Phoenix

 

city (1990 pop. 983,403), state capital and seat of Maricopa co., S Ariz., on the Salt River; inc. 1881. It is the largest city in Arizona, the hub of the rich agricultural region of the Salt River valley, and an important center for research and development, electronics, telecommunications, semiconductors, and the aerospace industry. Food processing and the production of aircraft parts, electrical appliances, agricultural chemicals, machinery, tools, plastic and wood products, cosmetics, and leather goods remains central to its manufacturing base. Greater Phoenix is a popular resort area, and tourism is also important to the economy.

The city was founded on the site of ancient Native American canals; hence its name, signifying a new town which had risen from the ruins of an old civilization. In 1868, pioneers developed what remained of the Native Americans' irrigation system; water was diverted from the Salt River, and farming began, supplemented by mining and ranching in the surrounding desert and mountains. The completion (1911) of the Roosevelt Dam on the Salt River brought power and abundant water to the community, and opened a new era of farming in the valley.

Phoenix grew as an important trade and distribution center. It boomed during World War II, when three airfields were opened. The phenomenal growth continued after the war; veterans who had been stationed in Phoenix returned to stay, and manufacturing concerns moved there to utilize the large labor supply. The expanding metropolitan area includes the suburbs of Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, Glendale, Chandler, and Peoria, all of which are among the fastest-growing cities in the United States.

Among the area's many outstanding parks are the Desert Botanical Gardens, Camelback Mountain, and the nearby South Mountain Park, which has an active gold mine. Also in the area are a number of Native American communities and reservations, national monuments, and state parks. Among its museums are the Heard Museum, with Native American art of the Southwest; the Phoenix Art Museum; the Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum, with pioneer relics; the Pueblo Grande Museum, containing excavations of Native American ruins c.800 years old; and the Arizona Capitol Museum. Other attractions are the Phoenix Zoo, the Arizona Science Center, and the Mystery Castle, built of native rock.

Phoenix is the seat of the Univ. of Phoenix, Arizona State Univ. West, Grand Canyon Univ., and Southwestern College. It has a symphony orchestra, as well as opera and ballet companies. The Phoenix Suns play in the National Basketball Association, the Coyotes in the National Hockey League, and the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League (baseball). The Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League play in nearby Tempe. Several major-league baseball teams have spring-training camps in the area.

Bibliography

See J. E. Buchanan, Phoenix: A Chronological and Documentary History, 1865–1976 (1978); G. W. Johnson Jr., Phoenix (1982); B. Luckingham, Phoenix: The History of a Southwestern Metropolis (1989).

City of Phoenix, Arizona
Downtown Phoenix
Flag Seal
Nickname: Valley of the Sun
Location in Maricopa County and the state of Arizona
Coordinates: 33°26′54″N 112°04′26″W / 33.44833, -112.07389
Country	United States
State	Arizona
County	Maricopa
Incorporated	February 25, 1881
Government
- Type	Council-Manager
- Mayor	Phil Gordon (D)
Area
- City	sq mi (km²)
- Land	sq mi ( km²)
- Water	sq mi ( km²)
Elevation	ft ( m)
Population (2006)[1] [2]
- City
- Density	/sq mi (/km²)
- Urban
- Metro
- Demonym
Time zone	MST (UTC-7)
- Summer (DST)	no DST (UTC)
Area code(s)	602, 480, 623
FIPS code	04-55000
GNIS feature ID	0044784
Website: http://www.phoenix.gov/

Phoenix /ˈfiːˌnɪks/ (English: Phoenix, Navajo: Hoozdo, lit. "the place is hot", Western Apache: Fiinigis) is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona and the county seat of Maricopa County. It is the most populous capital city in the United States. Its physical location is along the banks of the normally dry Salt River. It was incorporated as a city on February 25 1881. Residents of Phoenix are known as Phoenicians.

Phoenix's estimated population as of 2006 was 1,512,986, making it the fifth largest city in the United States.^[2] At 515 square miles, it covers an area larger than New York City, Philadelphia, and Miami combined, making it the biggest state capital and the 10th largest land area for a city in the United States; however, because of its huge area, the city had a relatively low population density of only 2,938 people per square mile. As of 2006, the Phoenix Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) was the 13th largest in the United States, with an estimated population of 4,039,182.^[3]

History

American Indian inhabitants

As early as 700 AD, the Hohokam civilization occupied the land that would become Phoenix. The Hohokam created roughly 135 miles (217 km) of irrigation canals, making the land arable. Paths of these canals would later become used for the modern Arizona Canal, Central Arizona Project Canal, and the Hayden-Rhodes Aqueduct.

