The area that would one day become known as Oro Valley has been home to human activity for thousands of years. Long before the coming of European immigrants to the area, Native Americans called these valleys home. The Hohokam tribes were the most numerous of those that called this area their home, though the Apache also had a presence here.

The actual settlement of Oro Valley got underway in the late 1800s, when it became home to George Pusch, a German immigrant. Pusch created a large ranch in the area, which became well known for the steam pump it used to provide water for the livestock.

Oro Valley, AZ history also involves the Gold Rush. The nearby Santa Catalina Mountains were rumored to be the home of a lost gold mine, the Iron Door Gold Mine, and the area supposedly had rich reserves of gold, which called many gold rushers to the area.

In World War II, Oro Valley, Arizona history took another turn. The end of the war signaled a population explosion as returning vets and their families pushed westward. It was not until well after World War II that the town was actually incorporated, though. It became a technical township in 1970.

This history of Oro Valley, AZ through the current year saw record growth during the late 1980s and 1990s. This applied to both residential and commercial aspects of the area. Master planned communities came to the area, as did numerous well-known manufacturers such as Honeywell.

Currently, Oro Valley is one of the most affluent areas in the state of Arizona. It has also made a name for itself in the area of environmental protection and green initiatives. Part of this has been the town’s considerable devotion to creating green areas and parklands surrounding the area.