Amado is in Southern Arizona . It is in Pima County. The town is situated in the Santa Cruz Valley near Mount Hopkins on Interstate 19. Green Valley is 10 miles to the north.

Overview:
Amado is a very small community that has endured the test of time. The town sits at an elevation of 2,885 feet. The southwestern climate has a winter low temperature of 40 degrees and a summer high temperature of 100 degrees. Many travelers make a stop here on their way to or from Nogales and Mexico. The business section is ready to meet your needs. 

Community Features:
Amado has several attractions located nearby. Many travelers make a stop in town at The Cow Palace. The Cow Palace is part of the business district on the west side. The restaurant/tavern is a local landmark with a large white cow skull with horns placed in front. It has been around since the 1920’s and was a hangout for western movie stars, on location in Arizona . Visitors will find interesting memorabilia. Tumacacori National Monument is just 30 miles to the southeast, in the town of Tubac. The mission was most active during 1791 and 1812. Father Kino made his visit to Tumacacori in 1691. 

Today, the monument allows a look back to Spanish colonial times. The monument includes three mission sites. Visitors will see the San Jose de Tumacacori built in 1800, the walls of the visita of San Cayetano de Calabazas and a portion of Los Santos Angeles de Guevavi built in 1751. There are interpretive specialists dressed in native costume to create a realistic scene.

There are a couple outdoor activities that you won’t want to miss. Arivaca Lake is a 90-acre well-stocked lake built by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. If you decide to make the trip, you should be prepared for the rough drive out and the very primitive facilities once you arrive. Visitors will find only a boat ramp and toilets. The lake is a relaxed site that is ideal for bird watching and lakeside walks. 

Those dropping their line will find large-mouthed bass, bluegill and catfish. You may reach the lake from Amado by heading southwest out of town toward the town of Arivaca on Arivaca Road. Once you are in Arivaca, take Forest Service Road 39 east for five miles to the lake. Buenos Aries National Wildlife Refuge includes over 300 species of birds. 

It is a birder’s paradise. You might spot a gray hawk, buff-collared nightjar, thick-billed kingbird or a Strickland’s woodpecker. You can reach the refuge by following Arivaca Road southwest out of Amado, until it dead-ends at State Highway 286. It is best to check in the town of Arivaca for exact directions.

History:
Four brothers came to the New World from Spain in 1790. The Amado brothers arrived to become soldiers for the Spanish King. Eventually, three of the brothers ended up in the area that is now Amado. The fourth brother went to California.

Manuel H. Amado founded the town in 1910. Manuel established a post office and a store. In the beginning, the town was named Amadoville. 

When Demetrio Amado was the postmaster in 1920, he requested a name change. The request passed and the town’s name was shortened to Amado. The town has been a place for trade, agriculture, stock raising and mining.

The Amado family has continued to live in this region, working as ranchers and freight operators.