It is believed that between AD 1300 and AD 1450 periods of drought and severe floods led to the Hohokam's disappearance.^[4]

Although Spanish and Mexican explorers knew of the area, only southern Arizona fell under their influence. The Salt River Valley remained mostly abandoned. Local Akimel O'odham settlements, thought to be the descendents of the formerly urbanized Hohokam, concentrated on the Gila River alongside those of the Tohono O'odham and Maricopa peoples.

Pre-incorporation history

Passing through the area in 1867, Jack Swilling of Wickenburg, Arizona, stopped to rest at the foot of the White Tank Mountains and observed land that had great potential for farming. The terrain and climate were optimal, except for a lack of precipitation and suitable irrigation. Swilling remedied the situation by having a series of canals built, which followed the paths of the preexisting Hohokam canals. A small community formed about 4 miles (6 km) east of the present city and a few miles northwest of another community at Hayden's Ferry, which would become Tempe.^[4]

The farming community was named Swilling's Mill in his honor, though later renamed to Helling Mill, Mill City, and finally, East Phoenix. Swilling, a former Confederate soldier, wanted to name the city "Stonewall," after Gen. Stonewall Jackson. Others suggested the name of "Salina." However, neither name was suitable to the community. Finally, Lord Darrell Duppa suggested the name "Phoenix," as it described a city born from the ruins of a former civilization.^[5]

The Yavapai County Board of Supervisors, which at the time, encompassed Phoenix, officially recognized the town of Phoenix on May 4 1868, and formed an election precinct. The first post office was established on June 15 1868, with Jack Swilling serving as the postmaster. With the population growing, a townsite needed to be selected. On October 20 1870, the residents held a meeting to decide where to locate it. A 320 acre (1.3 km²) plot of land was purchased in what is now the downtown business section.^[6] On February 12 1871, the territorial legislature created Maricopa County, the sixth in the state, by dividing Yavapai County. The first county election in Maricopa County was held in 1871, when Tom Barnum was elected the first sheriff. Barnum ran unopposed as the other two candidates, John A. Chenowth and Jim Favorite, had a shootout that ended in Favorite's death and Chenowth withdrawing from the race.^[7]

Several lots of land were sold in 1870 at an average price of $48. The first church opened in 1871, as did the first store. Public school had its first class on September 5 1872, in the courtroom of the county building. By October 1873, a small school was completed on Center Street (now Central Avenue).^[7] Land entry was recorded by the Florence Land Office on November 19 1873, and a declaratory statement filed in the Prescott Land Office February 15 1872. President Ulysses S. Grant issued a land patent for the present site of Phoenix on April 10 1874. The total value of the Phoenix Townsite was $550, with downtown lots selling for between $7 and $11 each. A short time later, a telegraph office, 16 saloons, four dance halls and two banks were open.^[8]

Incorporation

By 1881, Phoenix had outgrown its original townsite-commissioner form of government. The 11th Territorial Legislature passed "The Phoenix Charter Bill", incorporating Phoenix and providing for a mayor-council government. The bill was signed by Governor John C. Fremont on February 25 1881. Phoenix was incorporated with a population of approximately 2,500, and on May 3 1881, Phoenix held its first city election. Judge John T. Alsap defeated James D. Monihon, 127 to 107, to become the city's first mayor.^[9] In early 1888, the city offices were moved into the new City Hall, built where the downtown bus terminal now stands. This building also provided temporary offices for the territorial government when it moved to Phoenix from Prescott in 1889.^[10]

The coming of the railroad in the 1880s was the first of several important events that revolutionized the economy of Phoenix. Merchandise now flowed into the city by rail instead of wagon. Phoenix became a trade center with its products reaching eastern and western markets. In response, the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce was organized on November 4 1888.^[10]

Phoenix also inaugurated an electric streetcar system, built off earlier stagecoach lines, in 1893.

