The ever-growing popularity of this premier natural attraction is changing the face of Benson. Wal-Mart opened 99,000 square-feet Supercenter in 2006, positioning Benson to emerge as the major retail center of northern Cochise County. Future trends are already taking shape: Te city's 2006 taxable sales were up an unbelievable 45.8 percent, the highest annual growth rate in the entire county.
Another phenomenon began in 2006: The launching of large-scale, master-planned communities beyond the Benson city limits in the unincorporated areas of Cochise County. Benson issued 104 new home permits in 2006 compared to only 12 permits over the entire preceding five-year period. Currently, more than 20,000 new homes are planned for construction. With developers so eagerly eyeing the available land surrounding Benson, analysts see Benson emerging as the county's largest city in the coming years!
Agriculture in Cochise County is another important economic driver and especially in the Willcox area just minutes from Sunsites community. Boasting the largest weekly cattle auction in the state, Willcox is also home to large-scale operations like Eurofresh Farms, the world's largest supplier of greenhouse tomatoes. Diversification has seen the establishment of apple orchards, pistachio and pecan groves, ostrich farms, and to the Cochise County Wine Trails. The count's well-established U-Pick-It industry already provides fresh produce for all of Southern Arizona and Southwestern New Mexico.
The city of Douglas, just down Highway 191 from Sunsites and Sunsites Ranches, was recently dubbed one of the nation's best "metropolitan" areas and a "Top 100" small city. Both Benson and Willcox offer local hospitals and branch centers of Cochise College, solidifying their place as full-service "hub cities" poised to serve an ever-growing rural population. Without a doubt, the future of Cochise Country is brighter than ever, as this land of breathtaking natural beauty is being discovered by business, commerce, industry, and residential developers.