(Photo by Pat Neel)
Sahuarita, Ariz., a once-sleepy ranching and agricultural community, has blossomed into a bustling suburban oasis in the heart of the Sonoran Desert. Families flock to the area for the new housing developments in master-planned communities, all within a short commute to the City of Tucson, Ariz. Although Quail Creek has a Green Valley mailing address, it is now physically located within the jurisdiction of the Town of Sahuarita.
Given the incredible growth the area has experienced in the recent decades since its beginnings in the 1820s, Sahuarita continues to maintain the same uniqueness as its namesake, little saguaro cactus. Sahuarita is transitioning from being solely a bedroom community to a town with many economic development opportunities. This is the story of Sahuarita, told through the primary voices of the folks and their families who have lived there for generations.
The process of gathering first- and second-hand anecdotes took several years, complicated by a global pandemic. But the volunteer researchers, interviewers, and authors succeeded in documenting captivating tales and portraits of what life was like in Sahuarita and the surrounding area in the late 1800s and beyond. The book highlights and celebrates the hardships, successes, and everyday lives of the steadfast and resourceful citizens of the Sahuarita area, long before its incorporation into a town in 1994.
This book explores the answers to many questions locals have had over the years, such as the story behind the many boarded-up buildings along Old Nogales Highway, why the “older sages” in the area still remember the World War II Prisoner of War Camp across from Bull Farm, and how ranching and mining children went to school before the current school districts were established.
Please enjoy this work of the heart by so many lifelong citizens of the Sahuarita. The authors cordially invite you to send any questions or comments you have about this work or the area to [email protected]. Sahuarita, Arizona: Treasured Nuggets From the Past is available on Amazon for $19.99. Five dollars of each sale will benefit the Sahuarita Educational Enrichment Foundation (SEEF), a 501(c)(3) that supports teachers and students in the Sahuarita Unified School District.