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
southeastern 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 Pet Smart.
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.
About Phoenix
Phoenix is the capitol of Arizona state, and was
incorporated as a city on February 5, 1881. Phoenix
is located in central Arizona in the southwestern
United States, 118 miles (188 kilometers) northwest
of Tucson. Phoenix is Arizona's largest city and
largest metropolitan area by population. It is also
the county seat of Maricopa County and the principal
city of the Phoenix metropolitan area. Phoenix is
appropriately called Hoozdo, or "the place is hot",
in the Navajo language and Fiinigis in the Western
Apache language.
In 2006 Phoenix was the sixth largest city in the
United States according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The 2000 U.S. Census reported the Phoenix
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) as the
fourteenth largest in the U.S., with a population of
3,251,876. The city's MSA grew to an estimated
3,790,000 by 2004. Between 1990 and 2000, the
metropolitan area grew by 34 percent, making it the
eighth fastest growing metropolitan area in the U.S.
Phoenix is the largest capital city by population in
the U.S., and the third largest capital city by area
in the U.S. Phoenix has been selected four times
since 1950 as an All-America City, rare among larger
cities. The hallmark of an All-America City is the
extent to which its private citizens get involved in
the workings of their government. Thousands of
citizens have served on various city committees,
boards and commissions to assure that major
decisions are in the best interest of the people.
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
roller 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.
Downtown Phoenix
The downtown area of Phoenix has been undergoing a
major facelift since the building of the US Airways
Center (formerly America West Arena) and Chase Field
(formerly Bank One Ballpark). Coffeehouses,
restaurants, nightclubs and shopping in the Arizona
Center continue to draw people downtown for the
hopping nightlife. Many new restaurants have
blossomed, including A League Of Our Own.
Incorporating the themes of Phoenix's early history
with culture and local events, Copper Square is a
full square-mile hotspot for activities and action.
Downtown attractions include a walk in the park at
Patriots Square or delve into the new Arizona
Science Center, Phoenix Museum of History or the
Phoenix Art Museum.
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