Tucson is the second largest city in Arizona, following Phoenix. It is located in the southeast region of the state, about 60 miles north of the border with Mexico. The city is approximately 226 square miles large, and has a population of about 500,000. There are several communities outside of city limits, such as Casas Adobes and the Catalina Foothills. While they are not technically part of Tucson, they are integrated with it both economically and socially. The greater Tucson Metropolitan Area, which accounts for the populations of these communities, contains about one million people.

As former resident of the city, I was most cognizant of racial differences with regards to South Tucson. South Tucson is an enclave of Tucson, included in the greater Tucson Metropolitan Area. However, it is officially its own city (the motto of South Tucson is, “the Pueblo within a city”), with somewhat discernible borders. For instance, if one were to drive south in Tucson along any major city roads, at some point they would likely encounter signs saying, “Welcome to South Tucson.” South Tucson is technically a square of land which extends South from 25th St to 40th St, and West between 1st and 12th Avenues. However, “South Tucson” is more often referred to colloquially as any part of the city South of 22nd Street.

The culture of South Tucson is characterized by strong Hispanic, and more particularly Mexican, influences. As a child, when going to locations in the area, I was much more aware of the fact that I lived in close proximity to Mexico. Street signs, advertisements, and the names of businesses were often written in both English and Spanish, if not solely Spanish. This differs from the signage in other parts of Tucson, which is predominantly written in English. South Tucson’s architectural styles also echo those of settlements in Mexico. Unsurprisingly, South Tucson’s aesthetic differences are reflective of its demographics. According to Census data, South Tucson’s residents are approximately 80% Hispanic. This percentage is significantly higher than that of Tucson, whose residents are about 40% Hispanic.

Census data also reveals a number of alarming differences between South Tucson and Tucson. South Tucson is almost twice as poor, with a poverty rate near 35%. Less than 9% of South Tucson’s residents have a college degree, while about 35% of Tucson’s residents have college degrees. To understand these discrepancies, one must look at the historical circumstances surrounding South Tucson’s creation.

South Tucson is a Colonia, an unregulated U.S.-Mexico border town characterized by a lack of necessary resources. During the 20th century, Colonias sprouted up across Arizona, particularly in Southern regions, as wealthy landowners- many of whom were Tucson residents- divided and sold rural lands to low-wage Mexican immigrants. These lands were underdeveloped, lacking basic utilities such as water access and waste management, and their sale was often illegal. When landowners sold such underdeveloped areas to Mexican immigrants, it was under the premise that they would soon after install the necessary utilities. However, the landowners, taking advantage of their tenants’ poor English skills, often revoked on their promises. After selling the land, they failed to make the assured renovations.

Economic developments within Tucson have had little effect on the largely Hispanic residents of South Tucson, who continued to deal with these issues. One such development of this nature is the University of Arizona. Created in 1885 on overgrazed ranchlands, the University was Arizona’s first, and originally held about 32 students. Throughout the 20th Century, the University became an integral part of Tucson’s economy. As the size of the University increased, new business, housing complexes and transportation systems sprouted up to accommodate the growing student body. Today, the University enrolls around 40,000 students and employs about 10,000 people, making it Tucson’s single largest industry. Even as the University of Arizona helped Tucson flourish, residents of South Tucson struggled to catch up. The social mobility offered by the University and its surrounding industries was largely insignificant to South Tusconans, who still faced difficulties accessing safe supplies of drinking water. This was exacerbated by the fact that the University is geographically distanced from South Tucson. Many residents of South Tucson were entirely unaware of the opportunities being offered further North.

Most neighborhoods in Tucson, including my former neighborhood, are majority white, due in part to the high concentration of Hispanic people living in South Tucson. Because South Tucson is technically its own city (granted one created under largely illegal circumstances), Tucson is not required to contribute much to its development. These circumstances, coupled with the fact that South Tucson has few major industries of its own, left its residents with few outlets to alleviate their plight. This fact is apparent in the continued financial and educational stagnation gripping South Tucson, as well as its highly segregated nature. The case of South Tucson is yet another example of how past injustices are often self-perpetuating, and cannot be amended without the participation of those responsible for the initial injustice.

Sources

United States Census Bureau. (n.d.). Explore Census Data. https://data.census.gov/profile/South_Tucson_city,_Arizona?g=160XX00US0468850

Maria-Cristina Garcia, "Colonia," The Handbook of Texas Online| Texas State Historical Association (TSHA), June 12, 2010.