With a population of 45,308, Sierra Vista combines big-city amenities with a small-town feel. If you’re considering moving to Sierra Vista, you may be drawn to beautiful mountain views, plentiful opportunities for hiking and outdoor recreation, and family-friendly neighborhoods, and seemingly endless days of sunshine. However, there is even more to Sierra Vista than meets the eye. Here are some fun facts you may not know about this amazing little city in the heart of Cochise County.
Sierra Vista literally translates to “mountain view.”
If you know any Spanish, this fact may not be so surprising. However, you may not know just how the city got its name. Surrounded by dramatic mountain peaks, Sierra Vista is a natural choice for the city’s name, but this name was only chosen due to a bit of mischief on the part of a woman named Nola Walker. Nola was a friend of Marie Pfister, who was city manager at the time of the city’s incorporation in 1956. Marie had asked Nola to log suggestions for the city’s new name. When asked for the winning name, Nola didn’t tally the votes and instead told them her own entry for “Sierra Vista” was the winner.
The annual Christmas Bird Count in Sierra Vista frequently breaks records.
The Christmas Bird Count is a census held annually in the Western Hemisphere, which counts bird populations in specific areas. As a prominent destination for migratory birds in North America, Sierra Vista often records the highest tallies of inland species in the U.S. Sierra Vista is also informally referred to as the Hummingbird Capital of the world. Visitors to Ramsey Canyon Preserve in the Upper San Pedro River Basin are often greeted by an array of colorful hummingbirds as they traverse through the canyon.
Sierra Vista was home to the first McDonald’s drive thru.
It’s hard to picture a McDonald’s location without a drive thru, but before 1975, the fast food restaurant only served customers with walk-up service. On January 24, 1975, the first McDonald’s drive thru welcomed customers in Sierra Vista, and the concept became an instant success. The drive thru concept was inspired by local soldiers stationed at Fort Huachuca Army Base. Uniformed soldiers had to stay in their vehicles when they traveled off base, so the advent of a drive thru allowed them to pick up their burgers and fries without breaking any rules.
The Fort Huachuca base remains a significant influence on the city of Sierra Vista, as it remains the largest employer for residents in the area.
Sierra Vista has a large independent food scene.
Although the first McDonald’s drive thru is among the city’s claims to fame, Sierra Vista offers much more than chain restaurants. It is home to numerous independent restaurants with a wide variety of cultural influences. Vinnie’s New York Pizza, La Casita Mexican Restaurant and Cantina, and The German Café are just a few of the independent restaurants that food lovers won’t want to miss.
Sierra Vista has two sister cities.
Sierra Vista has two sister cities, one in the neighboring state of Sonora, Mexico, and the other in Saxony, Germany. Cananea, Mexico, became a sister city in 1989, and Radebeul, Germany, became a sister city in 1998. Sierra Vista and Radebeul currently have a foreign exchange program with one another.
Snow-capped peaks are a common sight during the winter in Sierra Vista.
Snow is often considered a rare sight in Southern Arizona, but with peaks reaching over 10,000 feet surrounding Sierra Vista, residents are often treated to the sight of snowy peaks during the winter months. Sierra Vista may even see the occasional snow shower, but winters in the city are generally mild.
The city of Sierra Vista maintains 17 different parks.
Families love living in Sierra Vista because there are so many family-friendly destinations to enjoy. This includes 17 city parks, with Veterans Memorial Park being the largest. Many annual events, concerts, and festivals are held at Veterans Memorial Park, which also features The Cove indoor aquatic center, a favorite destination of residents of all ages.
Now that you know a little more about the history and culture of Sierra Vista, it’s time to discover your dream home in this vibrant and welcoming city. Castle & Cooke has an inventory of centrally located, move-in ready homes along with even more homes under construction, so now is the time to plan your 2024 move to Sierra Vista.