Phoenix area info
Additional websites
Phoenix city demographics
http://phoenix.about.com/od/statistics/Phoenix_Demographics_Statistics_and_History.htm
Phoenix tourism site
http://www.visitphoenix.com/
Phoenix city website
http://www.ci.phoenix.az.us/
Phoenix chamber of Commerce
http://www.phoenixchamber.com/
General Info about Greater Phoenix
By Judy Hedding
If you are visiting Phoenix, considering moving to Phoenix, or even if you've lived here for 20 years, there are some things about Phoenix that you might not know. Some of these items are important when evaluating a community. Some of these facts are downright useless, but fun nonetheless! Please keep in mind that statistics vary greatly depending upon the time they were obtained, the source and the exact population measured. Therefore, none of these numbers represented here are exact, but are merely the most recent and reasonable numbers I have been able to collect.
If you are visiting Phoenix, considering moving to Phoenix, or even if you've lived here for 20 years, there are some things about Phoenix that you might not know. Some of these items are important when evaluating a community. Some of these facts are downright useless, but fun nonetheless! Please keep in mind that statistics vary greatly depending upon the time they were obtained, the source and the exact population measured. Therefore, none of these numbers represented here are exact, but are merely the most recent and reasonable numbers I have been able to collect.
About the Phoenix Metropolitan Area
- The population of Maricopa County is about 3.6 million people. Maricopa County is largely comprised of the Phoenix metropolitan area, which consists mostly of the cities of Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria, and several other neighboring cities and towns.
- More than half of Arizona's population lives in Maricopa County.
- The Phoenix metro area is just over 9,000 square miles in area.
About the People
- There are slightly more men than women in the state.
- About 82% of the people in Maricopa County are high school graduates. About 26% have at least one college degree. There are 15 institutions of higher learning, including Arizona State University and The Thunderbird School of Global Management.
- Over 34% of the people 20+ years old in the Maricopa County are single.
- About 29% of the population of Maricopa County is Hispanic/Latino, 4% is African-American, 3% is Asian and 2% is Native American.
- Although the Phoenix area is well known as a retirement spot, only 11.1% of the population of Maricopa County is over age 65 (compared to 13.8% in Miami-Dade County).
- The median household income in the Maricopa County in 2006 was about $52,000. About 20% of the households have an annual income greater than $100,000.
About the Environment
- The skies are clear 59% of the time, partly cloudy 22% and cloudy 19%. Annual rainfall is about 7 inches. July is technically the hottest month, but in June and August when the temperature gets over 115°F it all feels the same to me. The unofficial Phoenix greeting is ". . . but it's a dry heat!" See the monthly temperature averages for Phoenix.
- The major industries are manufacturing, services (includes tourism) and manufacturing.
- The sales tax is in the 8-10% range, and varies slightly depending upon the city.
- As with any large city, Phoenix is trying to deal with crime. Gang-related and drug-related crime are most common in west and south Phoenix. The areas in Tempe, near ASU that are off the beaten path can be dangerous.
Other Phoenix Stuff
- There are four area codes in the Phoenix area: 602, 480, 623 and 928. If you are dialing from one of those area codes, you don't need to dial a "1" to access the other three, and they are considered local calls.
- Phoenix is on Mountain Standard Time, and never moves the clock forward or back. Only the Navajo nation observes daylight saving time.
- The average price for a new single-family home in Maricopa County is $290,000 (2007). Different cities and towns within Maricopa County have property tax rates that vary within the range of about 8% to 15%, with the average being about 10% of assessed value.
- Phoenix originated in 1866 as a hay camp.
- There are six major lakes within an hour's drive from Phoenix
Arizona Stuff
- State Flower: Saguaro Cactus Flower
- State Bird: Cactus Wren
- State Tree: Palo Verde
- State Fossil: Petrified Wood
- State Gemstone: Turquoise
- State Amphibian: Arizona Tree Frog
- State Reptile: Arizona Ridge-Nosed Rattlesnake
- State Nickname: The Grand Canyon State
(yes, Grand Canyon IS in Arizona, NOT in Nevada)
Get To Know the Area
Free Relocation E-CourseFree Desert Heat E-CoursePhoenix and Arizona Maps-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This info is from http://www.azcentral.com/relocation/planning/valleyoverview.html
Welcome home!
Enjoy mountain views, 300 days of sunshine a year and big-city life without the big-city cost
Home is where the heart is—not to mention where the shopping is, the art venues, the schools and the job market. Of course, it does take a certain something to make a place feel like home, but it’s often a combination of creature comforts and basic necessities blended together to fit your lifestyle.
It’s also important to find that special sense of community. And Greater Phoenix offers just that—a unique blend of all things demanded and desired.
Located in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, the Valley of the Sun sits in a bowl surrounded by the beautiful rocky terrain of Camelback Mountain, Piestewa Peak, the Superstition Mountains, South Mountain and the Estrella Mountains.
If you tire of the city, you can jump in your car and head for Sedona, Picacho Peak or the Mogollon Rim, all a short ride away. With numerous hiking and biking trails in and around the Greater Phoenix area, you’ll find it easy to maintain an active lifestyle. And with more than 300 days of sunshine each year, you’ll find an uncomplicated beauty as your daily backdrop.
The Valley of the Sun offers all the diversity of big-city life without the bigcity cost. Phoenix ranks as the nation’s fifth largest metropolitan area with 3.5 million residents in Greater Phoenix, according to the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.
“The Greater Phoenix region offers a quality of life that keeps it at the forefront of the most livable cities,” says Katie Pushor, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. “With low unemployment, reasonably priced real estate and a geographic location with easy access, Phoenix offers opportunities for someone new to come into town and create an impact.”
Location, Location, Location
“One of the primary advantages of our area is our location. We’re located very close to three much larger economies: Mexico, California and Texas,” says Tracy Clark, economist at the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University— one of three state universities. “We have a cost advantage over California and have clearly attracted a lot of business expansion from our neighbor to the west.”
Among the Valley’s advantages are flat terrain, simple transportation routes and a light rail system that’s under construction. Not only is the transportation system evolving, but housing communities also continue to be developed across the Valley, offering comfortable homes for new and longtime residents.
More than 30,500 homes sales were recorded for the third quarter of 2005 alone, and almost 51,000 single-family housing units were authorized in 2004, according to the ASU Real Estate Center.
The homebuying environment is highly favorable with low interest rates and a wide selection of housing types. “What has become increasingly important is the expanding housing market business within existing communities in the form of urban lofts and condominiums, housing renovation, infill projects and historical districts,” says Dr. Jay Butler of the ASU Real Estate Center.
Recent reports state the median rate of home appreciation has greatly exceeded the rate of inflation, creating opportunities for new homeowners.
A Growing Job Market
Housing isn’t the only thing increasing exponentially. Employment in Greater Phoenix shows higher percentage increases in almost all job categories compared to the rest of the United States, according to the Arizona Department of Economic Security. With 1.7 million in the civilian labor force, most residents find themselves in professional or technical roles,with the next largest group being administrative support or service positions.
A 3.7 percent employment increase is expected for 2006, according to the Arizona DES and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Top industries for the Phoenix region are high-tech manufacturing, professional and technical services and health care services, Pushor says.
“The Greater Phoenix metropolitan area was the second fastest growing major employment market in the nation in 2005,” she notes. “Phoenix was ranked either first, second or third throughout most of the 1990s. With continued growth in population and business-friendly policies in the region,we expect the employment market to continue to grow at the current rate.”
Big City Amenities
Entertainment and shopping venues abound in and around the Valley, and there are more than 200 golf courses in the Phoenix area.
Arizona is also home to four major professional sports teams: basketball, football, baseball and, amazingly enough, hockey in the desert. Not to mention three unique venues for motor sports.
