  High · TUCSON · 1,831 students · 17.8:1 ratio
• Cholla High School
  High · TUCSON · 1,760 students · 19.1:1 ratio
• Flowing Wells High School
  High · TUCSON · 1,694 students · 20.4:1 ratio
• Sahuaro High School
  High · TUCSON · 1,432 students · 21.4:1 ratio