Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix is the capital and biggest city of the U.S. state of Arizona. It has over 1.6 million people, making it the fifth-biggest city in the United States and the biggest state capital. The Phoenix metropolitan area has about 5.19 million people. It is the tenth-biggest area in the U.S. and the biggest in the Mountain states and Southwest.

Phoenix was settled in 1867 as a place for farming near the Salt and Gila Rivers. It became a city in 1881 and the capital of Arizona Territory in 1889. The city's canals helped it become a good place for farming. Crops like alfalfa, cotton, citrus, and hay were important for many years.

Phoenix is the cultural center of Arizona. It is in the northeastern part of the Sonoran Desert and is known for its hot desert climate. The city grew quickly, about four percent each year from the mid-1960s to the mid-2000s. By 1980, it was one of the ten biggest cities in the nation. Phoenix has a large Hispanic population, with 42% of its people being Hispanic.

History

Main article: History of Phoenix, Arizona

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Phoenix, Arizona.

Early history

The Hohokam people lived in the Phoenix area for 2,000 years. They built many canals to help farming in the desert. These canals later became important waterways like the Arizona Canal and Central Arizona Project Canal. The Hohokam traded with other groups. Big droughts and floods made them leave the area between 1300 and 1450.

After the Hohokam left, tribes like the Akimel O'odham, Tohono O'odham, and Maricopa began to live there. The Akimel O'odham were the main group, growing corn, beans, and squash. They worked together with the Maricopa for safety. The Tohono O'odham lived to the south and grew crops like sweet corn.

The Mexican–American War ended in 1848, and the area became part of the United States. In 1863, the mining town of Wickenburg was established. The Army built Fort McDowell in 1865, and a camp was set up nearby in 1866. This was the first settlement in the valley after the Hohokam left.

Founding and incorporation

Phoenix began with Jack Swilling, who wanted to farm in the Salt River Valley to feed the nearby town of Wickenburg. He dug a big canal to bring in river water and started farming. Other settlers came, and the town was named "Phoenix" by Lord Darrell Duppa, who thought it was like a city rising from old ruins.

The town was officially recognized in 1868, and a new townsite was chosen in 1870. By 1871, Maricopa County was created. Phoenix grew quickly, and by 1875, it had a telegraph office and several saloons. In 1881, Phoenix became an official city.

The railroad came to Phoenix in the 1880s, helping it grow as a trade center. The city became the territorial capital in 1889. A high school opened in 1895.

1901 to World War II

In 1901, a permanent Capitol building was built. A library opened in 1908. In 1902, a law allowed dams to be built on western waterways. The first dam, begun in 1903, provided water and electricity and was later named after President Theodore Roosevelt.

Phoenix became a state capital in 1912 when Arizona joined the United States. The city changed its government in 1913. Growth started to speed up after that. By 1920, Phoenix had its first skyscraper. In 1929, an airport opened.

During World War II, Phoenix became a center for making military supplies. There were air fields and training camps in the area.

Post-World War II explosive growth

Phoenix grew very fast after World War II. Many people returned to Arizona with their families, and big companies like Motorola moved there. By 1950, over 105,000 people lived in the city.

The 1950s saw growth helped by air conditioning, which made living in the hot weather easier. New construction boomed. During the 1960s, tourism and businesses grew quickly. New buildings went up all over the city.

1960s to present

Phoenix kept growing, with more businesses and people moving in. Tourism became a big industry. In the 1970s, downtown Phoenix saw new construction. By the end of the decade, Phoenix had a plan to divide the city into sections with their own centers.

Important events included Sandra Day O'Connor becoming the first woman on the U.S. Supreme Court in 1981 and the opening of a large nuclear power plant in 1985. In the 1990s, many refugees moved to Phoenix, bringing many languages to local schools.

Phoenix continued to grow in the early 2000s. In 2008, a mountain was renamed Piestewa Peak to honor a local woman who died serving in the military. The city faced economic challenges but has seen neighborhoods improve since 2023. In 2023, Arizona decided to stop new housing development that relies only on groundwater because of water shortages.

Geography

Phoenix is in the south-central part of Arizona, between Tucson to the southeast and Flagstaff to the north, in the Southwestern United States. By car, Phoenix is about 150 miles (240 kilometers) north of the U.S.–Mexico border at Sonoyta and 180 miles (290 kilometers) north of Nogales. The area is called the "Valley of the Sun" because it is in the Salt River Valley. It sits at an average height of 1,086 feet (331 meters) above sea level, in the northern part of the Sonoran Desert.