20th century

In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt signed the National Reclamation Act allowing for dams to be built on western streams for reclamation purposes. Residents were quick to enhance this by organizing the Salt River Valley Water Users' Association on February 7 1903, to manage the water and power supply. The agency still exists today as part of the Salt River Project.^[11] On February 14 1912, under President William Howard Taft, Phoenix became the capital of the newly formed state of Arizona.^[12]

In 1913, Phoenix adopted a new form of government from mayor-council to council-manager, making it one of the first cities in the United States with this form of city government.^[13]

During World War II, Phoenix's economy shifted to that of a distribution center, rapidly turning into an embryonic industrial city with mass production of military supplies. Luke Field, Williams Field, and Falcon Field, coupled with the giant ground-training center at Hyder, west of Phoenix, brought thousands of men into Phoenix.^[14]

A fire in October 1947 destroyed most of the streetcar fleet, giving the city a difficult choice between implementing a new street railway system or using buses. The latter was chosen and the metropolitan area's development has been oriented toward cars ever since. This is expected to change, however, with the December 2008 implementation of the Phoenix light rail system.

By 1950, over 100,000 people lived within the city and thousands more in surrounding communities. There were 148 miles (238 km) of paved streets and 163 miles (262 km) of unpaved streets.^[14]

Phoenix's population in the north and west, as well as that of surrounding cities, is expanding greatly, as it has been since the 1960s.

Geography

Phoenix is located at 33°26'54" North, 112°4'26" West (33.448457°, -112.073844°)¹ in the Salt River Valley, or "Valley of the Sun", in central Arizona. It lies at a mean elevation of 1,117 feet (340 m), in the northern reaches of the Sonoran Desert.

The Salt River course runs westward through the city of Phoenix; the riverbed is normally dry except when excess runoff forces the release of water from the six dams upriver. The city of Tempe has built two inflatable dams in the Salt River bed to create a year-round recreational lake, called Tempe Town Lake. The dams are deflated to allow the river to flow unimpeded during releases.

The Phoenix area is surrounded by the McDowell Mountains to the northeast, the White Tank Mountains to the west, the Superstition Mountains far to the east, and the Sierra Estrella to the southwest. Within the city are the Phoenix Mountains and South Mountains. Current development (as of 2005) is pushing beyond the geographic boundaries to the north and west, and south through Pinal County. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 475.1 square miles (1,230.5 km²) — 474.9 square miles (1,229.9 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it is water. The total area is 0.05% water.

The Phoenix Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (officially known as the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale MSA), is the 13th largest in the United States, with a total population of 4,039,182 as of the June 2006 update of the 2000 U.S. Census. It includes the Arizona counties of Maricopa and Pinal. Other cities in the MSA include Mesa, Scottsdale, Glendale, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, and Peoria. Several smaller communities are also included, such as Cave Creek, Queen Creek, Buckeye, Goodyear, Fountain Hills, Litchfield Park, Anthem, Sun Lakes, Sun City, Sun City West, Avondale, Surprise, El Mirage, Paradise Valley, and Tolleson. The communities of Ahwatukee, Arcadia, Deer Valley, Maryvale and others are part of the city of Phoenix, Ahwatukee being separated from the rest of the city by South Mountain.

As with most of Arizona, Phoenix does not observe daylight savings time. In 1973, Gov. Jack Williams argued to Congress that energy use would increase in the evening, as refrigeration units were not used as often in the morning on standard time. He went on to say that energy use would rise "because there would be more lights on in the early morning." He was also concerned about children going to school in the dark, which indeed they were.^[15] The exception to this are lands of the Navajo Nation in Northeastern Arizona, which observe daylight saving time in conjunction with the rest of their tribal lands in other states.

Climate

Phoenix has an arid climate, and its average annual maximum temperature is the highest of any major US city. In fact, out of the world's large urban areas, only some cities around the Persian Gulf, such as Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Baghdad, Iraq, and some cities in North India such as Amritsar and Jaipur have comparable summer temperatures. The temperature reaches or exceeds 100°F (38°C) on an average of 89 days during the year, including most days from early June through early September. On June 26 1990, the temperature reached an all-time high of 122°F (50°C).^[16] Overnight lows greater than 80°F occur frequently each summer, with the average July low being 81°F and the average August low being 80°F. The all-time highest low temperature was 96°F (36°C), which occurred on July 15 2003.

The dry desert air makes the hot temperatures more tolerable early in the season, but the influx of monsoonal moisture, which generally begins in early July and lasts until mid-September, raises humidity levels and discomfort due to mugginess. For the most part, the winter months are mild.

