I’ve lived in Southeastern Arizona for more than three decades. I’ve seen many businesses and enterprises come and go in Cochise County. Despite the growth, there are still many services we don’t have here, and because of that, many of us hit the road to fill the gaps.
I asked our social media audience why they leave town and travel up to Tucson or Phoenix, and I found many similar answers. Here’s what our audience said.
Medical Care: The Biggest Reason We Hit the Road
Living in Sierra Vista means you don’t have to deal with a lot of things you’d find in a big city, like traffic jams, for example. But it also means there are things you might need that you do not have ready access to—and that means a drive to Tucson or Phoenix.
Medical care tops the list of reasons folks travel outside of Cochise County. Nearly half of the respondents said they head to Tucson or Phoenix for specialist appointments, procedures, or care at major hospitals.
According to a study by the University of Arizona, people who live in rural parts of our state often travel long distances for specialty care because their hometowns offer limited local availability. Whether it’s Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale or the VA in Tucson, healthcare is the number‑one reason people head to the bigger cities.
Shopping Runs: Costco, Trader Joe’s, And Everything We Don’t Have
Right behind medical needs is shopping. I’m sure no one is surprised by this one. Whenever I’ve asked what Sierra Vista needs, the top three answers are always Costco, Sam’s Club, and Trader Joe’s…