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Sierra Vista (Spanish for "Mountain View") is a thriving community of 40,000 people that serves as the regional center for southeastern Arizona. Located approximately 75 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 as 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 Information Systems 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, however, 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 nearly 40,000 people.

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, athletic fields, and an Olympic-size swimming pool, and 2 modern community centers is the home of active seniors 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 and the Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center serve the community’s health care needs along with two modern care centers. Medical personnel of all major specialties are available in the area.

The local school district enjoys an excellent reputation in the academic community. The local public school system includes a high school, two middle schools, and six elementary schools. Higher education is also 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. To meet the area’s growing needs, a 400,000 square foot mall opened in late 19999. Major retailers such as J.C. Penney, K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Target, and Sears are already represented in smaller shopping plazas, as are branches of several major Arizona banks. In addition, there are four well-stocked supermarkets/pharmacies and dozens of smaller specialty shops. Fine dining is also available throughout the area.

A new ten-screen movie theater and two three-screen movie theaters offer the latest in cinematic entertainment. A variety of television channels are available through Cox Communications, the area’s cable provider, and local AM and FM radio stations broadcast a variety of formats. Two newspapers—a daily and a weekly—cover the area’s news.

Activities and Attractions
Sierra Vista offers a variety of cultural and family oriented activities throughout the year. The Winter Arts Festival and Arts Discovery Series present an ongoing program of plays, concerts, musicals, dances, readings, and recitals. Annual events include the Arizona Junior Rodeo, the Thunder Mountain Marathon, the Buffalo Soldier Celebration, 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 and 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, and Madera Canyon and the newly opened spectacular Kartchner Caverns State Park.

River/Campbell Office
1890 E. River Road
Tucson, AZ  85718