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Area Information

The Phoenix Metropolitan Area 

The Phoenix metropolitan area, also known as the Valley of the Sun, is a metropolitan area that includes the City of Phoenix, most of the rest of Maricopa County, a large section of Pinal County, and small parts of southern Yavapai County. The Phoenix–Mesa–Scottsdale Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the US Census Bureau, includes Maricopa and Pinal counties.

The population of the Phoenix metropolitan area increased by 45% from 1990 through 2000, compared to the average United States rate of 15%, helping to make Arizona the second fastest growing state in the nation in the 1990s (the fastest was Nevada).  The 2000 Census reported the population of the metro area to be 3,251,876. As of July 1, 2006 the MSA is estimated to be at 4,039,182.

Since the popularization of air conditioning in the 1930's, the Phoenix metropolitan area has been considered by many to be one of the best places to live in America.

The city routinely makes top ten lists across the country, including; Top Ten Most Populous Cities; Top Ten Business Hot Spots; Top Ten Metro Areas for Employment; Top Ten Best American Festivals (Chandler Ostrich Festival); Top Ten Largest State Universities (Arizona State University); and Top Ten Most Misspelled Cities in the Country.  Phoenix and Scottsdale have more golf courses listed in the “USA Top 100” than anywhere else.

Most recently, Hershey Foods Corporation names Phoenix the Number 10 “Sweet Spot” in America.  This compilation was determined based on acts of volunteerism, heroism, family orientation, community spirit, romantic settings, and “a lifestyle that enables residents to embrace all that is good and sweet in life.”

Undoubtedly, this is what caused the Hohokam people to settle here around 300 AD.  Either that or they heard about all the great shopping.  They build a complex irrigation system with 135 miles of canals, making the land suitable for farming.  They left the area around 1400, most likely due to a drought.  This gave them their name – Ho-Ho-Kam, or “the people who have gone.”

Rising from the proverbial ashes of this civilization like the ancient Egyptian legend, Phoenix began to see a resurgence of occupation in the late 19th century.  Jack Swilling began to settle the land in 1867, starting an irrigation company.  A small colony soon developed, which would eventually yield the sixth largest city in the United States.

Diversity of culture, plentiful shopping, a wealth of professional sports and entertainment, and much more combine to make the Phoenix metropolitan an ideal place to live.