Phoenix averages 85% of possible sunshine^[17] and receives scant rainfall, the average annual total at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport being 8.3 inches (210 mm). March is the wettest month of the year (1.07 inches or 27 mm) with June being the driest (0.09 inches or 2 mm). Although thunderstorms are possible at any time of the year, they are most common during the monsoon from July to mid-September as humid air surges in from the Gulf of California. These can bring strong winds, large hail, or rarely, tornadoes. Winter storms moving inland from the Pacific Ocean occasionally produce significant rains but occur infrequently. Fog is observed from time to time during the winter months.

On average, Phoenix has only 5 days per year where the temperature drops to or below freezing.^[18] The long-term mean date of the first frost is December 15 and the last is February 1; however, these dates do not represent the city as a whole because the frequency of freezes increases the further one moves outward from the urban heat island. Frequently, outlying areas of Phoenix see frost, but the airport does not. The earliest frost on record occurred on November 3 1946, and the latest occurred on April 4 1945. The all-time lowest temperature in Phoenix was recorded at 16°F (-8.8°C) on January 7 1913.

Snow is extremely rare in the area. Snowfall was first officially recorded in 1896, and since then, accumulations of 0.1 inches (0.25 cm) or greater have occurred only seven times. The heaviest snowstorm on record dates to January 20-21, 1937, when 1 to 4 inches fell (2 to 10 cm) in parts of the city and did not melt entirely for four days. Prior to that, 1 inch (2.5 cm) had fallen on January 20, 1933. On February 2 1939, 0.5 inches (1 cm) fell. Most recently, 0.4 inches (1 cm) fell on December 21-22, 1990. Snow also fell on March 12 1917, November 28, 1919, and December 11 1985. On January 21 2007, snowfall occurred throughout much of the city and covered the ground completely in the East Valley cities of Mesa and Tempe. This followed a very rare cold spell which caused temperatures to tumble into the 20s.^[19]

Source: U.S. National Climatic Data Center, Asheville, N.C.; a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [1]

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Rec. high °F (°C)	88 (31.1)	92 (33.3)	100 (37.7)	105 (40.6)	113 (45)	122 (50)	121 (49.4)	116 (46.7)	118 (47.8)	107 (41.7)	95 (35)	88 (31.1)
Avg high °F (°C)	65 (18.3)	69 (20.5)	74 (23.3)	83 (28.3)	92 (33.3)	102 (38.8)	104 (40)	102 (38.8)	97 (36.1)	86 (30)	73 (22.7)	65 (18.3)
Avg low temperature °F (°C)	43 (6.1)	47 (8.3)	51 (10.5)	58 (14.4)	66 (18.8)	75 (23.8)	81 (27.2)	80 (26.6)	75 (23.8)	63 (17.2)	50 (10)	44 (6.7)
Rec. low °F (°C)	17 (-8.3)	25 (-3.9)	25 (-3.9)	37 (2.7)	40 (4.4)	51 (10.6)	66 (18.9)	61 (16.1)	47 (8.3)	34 (1.1)	27 (-2.8)	22 (-5.6)

Cityscape

The city of Phoenix is divided up into 15 Urban Villages.^[20] Inside some of the Villages are well known neighborhoods, or districts, which are listed as subpoints. These urban villages are: Ahwatukee Foothills, Alhambra, Camelback East, Central City, Deer Valley, Desert View, Encanto, Estrella, Laveen, Maryvale, North Gateway, North Mountain, Paradise Valley (not to be confused with the town of Paradise Valley), South Mountain, as well as a fifteenth which is as of yet unnamed (created in 2004 and currently called, "New Village."). The fifteenth is sparsely populated (if at all) and new development is not expected in the near future.

Commonly referred-to Phoenix regions/ districts: Downtown, Midtown, West Phoenix, North Phoenix, South Phoenix, Biltmore area, Arcadia, Sunnyslope, Ahwatukee

Economy

The early economy of Phoenix was primarily agricultural, dependent mainly on cotton and citrus farming. In the last two decades, the economy has diversified as rapidly as the population has grown. As the state capital of Arizona, many residents in the area are employed by the government. Arizona State University has also enhanced the area's population through education and its growing research capabilities. Numerous high-tech and telecommunications companies have also recently relocated to the area. Due to the warm climate in winter, Phoenix benefits greatly from seasonal tourism and recreation, and has a particularly vibrant golf industry.

