COMMUNITY INTRODUCTION

Located in Cochise County, about 20 miles from Mexico, Sierra Vista is the main commercial, cultural and recreational hub of the area. At an elevation of 4,623 feet, Sierra Vista's abundant sunshine and clean air combine to make this city a comfortable and pleasant place to live.

Steady and smart growth since the city incorporated in 1956 has seen the area blossom to become a culturally diverse community of an estimated 45,000 residents, which includes Fort Huachuca.

HISTORY

Fort Huachuca was established as a military post in 1877, and declared a National Historic Landmark a century later. The post was instrumental in the campaign against Geronimo, including his surrender, and the ongoing battle with Apache raiders. Many of the military installation's original buildings are still standing today, including the magnificent officers' homes lining historic Brown Parade Field and the nearby soldiers' barracks, now used as offices.

BUSINESS SERVICES & INDUSTRY

As the economic hub of Southeast Arizona, Sierra Vista is continuing to attract a growing number of business services and industry leaders. The city is home to Fort Huachuca, a major military intelligence and communications center, which is the region's largest employer. The City of Sierra Vista issued 64 commercial construction permits, with a value of $104 million, in 2006 and 2007, and the ongoing effort to revitalize the West End district is attracting a variety of new businesses and office complexes to the area. 

SIERRA VISTA'S MAJOR EMPLOYERS - 2007

Fort Huachuca.....................................................8,456
Sierra Vista School District...............................1,109
Sierra Vista Regional Health Center..................733
Northrop Grumman Corporation.........................600
General Dynamics.................................................567
Aegis Communications Group, Inc....................510
City of Sierra Vista..................................................428
Wal-Mart...................................................................323
Cochise College.....................................................251
Lawley Automotive Group......................................223

TRANSPORTATION

Located 70 miles southeast of Tucson, Sierra Vista is easily accessible to visitors and business travelers alike, via Interstate 10 and State Route 90. The city enjoys the benefits of a by-pass system. Sierra Vista Municipal Airport is conveniently located on the outskirts of the city and shares the runways of Fort Huachuca's Libby Army Airfield. The airport accommodates smaller private and corporate aircraft. There are currently 62 hangars and 35 tie-down sites at the airport, as well as an aircraft wash rack.

The Sierra Vista Public Transit System provides transportation to the general public, with special attention given to the needs of the disabled and senior citizens of the community, which includes a customer pick-up service.

In recent years the City of Sierra Vista has been working to improve and expand the area's multi-use path system, which will eventually allow cyclists and walkers easy access around the entire city.

TOURISM

Sierra Vista, which is Spanish for Mountain View, lies at the heart of what is regarded as the most biologically diverse area in the United States. Known as the hummingbird capital of America, Sierra Vista has abundant wildlife which draws tourists, especially bird watchers, from across the globe. At the foot of the beautiful Huachuca Mountains is Ramsey Canyon, operated by the Nature Conservancy, and where visitors can observe up to 14 species of hummingbirds, as well as hundreds of other birds, mammals, reptiles and plant life. The San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area is also home to 350 species of migrating and breeding birds and nature lovers can enjoy around 40 miles of riverbank along the San Pedro River.

Nearby Coronado National Memorial, is the largest memorial in the National Park Service, where the views of the San Pedro Valley and Mexico are never to be forgotten. Breathtaking beauty is also in abundance at Kartchner Caverns State Park, about 20 minutes north of Sierra Vista. The spectacular cave formations are among the top ten caverns in the world.

Visitors can also experience the life of a soldier in the late 1800s, including the famous Buffalo Soldiers, at historic Fort Huachuca, established in 1877. Excellent museums, both on the military post and in the Ethel Berger Center in town, give a taste of what life was really like in the "Wild West' for the soldiers and civilians alike.
Just 16 miles from Sierra Vista is Tombstone, "The Town Too Tough To Die", where the infamous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral won a place in the history books in 1881. The site of the notorious shoot-out can still be visited today, along with other well known attractions like the Crystal Palace Saloon and the Birdcage Theater.

The quaint town of Bisbee is 26 miles east of Sierra Vista. Around every corner is a landmark or a building that has its own tale to tell in this former mining town's more than 125-year history. In 2005, Bisbe became the first town in Arizona to be named on the National Trust's Distinctive Destinations list, one of only 12 nationwide.

HOMES

In 2007 the median price of a site-built home in the city was $217,479. On average, single-family site-built homes in the Sierra Vista area sold at 96.9 percent of the asking price. New single family residential construction in Sierra Vista was down 58.3 percent from January to September 2007, compared to the same period the year before.

The housing market in Cochise County and Sierra Vista has followed the trends at the state and national levels. Home sales slowed significantly and, beginning in 2007, prices began to decline modestly.

RECREATION

Veterans' Memorial Park, at the heart of the city, is a venue for numerous events all-year-round and is a popular meeting place for the residents.

At the edge of the park is the multi-million dollar, indoor aquatic center, The Cove. Newly opened in 2008 was the Sierra Vista-Kiwanis skate and bike court, also located at Veterans' Memorial Park.

The City of Sierra Vista also runs two community centers. Sierra Vista boasts a 31,000 square foot library which, with its thousands of books and free Internet service, is well equipped to meet the community's information needs. The facility also includes the popular Cafe Sierra.

Other recreational facilities include two golf courses - one private and one open to the public - public and private tennis courts, a firearms range, ballparks and neighborhood parks and several sports clubs. 

EDUCATION

Sierra Vista Public Schools consists of one high school, with an enrollment of 2,785, two middle schools and six elementary schools.

Fort uachuca Accommodation Schools has one middle school and two elementary schools.

In addition, Sierra Vista has five charter schools, with a total enrollment of 942 students, as of October 2006.

Post-secondary educational opportunities are provided by Cochise College, University of Arizona South, University of Phoenix, Wayland Baptist University and Western International University.

HEALTHCARE

Sierra Vista Regional Health Center is a full service, acute care hospital, offering many services usually found in larger cities. The Emergency Department provides emergency services, including a hospital-based helicopter and pre-hospital base for local emergency services.
The hospital's Maternal/Child Department provides mother and child services for Cochise County and includes an acute care nursery for babies born at 34 weeks or later.
The 86-bed hospital is staffed by 800 nurses, technicians, pharmacists, therapists, social workers and support staff.
Eighty physicians and allied health professionals comprise the active medical staff, who have privileges to care for their patients at SVRHC.
In addition to the hospital's main campus, their ambulatory surgery center is located two miles east on Highway 90 on land established for future growth of services.

GOVERNMENT SERVICES

The City of Sierra Vista is a council-manager municipality. The City Council defines public policy while the City Manager administers that policy and oversees the day-to-day operation of the city. The City Council is comprised of a Mayor and six council members, who are elected at large to staggered four-year terms. Elections are strictly non-partisan.

SHOPPING & DINING

Sierra Vista offers a wealth of shopping and dining opportunities for both residents and visitors alike. As the city has continued to grow, an increasing number of major retailers have chosen to set up shop in Sierra Vista, including Lowes and Best Buy. However, the area, especially the West End district, is also home to many independent small businesses. There are three grocery stores in the area, two of which, Fry's and Safeway, have undergone extensive remodels.

When it comes to dining out in Sierra Vista, there is something to suit everyone's tastes. From Japanese to Mexican and from fast food to fine cuisine, the city has all the ingredients for an enjoyable, dining out experience. In February 2008, the Texas Roadhouse opened its doors and has proved to be a popular choice for diners. Nearby Bisbee is also a draw for food lovers and its eateries include the highly acclaimed and award winning Cafe Roka.