Southeast Arizona Economic Development Group

05/31/2026

Visitor activity across Santa Cruz County’s major park destinations in 2025 reflects a mix of steady demand, sharp rebounds, and renewed declines following the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic earlier in the decade. While overall interest in outdoor and cultural sites remains solid, recent year-to-year changes continue to vary widely across locations.

At Patagonia Lake State Park, visitation reached 237,284 in 2025, a 0.8% increase from 2024. That modest gain follows several years of stronger growth during and immediately after the pandemic, when outdoor recreation saw increased demand. Visitation climbed through the early 2020s and peaked in 2023, but has since leveled off. The past two years suggest that activity has settled into a consistent, elevated range rather than continuing to expand.

A different pattern emerged at Tubac Presidio State Historic Park, where visitation rose to 11,420 in 2025, a 57.4% increase from 7,256 in 2024. The jump marks a strong rebound after a weaker 2024 and reflects renewed interest following pandemic-era declines and uneven recovery in the years that followed. Earlier in the 2010s, visitation was higher and more stable, but the pandemic period introduced more variability. The latest increase brings totals closer to those earlier levels, though the pattern remains inconsistent from year to year.

Meanwhile, Tumacácori National Historical Park moved in the opposite direction. Visitation fell to 28,449 in 2025, a 19.3% decrease from 35,256 in 2024. Like many cultural and historic sites, visitation dropped sharply during the pandemic and then improved in the following years. Gains leading up to 2023 pointed to a gradual recovery, but declines in 2024 and again in 2025 show that progress has not been sustained, with visitation still well below pre-pandemic highs.

Taken together, the latest figures highlight how the pandemic continues to shape visitation patterns across Santa Cruz County. Patagonia Lake State Park has transitioned into a stable, high-visitation pattern after pandemic-era growth. Tubac Presidio State Historic Park posted a strong rebound in 2025 after a period of uneven recovery. In contrast, Tumacácori National Historical Park experienced a setback, giving back some of the gains made in the years immediately following the pandemic.

These differing trends suggest that while overall demand for parks and cultural attractions remains intact, recovery has not followed a uniform path. Some sites have stabilized after surging during the pandemic, others are still regaining lost ground, and a few continue to experience fluctuations as visitation patterns adjust in the years since.

05/31/2026

In 2025, total trade through the Nogales Ports of Entry was $34.0 billion, which was $0.5 billion (1.3%) less than in 2024. This shift was mainly because imports dropped by $0.8 billion (down 3.5%) to $22.8 billion, while exports increased by $0.4 billion (up 3.5%) to $11.3 billion. Even with this dip, trade remained at historically high levels, just below the record set in 2024.

The years leading up to 2025 saw a period of rapid growth. In 2024, trade hit an all-time high of $34.5 billion, with imports rising nearly 10% and exports up 5% from the previous year. 2023 also saw strong gains, with total trade up almost 10% to $31.9 billion, driven by a 15% jump in imports. The recovery from the pandemic was especially notable in 2022, when trade surged by over 16% to $29.1 billion, as both imports and exports rebounded sharply. This growth followed a significant drop in 2020, when trade fell by nearly 16% due to global disruptions. Since then, Nogales has experienced steady expansion, with trade nearly doubling since 2006.

05/29/2026

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05/27/2026

If there is one economic story quietly reshaping Graham County, it is the steady rise in wages and the consistency of that growth across the local workforce. In recent years, Graham County has moved away from the slower wage gains of the past, with earnings increasing across nearly every major occupational group. The result is a labor market in Graham County that is gradually strengthening and becoming more competitive.

By 2025, average annual wages in Graham County reached $58,934, up from $45,997 in 2020—a roughly 28% increase over five years. This kind of growth is significant for a rural county like Graham County, where wage gains tend to be more gradual. Hourly wages reflect the same pattern, rising from $22.11 in 2020 to $28.33 in 2025, also about a 28% increase. These steady gains suggest that Graham County employers are consistently adjusting pay upward to attract and retain workers in a tighter labor market.

Across Graham County, some of the strongest wage growth is occurring in higher-paying, high-skill fields. Management occupations now average over $100,000 annually, while healthcare practitioners exceed $108,000. These figures represent notable increases compared to 2020 levels and highlight how Graham County’s economy is responding to demand for skilled professionals. As healthcare services expand and organizations require more experienced leadership, wages in these areas have climbed accordingly.

At the same time, wage growth in Graham County is not limited to top-tier occupations. Mid-level jobs, including office and administrative support and business operations roles, have also seen steady increases. Office support positions in Graham County now average close to $48,000 annually, up roughly 25% over the five-year period. These gains are especially important because they affect a large segment of the county’s workforce, contributing to broader improvements in earnings across the community.

