Sierra Vista at a Glance

Sierra Vista (Spanish for "Mountain View") is a thriving community of approximately 40,416 people that serves as the regional center for southeastern Arizona. Located approximately 70 miles southeast of Tucson, the city is surrounded by the unique beauty of the Huachuca, Dragoon, and Mule Mountains, and is bordered on the east by the San Pedro River, one of the Nature Conservancy's 10 Last Great Places. At an elevation of 4,600 feet, Sierra Vista not only boasts magnificent mountain views, but also a temperate year-round climate, abundant sunshine, and clean, fresh air.

History

The history of Sierra Vista began with the establishment of Fort Huachuca in 1877. As a camp, and later a fort, the post was the home base of the famed "Buffalo Soldiers" of the 9th and 10th Cavalry. The missions of the post at that time were to secure the southern borders of the expanding United States and to protect settlers from Indian attack. Several major commands now operate on Fort Huachuca, including the U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command/9th Army Signal Command, the Army intelligence Center and School, and the Electronic Proving Grounds.

Initially, the areas around Fort Huachuca were virtually unpopulated except for a few small ranches spread along the San Pedro River and close to the mountains. A small community gradually began to grow east of the fort. In 1956, this community was incorporated as Sierra Vista. Fort Huachuca was annexed by the city in 1971. Since its incorporation, Sierra Vista has steadily grown to encompass more than 130 square miles and approximately 38,740 people.

Back to Top

Services

The City of Sierra Vista is a council-manager municipality. The City Council sets public policy while a professional city manager implements policy and oversees the day-to-day operation of the city. Both the Police and Fire Departments have earned awards for outstanding service. The Parks and Leisure Services Department operates numerous parks and athletic fields. The Cove, a $6.7 million indoor Aquatic Center completed in 2002 features wave, competition, wading, therapy, and dive pools; a tube water slide; sun deck, lounge, concession areas, and much more.

Two modern community centers are the home base for senior activities and other community programs. A beautiful new 31,000 square foot public library is well-equipped to service the community's information needs.

The Sierra Vista Regional Health Center (SVRHC) and the Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center serve the community's health care needs. Medical personnel of all major specialties are available in the area. The SVRHC has completed a new Ambulatory Surgery Center on Highway 90. A medical office building will be added later at the 80-acre site.

The local school district enjoys an excellent academic reputation. The local public school system includes a high school, two middle schools, and six elementary schools. Higher education is available through the University of Arizona South Campus, Cochise Community College, the University of Phoenix, Western International University, and Chapman University.

Sierra Vista is the commercial center for Cochise County and parts of northern Mexico. The Mall at Sierra Vista is a 400,000 square foot mall anchored by Dillards and Sears stores. Major retailers such as J.C. Penney, K-Mart, Wal-Mart and Target are already represented in smaller shopping plazas, as are branches of several major Arizona banks. In addition, there are three well-stocked supermarkets and dozens of smaller specialty shops. Fine dining is available throughout the area.

A new ten-screen movie theater and two three-screen movie theaters offer the latest in cinematic entertainment. Over 70 television channels are available through Cox Communications, the area's cable provider, and local AM and FM radio stations broadcast a variety of formats. Newspapers, including a daily and several weeklies, cover the area's news.

Back to Top

Activities and Attractions

Sierra Vista offers a variety of cultural and family-oriented activities throughout the year. The Winter Arts Festival and Art Discovery Series present an year-round program of plays, concerts, musicals, dances, readings, and recitals. Annual events include the Arizona Junior Rodeo, the Sierra Stampede, the Cowboy Poetry Gathering, the Thunder Mountain Marathon, the Buffalo Soldier Celebration, Festival of the Southwest, the Fourth of July Celebration, the Southwest Wings Birding Festival, the Art in the Park arts and crafts festival, the Family Festival, Cinco de Mayo Festival, the Business & Services Expo, and the largest holiday parade in Arizona, to name a few.

Recreational facilities include two championship golf courses, first-class bowling lanes, public and private tennis courts, a firearms range, and several sports clubs. Major service clubs, veterans groups, and fraternal organizations are active in the city, and there are more than 30 places of worship.

Nicknamed the "Hummingbird Capital of the United States," bird watchers from all over the world flock to the nearby Ramsey Canyon Preserve and other local canyons to observe and photograph hundreds of different species. Other Outdoor sightseeing and recreational opportunities abound at the San Pedro Riparian Conservation Area, the Coronado National Monument in the Huachuca Mountains, Cochise stronghold in the Dragoon Mountains, Chiricahua National Monument, Madera Canyon, and the spectacular Kartchner Caverns State Park.