Patagonia lies in a narrow valley approximately 14 miles north of the international border surrounded by the Santa Rita Mountains to the north and the Patagonias to the south. This contemporary town was founded in 1898 by Rollin R. Richardson. Both the town and the mountains take their name from the Patagonia Mine.

Principal Economic Activities

Wholesale, retail trade and services are among the major economic activities in Santa Cruz County. Patagonia's largest employment sectors include retail trade and services, but eco-tourism plays an important role as visitors come to take advantage of the birding opportunities at the Tucson Audobon Society's Paton Hummingbird Center and the Nature Conservancy's Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Wildlife Preserve. Birders come from all over the world to fill out their lists from the hundreds of birds that live in or pass through the area. Patagonia also enjoys its status as a gateway community on the Arizona Trail and regularly hosts hikers on their way up and down the trail. Patagonia-area trails are perfect year-round for gravel biking, with Patagonia Bikes offering maintenance support as well as rentals and guided tours. If you want to enjoy the outdoors without hiking, the nearby Circle Z Ranch lets you live the cowboy dream while enjoying gourmet meals. Short trips into the nearby countryside will let you experience and enjoy ghost towns which were once bustling centers of mining activity.

The business district is concentrated around AZ State Highway 82 and includes a number of art galleries featuring mostly local artists. The park in the center of town is a favorite spot for picnicking and relaxing on your way through town. Several restaurants and an authentic old-time western saloon provide refreshment to sustain the hungry traveler.

Scenic Attractions

Nearby points of interest include recreations areas of the Coronado National Forest as well as the Patagonia Mountains and the Santa Rita Mountains. Lake Patagonia provides excellent camping along with fishing, swimming and boating. Parker Canyon Lake to the north is also a favorite fishing spot. Santa Cruz County has many locations on National Register of Historic Places. Two spots are from the Spanish colonial period: Tumacacori National Monument and Tubac Presidio State Historic Park. Another National Register site is the 1885 Old Tubac Schoolhouse.

Community Facilities

The town of Patagonia offers a range of community facilities including a library, a swimming pool, parks, art galleries, restaurants, book stores, a winery, jewelry stores, gift stores, florists, food stores, two RV parks, post office, service station, coin-laundry and two churches.