Santa Cruz County, Arizona
Arizona's smallest county by area and a vibrant binational community, sharing an international border with Nogales, Sonora. Rich in Spanish colonial history, exceptional birding, and the lush Santa Cruz River valley.
Santa Cruz County, established on March 16, 1899, is Arizona's smallest county by area at just 1,238 square miles. Named for the Santa Cruz River that flows northward through the county before eventually joining the Gila River, the county shares a 35-mile international border with the Mexican state of Sonora. The county seat, Nogales, is a bustling binational community that forms one urban area with Nogales, Sonora, across the border — the twin cities are collectively known as "Ambos Nogales" (Both Nogales).
Santa Cruz County's landscape is surprisingly lush compared to much of Arizona. Elevations range from around 3,000 feet in the Santa Cruz River valley to over 9,000 feet in the Santa Rita Mountains, creating a remarkable range of ecosystems within a small area. The "sky island" mountain ranges — the Patagonias, Santa Ritas, Tumacacoris, and Atascosas — are world-renowned among birdwatchers, drawing enthusiasts from around the globe to spot rare Mexican species that venture north into these mountains. The county has also developed a growing wine industry, with vineyards taking advantage of the high-elevation, semi-arid grasslands of the Sonoita-Elgin area in neighboring Santa Cruz County margins.
County Information
Demographics & Economy
Photos
Major Attractions
Tumacacori National Historical Park
Tumacacori National Historical Park preserves three Spanish colonial missions along the Santa Cruz River valley. The most prominent is Mission San Jose de Tumacacori, founded as a visita (visiting station) by Father Eusebio Kino in 1691. The imposing adobe and masonry church that stands today was begun around 1800 by Franciscan missionaries working with O'odham laborers. The park's museum interprets the complex history of O'odham peoples, Jesuit missionaries, Franciscan friars, Apache raiders, and Spanish and Mexican colonial administration that shaped this frontier region for over two centuries.
Location: Tumacacori, 45 miles south of Tucson
Features: Historic mission ruins, museum, working pottery, ranger-led tours, picnic area, fiesta in early December
Tubac Presidio State Historic Park
Tubac was the site of Arizona's first European settlement, established in 1752 as a Spanish military garrison (presidio) to protect the mission communities of the Santa Cruz Valley. Tubac Presidio State Historic Park preserves archaeological ruins of the original fort and offers a museum tracing the history of the site from prehistoric times through its Spanish, Mexican, and American periods. Today, Tubac itself has reinvented itself as a charming arts community with over 100 galleries and studios, making it one of Arizona's most popular arts destinations.
Location: Tubac, along the Santa Cruz River
Features: Presidio ruins, underground archaeology site, museum, Juan Bautista de Anza historic trail access, adjacent arts village
Madera Canyon
Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains is one of the most celebrated birding destinations in North America, consistently ranking among the top five birding sites in the United States. The canyon's position as a "sky island" corridor makes it a meeting point for species from the U.S., Mexico, and further south. Birders come specifically to spot the elegant trogon, a brilliantly colored bird normally found in the tropics, along with sulphur-bellied flycatchers, painted redstarts, and dozens of hummingbird species. The canyon is also beautiful for hiking and wildlife viewing year-round.
Location: Santa Rita Mountains, northeast of Nogales
Features: World-class birding, hiking trails, picnic areas, Santa Rita Lodge (feeders), wildlife photography opportunities
Patagonia Lake State Park
Patagonia Lake State Park is built around a reservoir on Sonoita Creek in the rolling grasslands south of Sonoita. The 265-acre lake offers swimming, boating, fishing (bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish), and a sandy beach. The park is also an excellent birding location, with the riparian corridor along Sonoita Creek hosting an exceptional variety of species. Campsites with hookups and primitive sites are available, and the park makes an excellent base for exploring the nearby Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve and the wine country of the Sonoita plateau.
Location: South of Patagonia near the Sonoita Creek
Features: Lake swimming and boating, fishing, camping, birding, Sonoita Creek riparian area access
Nogales Border Town Experience
Nogales, Arizona, and its twin city Nogales, Sonora, together form one of the most interesting and accessible border crossing experiences in the American Southwest. The Arizona side offers excellent Mexican restaurants, shops, and a vibrant community defined by its binational culture. Just across the border in Sonora, visitors can explore pharmacies, restaurants, craft markets, and cantinas — Nogales, Sonora, is known for its silver jewelry, pottery, textiles, and excellent traditional Mexican cuisine. The port of entry is open daily and pedestrian crossing is straightforward with appropriate identification.
