Population Growth by Decade Tucson Pima County

Over the past 50 years, the population in both Arizona and Pima County has grown at a rapid pace. In fact, according to the Census Bureau's latest population estimates, Arizona is the fastest growing state in the United States, just ahead of Nevada. Between 1950 and 2000, Arizona grew by 584 percent. Its July 1, 2009, population was estimated at just over 6.3 million. During this same period, the population in Pima County increased by 497 percent to a July 1, 2005, population estimate of approximately 958,000. In comparison, the entire United States grew approximately 86 percent during this same period. Despite this phenomenal rate of growth, Pima County’s share of the state population has actually been steadily decreasing from 16.45 percent in 2000 to approximately 15.5 percent in 2006.

Suburban areas continue to lead the PAG region in percentage growth. From 1990 to 2000, Marana and Oro Valley experienced the highest (519%) and second highest (345%) growth rate of any Arizona city or town, respectively. Sahuarita has grown over 30 percent each year since 2003. Of all the incorporated jurisdictions in Pima County, only South Tucson has experienced an overall decline in population over the past 25 years. Between 1980 and 2000, the population decreased by 16 percent. Metro Tucson reached the 1 million mark in late 2006 and is expected to have a population of approximately 1,084,000 by 2010.