Our Communities

Santa Cruz County is unique not only because it is the smallest county in Arizona, but because it is one of the most diverse. Located directly on the Arizona/Mexico border, the County thrives on tourism, international trade, manufacturing and services. There is a strong Mexican influence in every facet of the County’s variety of lifestyles. Bird-watching, hiking, golfing, horseback riding and other outdoor adventures are some of our major tourist attractions. Visitors will encounter our lush diversity from high desert landscapes to mountain grasslands and forests; listen to Jazz or the local Mariachis; or visit wineries and art galleries, all in a place where ranching is still a way of life.

Named after the Walnut Trees that flourished here in the 1880’s, Nogales, Arizona is the sister city of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico and serves as the county seat and one of the largest ports of entry between the United States and Mexico. Over 4 billion pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables cross through the Nogales Port of Entry each year. It is also estimated that 60% of sales tax revenues come from the 50,000 shoppers who cross the border daily.

Rio Rico is a planned community of 39,000 acres at the foothills of the Santa Rita Mountains, near the Santa Cruz River and the Sonoita Creek State Park. Once part of a vast land grant from the King of Spain, Rio Rico sits at 3,800 feet above sea level in the beautiful Sonoran desert. The community started in 1969 and it continues to grow today at a steady pace with the influx of new residents finding their way to southern Arizona.

Established in 1752 as a Spanish Presidio, the village of Tubac lies in the lush Santa Cruz River Valley, bordered by the Santa Rita, Tumacacori, and San Cayetano mountains. Home to the largest existing cottonwood grove in North America, Tubac was the first European settlement in Arizona. Today it is a world-renowned art colony and golfing destination.

Called the “Jewel of the Sonoita Valley” for its natural beauty, Patagonia is a hamlet in a narrow valley, surrounded by the Santa Rita and Patagonia Mountain ranges. Most widely known as an international bird-watching destination due to the 300 species of birds that traverse its airways, Patagonia is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise.

The Sonoita-Elgin area’s wide-open, rolling grasslands are surrounded by several mountain ranges, painting a landscape so perfect, filmmakers and television producers have been choosing its natural beauty as scenic backdrops for decades. The old ranching way of life is still practiced here. The town’s historic western feel is evident in the set-back storefronts and relaxed and friendly demeanor of its cowboy boot-clad residents.