Location: Nogales, Arizona / Nogales, Sonora, Mexico
Features: Binational shopping and dining, traditional Mexican crafts and cuisine, vibrant border culture, historic downtown areas on both sides
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Cruz County stands out from Arizona's other counties in several important ways:
- Smallest county: At just 1,238 square miles, Santa Cruz County is Arizona's smallest county by area — smaller than some single ranches in western counties.
- International border: The county shares a 35-mile border with Mexico, making border trade, binational culture, and international relations central to daily life.
- Highest Hispanic population percentage: With approximately 82% of its population identifying as Hispanic or Latino, Santa Cruz County has one of the highest concentrations in Arizona.
- Sky island ecology: The mountain ranges within the county create dramatically different ecosystems at different elevations, from arid grasslands to cool pine forests within a few miles.
- World-class birding: The county's position as a gateway for Mexican bird species makes it one of the top birding destinations in all of North America.
- Spanish colonial history: More than 300 years of documented European history make Santa Cruz County one of the most historically significant areas in the Southwest.
Santa Cruz County offers exceptional birding year-round, but different seasons offer different highlights:
- Spring (April-May): Migration brings many species through the area, and breeding activity begins. Elegant trogons typically arrive in Madera Canyon in April. Hummingbird diversity peaks in late spring.
- Summer monsoon (July-September): The monsoon season brings Mexican species north, including rare birds that wander into the Santa Cruz and Patagonia mountain ranges. Painted redstarts, sulphur-bellied flycatchers, and many other species are active during breeding season.
- Fall (October-November): Migration brings another wave of species through the area. Hawk watching can be excellent at the Arizona Hawkwatch sites in the county.
- Winter (December-March): Rare Mexican sparrows, warblers, and other overwintering species can be found. The Patagonia area is especially rewarding during winter for rare bird sightings.
Madera Canyon, the Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve, and the Rio Rico area are the most reliable birding hotspots in the county.
Many visitors cross between Nogales, Arizona, and Nogales, Sonora, safely each year. However, it is important to be informed and prepared:
- Documentation: U.S. citizens need a valid passport or passport card to cross into Mexico and return to the United States. NEXUS and SENTRI cards are also accepted.
- Current conditions: Always check the U.S. State Department's current travel advisories for Mexico before crossing. Conditions can change, and certain areas of Sonora are designated with elevated caution levels.
- Stay in tourist areas: The tourist and commercial areas near the Nogales port of entry in Sonora are generally visited without incident. Avoid wandering far from the main commercial districts.
- Vehicle insurance: U.S. auto insurance does not cover you in Mexico. If driving, obtain Mexican auto insurance before crossing.
- Customs regulations: Be aware of what you can bring back into the United States from Mexico, including limits on alcohol, tobacco, and other goods.
- Many Nogales, Arizona, residents and visitors cross regularly for dining, dentistry, pharmacies, and shopping, and consider it a routine and enjoyable experience.
Santa Cruz County's diverse terrain supports several agricultural industries:
- Grapes and wine: The high-elevation grasslands of the Sonoita-Elgin plateau (partly in Santa Cruz County) have become one of Arizona's premier wine grape growing regions, with a growing number of wineries and vineyards producing award-winning wines.
- Pecans: The Santa Cruz River valley supports pecan orchards, with the consistent water supply and climate well-suited to this crop.
- Cattle ranching: Historic cattle ranches continue to operate throughout the county's grasslands, continuing a tradition dating to the Spanish colonial era.
- Fresh vegetables: Winter vegetables are grown in the milder lower elevations near the border.
- The county is also a major transit point for produce from the Mexican state of Sonora entering the United States — Nogales handles a very significant percentage of all fresh produce imported from Mexico.
Major Communities
Nogales
County seat, population ~19,000, binational border city and commercial center
Rio Rico
Population ~19,000, largest unincorporated community and growing residential area
Tubac
Population ~1,200, Arizona's first European settlement and premier arts community
Patagonia
Population ~900, charming small town known for birding and arts
Tumacacori
Small community home to Tumacacori National Historical Park
Elgin / Sonoita
Small wine country communities on the high grassland plateau