Rio Rico Arizona Map

About Rio Rico, Arizona

Rio Rico is a locality in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States. It has a population of 22,017. The population density is 133.4 people per km². Rio Rico is located at 31.4715°N, 110.9765°W. It observes the Mountain Standard Time — no DST (America/Phoenix) timezone. ZIP code: 85640.

Rio Rico unfolds across a vast expanse of high desert, where the Sonoran landscape asserts its raw, untamed beauty. It lies 33.6 miles south of Sahuarita, AZ (from Sahuarita, AZ: bearing 182°T), and is situated 9.4 miles north-north-west of Nogales. Rolling hills, softened by the passage of time and the persistent caress of wind, give way to broad valleys that stretch towards distant, jagged mountain ranges. The air, especially in the early morning, carries a dry, clean scent, a mixture of creosote bush and sun-baked earth, and the light, even at midday, possesses a peculiar clarity, sharp and unwavering. Scattered mesquite trees, their branches reaching like gnarled fingers, offer scant shade, while ocotillo plants, their spiny stalks tipped with fleeting scarlet blooms, stand sentinel against the immense, pale blue sky. The character of Rio Rico is one of open space, of horizons that seem to go on forever, and a profound, almost hushed stillness that can settle over the land as the sun dips low, painting the sky in hues of apricot and rose. The history of Rio Rico is intrinsically tied to the arid lands it occupies, a story of resilience and adaptation. Once part of vast ranching territories, its development gained momentum in the mid-20th century, a vision of suburban expansion taking root in this rugged terrain. The local economy, while not driven by a single dominant industry, finds its pulse in services supporting its growing residential population and in the nearby agricultural endeavors that coax life from the challenging soil. The Santa Cruz River, though often a whisper rather than a roar in this dry climate, has historically shaped the patterns of settlement and agriculture, its presence a vital, if sometimes subtle, lifeblood. Though it boasts no singular grand monument, the enduring spirit of those who have chosen to build their lives here, amidst the stark beauty and quiet solitude, imbues Rio Rico with its own distinctive character, a testament to human tenacity in a land of dramatic extremes.

About This Rio Rico Map Page

This page provides an embedded street and satellite map of Rio Rico, Arizona — switch between views using the small square in the bottom left-hand corner of the map. Coordinates: 31.471483, -110.976477. Live weather conditions are sourced directly from the National Weather Service, with current observations and a 7-day forecast also powered by Open-Meteo. Real-time local news and world news feeds keep the page current, while a Wikipedia summary or an editorially written description provides background on Rio Rico and Santa Cruz County.

Detailed location data for Rio Rico includes the ZIP code (85648), telephone area code (520), county seat of Santa Cruz County (Nogales), and school district assignment (Santa Cruz Valley Unified District). These are among the most commonly searched location details for any US city or town.

Location data is drawn from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and cross-verified against 2020 US Census records by coordinate proximity — ensuring the correct Rio Rico is identified even where the name is shared across multiple counties or states. Population figures are sourced from the 2020 US Census.