The Spanish name of the city, Tucsón, is derived from the O'odham Cuk Ṣon, meaning "at the base of the black hill", a reference to a basalt-covered hill now known as Sentinel Peak or "A" Mountain.

Built in 1939 for the movie Arizona, Old Tucson Studios was subsequently used for the filming of many movies and television westerns, including Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957), Rio Bravo (1959), El Dorado (1966), and the Little House on the Prairie TV series (1974-83). It was opened to the public in 1960, and historical tours were offered about the movies filmed there, along with live cast entertainment featuring stunt shows and shootouts.

It was included in the state of Sonora after Mexico gained independence from the Spanish Empire in 1821.

The United States Handball Association Hall of Fame, located in Tucson, serves as America's shrine to the game of handball. It honors the heritage of the sport, acknowledges great players and contributors, and encourages participation of all ages.

In 1955, the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society put on the first Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in a grade-school cafeteria. From such humble beginnings sprang what now occupies over 50 venues around town from mid-January through mid-February.

Tucson is on an alluvial plain in the Sonoran Desert, surrounded by five minor ranges of mountains: the Santa Catalina Mountains and the Tortolita Mountains to the north, the Santa Rita Mountains to the south, the Rincon Mountains to the east, and the Tucson Mountains to the west.

Saguaro National Park gets its name from the saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea), a large cactus that is native to the Sonoran Desert and that does not grow naturally elsewhere.