Tucson, Arizona

==Economy==
[[File:Tucson shab1.JPG|thumb|right|Downtown Tucson with the University of Arizona in the background]]
[[File:IBM Tucson.jpg|thumb|[[IBM]] Tucson facility, pictured {{Circa|1982|lk=no}}]]
Much of Tucson's economic development has centered on the development of the University of Arizona, which is the city's largest employer. [[Davis-Monthan Air Force Base]], on the city's southeastern edge, also provides many jobs for Tucson residents. Its presence, as well as the presence of the US Army Intelligence Center ([[Fort Huachuca]], the region's largest employer, in nearby Sierra Vista), has led to the development of many high-technology industries, including government contractors. The city of Tucson is also a major hub for the Union Pacific Railroad's Sunset Route that links the Los Angeles ports with the South/Southeast regions of the country.

[[Raytheon]] Missiles and Defense (formerly [[Hughes Aircraft Co.]]),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tucson.com/news/local/street-smarts-tucson-s-biggest-manufacturing-plant-was-almost-built/article_202c62a1-c68d-5a28-87b9-98532741cc46.html|title=Street Smarts: Tucson's biggest manufacturing plant was almost built in Phoenix|author=David Leighton|newspaper=Arizona Daily Star|date=May 4, 2015 |access-date=July 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707202320/https://tucson.com/news/local/street-smarts-tucson-s-biggest-manufacturing-plant-was-almost-built/article_202c62a1-c68d-5a28-87b9-98532741cc46.html|archive-date=July 7, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Texas Instruments]], [[IBM]], [[Intuit Inc.]], [[Universal Avionics]], [[Honeywell Aerospace]], [[Sunquest Information Systems]], [[Sanofi-Aventis]], [[Ventana Medical Systems]], Inc., and [[Bombardier Aerospace]] all have a large presence in Tucson. Roughly 150 Tucson companies are involved in the design and manufacture of [[optics]] and [[optoelectronics]] systems, earning Tucson the nickname "[[Optics Valley]]".<ref>{{cite web|last=Fischer|first=Alan D.|url=http://www.azstarnet.com/neweconomy/optics.html|title=Optics Valley: Can Tucson stay king of the hill?|access-date=August 25, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071225045005/http://www.azstarnet.com/neweconomy/optics.html|archive-date=December 25, 2007|url-status=dead|newspaper=Arizona Daily Star}}</ref> Much of this comes from the [[Steward Observatory]] at the University of Arizona, which is one of few locations in the world that can cast the enormous mirrors used in telescopes around the world and in space.

Tourism is another major industry in Tucson. The city's many resorts, hotels, and attractions bring in $2&nbsp;billion and over 3.5&nbsp;million visitors annually.<ref>Long, Levy J. (October 10, 2006). {{cite web|url=http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/85704/150067 |title=Luxury labels: Tiffany, Louis Vuitton could inspire more high-end retailers to try Tucson. |access-date=December 29, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528024424/http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/85704/150067 |archive-date=May 28, 2008 }} ''Arizona Daily Star''. Retrieved March 12, 2010.</ref>

One of the major annual attractions is the [[Tucson Gem and Mineral Show]], and its associated shows, all held generally in the first two weeks of February. These associated shows (such as gems, jewelry, beads, and fossils) are held throughout the city, with 43 different shows in 2010. This makes Tucson's the largest such exposition in the world. Its yearly economic impact in 2015 was evaluated at $120&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://biztucson.com/2015/01/16/worlds-biggest-gem-show-120-million-economic-impact/|title=BizTUCSON {{!}} World's Biggest Gem Show – $120 Million Economic Impact|language=en-US|access-date=November 23, 2019|archive-date=August 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809131818/https://biztucson.com/2015/01/16/worlds-biggest-gem-show-120-million-economic-impact/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In addition to vacationers, many winter residents, or "[[Snowbird (person)|snowbirds]]", are attracted to Tucson's mild winters and live here on a seasonal basis. They also contribute to the local economy. Snowbirds often purchase [[Vacation property|second homes]] in Tucson and nearby areas, contributing significantly to the property tax base.

===Top employers===
According to Tucson's 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tucsonaz.gov/files/finance/Accounting/Final_Audited_FY18_CAFR_1.pdf|title=City of Tucson 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report|page=179|access-date=December 19, 2019|date=February 27, 2019|archive-date=December 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219180307/https://www.tucsonaz.gov/files/finance/Accounting/Final_Audited_FY18_CAFR_1.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> the top employers in the city are:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
|1
|[[University of Arizona]]
|11,251
|-
|2
|[[Raytheon Technologies]]
|9,600
|-
|3
|[[State of Arizona]]
|8,580
|-
|4
|[[Davis–Monthan Air Force Base]]
|8,406
|-
|5
|[[Pima County]]
|7,060
|-
|6
|[[Tucson Unified School District]]
|6,770
|-
|7
|[[Banner University Medical Center Tucson]]
|6,272
|-
|8
|[[U.S. Customs and Border Protection]]
|5,739
|-
|9
|[[Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold, Inc.]]
|5,530
|-
|10
|[[Walmart]]
|5,500
|}