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Sierra Vista, Arizona Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

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Sierra Vista, Arizona is a city located in Cochise County in the southeastern corner of the state. The population of the city is 44,000 people and it has a land area of about 45 square miles. Sierra Vista has a semi-arid climate with hot summers and mild winters. The average annual precipitation for the area is 12 inches each year.

The history of Sierra Vista dates back to 1856 when John Wallace and his family settled in the area. It was not until 1949 that it was officially incorporated as a city. Since that time, Sierra Vista has grown to become an important center for commerce and industry in the region.

Politically, Sierra Vista is governed by a mayor-council form of government with five members on the City Council. The current mayor is Rick Mueller who was elected in 2018. The economy of Sierra Vista is mostly based on military and government related activities due to its proximity to Fort Huachuca, an Army installation located just outside the city limits. There are also several retail stores, restaurants, and other businesses located within the city limits that serve both residents and visitors alike.

The school system in Sierra Vista consists of four elementary schools, one middle school, one high school (Buena High School), and one charter school (Sierra Charter School). In addition to these public schools there are also several private schools located within the city limits as well as some universities nearby including Cochise College and University of Arizona South Campus both located in nearby Douglas, Arizona.

Sierra Vista is home to many landmarks including Ramsey Canyon Preserve which offers stunning views of natural landscapes; Fort Huachuca which offers guided tours; Garden Canyon which offers camping opportunities; Coronado National Memorial which commemorates Spanish explorer Francisco Vásquez de Coronado’s expedition into what would become Arizona; San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area which provides habitat for numerous species of birds; and Kartchner Caverns State Park which features beautiful limestone formations inside ancient caverns. All these attractions make Sierra Vista an ideal place for visitors looking for outdoor recreation or simply wanting to explore Arizona’s history up close and personal!

Population: 37,775. Estimated population in July 2024: 41,908 (+10.9% change)
Males: 18,957 (50.2%), Females: 18,818 (49.8%)

Cochise County

Zip codes: 85635, 85650.

Demographics

Median resident age: 32.0 years
Median household income: $38,427
Median house value: $105,300

Population by Race

Races in Sierra Vista:

  • White Non-Hispanic (65.4%)
  • Hispanic (15.8%)
  • Black (10.9%)
  • Other race (6.0%)
  • Two or more races (4.9%)
  • American Indian (1.9%)
  • Korean (1.3%)
  • Filipino (0.8%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Ancestries: German (17.6%), English (10.5%), Irish (9.8%), United States (5.9%), Italian (4.2%), French (3.0%).

Land area: 153.5 square miles

Map of Sierra Vista, AZ

Population by Education

Sierra Vista, Arizona is a city located in Cochise County and is the commercial and cultural hub for southeastern Arizona. It lies about 70 miles southeast of Tucson and is situated at an elevation of 4,617 feet. As of the 2010 census, Sierra Vista had a population of 43,888 people. The city has experienced steady population growth since its incorporation in 1956, with the population increasing by approximately 8% between 2000 and 2010.

The majority of Sierra Vista’s population is made up of White Americans (77%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (18%), African American (1%), Asian (1%), Native American (1%) and other races (2%). The median age in Sierra Vista is 33.7 years old, slightly lower than the national average. The median household income in Sierra Vista is $50,566 per year, which is higher than both the state and national averages. Additionally, nearly 24% of residents are living below the poverty line.

Sierra Vista also has a high rate of military personnel due to its proximity to Fort Huachuca. Approximately 20% of residents are affiliated with the military due to either living on or near a base or having family members working for the military nearby. This community has helped shape Sierra Vista into a unique city that offers many amenities to its residents such as top-notch educational institutions and numerous recreational activities throughout the year.

For population 25 years and over in Sierra Vista

  • High school or higher: 91.5%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 25.7%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 7.5%
  • Unemployed: 4.1%
  • Mean travel time to work: 15.7 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Sierra Vista city

  • Never married: 23.4%
  • Now married: 58.8%
  • Separated: 1.7%
  • Widowed: 4.8%
  • Divorced: 11.3%

9.0% Foreign born (3.0% Asia, 2.7% Latin America, 2.7% Europe).

