Oro Valley is in northeastern Pima County, three miles north of the Tucson city limits. Oro Valley is situated in the western foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains at the base of Pusch Ridge. The Tortolita Mountains are located north of the town and the vistas of the Tucson valley are to the south. The town sits at an elevation of 2,620 feet and covers 34.75 square miles.
Oro Valley is home to a AAA Four Diamond resort hotel, the Hilton El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort. In addition to the El Conquistador, some of Oro Valley's larger employers include Ventana Medical Systems ( a member of the Roche Group), Oro Valley Hospital, Amphitheater School District, the Town of Oro Valley, Icagen, Honeywell and Securaplane. Entertainment and shopping are nearby at the Oro Valley Marketplace and Oracle Crossings shopping centers.
Oro Valley is the gateway to beautiful Catalina State Park, a 5,493-acre park on the western slopes of the Santa Catalina Mountains. The park includes campgrounds, miles of hiking trails and an equestrian center. The 9,000-foot Mount Lemmon, the southernmost ski area in the United States, is part of the range. The Biosphere 2 is located north of Catalina State Park. This one-of-a-kind facility sits on a ridge at a cool elevation of nearly 4,000 feet and is surrounded by a magnificent natural desert preserve. Just six miles south of Catalina State Park is one of the nation's greatest botanical gardens, Tohono Chul Park. This oasis in the desert offers a respite from the hectic pace of daily life, provides an informative look at the region’s fascinating cultural traditions and it’s even more interesting flora and fauna.
Oro Valley is home to more than 440 acres of parks, which include Canada del Oro Riverfront Park, James D. Kriegh Park, Lambert Lane Park and Naranja Park. Amenities include a water slide, splash pad, two pools, an archery range, lighted ball fields and tennis courts and an accessible playground. The Oro Valley Aquatic Center is southern Arizona’s premier, competition-level facility hosting local, state and national championship events such as swimming, diving and synchronized swimming. In addition to aquatic events, Oro Valley hosts triathlons, duathlons and marathons. Oro Valley has a Community and Recreation Center which includes a fitness center, restaurant, 31 tennis courts, 45 holes of golf and two swimming pools.
| Founded | 1881 | Incorporated | 1974 |
| Elevation | 2,620 ft. | Location | Pima County |
| Phoenix | 109 miles | San Diego | 407 miles |
| Tucson | 6 miles | Los Angeles | 485 miles |
| Las Vegas | 406 miles |
| 2000 | 2010 | 2023 (est.) | |
| Oro Valley | 29,700 | 40,984 | 48,222 |
| Pima County | 843,746 | 981,168 | 1,058,318 |
| State of Arizona | 5,130,632 | 6,401,569 | 7,285,370 |
Office of Economic Opportunity
Arizona Dept. of Revenue & Arizona Tax Research Foundation
| Oro Valley | 2.50% |
| Pima County | 0.50% |
| State | 5.60% |
Arizona Dept. of Revenue & Arizona Tax Research Foundation
| 2000 | 2010 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian Labor Force | 15,073 | 18,264 | 19,616 |
| Unemployed | 389 | 1,233 | 762 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% | 6.8% | 3.9% |
Office of Economic Opportunity
| Count | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| Less than high school | 867 | 2.5% |
| High school or equivalent, no college | 4,648 | 13.5% |
| Some college or Associate degree | 9,802 | 28.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree | 19,061 | 55.4% |
American Community Survey
| Count | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| Education, health care & social assistance | 4,476 | 26.0% |
| Manufacturing | 2,246 | 13.0% |
| Professional, scientific, & administrative services | 2,182 | 12.7% |
| Retail trade | 2,057 | 11.9% |
| Finance, insurance & real estate | 1,457 | 8.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, food & recreation services | 1,421 | 8.2% |
| Other services, except public administration | 825 | 4.8% |
| Public administration | 756 | 4.4% |
| Transportation, warehousing, & utilities | 562 | 3.3% |
| Construction | 401 | 2.3% |
| Wholesale trade | 375 | 2.2% |
| Information | 285 | 1.7% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, & mining | 204 | 1.2% |
American Community Survey
This profile was prepared by the Arizona Commerce Authority in cooperation with local sources. For further information, please contact: