Marana Arizona
Marana is a town located in Pima County, Arizona. In 1700, the Spaniards came about and started the first cattle ranches. It has been a transportation center for farming and ranching because for centuries the area has been considered as prime farmland. It has a vast rural covering around 500 square miles. Indians used the dependable water supply to grow corn, beans, squash and cotton where the location of Brawley Wash joins Santa Cruz River. The town’s name was derived from the Spanish word “maraña,” which means “impassable tangle” or “jungle,” because the area was overgrown with dense mesquite tickets.
Today, after Marana’s incorporation in 1977, the town has a total population of 23,520 based on the U.S. Census Bureau 2004. Agriculture remains as a major force in the town’s economy but due to its location, a business friendly government and no property taxes, a recent influx of residential and commercial development has occurred. Within an hour’s drive are a few recreational opportunities like the Picacho Peak State Park, Catalina State Park, and the Saguaro National Monument.
