Life Today   (return to Phoenix history)

Located near the geographic center of the state, the Valley of the Sun is the most cosmopolitan of Arizona's regions, home to more than 3 million people. Encompassing 24 booming communities in the Valley of the Sun, which include Phoenix (the state capital) - Scottsdale, Paradise Valley - Chandler - Tempe, Mesa, Fountain Hills, Glendale, Gilbert and Carefree, as well as several Indian reservations, the metropolitan area is large and its offerings are many. With its population of over 1.3 million, Phoenix is the nation's sixth-largest city.

More than 300 days of sunshine a year make the area an ideal place for active people, sports enthusiasts, and those who like to visit the Valley's many museums and historical sites.

Phoenix is situated on a flat valley floor with mountains surrounding it on every side. Camelback Mountain and Squaw Peak are both landmarks and hiking spots. 

Estrella Mountain and South Mountain, which is a 12-mile wide chain of mountains divides the valley from the Sonoran desert to the south. Mc Dowell Mountain is a mountain preserve at the north of the valley. The White Tank Mountains rim the Valley to the West, and the Superstition Mountains in the east. All of these mountains provide a spectacular scenic backdrop for the valley. Phoenix covers 496 square miles. 

Phoenix is the center of almost everything in Arizona - population, government, industry, finance, business, agriculture, fine arts, sports and much more. Phoenix began as a small farming town. The town sits at an elevation of 1,090 feet. The Valley has a warm southwestern climate with a summer high temperature of 105 degrees and a winter low temperature of 34 degrees. Most will agree that Phoenix is the ideal place to start your excursions to other the parts of the state, although there is so much to see and do in town too. Of course, it's ideal climate to live year-round is illustrated by our rapid both and expansion.

There are so many attractions in the Phoenix area; it is difficult to decide where to begin. The Heard Museum is known around the world for its mission of preserving the Native American past. The museum does a tremendous job with its displays and outstanding artwork collections. Visitors will want to make it one of their stops to learn more about the history of the Southwest. If shopping is your thing, then the Arizona Biltmore is the place for you. The Biltmore has upscale shops and wonderful restaurants. The outdoor mall has been around for a long time and is a popular weekend window-shopping destination. Another great shopping spot in downtown Phoenix is the Arizona Center.

And if you want to experience the finer things in life, many of the country's best resorts and underconstruction can be found here, along with a diverse array of activities and attractions that will surely entertain and surprise you during your stay.

Phoenix, the hub of the Valley of the Sun (so-dubbed because of its 330-plus annual days of cloudless skies) is an ideal base for exploring the natural beauty, cultural highlights and rich history of Arizona.