city, Cochise County, southeastern Arizona, U.S. Located 70 miles (113 km) southeast of Tucson, Sierra Vista is the county's commercial and residential centre. At first a hamlet outside the gates of Fort Huachuca, a U.S. cavalry command post during the Apache Wars and later a communications and military intelligence centre, the settlement was originally called Fry after local rancher Oliver Fry. The city was founded in 1927 and was renamed Sierra Vista (Spanish: “Mountain View”) when it was incorporated. Through a program of annexations, including that of Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista now encompasses some 130 square miles (337 square km). Attractions for visitors include the Ramsey Canyon Preserve, where many rare bird species can be found; the San Pedro Riparian Conservation Area; the Coronado National Monument in the nearby Huachuca Mountains; and the historic town of Tombstone. Inc. 1956. Pop. (1990) 32,983; (2000) 37,775.