Moving to Tubac, Arizona

Tubac, Arizona is a small city located in Santa Cruz County, about an hour south of Tucson. It has a population of about 1,000 people and is situated in the heart of the Sonoran Desert. The geography of Tubac is characterized by rolling hills and rugged terrain, with several mountain ranges nearby. The climate is hot and dry most of the year with temperatures ranging from 60°F to over 100°F during the summer months.

Tubac has a rich history dating back to 1752 when it was founded as a Spanish presidio. It served as a military outpost for the Spanish army until 1821 when Mexico won its independence from Spain. After that, Tubac became an important trading center for settlers traveling along the Camino Real trade route between Mexico City and Tucson. During this time, Tubac developed into an agricultural community and was home to many Mexican-American families who settled in the area.

In modern times, Tubac is governed by a mayor-council system and operates under the laws of Arizona state government. The economy of Tubac mainly relies on tourism and agriculture; there are several vineyards in town that produce wine for sale both locally and abroad. Additionally, Tubac hosts many festivals throughout the year such as their annual Fiesta de Anza celebration which honors Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza’s journey through Arizona.

Tubac has two public schools: Tubac Elementary School (grades K-8) and Santa Cruz Valley Union High School (grades 9-12). Both schools are part of the Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District which serves students from throughout southern Arizona with high quality education opportunities.

Finally, some notable landmarks in Tubac include El Presidio State Historic Park which features ruins from an old Spanish presidio; Tumaca Hill which offers stunning views of nearby mountains; Tumaca Falls which is a popular swimming spot; San Xavier del Bac Mission which was built by Jesuit missionaries in 1783; Otero Ranch House Museum which houses artifacts from early settlers; plus art galleries, shops, restaurants, wineries, museums, spas and more!

Population: 949
Males: 456 (48.1%), Females: 493 (51.9%)

Santa Cruz County

Zip code: 85646

Demographics

Median resident age: 58.5 years
Median household income: $39,444
Median house value: $193,000

Population by Race

Races in Tubac:

• White Non-Hispanic (80.5%)
• Hispanic (18.2%)
• Other race (9.0%)
• American Indian (1.6%)
• Two or more races (0.7%)

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

Ancestries: English (18.9%), German (17.4%), Irish (13.5%), Scotch-Irish (5.0%), French (4.7%), Italian (4.0%).

Elevation: 3204 feet

Land area: 8.2 square miles

Population by Education

Tubac, Arizona is a small town located in Santa Cruz County. As of 2019, the population was estimated to be 1,191 people. The majority of the population are Caucasian, with a smaller percentage of Hispanic and Native American people. The median age is 55 years old, with the majority of the population being over 55. The average household size is 2.4 people and the median household income is $34,000 per year. The town is quite diverse in terms of its economic situation; there are families that have lived in Tubac for generations and some who have recently moved to the area for work or retirement. There are also many seasonal residents who come to Tubac for its unique blend of culture and recreation opportunities. Tubac has an abundance of outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, bird watching, and fishing in nearby rivers and lakes. It also boasts several art galleries and museums that showcase local artwork and artifacts from long ago civilizations in the area. With its rich history and culture combined with its beautiful scenery it’s easy to see why Tubac has become such a desirable place to live or visit!

For population 25 years and over in Tubac

• High school or higher: 87.8%
• Bachelor’s degree or higher: 40.8%
• Graduate or professional degree: 11.1%
• Unemployed: 3.0%
• Mean travel time to work: 19.1 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Tubac CDP

• Never married: 15.4%
• Now married: 71.3%
• Separated: 0.0%
• Widowed: 12.1%
• Divorced: 1.1%

1.6% Foreign born

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Tubac:

• CARONDELET HOLY CROSS HOSPITAL INC (about 20 miles; NOGALES, AZ)
• KINO COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (about 40 miles; TUCSON, AZ)
• CARONDELET SAINT JOSEPHS HOSPITAL (about 43 miles; TUCSON, AZ)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Tubac:

• TUCSON INTL (about 34 miles; TUCSON, AZ; Abbreviation: TUS)
• DAVIS-MONTHAN AFB (about 39 miles; TUCSON, AZ; Abbreviation: DMA)
• SIERRA VISTA MUNI-LIBBY AAF (about 50 miles; FORT HUACHUCA SIERRA VISTA, AZ; Abbreviation: FHU)

Other public-use airports nearest to Tubac:

• NOGALES INTL (about 21 miles; NOGALES, AZ; Abbreviation: OLS)
• RYAN FIELD (about 36 miles; TUCSON, AZ; Abbreviation: RYN)
• BENSON MUNICIPAL (about 55 miles; BENSON, AZ; Abbreviation: E95)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Tubac:

• PIMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 41 miles; TUCSON, AZ; Full-time enrollment: 14,177)
• UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA (about 43 miles; TUCSON, AZ; Full-time enrollment: 29,915)
• CENTRAL ARIZONA COLLEGE (about 98 miles; COOLIDGE, AZ; Full-time enrollment: 2,333)
• COCHISE COLLEGE (about 106 miles; DOUGLAS, AZ; Full-time enrollment: 2,585)
• EASTERN ARIZONA COLLEGE (about 121 miles; THATCHER, AZ; Full-time enrollment: 3,085)
• CHANDLER/GILBERT COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 129 miles; CHANDLER, AZ; Full-time enrollment: 2,990)
• MESA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 134 miles; MESA, AZ; Full-time enrollment: 11,928)

Public primary/middle school in Tubac:

• MONTESSORI DE SANTA CRUZ – ST. ANN’S HALL (Students: 63; Location: P.O. BOX 4706; Grades: KG – 08)