With a population of nearly 1,600,000 spread over 475.1 sq. miles, Phoenix, Arizona's capital and largest city, ranks as the fifth most populated city in the United States. Also called the Valley of the Sun, the metropolitan Phoenix area averages 110 days each year of 100+ temperatures, making it one of the hottest cities in the United States. Along with hosting the Milwaukee Brewers and Oakland A's spring training facilities, Phoenix is home to the Arizona Cardinals NFL football team, the Phoenix Suns NBA basketball team and eight PGA-qualifying golf courses. The temperate winter climate draws thousands of visitors January through April. Along with the many city attractions, residents and visitors are just two hours from the Grand Canyon and Sedona and just minutes from lush desert preserves, mountain hiking trails and the Salt River.
Surrounded by five mountain ranges, Tucson is one of the few winter cities where visitors and residents can ski in the morning and sit poolside in the afternoon. Also known as the Old Pueblo, Tucson is just a short drive from the historical city of Tombstone, 60 miles from the Mexican border and a day trip away from Phoenix, the Grand Canyon and the Red Rocks of Sedona. Rich in history and Southwestern culture, Tucson is home to three Indian reservations, five national forests and desert monuments, five multimillion dollar casinos and the Arizona Diamondbacks spring training facility. Tucson averages more than 350 sunny days per year, covers 195.1 sq miles and contains a fast-growing population of 541,811--50,000 of which are students and employees at the University of Arizona.
Mesa covers 125.2 sq. miles of the Sonoran Desert and is home to 463,552 residents. Located in the Phoenix East Valley between the Superstition Mountains, Mesa is known for having warm, sunny days and cool, desert nights all year round. Mesa's excellent climate and award-winning golf courses draw thousands of retirees and "snow birds," or winter visitors, for the months of January through April. Mesa is also home to the Mesa Amphitheatre, one of Arizona's most popular outdoor music and major concert venues.
As home to the 2008 Super Bowl and as one of USA Today's top ten cities to shop for antiques, Glendale combines the pace of a fast-growing city with small-town charm. Located just west of Phoenix, Glendale is also home to Luke Air Force Base and the largest 56th Fighter Wing in the United States. This Arizona city boasts 300 days of sunshine per year and covers 55.8 sq. miles. Within its population of 251,522, Glendale is known for containing the wealthiest zip code--80302--in all of Arizona.
Covering 58 sq. miles and housing a growing population of 247,140, Chandler is a popular home for young families and retirees alike. Located in the Greater Phoenix Valley, Chandler is just minutes from all of the popular Phoenix attractions--including the Salt River--and only two hours from the Grand Canyon and Sedona. Downtown Chandler is known as a National Historic District with award-winning restaurants, art galleries and wineries. For baseball and golf fans, Chandler is within 15 miles of the Cactus League Spring Training Camps for the Chicago Cubs and the San Francisco Giants and just minutes from PGA-qualifying golf courses.
Located just east of Phoenix, Scottsdale is known throughout Arizona as the state's top resort community. Home to--among others--the Camelback Mountain Sanctuary Resort & Spa, Scottsdale is also widely popular for its upscale galleries and restaurants and draws more than 50,000 visitors annually to the Scottsdale Culinary Festival. Covering more than 185 sq. miles, this upscale Arizona city contains a population of 235,371.
Ranked 28th by CNN Money Magazine as one of the Top 100 Best Places to Live in America, Gilbert covers 43 sq. miles and contains a population of 216,449. Located southeast of metropolitan Phoenix, Gilbert is close to all of Phoenix's most popular city attractions and just two hours away from the Grand Canyon and the Red Rocks of Sedona. Gilbert is known throughout Arizona as having the best statewide K-12 school system and one of the lowest crime statistics.
Named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece, Tempe is located in Phoenix's East Valley and is bordered by Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler and Guadalupe. Housing 175,523 residents over 40 sq. miles, Tempe is home to several Fortune 500 companies and Arizona State University's largest campus. Tempe is perhaps most famous for hosting Super Bowl XXX and for its annual Insight Fiesta Bowl Block Party--one of the nation's biggest New Year's Eve events.
The spring training home to the Texas Rangers and the Kansas City Royals, Surprise covers 69.5 sq. miles and contains a population of 92,897.
Located between the Yuma and Gila Valleys in Southern Arizona, the city of Yuma covers 106.7 sq. miles and contains a population of 90,041. Offering the most temperate climate and natural lush desert landscapes in all of Arizona, Yuma is home to an eight-mile stretch of the Colorado River and numerous recreational parks and forests.