Besides the mountains around the city, Phoenix's land is mostly flat. This helps the city's main streets stay straight and wide. Several mountain ranges surround the valley, such as the McDowell Mountains to the northeast and the White Tank Mountains to the west. The Salt River flows through Phoenix, but it often has little or no water because of irrigation use. South Mountain separates the neighborhood of Ahwatukee from the rest of the city.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Phoenix covers an area of 517.9 square miles (1,341 square kilometers). Of this, 516.7 square miles (1,338 square kilometers) is land, and 1.2 square miles (3.1 square kilometers), or 0.2%, is water.

Maricopa County grew quickly from 186,000 people in 1940 to 1,509,000 by 1980. This growth was helped by air conditioning, affordable housing, and many new residents retiring there. The city spread out over a large area, leading to a low population density. Even though it is the fifth-most populated city in the United States, Phoenix has a lower density than cities like Philadelphia.

Phoenix does not observe daylight saving time.

Cityscape

See also: List of tallest buildings in Phoenix

A panoramic view of Phoenix from the South Mountain range, winter 2008, with Sky Harbor International Airport on the far right

Neighborhoods

Since 1979, Phoenix has been divided into urban villages, based on older neighborhoods that were later included in the city. Each village has a planning committee that works with the city council. There are 15 urban villages, including Ahwatukee Foothills, Alhambra, Camelback East, and Central City.

The urban village of Paradise Valley is different from the nearby Town of Paradise Valley. While the village is part of Phoenix, the town operates separately.

Phoenix also has many well-known areas such as Downtown, Midtown, North Phoenix, and South Phoenix.

Flora and fauna

While some native plants and animals of the Sonoran Desert live in Phoenix, most are found in the suburbs and undeveloped desert areas around the city. Native mammals include coyote, javelina, and bobcat. Many bird species live here too, such as Costa's hummingbird and Anna's hummingbird.

The greater Phoenix area has the only thriving group of rosy-faced lovebirds in the U.S. These birds, popular pets from Africa, were first seen living outdoors in 1987 and have since grown in number.

The region is home to many reptiles, including the Western diamondback rattlesnake and the gila monster. There are also many insects, such as the Arizona bark scorpion and the giant desert hairy scorpion.

Phoenix is part of the Arizona Upland subdivision of the Sonoran Desert, known for its many different plants. The famous giant saguaro cactus grows here, along with many other cacti and trees.

Climate

Main article: Climate of Phoenix

Phoenix has a hot desert climate, typical of the Sonoran Desert. The city has very hot summers and mild winters. Phoenix is one of the sunniest places on Earth, with over 3,800 hours of sunshine each year. Summer temperatures often reach at least 100 °F (38 °C), with some days over 110 °F (43 °C).

Extreme heat is very common, so most homes have air conditioning.

Maricopa County, where Phoenix is located, has high levels of ozone and particulate pollution. Dust storms can sometimes bring health risks.

Phoenix has around 300 sunny days each year and receives very little rainfall, about 7.22 inches (183 millimeters) annually. The weather is dry and sunny most of the year, with occasional storms during the winter and summer monsoons that can bring heavy rain and strong winds.

Demographics

Phoenix is the capital and largest city in Arizona. In 2020, it was the fifth most populous city in the United States, with over 1.6 million people. The city is the largest state capital in the country.

Phoenix has grown a lot over the years. After a period of very fast growth, the city's population increase slowed down but still went up since the year 2000. Many new people have moved to the area, making it a busy and lively place to live.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Phoenix

Phoenix started with an economy based on farming and natural resources. The city grew when new transportation links were built. Even during tough times, Phoenix kept growing. After World War II, many people returned, helping the economy grow. New neighborhoods were built.

When the subprime mortgage crisis happened, Phoenix faced hard times. But by 2015, the city had recovered and created new jobs. By 2017, the economy was strong, with parts in real estate, finance, manufacturing, retail, and health care.

As of 2024^[update], Phoenix had a per capita income of $61,840 and an unemployment rate of 3.3%. The city is home to many large companies, including Avnet, Freeport-McMoRan, PetSmart, and Republic Services. Big tech companies like Intel also have sites here. The U.S. military has a presence with Luke Air Force Base nearby.

