Tubac is a
census-designated place (CDP) in
Santa Cruz County,
Arizona, United States. The population was 1,191 at the
2010 census.[2] The place name "Tubac" is an English borrowing from a
Hispanicized form of the
O'odham name Cuwak, which translates into English as "place of dark water".[3] When first taken into Spanish speech, it was spelled Tubaca. Finally, over time, the latter "a" was dropped.[4] Tubac is situated on the
Santa Cruz River.
Tubac was the original
Spanishcolonial garrison in Arizona. It was depopulated during the
O'odham Uprising in the 18th century. During the 19th century, the area was repopulated by miners, farmers and ranchers, but the town of Tubac is best known today as an artists' colony.
Established in 1752 as a Spanish
presidio, the first
Spanish colonial garrison in what is now
Arizona, Tubac was one of the stops on the
Camino Real (the "Royal Road") from Mexico to the Spanish settlements in
California.
Tubac's most famous Spanish resident was
Juan Bautista de Anza. While stationed at Tubac (1760–1776), de Anza built the chapel of Santa Gertrudis, the foundations of which lie beneath today's St. Ann's Church.
Apaches attacked the town repeatedly in the 1840s, forcing the
Sonoran Mexicans to abandon both
Tumacacori and Tubac.
Tubac was the scene of a four-day
siege in 1861 among the population of Tubac,
Confederate militia, and Apache warriors.[6]
The Confederates won and the Confederate flag used by the headquarters in Richmond was raised. When Union troops then started to approach Tucson, the Confederate troops left Tubac. There the town lay abandoned; grass grew in the streets and the adobe houses crumbled away.[7]
From the 1930s–1960s, Tubac evolved into an art colony. Painter
Dale Nichols opened an art school in the small desert village in 1948 and restored some of Tubac's historic buildings. Students included watercolorist Al Romo and sculptor Bob Brisley. In 1955, artist
Ross Stefan established a studio in the village. In 1961, the Santa Cruz Valley Art Association was formed with 80 members. This group founded the Tubac Festival of the Arts in 1964.[8] Other significant artists in the Village included
Sophie and Harwood Steiger,
Hal Empie and Hugh Cabot.
Attractions
The remains of the old Spanish
presidio are preserved by
Tubac Presidio State Historic Park. The park also features a regional museum, an underground archeology display, and other historic buildings. Modern Tubac is home to over 100 art galleries, home decor boutiques, gift shops, jewelers, potters, and artists of every kind.[9] There is a very active art school, along with several restaurants and a golf resort nestled along a verdant valley with one of the oldest stands of cottonwoods in the state.[10]
In Tubac 1.5% of the population was age 0–4, 4.7% from 5 to 17, 51.0% from 18 to 64, and 42.5% 65 years of age or older. The population of Tubac is 52.4% female and 47.6% male.
2000 census
As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 949 people, 481 households, and 303 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 115.9 inhabitants per square mile (44.7/km2). There were 569 housing units at an average density of 69.5 per square mile (26.8/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 88.7% White, 1.2% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 9.0% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. 18.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 481 households, out of which 12.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were
married couples living together, 2.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.45.
In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 12.3% under the age of 18, 2.5% from 18 to 24, 12.1% from 25 to 44, 37.8% from 45 to 64, and 35.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 58 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $39,444, and the median income for a family was $59,375. Males had a median income of $36,528 versus $30,268 for females. The
per capita income for the CDP was $46,643. About 2.1% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the
poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.
Historic ruins and structures in Tubac
This is a list with images of historic ruins and structures in Tubac which includes the Presidio Captains Quarters, St. Ann's Catholic Church, the Tubac schoolhouse and various historic residences. Also, included are displays of historical significance on display in the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park Museum and in the museum's underground.
Ruins and structures in the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park
Presidio Ruins
Presidio Ruins
Rojas Adobe Building – 1882
Inside Rojas Adobe Building
Presidio Captain's Quarter – 1759
St. Ann Catholic Church – 1917
Otero Social Hall – 1914
House-1890 marker
1890 House
Lowe House – Post Office – 1907
Pedro Herreras House marker
Pedro Herreras House – 1857
Pennington-Cabot House – 1868
Tubac Presidio State Historic Park Museum
Foundation Stones
Presidio 19th Century Floor foundation
Artifacts
18th century Spanish Garrison Gun
Old Spanish Swords
Arrastre
The historic Tubac schoolhouse and inside furnishings
Historic 1885 Tubac schoolhouse
The Tubac Schoolhouse – 1885
Sign inside the Tubac Schoolhouse
Inside the Tubac Schoolhouse
Front of the school class room
1913 Steinway Model K piano
Teachers desk
Dunce cap
Potbelly Stove
Notable people
Congressman
Will Rogers, Jr. retired to a ranch near Tubac and is buried at the Tubac Cemetery.[13]