Travel to Tucson - Arizona - USA - History

Tucson - Arizona - History

In 1692, the Jesuit missionary, Eusebio Kino, visited the Indians at Stjukshon, or Chuk Shon and in 1700, Father Kino established the first Spanish mission, San Xavier del Bac, at the Indian village of Bac, 10 miles south of Tucson. Tucson was founded in 1775 as a Spanish presidio (or military garrison) to protect settlers from Apache raids. It was governed by Mexico from 1821 until 1854. Tucson is an Indian word, meaning "village of the spring at the foot of the black mountain".

Tucson lay in the territory that was acquired from Mexico by the United States when the Gadsden Purchase made it a part of the United States and the town served as the territorial capital of Arizona from 1867 to 1877. Its growth was further stimulated by the arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad (1880), the discovery of silver at nearby Tombstone and copper at Bisbee, and irrigation developments. Since World War II the city has experienced remarkable growth, partly due to the annexation of suburbs.

Tucson, nicknamed the Old Pueblo, is Arizona's oldest city with a unique blend of Indian, Spanish, Mexican and Anglo heritages.

From the immigrant railroad workers of the late 1800's to the civic leaders of today, Chinese-Americans have consistently contributed their energy, talent and culture to enrich the Tucson community. The Southern Pacific Railroad brought the majority of early Chinese immigrants to Tucson. The Chinese had been brought to Arizona for the backbreaking task of extending the railroad through the desert. The desert heat was the official justification for importing Chinese laborers: Anglo's could not be expected to put in a day's work under those conditions! In actuality, the railroad viewed the Chinese as cheap, reliable laborers. Track laying began in Yuma in November 1878, and the crews reached Casa Grande in May of 1879. By 1883, 100 of every 400 workers were Chinese. By the late 19^th century, the Chinese had been driven out of Tucson's mines and railroads due to racism.

Tucson was once the territorial capital of Arizona.

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