Arts and culture

Performing arts

Phoenix has many places to watch shows and performances. Most of these are in downtown Phoenix or Scottsdale. The Phoenix Symphony Hall is home to the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, the Arizona Opera and Ballet Arizona. The Arizona Opera also has shows at its Arizona Opera Center. Another place to see shows is the Orpheum Theatre, home to the Phoenix Opera. Ballet Arizona also performs at the Orpheum Theatre and the Dorrance Theater. Big concerts happen in many places around the city, including the Herberger Theater Center, which has three stages and is home to the Arizona Theatre Company and the Centre Dance Ensemble. Other groups that use this place are the Valley Youth Theatre, iTheatre Collaborative and Actors Theater.

Concerts are held at the Mortgage Matchup Center, Comerica Theatre, Ak-Chin Pavilion, Gila River Arena, and Gammage Auditorium. Smaller theaters like Trunk Space, the Mesa Arts Center, The Van Buren, the Crescent Ballroom, Celebrity Theatre, and Modified Arts also have music and theater shows. Some sports arenas, like the Wells Fargo Arena and State Farm Stadium, sometimes host concerts too.

Several TV shows have been filmed in Phoenix, including Alice, Medium, The Brothers Brannagan, and The New Dick Van Dyke Show.

Museums

The Phoenix area has many museums. Some of the most popular ones are the Phoenix Art Museum, Arizona Capitol Museum, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Arizona Military Museum, Hall of Flame Fire Museum, Phoenix Police Museum, the Pueblo Grande Museum Archaeological Park, Children's Museum of Phoenix, Arizona Science Center, and the Heard Museum. In 2010, the Musical Instrument Museum opened, and it has the largest collection of musical instruments in the world.

The Phoenix Art Museum opened in 1959 and has over 17,000 pieces of art from around the world. Near Phoenix, at the Challenger Space Center in Peoria, there are interactive exhibits about space and energy.

The Heard Museum has space for many exhibits and shows. It features items like a full Navajo hogan, beautiful jewelry, historic Hopi kachina dolls, and information about Native American history.

Cultural heritage resources

Arizona has many places where people can learn about its history and culture. These include the Arizona State Archives Historic Photographs Memory Project, the Arizona Historical Society, the Journal of Arizona History, and many museum websites. The Tonatierra Community Development Institute works to protect indigenous culture in the city.

Fine arts

Artists and galleries in Phoenix have a special event called First Friday where galleries open their doors across the city. In 2009, artist Janet Echelman created a big net sculpture that hangs above Phoenix Civic Space Park. During the day, it shows patterns made by the desert wind, and at night it changes colors with the seasons.

Architecture

Phoenix is known for its special style of buildings that fit the desert weather. Frank Lloyd Wright moved to Phoenix in 1937 and built his winter home, Taliesin West. Many famous architects have worked in Phoenix, designing buildings that work well in the hot, dry climate. Some of these architects include Paolo Soleri, who created Arcosanti, Al Beadle, Will Bruder, Wendell Burnette, and Blank Studio. Ralph Haver was another important architect in Phoenix.

Tourism

Phoenix is a popular place for visitors. The city has many hotels and welcomes millions of tourists each year. Sky Harbor Airport is one of the busiest airports in the country. Golf is a big attraction in Phoenix, with over 200 golf courses. There are also many interesting places to visit near Phoenix, such as Agua Fria National Monument, Arcosanti, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Lost Dutchman State Park, Montezuma's Castle, Montezuma's Well, and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Phoenix is also close to famous spots like the Grand Canyon, Lake Havasu, Meteor Crater, the Painted Desert, the Petrified Forest, Tombstone, Kartchner Caverns, Sedona, and Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff.

Other attractions and annual events

Phoenix has many outdoor activities because of its natural surroundings and warm weather. The Phoenix Zoo is one of the largest zoos in the United States. The Phoenix Botanical Gardens have beautiful plants and art. South Mountain Park is the largest city park in the U.S. and has high desert views.

Other popular places in Phoenix include the Japanese Friendship Garden, Historic Heritage Square, Phoenix Mountains Park, Pueblo Grande Museum, Tovrea Castle, Camelback Mountain, Hole in the Rock, Mystery Castle, St. Mary's Basilica, Taliesin West, and the Wrigley Mansion.

Phoenix has many special events throughout the year. These include the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, a big horse show, Matsuri, a Japanese celebration, Pueblo Grande Indian Market, a craft fair, ZooLights at the Phoenix Zoo, the Arizona State Fair, Scottish Gathering & Highland Games, Estrella War, a medieval festival, and the Tohono O'odham Nation Rodeo & Fair.

Cuisine

Phoenix is famous for its Mexican food. Some old restaurants include the Stockyards steakhouse, which opened in 1947. Because many people from different places have moved to Phoenix, the city now has foods from all over the world. You can find barbecue, Cajun/Creole, Greek, Hawaiian, Irish, Japanese, Italian, fusion, Persian, Indian (South Asian), Korean, Spanish, Thai, Chinese, southwestern, Tex-Mex, Vietnamese, Brazilian, and French foods.

