Tucson, Arizona

Tucson is a cosmopolitan city with a unique blend of Native American, Spanish, Mexican, African-American, Asian and Anglo heritages. Unlike a Sahara-like desert, the desert here contains much natural growth, including green trees and many varieties of cacti that are in colorful bloom from April until late May.

Tucson is not only a beautiful place to live but also an amazing place to work. With more than 1,200 companies employing more than 50,000 people in the high-tech industries of Southern Arizona, Tucson has become a leader in the new knowledge-based economy. The City of Tucson, Pima County, the State of Arizona and the private sector have all made commitments to create a growing, healthy economy with high-tech industries as its foundation. Besides high tech, Tucson's other top industries include manufacturing, education, healthcare and the military. Tucson is home to The University of Arizona, a major research institution that is nationally renowned for advances in optical sciences, medical sciences, electronics, scientific instrumentation, astronomy and geology.

Before state-of-the-art medical facilities existed, the dry desert air in Arizona was recommended by doctors across the country for patients with respiratory problems. Tucson now boasts some of the most sophisticated healthcare available anywhere. The University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson Medical Center and University Medical Center are among the leaders in area full-service providers.

There is always something to do or see in Tucson. Sports fans can have a field day taking in a baseball game. Tucson is the only U.S. city to provide a spring training venue for three major league baseball teams: the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Chicago White Sox and the Colorado Rockies. Other attractions include the Pima Air & Space Museum, the world-famous Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and Reid Park Zoo. Tucson has been touted as a "mini-mecca" for the arts and enjoys a professional opera, a symphony orchestra, ballet and theater companies.

Besides being a rewarding place to work, Tucsonans enjoy a laid-back lifestyle, mild weather, and a low cost of living. What more could a business professional looking to relocate want out of a city?

KEY EMPLOYERS: University of Arizona; U.S. Army Intelligence; Raytheon Missile Systems; State of Arizona; Davis-Monthan Air Force Base; Tuscon Unified School District; City of Tucson; Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.; Phelps Dodge Mining Company; Carondelet Health Network; Tohono O'odham Nation; University Medical Center; Tucson Medical Center; Pima Community College; Amphitheater Public Schools; Bombardier Aerospace; ASARCO, Inc.; Sunnyside School District; Safeway Stores, Inc.