Tucson
According to the 1922 article in the Tucson Sun, and an English scholar, Seymour H.C. Hawtrey, the name Tucson was bestowed on the city by the Spanish Monarchy. He claimed that the city was given the "Order of the Golden Fleece, or Toison d' Or." He acknowledges previous less prestigious definitions which align closely with other histories written about the naming of the city. The name and words mentioned in the article and in many other places, stem from Indian words meaning "black base," "good water" and "yes water." The native naming is the more authentic origin of Tucson. The name stems from Papago Indians in reference to Sentinel Mountain, with the base being darker than the summit. The city grew as a result of Franciscan missionaries throughout the 18th century and the town served as the original territorial capital until the capital city moved to Prescott in 1877. Additionally, it grew in prominence after the Gadsden Purchase and as a result of the discovery of silver in Tombstone in 1879.
Article: "Tucson, Presidio Of Golden Fleece, Ennobled By Monarch," Tucson Citizen (Tucson), February 26, 1922.
Additional Citation: Byrd H. Granger, Arizona's Names: X Marks the Place (Tucson, AZ: Falconer Pub., 1983).630.
CountyPima CountyStateArizona CountryUnited StatesGeographic Coordinates[1]