When was the city of Tucson, Arizona founded?

Hugo O'Conor, a Colonel in the Spanish army, is widely considered to be the founding father of the city of Tucson, Arizona. On August 20, 1775, O'Conor ordered the construction of a fort to be called the Presidio San Agustín del Tucsón. The chosen site was along the Santa Cruz River near present day downtown Tucson. The site overlooked the flood plain of the Santa Cruz River and was near the O'Odham village of Cuk Ṣon (spring at the base of the black mountain). The name Tucson is an English variation of Cuk Son.

Tucson became part of Mexico when that country achieved independence from Spain in 1821. In 1854, with the Gadsden Purchase from Mexico, much of what is now the Southwest US, including Tucson, became part of the United States. On February 14, 1912, Arizona became the 48th state.

Today, Tucson is a bustling city of approximately 526,000 people. The greater Metropolitan Tucson Area population is estimated at 994,000. Tucson is the second largest city in Arizona after the state capital of Phoenix. It is the county seat for Pima County and the proud home to the University of Arizona.