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Phoenix, AZ


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Phoenix, Arizona

Introduction to Phoenix

Phoenix, AZ, is the sixth largest city in the United States. According to U.S. Census data, Phoenix is the 14th largest metropolitan area in the United States. Phoenix is also the capital of Arizona, as well as the largest city and largest metropolitan area in Arizona. Phoenix is the largest capital city by population, and the third largest capital city by area in the United States.

Phoenix is located in central Arizona, in the southwestern United States. It is 20 minutes west of Tempe, and 20 minutes southwest of Scottsdale. Phoenix is home to more than five Fortune 1000 company headquarters, including well-recognized names such as Avnet, Phelps Dodge, and PetSmart. Nearby Tempe is home to US Airways. Other companies with major operations in Phoenix include: Intel, Motorola, AlliedSignal, Honeywell, Boeing, American Express, Prudential, Charles Schwab and more.

Phoenix has received the National Civic League's prestigious "All-America City" Award four times. In 1993, Phoenix was selected as the "Best Run City in the World" by the Bertelsmann Foundation of Germany.

Phoenix has an arid climate that is characterized by some of the hottest seasonal temperatures anywhere. Phoenix averages 325 sunny days and less than eight inches of rain a year. The hottest recorded summer temperature was 122 degrees Fahrenheit. Snow is very rare in Phoenix, though it still can occur occasionally.

Phoenix History

The original settlers of what was to become Phoenix were the Hohokam Indian people, who lived there as early as 300 BC. The first non-native American settlers founded a farming community near what was to become Phoenix. The Town of Phoenix was officially recognized in May of 1868. Phoenix was incorporated as a city in 1881. At that time it had a population of approximately 2,500 people.

Some key dates in Phoenix's history include:

  • In 1911, the Theodore Roosevelt Dam near Phoenix, then the largest masonry dam in the world, began operation.
  • In 1912, Phoenix became a state capital with Arizona statehood.
  • In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge sold 13,000 acres of South Mountain to Phoenix. This was to become South Mountain Park, which, at its present size of 16,500 acres, is the largest metropolitan park in the world. Every year South Mountain Park sees three million visitors.

Phoenix Arts and Culture

Phoenix is a center of arts and culture. Phoenix offers museums, the performing arts, and much more. Some of Phoenix's more notable museums include:

  • The Arizona Science Center
  • The Desert Botanical Garden in nearby Papago Salado
  • The Heard Museum
  • The Phoenix Art Museum
  • The Phoenix Museum of History
  • The Phoenix Zoo in nearby Papago Salado
  • The Pueblo Grande Museum and Cultural Park in nearby Papago Salado

For patrons of the performing arts, Phoenix has a lot to offer. Some of the more notable attractions include:

  • The Actor's Theatre of Phoenix
  • The Arizona Opera
  • Ballet Arizona
  • The Herberger Theater Center
  • The Orpheum Theatre
  • The Phoenix Symphony Orchestra
  • The Phoenix Theatre

Phoenix Sports and Leisure

Phoenix has plenty to offer to keep sports fans happy. Phoenix is home to the following major sports teams:

  • Baseball - The Major League Baseball (MLB), Arizona Diamondbacks. In addition, in the spring of every year, nine major league baseball teams come to the Phoenix area for spring training.
  • Basketball - The National Basketball Association (NBA) Phoenix Suns, and the WNBA Phoenix Mercury.
  • Football - The National Football League (NFL) Arizona Cardinals.
  • Hockey - The National Hockey League (NHL) Phoenix Coyotes.
  • Lacrosse - The National Lacrosse League (NLL) Arizona Sting play in nearby Glendale.

Nearby Tempe is also home to the NCAA College Football Fiesta Bowl and Insight Bowl. Phoenix is also often referred to as the "golf capital of the world" with more than 200 golf courses in the greater Phoenix area.

Phoenix's dry and sunny climate make it an ideal location for a wide variety of outdoor activities. In addition to "normal" outdoor activities such as blading, biking, horseback riding, hiking, boating and more, Phoenix is an ideal location for more exotic outdoor activities such as hot-air ballooning, or soaring in a glider.

Phoenix "Must See" Attractions

Phoenix has attractions too numerous to do justice in a simple list. Some of Phoenix's more unique attractions include:

  • The Desert Botanical Garden
  • The Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum
  • The Pueblo Grande Museum and Cultural Park
  • South Mountain Park, the largest municipal park in the world

Phoenix at Night

As one would expect of a city in the southwest, Phoenix restaurants offer wonderful southwestern, Latino, and Mexican cuisine. But Phoenix also offers a good selection of other cuisine, including eastern cuisine such as Thai, Vietnamese, and Japanese, as well as the cuisine of many other cultures. If interests turn more to the evening nightclub scene, Phoenix offers everything from brew pubs, to sports bars, dance clubs, and country. Good places to look for the latest venues and happenings include "The Rep Entertainment Guide" section of the Arizona Republic, the weekly New Times, and Where Phoenix/Scottsdale Magazine.

High Points

Phoenix strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Arizona):

CategoryTrophy
Public Transportation Use
(vs. State)		Top 7%Phoenix Public Transportation Use
Racial Diversity
(vs. State)		Top 9%Phoenix Racial Diversity
Well-Paid Single Men
(vs. State)		Top 15%Phoenix Well-Paid Single Men
Affordability of Property Taxes
(vs. Peers)		Top 18%Phoenix Affordability of Property Taxes

Comparative Profile of Phoenix, AZ

Comparing Phoenix to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Arizona (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Male Share of the Population109
Children Under 5 Years Old98
Well-Paid Single Men69
Racial Diversity610
Well-Paid Single Women38
Age of the Population33
Senior Citizens22
Female Share of the Population12

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Average Household Size86
Portion of People Married72

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Median Family Income68
People Above Poverty54
People in Middle Class or Better56
College Educated Adults58

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Working at Home86
Walking and Biking to Work76
Public Transportation Use610
Short Commute Times43

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Seasonal and Vacation Housing93
Affordability of Property Taxes93
Housing Recently Built95
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals610
Affordability of Rents53
People Living Alone38

Crime

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Low Violent Crime54
Low Property Crime33
Detailed pages on related topics: Colleges in Phoenix, Graduate Schools in Phoenix, Phoenix mortgage and property, Phoenix travel

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