The very first McDonald's restaurant was opened in Phoenix in 1953.

Sports

Main article: Sports in Phoenix

Phoenix has several professional sports teams. It used to have teams in all four major U.S. sports leagues, but now only one team uses the city's name, and two play in the city.

The Phoenix Suns were Phoenix's first major team, joining the NBA in 1968. They played at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum before moving to the America West Arena, now called the Mortgage Matchup Center, in 1992. The U.S. Airways Center hosted the NBA All-Star Games in 1995 and 2009, and the Suns lost the 2021 NBA Finals to the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Arizona Diamondbacks started playing in Major League Baseball in 1998. They play at Chase Field, famous for its swimming pool beyond the outfield fence. In 2001, they won the World Series, becoming the city's first championship team.

The Arizona Cardinals are one of the oldest football teams in the U.S., founded in 1898. They moved to Phoenix from St. Louis, Missouri in 1988 and now play in the Western Division of the NFL. After playing at Sun Devil Stadium, they moved to State Farm Stadium in 2006.

The Arizona Coyotes moved to Phoenix from Winnipeg in 1996. They played at America West Arena before moving to the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale. In 2022, they moved to Mullett Arena on Arizona State University's campus. The team is currently inactive while looking for a new home.

Phoenix Rising FC is a soccer team that started in 2014. They moved to the Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex at Wild Horse Pass in 2021, and then to the new Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium in 2023.

Phoenix also hosts two college football bowl games each year: the Fiesta Bowl and the Rate Bowl. The city has an indoor football team, the Arizona Rattlers, and a women's basketball team, the Phoenix Mercury.

The Phoenix area is home to the Cactus League, one of baseball's spring training leagues. It also has race tracks like Phoenix International Raceway and hosts golf events such as the Phoenix Open.

Parks and recreation

Phoenix has many beautiful parks and places to play. The city includes national parks, Maricopa County parks, and city parks. Tonto National Forest is part of the city's northeast boundary.

The city has created many parks to protect the desert landscape. South Mountain Park is the world's largest municipal park. The city has many parks with trails for hiking, camping, and other fun activities. Other famous parks include Camelback Mountain, Encanto Park, Phoenix Mountains Preserve, and Sunnyslope Mountain.

Papago Park in east Phoenix has the Desert Botanical Garden and the Phoenix Zoo. The Desert Botanical Garden shows desert plants from around the world. The Phoenix Zoo is a large zoo that helps save endangered animals.

Government

See also: List of mayors of Phoenix, Arizona

In 1913, Phoenix started a new way to manage the city, with a city manager handling city work. Today, Phoenix is the largest city in the U.S. using this system.

The city has a mayor and eight council members. The mayor is chosen by everyone in the city, and council members are chosen by people in their areas. They all serve for four years. The current mayor is Kate Gallego. The mayor and council members all have equal votes when making rules.

State government facilities

As the capital of Arizona, Phoenix is home to the state legislature and many state offices near downtown. It also has schools and a mental health center run by the state.

Federal government facilities

Phoenix has important federal buildings, like a courthouse named after Sandra Day O'Connor, a former Supreme Court Justice from Arizona. There is also a federal prison and other offices in the city.

Crime

Main article: Crime in Phoenix

In the 1960s, crime became a big problem in Phoenix, growing faster than in many other places. There were issues with land fraud and some famous cases. Street gangs and drug trade also caused safety problems in the 1980s. After the early 1990s, crime rates in Phoenix have generally gone down.

Politics

Phoenix has been a place where votes were split between parties, but recently, more people in the city have voted for the Democratic Party. Margaret Hance was the first woman to be elected mayor of Phoenix in 1975.

Education

See also: List of school districts in Phoenix, Arizona

Many school districts help students in Phoenix learn. There are 21 elementary school districts with over 215 schools, and four high school districts with 31 high schools. One of the largest is the Phoenix Union High School District, which serves over 27,000 students. There are also four school districts that cover all grades from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Charter schools, which are different from regular public schools, also operate in Phoenix, with over 100 of them available.

Phoenix is also a place where many students go to college. Arizona State University (ASU) has a big campus in downtown Phoenix, with many programs and over 10,000 students. Other colleges and universities in Phoenix include the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, Northern Arizona University, and Phoenix College, which is one of the oldest community colleges in the country. There are many other schools and colleges in the city as well.