Arizona also is rich with history, with ruins from ancient civilizations lying among the 23 Native American reservations that represent 21 different tribes.
Although thoughts of cowboys, cactus and Gila monsters invariably come to mind when contemplating Arizona, there’s so much more to this remarkable region. Find out what the true meaning of home is, here in the heart of the Valley. Welcome to Phoenix, Arizona.
It’s also important to find that special sense of community. And Greater Phoenix offers just that—a unique blend of all things demanded and desired.
Located in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, the Valley of the Sun sits in a bowl surrounded by the beautiful rocky terrain of Camelback Mountain, Piestewa Peak, the Superstition Mountains, South Mountain and the Estrella Mountains.
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If you tire of the city, you can jump in your car and head for Sedona, Picacho Peak or the Mogollon Rim, all a short ride away. With numerous hiking and biking trails in and around the Greater Phoenix area, you’ll find it easy to maintain an active lifestyle. And with more than 300 days of sunshine each year, you’ll find an uncomplicated beauty as your daily backdrop.
The Valley of the Sun offers all the diversity of big-city life without the bigcity cost. Phoenix ranks as the nation’s fifth largest metropolitan area with 3.5 million residents in Greater Phoenix, according to the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.
“The Greater Phoenix region offers a quality of life that keeps it at the forefront of the most livable cities,” says Katie Pushor, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. “With low unemployment, reasonably priced real estate and a geographic location with easy access, Phoenix offers opportunities for someone new to come into town and create an impact.”
Location, Location, Location
“One of the primary advantages of our area is our location. We’re located very close to three much larger economies: Mexico, California and Texas,” says Tracy Clark, economist at the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University— one of three state universities. “We have a cost advantage over California and have clearly attracted a lot of business expansion from our neighbor to the west.”
Among the Valley’s advantages are flat terrain, simple transportation routes and a light rail system that’s under construction. Not only is the transportation system evolving, but housing communities also continue to be developed across the Valley, offering comfortable homes for new and longtime residents.
More than 30,500 homes sales were recorded for the third quarter of 2005 alone, and almost 51,000 single-family housing units were authorized in 2004, according to the ASU Real Estate Center.
The homebuying environment is highly favorable with low interest rates and a wide selection of housing types. “What has become increasingly important is the expanding housing market business within existing communities in the form of urban lofts and condominiums, housing renovation, infill projects and historical districts,” says Dr. Jay Butler of the ASU Real Estate Center.
Recent reports state the median rate of home appreciation has greatly exceeded the rate of inflation, creating opportunities for new homeowners.
A Growing Job Market
Housing isn’t the only thing increasing exponentially. Employment in Greater Phoenix shows higher percentage increases in almost all job categories compared to the rest of the United States, according to the Arizona Department of Economic Security. With 1.7 million in the civilian labor force, most residents find themselves in professional or technical roles,with the next largest group being administrative support or service positions.
A 3.7 percent employment increase is expected for 2006, according to the Arizona DES and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Top industries for the Phoenix region are high-tech manufacturing, professional and technical services and health care services, Pushor says.
“The Greater Phoenix metropolitan area was the second fastest growing major employment market in the nation in 2005,” she notes. “Phoenix was ranked either first, second or third throughout most of the 1990s. With continued growth in population and business-friendly policies in the region,we expect the employment market to continue to grow at the current rate.”
Big City Amenities
Entertainment and shopping venues abound in and around the Valley, and there are more than 200 golf courses in the Phoenix area.
Arizona is also home to four major professional sports teams: basketball, football, baseball and, amazingly enough, hockey in the desert. Not to mention three unique venues for motor sports.
Arizona also is rich with history, with ruins from ancient civilizations lying among the 23 Native American reservations that represent 21 different tribes.
Although thoughts of cowboys, cactus and Gila monsters invariably come to mind when contemplating Arizona, there’s so much more to this remarkable region. Find out what the true meaning of home is, here in the heart of the Valley. Welcome to Phoenix, Arizona.
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