Sahuarita, Arizona: Treasured Nuggets From the Past

Sahuarita, Arizona, a once-sleepy agricultural, ranching, and mining community, has blossomed into a bustling suburban oasis in the heart of the Sonoran Desert. Families flock to the area to live in master-planned communities, all just a short commute to the city of Tucson. Sahuarita is transitioning from being solely a bedroom community to a town with substantial economic development opportunities. Yet, in spite of the incredible growth the area has experienced in recent decades, since its beginnings in the 1820s Sahuarita continues to reflect the uniqueness of its namesake, little saguaro cactus. This is the story of Sahuarita and the surrounding communities as told through the voices of local folks and their families who have lived there for generations. The process of gathering first- and second-hand anecdotes and stories for this book took over six years, and was complicated by a global pandemic. In the end, volunteer researchers, interviewers, and authors succeeded in documenting captivating tales and portraits of life in the Sahuarita area from the late 1800s to the present day. This book highlights and celebrates the hardships, successes, and everyday experiences of the steadfast and resourceful citizens who lived in this area of the Santa Cruz Valley long before its incorporation into a town in 1994. The reader will find detailed answers to questions such as: “Who planted the pecan trees along Old Nogales Highway?” “Was there really a World War II prisoner of war camp there?” “Where is the oldest standing schoolhouse in Arizona?” “Did passenger trains stop in Sahuarita?” “Which local mining town advertised that Tucson would become its suburb?” Please enjoy this work of the heart created to memorialize the people and places of the Sahuarita area. The authors cordially invite you to send any questions or comments you may have to Friends.of.Sahuarita@gmail.com.