Sierra Vista, Arizona
Sierra Vista (Spanish for "Mountain View") is a thriving community of approximately 42,706 people that serves as the regional center for southeastern Arizona. Located approximately 70 miles southeast of Tucson, the city is surrounded by the unique beauty of the Huachuca, Dragoon, and Mule Mountains, and is bordered on the east by the San Pedro River, one of the Nature Conservancy's 10 Last Great Places. At an elevation of 4,600 feet, Sierra Vista not only boasts magnificent mountain views, but also a temperate year-round climate, abundant sunshine, and clean, fresh air.
The City of Sierra Vista is a council-manager municipality. The City Council sets public policy while a professional city manager implements policy and oversees the day-to-day operation of the city. Both the Police and Fire Departments have earned awards for outstanding service. The Parks and Leisure Services Department operates numerous parks and athletic fields. Veteran's Memorial Park has a new skate and bike court. The Cove, a $6.7 million indoor Aquatic Center completed in 2002, and newly renovated, features wave, competition, wading, therapy, and dive pools; a tube water slide; sun deck, lounge, concession areas, and much more.
Two modern community centers are the home base for senior activities and other community programs. A beautiful 31,000 square foot public library is well-equipped to service the community's information needs. The library even has home improvement, small engine repair, and auto repair resource centers!
The Sierra Vista Regional Health Center (SVRHC) and the Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center serve the community's health care needs. Medical personnel of all major specialties are available in the area. The SVRHC has completed a new Ambulatory Surgery Center on Highway 90. A medical office building will be added later at the 80-acre site.
The local school district enjoys an excellent academic reputation. The local public school system includes a high school, two middle schools, and six elementary schools. Higher education is available through the University of Arizona South Campus, Cochise Community College, the University of Phoenix, Western International University, and Chapman University.
Sierra Vista is the commercial center for Cochise County and parts of northern Mexico. The Mall at Sierra Vista is a 400,000 square foot mall anchored by Dillards and Sears stores. Major retailers such as K-Mart, Wal-Mart and Target are already represented in smaller shopping plazas, as are branches of several major Arizona banks. In addition, there are three well-stocked supermarkets and dozens of smaller specialty shops. Fine dining is available throughout the area.
A new ten-screen movie theater and two three-screen movie theaters offer the latest in cinematic entertainment. Over 70 television channels are available through Cox Communications, the area's cable provider, and local AM and FM radio stations broadcast a variety of formats. Newspapers, including a daily and several weeklies, cover the area's news.
Sierra Vista offers a variety of cultural and family-oriented activities throughout the year. The Winter Arts Festival and Art Discovery Series present an year-round program of plays, concerts, musicals, dances, readings, and recitals. Annual events include the Arizona Junior Rodeo, the Sierra Stampede, the Cowboy Poetry Gathering, the Thunder Mountain Marathon, the Buffalo Soldier Celebration, Festival of the Southwest, the Fourth of July Celebration, the Southwest Wings Birding Festival, the Art in the Park arts and crafts festival, the Family Festival, Cinco de Mayo Festival, the Business & Services Expo, and the largest holiday parade in Arizona, to name a few.
Recreational facilities include two championship golf courses, first-class bowling lanes, public and private tennis courts, a firearms range, and several sports clubs. Major service clubs, veterans groups, and fraternal organizations are active in the city, and there are more than 30 places of worship.
Nicknamed the "Hummingbird Capital of the United States," bird watchers from all over the world flock to the nearby Ramsey Canyon Preserve and other local canyons to observe and photograph hundreds of different species. Other Outdoor sightseeing and recreational opportunities abound at the San Pedro Riparian Conservation Area, the Coronado National Monument in the Huachuca Mountains, Cochise stronghold in the Dragoon Mountains, Chiricahua National Monument, Madera Canyon, and the spectacular Kartchner Caverns State Park.
According to the 2007 district enrollment report, Sierra Vista Public Schools serves more than 7,000 students. The six elementary schools have a combined enrollment of 2,716 students, while two middle schools enroll 1,479 and Buena High School enrolls 2,445 students. The school district has a full program for students with special needs. At all levels, activities meet the various interests of diverse students.
Interscholastic competition is available at the middle schools and high school. Sierra Vista is also served by Cochise College and the University of Arizona South. As of fall 2001, Cochise College had a total student population of 4,593 students, the majority of whom attend the Sierra Vista and Douglas campuses. Full-time student equivalents (FTSE) totaled 2,372 for the fall semester. A Benson Center was completed in August 2000. The $2.3 million facility is a 12,000 square foot building on 13.3 acres along State Route 90. The University of Arizona South (UAS) offers students the opportunity to complete four-year degrees in the Sierra Vista area. In addition to the campus located in Sierra Vista, UAS offers programs in the Douglas community and has plans for future expansion. The student population at University of Arizona South is continuing its annual growth. As of fall 2001, UAS had 378 students.
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