In May, 1975, after more than a year in existence, the Town of Oro Valley got a sign from the Arizona Dept of Transportation along Oracle Road, also known as State Route 77. As the Tucson Citizen noted in 1975, "Motorists looking for an on Oro Valley business district are in for a surprise: There isn't one." How things have changed. Now, much of Oracle Road in Oro Valley is flanked by stores, large and small.
1974 Oro Valley incorporates
The move by Oro Valley's 650 residents in 1970 was opposed by Tucson and county officials. After a four-year legal battle, the community became the third municipality in Pima County with many residents hoping its population would not exceed 4,500. Today, more than 41,000 people call Oro Valley home.