Media

See also: List of radio stations in Arizona and List of films shot in Arizona

Phoenix has a long history with newspapers. Its first paper was the Salt River Valley Herald, started in 1878. Today, the main daily paper is The Arizona Republic, which also has an online site called azcentral.com. There are also many other smaller papers and weeklies.

Phoenix has many television stations, making it the largest TV area in the Southwest and the 12th largest in the United States. Major networks like CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, and PBS all have stations here.

The city has been a popular place to film movies and TV shows. Famous films such as Psycho, The War of the Worlds, and Little Miss Sunshine were filmed in Phoenix, along with many others.

Phoenix’s radio stations offer many different kinds of music and talk shows, including classic rock, pop, alternative, and country, as well as stations in Spanish.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in Phoenix, Arizona

Air

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (IATA: PHX, ICAO: KPHX), is one of the busiest airports in the United States. It has many flights each day and is located near main roads east of downtown Phoenix. It flies to over 100 cities without stopping.

The Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (IATA: AZA, ICAO: KIWA) in nearby Mesa also helps with air travel. It used to be a military base that closed in 1993. Now, Allegiant Air uses it for many flights.

Smaller airports like Phoenix Deer Valley Airport and Scottsdale Airport mainly handle private planes. Other small airports include Chandler Municipal Airport, Glendale Municipal Airport, Falcon Field Airport in Mesa, and Phoenix Goodyear Airport.

Rail and bus

Amtrak used to stop at Phoenix Union Station until 1996. Now, trains stop in Maricopa, about 30 miles south of downtown Phoenix. People can ride the Texas Eagle and Sunset Limited trains there. Amtrak plans to bring trains back to Phoenix, possibly connecting to Tucson and Los Angeles.

Amtrak buses go from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to Flagstaff to connect with another train. Greyhound buses also stop near the airport.

Valley Metro runs buses, trains, and ride-sharing all over the area. Valley Metro Rail has two lines, the A Line and B Line, and plans to grow longer by 2030. The first part opened in 2008, and a new part opened in June 2025.

Roads and freeways

Main article: Roads and freeways in metropolitan Phoenix

Phoenix uses many roads and freeways for cars. The freeways are well kept and not usually crowded, even though Phoenix is a big city. This is because most of the money for them comes from local taxes.

Phoenix has many freeways, such as Interstate 10, Interstate 17, and US 60, plus others like Loop 101 and Loop 202. The streets in Phoenix are mostly laid out in a grid, with roads going north-south and east-west. Some important roads are a mile apart.

Freeways and state highways in Phoenix:

• I-10
• I-17
• SR 51
• US 60
• SR 85
• Loop 101
• SR 143
• Loop 202
• Loop 303

Cycling

The Maricopa Association of Governments has a group working to make it easier and safer for people to ride bikes on streets and paths.

Utilities

Phoenix gets its water from rivers and lakes using canals, with much of it coming from the Colorado River through a special canal system. The city’s electricity mainly comes from companies like Arizona Public Service and the Salt River Project. Power comes mostly from nuclear and coal plants. Arizona has the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, the biggest nuclear power plant in the United States. SRP also gives water to Phoenix.

Health care

Main articles: List of hospitals in Phoenix and List of hospitals in Arizona

Phoenix has many hospitals and medical centers. The Mayo Clinic has a location there, along with St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center. There is also Phoenix Children's Hospital for kids, and Banner Health runs many hospitals and clinics.

The Valleywise Health system includes a big hospital and many health centers across the area. In 2024, it opened a new hospital, and voters approved plans in 2025 to improve health services even more.

Notable people

Phoenix has been home to many famous people. For a full list, see List of people from Phoenix.

Further information: List of Arizona State University alumni

Sister cities

Phoenix joined the international Sister City movement in 1972. The group became official in 1975 and signed its first agreement with Hermosillo, Mexico, in 1976. The goal of these partnerships is to build friendships and support peace and growth between Phoenix and cities around the world.

Phoenix has eleven sister cities. Along with Prague, which started as a Capital Cities relationship in 1991 and became a full sister city in 2013, the other sister cities are:

• Calgary, Canada (1997)
• Catania, Italy (2001)
• Chengdu, China (1987)
• Ennis, Ireland (1988)
• Grenoble, France (1990)
• Hermosillo, Mexico (1976)
• Himeji, Japan (1976)
• Prague, Czech Republic (2013)
• Ramat Gan, Israel (2005)
• Suwon, South Korea (2022)
• Taipei, Taiwan (1979)