Population change in the 1990s: +4,429 (+13.3%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Sierra Vista:

  • SIERRA VISTA REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER (300 EL CAMINO REAL)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Sierra Vista:

  • COPPER QUEEN COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (about 29 miles; BISBEE, AZ)
  • BENSON HOSPITAL (about 33 miles; BENSON, AZ)
  • CARONDELET HOLY CROSS HOSPITAL INC (about 47 miles; NOGALES, AZ)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Sierra Vista:

  • SIERRA VISTA MUNI-LIBBY AAF (about 5 miles; FORT HUACHUCA SIERRA VISTA, AZ; Abbreviation: FHU)
  • DAVIS-MONTHAN AFB (about 59 miles; TUCSON, AZ; Abbreviation: DMA)
  • TUCSON INTL (about 60 miles; TUCSON, AZ; Abbreviation: TUS)

Other public-use airports nearest to Sierra Vista:

  • TOMBSTONE MUNI (about 20 miles; TOMBSTONE, AZ; Abbreviation: P29)
  • BENSON MUNICIPAL (about 31 miles; BENSON, AZ; Abbreviation: E95)
  • BISBEE MUNI (about 32 miles; BISBEE, AZ; Abbreviation: P04)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/Universities in Sierra Vista:

  • DEVOE COLLEGE OF BEAUTY (Full-time enrollment: 29; Location: 750 BARTOW DR; Private, for-profit; Website: www.personal.riverusers.com/~devoe/index.html)
  • ARIZONA COLLEGE OF REAL ESTATE (Location: 4560 DESERT SPRINGS TRAIL; Private, for-profit)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Sierra Vista:

  • COCHISE COLLEGE (about 52 miles; DOUGLAS, AZ; Full-time enrollment: 2,585)
  • PIMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 63 miles; TUCSON, AZ; Full-time enrollment: 14,177)
  • UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA (about 67 miles; TUCSON, AZ; Full-time enrollment: 29,915)
  • EASTERN ARIZONA COLLEGE (about 95 miles; THATCHER, AZ; Full-time enrollment: 3,085)
  • CENTRAL ARIZONA COLLEGE (about 131 miles; COOLIDGE, AZ; Full-time enrollment: 2,333)
  • CHANDLER/GILBERT COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 163 miles; CHANDLER, AZ; Full-time enrollment: 2,990)
  • MESA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 168 miles; MESA, AZ; Full-time enrollment: 11,928)

Schools

Public high schools in Sierra Vista:

  • BUENA HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 2,653; Location: 5225 E. BUENA SCHOOL BLVD.; Grades: 09 – 12)
  • CENTER FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS, THE #1 (Students: 160; Location: 650 E. WILCOX; Grades: 09 – 12)
  • PPEP TEC – COLIN L. POWELL LEARNING CENTER (Students: 71; Location: 4116 AVENIDA COCHISE, SUITES F; Grades: 09 – 12)

Private high school in Sierra Vista:

  • SHILOH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 141; Location: 200 NORTH AVENUE; Grades: KG – 12)

Biggest public primary/middle schools in Sierra Vista:

  • SIERRA VISTA MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 880; Location: 1045 S. LENZNER AVE; Grades: 06 – 08)
  • APACHE MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 724; Location: 3305 E. FRY; Grades: 06 – 08)
  • HUACHUCA MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 500; Location: 3228 SAINT ANDREWS; Grades: KG – 05)
  • CORONADO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 466; Location: 5148 CORONADO SCHOOL DRIVE; Grades: KG – 08)
  • PUEBLO DEL SOL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 459; Location: 5130 PASEO LAS PALMAS; Grades: KG – 05)
  • TOWN & COUNTRY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 421; Location: 1313 S. LENZNER AVE; Grades: PK – 05)
  • CARMICHAEL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 406; Location: 701 NE CARMICHAEL AVENUE; Grades: PK – 05)
  • CHANCELLOR CHARTER SCHOOL AT SIERRA VISTA (Students: 375; Location: 1746 PASEO SAN LUIS; Grades: KG – 08)
  • BELLA VISTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 349; Location: 801 N. LENZNER; Grades: KG – 05)
  • VILLAGE MEADOWS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 327; Location: 905 EL CAMINO REAL; Grades: KG – 05)

Private primary/middle schools in Sierra Vista:

  • FIRST BAPTIST CHRISTIAN ACADEM (Students: 338; Location: 1447 S 7TH ST; Grades: PK – 8)
  • NOVA SCHOOL (Students: 37; Location: 241 N HWY 90; Grades: PK – 6)

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