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Tucson: A Most Interesting City

san xavier del bacTucson is believed to be the oldest continually inhabited city in the United States, with prehistoric roots dating back 15,000 years. The Hohokam Indians settled in the Tucson area around 300 B.C. and created an extensive canal system to irrigate crops. The original Indian village of Tucson has had many names including: Chuck Son, Shookson, and Tuquison which translated mean “blue waters at the foot of black mountain”.

The first non-Indian visitors to Tucson were Spanish explorers searching for riches in the early 1500's. Captain General Franciso Coronado came to this area looking for the famed "seven cities of Cibola" in 1540. While he never found the riches he was seeking, he did pave the way for future explorers - bringing the Spanish flag along with him.

One of these later explorers was a Spanish Jesuit priest, Father Francisco Kino. Father Kino's arrival in 1694 had a major impact on the development of southern Arizona. He established a chain of missions from Mexico to the Pacific Ocean, and introduced European plants and livestock. Eventually, Spanish oppression prompted years of struggle and violence as the Indians rebelled against Spanish soldiers and Priests.

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By 1821, Mexico had gained independence from Spain and claimed Tucson as its own. The area became part of the United States in 1854 as part of the Gadsden Purchase of land from Mexico. After a brief period under the Confederate flag during the civil war, Tucson was chosen as the capitol of the new U.S. territory of Arizona. As western settlers continued to arrive, Tucson gained a reputation as a rough and tough frontier town.

Tucson has grown up from its rowdy frontier days to become a sophisticated cultural center, yet the influence of its colorful past and diverse ethnic heritage make Tucson a truly unique place - part town, part city, and all interesting.