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In 1985 The University of Arizona entered its second century of service. Founded in 1885 by an act of the Territorial Legislature, the University was created with an appropriation of $25,000 but no land. Neither the city nor the county cared to provide the land because they were disappointed with their "prize" from the Legislature. They would have preferred to become home to the state capital, the prison, or even the state hospital--anything but the University. Just before the money was returned to the Legislature, however, two gamblers and a saloon-keeper donated land "way out east of town" and the University officially began.
Today, The University of Arizona is one of the top 20 public research institutions in the nation, with a student enrollment of nearly 34,000 and a faculty/staff of 12,500 on a 334-acre campus near the geographical center of Tucson. As a land-grant institution, The University of Arizona has a three-fold mission of teaching, research, and public service. According to the Membership Criteria Index of the Association of Research Libraries (an organization representing the largest libraries in North America), the University of Arizona is ranked 31st among the 112 university library members. A member of the Pacific 10 Athletic Conference since 1978, The University of Arizona competes in 17 intercollegiate sports.
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