Picacho is in Southern Arizona . It is in Pinal County. The town is located in the lower Santa Cruz River Valley, along Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson. Tucson is 50 miles southeast.

Overview:
Picacho has ideal land for grazing and agriculture. In the beginning, it was an early stagecoach stop. The town sits at an elevation of 1,624 feet. The warm desert climate has a winter low temperature of 40 degrees and a summer high temperature of 100 degrees. The small town has a rich western history to tell.

History:
The name Picacho is a Spanish word meaning “peak” or “point.” The name represents Picacho Peak, which rises 1,500 feet and stands apart from the Picacho Mountain Range to the northeast. This separation allows the peak to be easily noticed in the middle of the desert landscape. The name Picacho Peak is actually redundant, with the words being “peak peak.”
Picacho Peak has stood as a landmark, as far back in time, as the Hohokam Indians. The Indians used it as a stop over when trading with groups to the south. The Spanish missionaries and Mormon Battalion also used this spot as a resting place during their travels. Next, came the Butterfield Overland Stage Line with a station pass near here in the 1850’s.
Picacho Pass runs between Picacho Peak and the Picacho Mountain Range and is the site of the only Civil War Battle fought in Arizona . The skirmish took place in April 1862, when troops from the Union’s California Volunteers came up to a detachment of soldiers on guard duty from the Confederate’s Texas Volunteers.
Picacho’s post office was established in 1881. The town is actually a couple miles northwest of Picacho Peak and Picacho Pass and remains unincorporated.
Today, the town’s economy is based on agriculture and wholesale/retail trade. It is a shipping point for a variety of products, such as livestock, cotton, citrus and pecans. Both Interstate 10 and the Southern Pacific Railroad run through the pass and alongside town. Visitors will marvel at its scenic views, nearby historic attractions and outdoor activities.

Community Features:
Picacho has a famous outdoor activity situated nearby. Picacho Peak State Park is located in Picacho Pass, along Interstate 10. The park opened in 1968 and provides hiking trails, picnicking and camping. During the springtime, there is a spectacle of wildflowers blooming. The flowers edge the trails at the base of the peak.