Jefferson Park Neighborhood

Welcome to Jefferson Park Neighborhood, Tucson, AZ. Jefferson Park dates back to the late 1890’s growing out of a land claim under the Homestead Act of 1862. A young single German woman, by the name of Anna Stattelman, built the original homestead around 1898 on the corner of what is now Santa Rita Avenue and Linden Street. She subsequently married a mine inspector named Lester and became Annie Lester—hence one of the street names in the neighborhood. The Neighborhood is named after the Jefferson Park School which is in turn named after the original name of Speedway—Jefferson Street. Jefferson Park was registered as a neighborhood with the city of Tucson in July of 1994.

Today the neighborhood is bordered on the south by its largest neighborhood, the University of Arizona. Many students, faculty and staff reside in the neighborhood either as renters or owners. Families who enjoy the proximity to the university and downtown and retired folks make up the balance of the inhabitants. Jefferson Park blends a refreshing diversity of people. The neighborhood is bisected by Mountain Avenue which runs north and south and is an urban model for bike and pedestrian accommodation. The Cat-tran bus runs regularly bringing faculty and students to work and study and home again. The northern border is Grant Road. Campbell and Euclid Avenues define its rectangular shape on the east and west. It is roughly one mile east and west and ½ mile south and north. Statistics for 2006 indicate the presence of 993 homes and 2283 persons. Owner to renter ration is approximately 50/50.

A great asset of the neighborhood is it central location within the City of Tucson. It is close to downtown, to major transportation corridors and to the U of A, which gives its residents ready access to employment, education, shopping, entertainment and recreation.. The neighborhood has generated an active neighborhood association which has sought state and federal grants for neighborhood improvements. With the City of Tucson Department of Urban Planning and Design and The College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Drachman Institute of the U of A, the group has authored a fine Neighborhood Plan that can be viewed on-line at drachmaninstitute.org/currentprojects. We invite you to view the slide show of the neighborhood. Jefferson Park is a great place to live! Enjoy these photos taken by the proud residents. (Acknowledgement: Jefferson Park Neighborhood Plan, draft Aug 18, 2008)