Arizona's Cochise County is a legendary place with a rich heritage. It is located in the high Chihuanhuan Desert and is an outdoor lover's wonderland. Outside magazine ranks hiking in the Chiricahua Mountains as one of the top 50 outdoor experiences in the country. Money magazine declared Bisbee and Cochise County one of the top 10 vacation destinations in the United States. Located in the southeastern corner of the state, Cochise County has an estimated population of 121,435 residents.

The communities within Cochise County all have a charming Old West flavor that is so refreshing and unique today. You will find rodeos, old-fashioned county fairs, small town parades, ghost towns, the OK Corral, historical museums and fun community festivals. Major cities in the county include Benson, Bisbee, Douglas, Sierra Vista, Tombstone and Willcox. The terrain has many facets-- forested mountain canyons, streams, lakes, rivers, grasslands and desert. Lonely railroad tracks and one-lane bridges are incorporated into the regional landscape. Dirt roads extend for miles into the horizon. Cattle ranches mirror a time gone by with rustic wooden corrals.

B enson is 45 miles northwest of Tucson. It is nestled in the historic San Pedro Valley and is the home of Kartchner Caverns State Park. Kartchner Caverns is situated within Whetstone Mountains and is regarded as one of the most visually stunning caverns in the entire world. The 3,585-foot elevation enables residents to enjoy a moderate climate with summer highs around 96 degrees and winter days about 62 degrees. Benson is the region's gateway for visitors coming from Tucson and Phoenix. Bisbee, Tombstone, and Douglas are south of Benson on Hwy 80.

Located a mile above sea level and 90 miles southwest of Tucson in the Mule Mountains, Bisbee began as an Old West mining camp. It proved to be one of the richest mineral sites in the world, producing nearly three million ounces of gold and more than eight billion pounds of copper, not to mention silver, lead and zinc. By the early 1900s, the Bisbee community was the largest city between St. Louis and San Francisco. No longer a mining town, Bisbee is the county seat of Coshise County and is now a thriving arts and antiquing community with a European style. The many unique boutiques and galleries along Main Street are complemented by an assortment of excellent restaurants.

Douglas and its surrounding area boast a plethora of attractions for birders, hikers, and cavers. The town's wide streets are lined with historic buildings including the Gadsden Hotel, one of the last remnants of the turn-of-the-century's majestic hotels. You can relive the intrigue of the 1880s at the historic John Slaughter Ranch Museum just 18 miles east of town. The international border crossing takes you to Douglas' sister city, Agua Prieta, Sonora - a threshold to the fascinating culture of northern Mexico.

S ierra Vista is Cochise County's largest city and home to an array of historical, commercial and natural experiences. For example, Fort Huachuca and the Military Intelligence Museum express the rich heritage of the Fort during the Apache Wars and the facility's vital modern role in protecting the nation. The Mall at Sierra Vista features top national retailers and family- oriented activities while the nearby San Pedro National Conservation Area stands as one of the country's leading bird watching environments.

T ombstone popularly know as "The Town Too Tough To Die" is a Registered Historic National Landmark that thrives today as the heart of the county telling and reliving the days of famous and infamous western history. Residents and visitors walk the same streets as Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday once did as well as witness what it was like when history was made at the OK Corral. Other favorite attractions include Big Nosed Kate's, the Crystal Palace, Boothill Cemetery, Tombstone Courthouse State Park, the Bird Cage Theater and the world's largest living rose tree at the Rose Tree Museum. Tombstone offers entertainment and history in ways that can't be matched anywhere else.

W illcox was known as the "Cattle Capital of the West" and was the premier beef-producing town throughout the United States. Up until 1935, 40 to 50 thousand cattle were shipped out of Willcox. Today, the town continues to thrive as an agricultural community, especially celebrated for its apples, and is home to the Cowboy Hall of Fame, the Rex Allen Museum and the Chiricahua Regional Museum and Research Center. Nearby are some of the most awe-inspiring natural landscapes in the Southwestern United States: Cochise Stronghold, the Chiricahua National Monument, the Willcox Playa bird habitat all combine to make the town a truly charming mixture of culture, nature and western history.

Cochise County has a diverse economic environment with modern businesses, tourist destinations, outdoor adventures, art venues and agriculture strongholds. The median household income is $32,105 per year in the county. Housing options vary from renovated Victorian style homes in the trendy Bisbee area, private farmhouses in the country to traditional single family homes in a downtown neighborhoods. The median price for a home here is remarkable affordable at $80,200.

Cochise County oversees 23 school districts in the county. All of which offer a fine educational experience for resident children. The Cisco Networking Academy is Benson Unified Schools' new career and technical education program for high school students. It offers junior and senior students the opportunity to train for entry into a high tech / high skilled / high salaried occupation.

This is a culturally rich area with close proximity to Mexico and other major cities in Arizona. Cochise County is an outstanding place to live, work, retire or raise a family. If you are considering moving to the area, or would like more information, please feel free to request a "free relocation package" today!