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Best
Retirement Towns and Cities
25
Top Affordable Retirement Spots in the U.S.
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Arizona
Mesa, Arizona | Prescott,
Arizona | Scottsdale,
Arizona | Tubac,
Arizona | Tucson,
Arizona
| Early Spanish explorers to this area
included Cabeza de Vaca in 1536 and Marcos de Niza in 1539. During
the late 17th century, several Spanish missions were founded, and in
1821 the region came under Mexican rule. At the end of the Mexican
War (1846-1848), the northern portion of the area became a part of U.S.
territory New Mexico. In 1863, Arizona became a separate
territory, and settlement accelerated after the 1866 surrender of Geronimo
ended 25 years of Apache wars.
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Urban expansion that began
during World War II started straining limited water resources, and in
1963 Arizona began construction of the huge Central Arizona project, which
diverts water from the Colorado River and carries it across Arizona for
use on farms and in the Phoenix-Tucson area. Thirty-eight percent of
all U.S. Native American tribal lands (Navajo, Hopi and Apache) are in
Arizona, and the state has the third largest Native American population in
the United States.
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| Warm
weather and plentiful recreation
continue to attract retirees. Those over 55 here have significant
political and social clout, helping to make this southwestern state a
continuing retirement favorite. The state's largest cities are Phoenix,
Tempe and Tucson. |
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