Even in sectors that have traditionally paid lower wages, Graham County is seeing upward movement. Food preparation occupations, for example, have increased from about $29,469 in 2020 to approximately $38,376 in 2025—an increase of roughly 30%. Retail and service-related jobs have followed a similar trajectory. While these occupations still sit below the county’s average wage, the upward trend reflects strengthening demand for workers and rising baseline pay across Graham County’s service economy.

Taken together, these patterns point to a labor market in Graham County that is gaining momentum. Wage growth is occurring across industries, supporting higher household incomes and potentially boosting local spending. At the same time, differences in pay levels across occupations remain part of the economic landscape, but the overall direction for Graham County is clearly positive.

For Graham County, this sustained rise in wages represents more than just higher earnings—it signals a stronger economic foundation. As wages continue to grow, the county is better positioned to retain workers, attract new talent, and support long-term economic stability.

05/27/2026

Wage growth in Santa Cruz County has continued on a steady upward path, with recent data showing meaningful gains across both professional and service-sector occupations. While the pace varies by industry, the overall direction is clear: earnings are rising, and in several key sectors, they are doing so at a notable rate.

Across all occupations, average annual wages reached $57,737 in 2025, up from $56,285 in 2024 and $54,115 in 2023. This represents an increase of about 2.6% over the past year and roughly 6.7% since 2023. These consistent gains suggest a labor market that is gradually strengthening, with wages improving even as growth remains measured rather than rapid.

Some of the most significant increases have occurred in healthcare, one of the county’s most important sectors. Average wages for healthcare practitioners rose from $93,444 in 2024 to $104,703 in 2025—an increase of approximately 12.1% in just one year. This sharp rise highlights ongoing demand for medical professionals and reflects competitive pressures to attract and retain skilled workers.

Retail and service-oriented occupations, which employ a large share of the local workforce, have also posted solid gains. Sales and related occupations increased from $47,548 in 2024 to $50,958 in 2025, a rise of about 7.2%. Similarly, food preparation and serving occupations climbed from $37,083 to $38,760 over the same period, an increase of roughly 4.5%. While these figures are lower in absolute terms than those in specialized fields, the rate of growth reflects improving wage conditions in industries central to the local economy.

Other sectors show more modest but still positive movement. Construction wages rose from $52,414 in 2024 to $53,271 in 2025, an increase of approximately 1.6%, while transportation and material moving occupations increased from $41,669 to $41,970, or about 0.7%. These gains point to steady conditions in industries tied to infrastructure, trade, and logistics.

Professional and administrative occupations have remained comparatively stable. Management wages increased from $106,059 to $107,268 between 2024 and 2025, a gain of about 1.1%. Business and financial occupations saw only a slight uptick—from $79,237 to $79,331—representing growth of less than 0.2%. Though modest, these increases reinforce the consistency of wages in sectors that support core economic activity.

Taken together, these trends show that wage growth in Santa Cruz County is broadly distributed across industries. Higher-paying sectors such as healthcare are seeing the fastest increases, while service-oriented fields are experiencing steady gains that contribute to overall income growth in the region. Even smaller percentage increases in large employment sectors can have a meaningful cumulative effect on local earnings.

The pattern that emerges is one of gradual but reliable improvement. Rather than dramatic swings, Santa Cruz County’s wage growth reflects steady progress, supported by ongoing demand for labor and the essential role of key industries such as healthcare, retail, and logistics. If these trends continue, the county is likely to see further incremental gains in wages, reinforcing a stable and resilient economic foundation.

05/22/2026

05/22/2026

Arizona Outdoor Hospitality Association Announces Butterfield RV Resort & Observatory as 2026 Medium Park of the Year

The Arizona Outdoor Hospitality Association (Arizona OHA) is proud to announce that Butterfield RV Resort & Observatory has been named the recipient of the 2026 Arizona OHA Medium-Size Park of the Year Award.

Located in Benson, Arizona, Butterfield RV Resort & Observatory has become a premier destination for RV travelers seeking comfort, community, and access to Southern Arizona’s natural beauty and dark skies. In addition to its well-maintained resort amenities and active guest lifestyle, the resort’s observatory offers visitors a one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience Arizona’s renowned stargazing environment through telescope viewing sessions.

Butterfield RV Resort & Observatory is centrally located to many area attractions including Tombstone, Kartchner Caverns, Bisbee, Pima Air & Space Museum, San Xavier Mission, Titan Missile Museum, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Old Tucson Western Theme Park, Mescal Movie Set, Amerind Foundation Museum, Biosphere 2, Saguaro National Park, Chiracahua National Monument, Coronado National Forest, Casinos, and Vinyards in Sonoita and Elgin.


