South Tucson, Arizona

South Tucson, Arizona
City
Motto: "The Pueblo Within A City"

Location in Pima County and the state of Arizona
Coordinates: 32°11′46″N 110°58′8″W / 32.19611°N 110.96889°WCoordinates: 32°11′46″N 110°58′8″W / 32.19611°N 110.96889°W
Country United States
State Arizona
County Pima
Area
 • Total 1.0 sq mi (2.6 km2)
 • Land 1.0 sq mi (2.6 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation 2,425 ft (739 m)
Population (2010)[1]
 • Total 5,652
 • Estimate (2013[2]) 5,696
 • Density 5,562.0/sq mi (2,139.2/km2)
Time zone MST (no DST) (UTC-7)
ZIP code 85713
Area code(s) 520
FIPS code 04-68850
Website http://www.southtucson.org/

South Tucson is a city in Pima County, Arizona, United States and an enclave of the much larger city of Tucson. South Tucson is known for being heavily influenced by Hispanic, and especially Mexican, culture; restaurants and shops which sell traditional Mexican foods and other goods can be found throughout the city. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 5,652.[1]

Geography

South Tucson is located at 32°11′46″N 110°58′8″W / 32.19611°N 110.96889°W (32.196076, -110.968896).[3] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2), all of it land. The city is an enclave entirely surrounded by the much larger city of Tucson.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
19401,066—
19502,364121.8%
19607,004196.3%
19706,220−11.2%
19806,5545.4%
19905,171−21.1%
20005,4906.2%
20105,6523.0%
Est. 20135,6960.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]
2013 Estimate[2]

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,490 people, 1,810 households, and 1,125 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,446.6 people per square mile (2,098.7/km²). There were 2,059 housing units at an average density of 2,042.7 per square mile (787.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 43.46% White, 2.31% Black or African American, 9.14% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 41.24% from other races, and 3.39% from two or more races. 81.24% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,810 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.9% were married couples living together, 20.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.83.

In the city the population was spread out with 31.5% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 112.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $14,587, and the median income for a family was $17,614. Males had a median income of $20,504 versus $14,575 for females. The per capita income for the city was $8,920. About 43.5% of families and 46.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 61.2% of those under age 18 and 36.0% of those age 65 or over.

History

South Tucson was incorporated as a city in 1940 in an area south of the Tucson city limits.[5] The city of Tucson now surrounds South Tucson because of later annexations.

South Tucson was incorporated as a city chiefly to take advantage of provisions in Arizona statutes of the time that permitted an incorporated city to have more alcohol licenses than comparable county areas and to permit dog racing to be allowed within city limits if regulated by the city.

Crime

South Tucson has been struggling heavily with dangerously high crime rates. In most crime categories, South Tucson has higher 2006 crime rates than those of Camden, New Jersey, which is the United States's most dangerous city on Morgan Quitno's statistics. South Tucson (as a standalone city) has more than four times the United States average in larceny theft and aggravated assault. On the plus side, Murder and rape are at a considerably lower rate than Camden, and robbery is at essentially the same rate, although all these figures greatly exceed national averages.[6]

There have been sizable advances in repressing criminal activity, due to use of "wolf pack" saturation tactics by the South Tucson Police Department in conjunction with the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Vigorous enforcement of liquor license laws has reduced the number of alcohol-related crimes. Neighborhood activism has considerably reduced the amount of open drug activity and a rising level of education of youth is making a slow impact on gang related activity.

Education

South Tucson residents attend Ochoa Community Magnet, Mission View Elementary, Holladay Magnet Elementary, Elizabeth Borton Magnet, Madge Utterback Magnet Middle, Safford K-8 Magnet Baccalaureate World, Tucson High Magnet, & Pueblo Magnet High Schools, all part of Tucson Unified School District.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2014-07-10.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2014-07-10.
  3. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  4. ↑ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  5. ↑ http://www.azcommerce.com/doclib/COMMUNE/south%20tucson.pdf
  6. ↑ Crime Rate Comparison: Camden Vs. South Tucson, areaConnect, 2008. Accessed 2008-05-06.

External links