South Tucson, Arizona, exists because property owners pushed back against becoming part of the larger city around them. In 1936, they gathered at the Yell-O-Inn auto court and voted to incorporate, largely over fears that annexation meant higher taxes. Business owners led a successful disincorporation campaign in 1938, while the present municipality dates its incorporation to 1940. The city now uses “Pueblo Within a City” as a nickname, fitting for a place completely surrounded by Tucson. South Tucson covers about 1.2 square miles and has an estimated population of 4,535.
South Tucson sits near the junction of Interstate 10 and Interstate 19, placing an unusual piece of highway history beside its boundaries. I-19 runs between Tucson and Nogales and is the only U.S. highway fully marked in kilometers. The federal Metric Board chose the nearly completed interstate as a pilot project during the national push toward metric conversion in the 1970s. That effort faded, but the road signs remained. ADOT puts the route at 102 kilometers, or 63 miles, from the southern border to Tucson and credits local opposition with helping preserve the metric markers.
The Gloo Factory started printing for the Tucson community around 2000, then moved into South Tucson in 2010. The union shop handles screen printing, digital printing, publishing, cut-vinyl graphics, signs, stickers, books, business cards, posters, and custom apparel. Its screen-printing setup includes two six-color rotating presses, two automatic presses, and a large vacuum table for oversized work.
Rafael’s Tire Shop has operated since 1976 and focuses on used tires and tire services. The business keeps used tires in stock, rotates its inventory, and carries options across different brands and price ranges. Rafael’s also became part of the area’s public-art story when artists Alex Jimenez and Johanna Martinez included the shop among the longtime South 12th Avenue businesses represented in The Talking Mural.
Mi Nidito opened in historic South Tucson in 1952 after Ernesto and Alicia Lopez, who had moved from Sonora, chose to start a restaurant rather than a tortilla factory. Its name means “My Little Nest,” referring to the original restaurant’s small size. President Bill Clinton visited on February 25, 1999. His meal became the President’s Plate: a bean tostada, birria taco, chile relleno, chicken enchilada, and beef tamale. The combination remains on Mi Nidito’s ordering menu.
El Torero describes itself as family owned and operated since 1956 and remains open on historic South Fourth Avenue. Its menu includes the Old School Patty Taco with a beef patty, lettuce, cheese, and taco sauce, along with Lerua’s green corn tamales. A veggie tamale pie combines green corn tamales with calabacitas, cheese sauce, green onion, green olives, and truffle seasoning.
The Talking Mural turned a South 12th Avenue wall into something visitors can hear as well as see. Alex Jimenez and Johanna Martinez unveiled the work at Oasis Fruit Cones in June 2017. A QR code connects viewers to recorded interviews with business owners from the corridor. Painted scenes reference Rafael’s Tire Shop, Arizona Palms Tinting, Alejandro’s Tortilleria, and Oasis Fruit Cones. The design also drew inspiration from hand-painted commercial signs found on Tucson’s south side. Its unveiling included artist talks, live music, and a lowrider car show.
The Sam Lena-South Tucson Library began with a book trailer in 1977. A permanent building opened in 1986, followed by a 1,500-square-foot expansion in 1991. Remodeling in 2018 created a new entrance, larger children’s and youth spaces, study rooms, a community meeting room, and upgrades to the service desk and book drop. The branch is named for Sam Lena, a longtime South Tucson politician and former Pima County supervisor who advocated for funding for the permanent building.
Cyclovia Tucson returns to the Downtown-South Tucson route on October 25, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Living Streets Alliance says the 2.25-mile route has been activated eight times since 2011. Streets temporarily close to motor traffic so people can walk, bike, skate, roll, play, and visit activities along the course. The route connects South Tucson with downtown and passes Armory Park, Santa Rosa Park, three schools, Children’s Museum Tucson, and Arizona Theatre Company.
Steam Smart Pro helps South Tucson homeowners and businesses keep interior spaces in better shape with air duct cleaning, dryer vent cleaning, and upholstery cleaning. From removing buildup inside ventilation systems to refreshing heavily used furniture, the work focuses on areas that are easy to overlook during routine upkeep. Contact us to schedule service.