The park has 172 spacious sites: 45 park model sites, 24 paved pull-through sites and 103 gravel back-in sites. It is conveniently located just off interstate 10 in the heart of Benson and in walking distance to grocery, pharmacy, and hardware store, Walmart, restaurants, and small retail outlets.


Many of Butterfield’s guests return every season and it’s not unusual for guests passing through to extend their stays at the park. Twenty percent of the park’s guests make Butterfield their permanent home and it’s a popular destination for rally groups.


The nightly (weather permitting) star shows presented at the park’s observatory is frequently highlighted as a unique and rewarding experience.
Presented annually, the Arizona OHA Park of the Year Awards recognize outstanding RV parks and campgrounds across the state that exemplify excellence in outdoor hospitality, guest services, park operations, and industry leadership. Butterfield RV Resort & Observatory earned this distinction for its exceptional commitment to guest experiences whether it be for a single night or a long-term stay, quality and unique amenities, innovative programming in their nightly star show, and dedication utilizing the local environment to create a one-of-a-kind experience.

To find a great park in Arizona or for more information about the Arizona Outdoor Hospitality Association and the Arizona OHA Awards Program, visit www.arizonaoha.com.

05/16/2026

Santa Cruz County is on the move, and the numbers tell a compelling story of shifting population dynamics and changing community landscapes. According to the latest 2025 estimates from the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity, the county’s population has reached 51,324—a notable increase of 8.6% from 47,279 just a decade ago. But where is this growth happening? The answer is clear: it’s outside the traditional city centers, with the unincorporated areas, and especially Rio Rico, driving the county’s expansion.

Nogales, long the county’s largest city and a historic gateway to the region, is holding steady with an estimated 19,994 residents in 2025. This figure represents a slight dip of 1.2% from 20,246 in 2015, reflecting a period of relative stability but not the kind of growth seen elsewhere in the county. Patagonia, the county’s small town nestled in the mountains, continues its gradual decline, now home to just 796 people—a decrease of 6.9% over the same period. These numbers highlight a broader trend: while the incorporated towns of Santa Cruz County remain important cultural and economic centers, they are not the primary engines of population growth.

The real action, however, is in the unincorporated areas, which have surged to 30,534 residents in 2025, up 16.6% from 26,178 in 2015. This remarkable growth—an increase of more than 4,300 people in just ten years—has transformed the county’s demographic landscape. Most of this unincorporated growth is happening in Rio Rico, a community that has become the county’s population engine. Once a quiet residential area, Rio Rico has seen its neighborhoods expand, new homes rise, and families move in at a pace unmatched elsewhere in the county. The area’s appeal is clear: affordable housing, scenic surroundings, and proximity to both Nogales and Tucson make it an attractive destination for new residents.

A look at the historical data underscores just how significant these changes are. In 1980, the entire county had just over 20,000 residents, with Nogales accounting for the vast majority. Over the decades, the county’s population steadily increased, but the most dramatic growth has occurred in the last twenty years, and especially in the unincorporated areas. While Nogales peaked at over 21,000 residents in the early 2000s, its population has since plateaued and even declined slightly. Patagonia, meanwhile, has remained small, with its population hovering around 800 to 900 residents for decades.

The shift toward unincorporated growth, and Rio Rico in particular, reflects broader trends seen in many parts of Arizona and the Southwest. As housing costs rise in urban centers and families seek more space and a quieter lifestyle, communities like Rio Rico become increasingly attractive. The area’s growth has brought new schools, businesses, and infrastructure, further fueling its appeal. At the same time, this rapid expansion presents challenges: ensuring that roads, utilities, and public services keep pace with population growth is an ongoing concern for county leaders.

For longtime residents, the changes are both exciting and bittersweet. The county’s rich history, shaped by ranching, mining, and cross-border trade, is still evident in its towns and landscapes. But the future is being written in places like Rio Rico, where new arrivals are helping to shape a vibrant, diverse community. As Santa Cruz County looks ahead, the trends are unmistakable: while Nogales and Patagonia remain vital parts of the county’s identity, the center of population growth has shifted decisively to the unincorporated areas, with Rio Rico leading the way.

In summary, Santa Cruz County’s population story over the past decade is one of steady overall growth, stability or slight decline in its incorporated towns, and a remarkable surge in the unincorporated regions—most notably in Rio Rico. The numbers may be clear, but the story they tell is about more than statistics: it’s about changing communities, new opportunities, and the evolving identity of a county on the rise.

05/15/2026