Discover Green Valley, Arizona
This area has a rich, colorful history, having been governed under four different flags: Spain, Mexico, The Confederacy and the United States. Green Valley rests on 5,000 acres of some of the most famous real estate in the world. It was part of Spanish King Ferdinand VII's land grant dating back over 400 years, and is known as the San Ignacio de las Canoa Grant. During World War I, the land under what is now Green Valley, was used to grow guayule plants, which provided a latex extract to replace Malaysian rubber that had been cut off during the war. After the war, the guayule plants were replaced with Pima cotton. In recent times, cotton has given way to the now world-famous Green Valley Pecan Groves, the largest groves in the United States.
Selected as ont of the country's best places to retire by "Where To Retire" and "New Choices for Retirement" magazines several times, Green Valley Arizona, located in the historic Santa Cruz Valley, combines the best of two worlds.
Green Valley appeals to those who enjoy small-town living, where you know your neighbors and traffic jams are a rare occurrence.
Yet the retirement community 23 miles south of Tucson, and 145 miles south of Phoenix also offers the desirable amenities of city life, including cultural activities, shopping and a wide range of recreational pursuits.
Golf carts are a favorite mode of transportation since Green Valley if frequently described as "Golfers Paradise".
Located at an elevation of 2,900 feet, at the foot of the Santa Rita Mountain Range, Green Valley and the surrounding areas are blessed with sunshine more than 300 days per year. A bonus of the high elevation frequently means that temperatures are several degrees cooler than in Tucson or Phoenix.
Annual temperatures average 80 degrees during the daytime and 50 degrees at night, making the area a prime attraction for visitors who flock here to enjoy outdoor activities, especially golf, all year long. The sunny and mild winters, healthful, clean, dry air and combination of rolling grasslands, high desert and majestic mountains and canyons also lure hikers, tennis players, bird-watchers, bicyclists, horseback riders, and swimmers to visit, or better yet, move to Green Valley each year.
The community, with an area population of more than 27,000, offers the casual, clean, uncongested atmosphere of a small town, yet provides all the major services and diversions that a comfortable retirement lifestyle commands. Airport and specialized facilities are available in Tucson, only 25 minutes north on Interstate 19.
Arizona Highways magazine once described this beautiful retirement community as a "town too good to die... populated by people who know how to live", a variation of the famous slogan for Tombstone, Arizona, "the town too tough to die."
Scenic drives and recreational opportunities abound in the area surrounding Green Valley, including four lakes and Madera Canyon, the "Sky Island" that ranks as one of the best bird-watching areas in the world. Madera Canyon, high in the rugged Santa Rita Mountains, is home to 238 species of birds and is renowned for its hummingbird population. Hiking and nature trails branch from this canyon that lead to the 9,453-foot summit of Mt. Wrightston and a spectacular view of the lush Santa Cruz River Valley.
Also nearby are the Fred Lawrence Whipple/Mount Hopkins Observatory, a world-renowned facility that rests atop the second highest peak in the Santa Rita Mountains. Also nearby and contributing to Southern Arizona's reputation as the "astronomy capital of the world" is Kitt Peak Observatory, which houses the world's largest collection of telescopes.
Because of all the activities Green Valley has to offer, including numerous clubs, volunteer groups and organizations, many retirees say they're busier now than when they were working. They also say they relish the opportunity to make new friends who have come from all over the country.
Green Valley offers an abundance of receational facilities, including nine golf courses, 12 recreation (soon to be 13) centers, 23 heated swimming pools, plus shuffle-board, tennis, bocce and racketball courts.
Green Valley Recreation, a non-profit organization which serves the leisure needs of more than 11,500 households within a membership-controlled geographic boundary, offers many activities at its center. These include cultural events, movies, dances, arts and crafts rooms, sewing ooms, fitness centers, lapidary, ceramics and woodworking, photography, billiards, computer instruction and more.
GVR also offers many classes for its members, ranging from painting and ceramics to tips for improving your golf or tennis swing. A variety of classes are also offered at the new Green Valley campus at the local branch of Pima Community College.
A popular spot for residents and visitors alike is the recently-opened $52 million Desert Diamond Casino, operated by the Tohono O'odham Nation. The casino offers first-rate entertainment with top acts from around the country and gourmet dining in addition to gaming.
There are several shopping centers in the Green Valley-Sahuarita area, with approximately 360 shops, offering great diversity of shopping opportunities. Many shops in Green Valley offer gifts, clothing, merchandise and services geared toward the preferences of seniors.
The Green Valley Chamber of Commerce has a membership roster of 500 businesses, including banks, real estate professionals, accounting, legal and title services, doctors, dentists, health-care providers and retail outlets. To find out more about Green Valley, head for the Chamber of Commerce, an officially designated Tourism Information Center for the Arizona Office of Tourism. The Chamber's magazine "Inside Green Valley" is pubished annually and contains comprehensive information about the community. You can obtain your copy by sending your request to Vicki OR Just call her and request your free copy today... (520) 204-3474..
History:
Much of the information in this section is from Discover Southern Arizona 2005.