South Tucson, Arizona
Encyclopedia
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 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population
of the city is 5,562.
, the city has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land. The city is an enclave entirely surrounded by the much larger city of Tucson
.
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.
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.
In the 1950s and early 1960s, the American Automobile Association
advised travelers to exercise extreme caution about speed limits and stop signs when traveling through South Tucson on their ways to and from California. The allegation of being a speed trap
led to South Tucson receiving only a very short length of I-10 going through its boundaries in an area that must be accessed from onramps outside of South Tucson city limits, effectively eliminating policing abuses.
. 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. 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.
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.
and Tucson Unified School District
.
Pima County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*74.3% White*3.5% Black*3.3% Native American*2.6% Asian*0.2% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.7% Two or more races*12.4% Other races*34.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and an enclave of the much larger city of Tucson
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
. South Tucson is known for being heavily influenced by Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
, and especially Mexican, culture; restaurants and shops which sell traditional Mexican foods and other goods can be found throughout the city. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of the city is 5,562.
Geography
South Tucson is located at 32°11′46"N 110°58′8"W (32.196076, -110.968896). According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land. The city is an enclave entirely surrounded by the much larger city of Tucson
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,490 people, 1,810 households, and 1,125 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 2.31% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 9.14% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.40% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.05% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 41.24% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.39% from two or more races. 81.24% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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. 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.
In the 1950s and early 1960s, the American Automobile Association
American Automobile Association
AAA , formerly known as the American Automobile Association, is a federation of 51 independently operated motor clubs throughout North America. AAA is a not-for-profit member service organization with more than 51 million members. AAA provides services to its members such as travel, automotive,...
advised travelers to exercise extreme caution about speed limits and stop signs when traveling through South Tucson on their ways to and from California. The allegation of being a speed trap
Speed Trap
Speed Trap is a live jazz album by Peter King, recorded at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in September 1994, and released in 1996 under the Ronnie Scotts Jazz House label...
led to South Tucson receiving only a very short length of I-10 going through its boundaries in an area that must be accessed from onramps outside of South Tucson city limits, effectively eliminating policing abuses.
Crime
South Tucson has been struggling heavily with dangerously high crime ratesCrime statistics
Crime statistics attempt to provide statistical measures of the crime in societies. Given that crime is usually secretive by nature, measurements of it are likely to be inaccurate....
. In most crime categories, South Tucson has higher 2006 crime rates than those of Camden
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, which is the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
's most dangerous city on Morgan Quitno
Morgan Quitno
Morgan Quitno Press is a research and publishing company based in Lawrence, Kansas, which compiles books with statistics of crime rates, health care, education, and other categories, ranking cities and states in the United States...
's statistics. South Tucson (as a standalone city) has more than four times the United States average in larceny theft and aggravated assault. 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.
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
Arizona Department of Public Safety
Arizona Department of Public Safety is a law enforcement agency with its usual focus being protection of all Arizona highways. The current Director is Robert C. Halliday, a previously retired DPS commander, who began his 5-year term in February 2010...
. 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 schools in the Sunnyside Unified School DistrictSunnyside Unified School District
Sunnyside Unified School District is a school district in Pima County, Arizona, USA. The district extends from Tucson south to Sahuarita and from Interstate 19 to Wilmot Road...
and Tucson Unified School District
Tucson Unified School District
Tucson Unified School District is the largest school district of Tucson, Arizona in terms of enrollment. As of 2006 TUSD has more than 60,000 students and approximately 3,700 faculty members....
.