Phoenix is currently home to three major Fortune 1000 companies: electronics corporation Avnet, Apollo Group (which operates the University of Phoenix), and mining company Freeport McMoRan. Honeywell hosts many factories for the building of military grade engines, as well as their company network gateway in Phoenix. Intel has one of their largest sites in Arizona, employing about 11,000 employees and 3 chip manufacturing fabs, including the $3 billion dollar state of the art 300mm, 45nm Fab 32. American Express hosts their financial transactions, customer information, and their entire website in Phoenix. The area is also home to US Airways Group, a Fortune 500 company located in Tempe. Nearby Scottsdale is also home to Allied Waste Industries, Inc. (also listed on the Fortune 500), the second largest non-hazardous solid waste management company in the United States. Phoenix is also home to the headquarters of U-HAUL International, a rental company and moving supply store.

The military has a significant presence in Phoenix with Luke Air Force Base located in the western suburbs. At its height, in the 1940s, the Phoenix area had 3 military bases: Luke Field (still in use), Falcon Field, and Williams Air Force Base (now Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport), with numerous auxiliary air fields located throughout the region.

See also: List of major corporations in Phoenix, List of foreign consulates in Phoenix.

Arts and culture

• Arizona Biltmore
• Arizona Historical Society Museum
• Arizona Opera
• Arizona Science Center
• Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Arizona State Fairgrounds
• Burton Barr Central Library
• Camelback Mountain
• Castles N' Coasters
• Chase Field (formerly Bank One Ball Park)
• Chase Tower (formerly Bank One Center), the tallest building in the state of Arizona
• Desert Ridge Marketplace
• Desert Sky Mall
• Encanto Park
• Enchanted Island
• Fleischer Museum
• Hall of Flame
• Heard Museum
• Hotel San Carlos
• Metrocenter Mall
• Mystery Castle
• Papago Park
• Paradise Valley Mall
• Phoenix Art Museum
• Phoenix Museum of History
• Phoenix Zoo
• Pueblo Grande Museum and Cultural Park
• Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
• St. Mary's Basilica
• South Mountain
• Symphony Hall for the Phoenix Symphony at the Phoenix Civic Plaza
• Tovrea Castle
• U.S. Airways Center (formerly America West Arena)
• WaterWorld
• Wrigley Mansion

Sports

Club	Sport	League	Venue
Arizona Cardinals	Football	National Football League; NFC	University of Phoenix Stadium
Arizona Diamondbacks	Baseball	Major League Baseball; NL	Chase Field
Phoenix Suns	Basketball	National Basketball Association; Western Conference	US Airways Center
Phoenix Coyotes	Ice Hockey	National Hockey League; Western Conference	Jobing.com Arena
Phoenix Mercury	Basketball	Women's National Basketball Association	US Airways Center
Arizona Rattlers	Arena Football	Arena Football League	US Airways Center
Phoenix RoadRunners	Hockey	ECHL	US Airways Center
Arizona Sting	Lacrosse	National Lacrosse League	Jobing.com Arena
Phoenix Flame	Basketball	International Basketball League	Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Phoenix is home to several professional sports franchises, including representatives of all four major professional sports leagues in the U.S. The first major franchise was the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA), which started play in 1968. In 1997, the Phoenix Mercury was one of the original eight teams to launch the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Both teams play at US Airways Center. The Phoenix Flame of the International Basketball League will begin play in the spring of 2007.

The Arizona Cardinals moved to Phoenix from St. Louis, Missouri in 1988 and currently play in the NFL's National Football Conference - West Division. The team, however, has never played in the city itself; they played at Sun Devil Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University in nearby Tempe until 2006, and now play at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. University of Phoenix Stadium is scheduled to host Super Bowl XLII in 2008.

Phoenix also has an arena football team, the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League. Games are played at US Airways Center downtown.

The Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League moved to the area in 1996, and play at Jobing.com Arena, adjacent to University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. The city also boasts a minor league hockey team, the Phoenix Roadrunners of the ECHL, who play at the US Airways Center. This makes Phoenix one of the few cities where minor and major league teams in the same sport coexist.

The Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (National League-West Division) began play as an expansion team in 1998. The team plays at Chase Field (downtown). In 2001, the Diamondbacks defeated the New York Yankees 4 games to 3 in the World Series, becoming not only the city's first professional sports franchise to win a national championship, but also the youngest expansion franchise in U.S. professional sports to ever do so.

Additionally, due to the favorable climate, nine