A Few Fast Facts About Tucson

According to www.VisitTucson.org, the official website of the Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau, Tucson is the 32nd largest city in the United States, boasting a population of about half a million people. The city’s elevation is 2,389 feet above sea level, while the total area of Tucson is 227 miles. Tucson houses over 630 miles of striped bike paths in the metropolitan area, 72 miles of shared-use paths and over 100 miles of residential bike routes and is considered to be very bike-friendly.

Here are a few “fast facts” about the Old Pueblo:

Geographical Facts:

* Tucson is surrounded by five mountain ranges: the Tucson, Santa Catalina, Rincon, Santa Rita and Tortolita mountains

* Tucson is bordered by Catalina State Park, Coronado National Forest, Saguaro National Park East, Saguaro National Park West and the Tohono O'odham Nation

Hospitality Facts:

* Tourism has a $3 billion economic impact on Tucson annually

* Tucson has 4 million domestic overnight visitors per year

* Over 40,000 jobs in Tucson are related to the hospitality and tourism industry

* Lodging properties within Tucson city limits: 108 = 10,163 rooms

* Lodging properties within Pima County: 196 = 16,696 rooms

Tucson's Top Employers (numbers are approximate/rounded)

* Raytheon Missile Systems: 11,000 employees

* University of Arizona: 10,000 employees

* State of Arizona: 9,900 employees

* U.S. Army Intelligence Center and Fort Huachuca: 9,100 employees

* Davis Monthan Air Force Base: 8,200 employees

* Tucson Unified School District: 7,400 employees

* Pima County: 7,300 employees

* City of Tucson: 5,850 employees

* Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.: 5,600 employees

* Phelps Dodge Mining Company: 4,900 employees

* Carondolet Health Network: 3,700 employees

* TMC HealthCare: 3,100 employees

* University Medical Center Corp: 2,900 employees

* CheckMate Professional Employer: 2,000 employees

* University Physicians, Inc.: 1,500 employees

*Source: www.VisitTucson.org; information used with permission.