Oro Valley Community Information
Prepared by the ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Oro Valley is in Northwestern Pima County, six miles north of the Tucson city limits. The valley, formed by the Santa Cruz River joining Gold Creek in the Catalina Mountains, covers nearly 32 square miles.
Basic Information
- Founded: 1881
- Incorporated: 1974
Elevation: 2,600 - Located in Pima County
- Distance to Major Cities:
- Phoenix: 109 miles
- Tucson: 6 miles
- Nearby Highways: HWYS SR 79
Principal Economic Activities
Oro Valley is home to a four-diamond resort hotel, the Sheraton El Conquistador. In addition to the El Conquistador, some of Oro Valley’s larger employers include the El Conquistador Country Club, Oro Valley Country Club, Town of Oro Valley Government, Canyon Del Oro High School, Vanguard Automation, Selectide, Honeywell and Securaplane. Entertainment and shopping are available in town or in the Tucson metropolitan area.
Scenic Attractions
Just east of Oro Valley is Catalina State Park. These pine-covered mountains were called La Iglesia, or the church, by the early Spaniards for their cathedral-like appearance. The 9,000-foot Mount Lemmon, which is the southernmost ski area in the United States, is part of the range. Within short drive from Oro Valley are: Picacho Peak State Park, the site of Arizona’s only Civil War battle; the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; Old Tucson Studios; Saguaro National Monuments East and West; San Xavier Mission; and the world-famous Biosphere 2, a three-acre model of the earth’s ecosystem. Kitt Peak National Observatory, home of the world’s largest solar telescope, is also nearby.
Community Information