| The city of Phoenix was once referred to as | | | | pictures shot in the area include The Gauntlet, |
| ‘Hoozdo’ by the Navajo which translates | | | | Psycho, Raising Arizona, Waiting to Exhale and |
| to "the place is hot." People relocating to Phoenix | | | | Jerry Maguire to name a few. |
| will find a hot job market in one of the fastest | | | | With a city swelling in size come higher housing |
| growing cities in the country. | | | | costs. After the 2000 census when house values |
| Nicknamed "Valley of the Sun," Phoenix is | | | | were below the state average at $112,600, |
| Arizona’s capital and the sixth largest city in | | | | median home values jumped to $184,300 in 2005. |
| the United States. Amassing 475 square miles, the | | | | 12,391 buildings were constructed that year at an |
| city is 10th in the nation for its size. U.S. Census | | | | average cost of $193,100 per dwelling. Compare |
| Bureau estimates put the population of Phoenix at | | | | that with the average home start of just |
| 1,461,575 in 2005. In 1950, Phoenix was no larger | | | | $117,400 in 1996. Property taxes in Phoenix are |
| than a city the size of Green Bay, Wisconsin with | | | | affordable, attracting the so-called |
| just 106,818 people. With its expansion, the | | | | ‘snowbirds’ who keep seasonal homes in |
| population jumped from 439,170 in the 1960 | | | | the city. |
| census to 983,403 in 1990. | | | | Bring along some sun block if you are relocating |
| Today, with cities like Glendale, Scottsdale and | | | | to Phoenix. Phoenix sees an average of 325 |
| Tempe nearby, Phoenix has one of the largest | | | | sunny days a year with very little rainfall. Only |
| metropolitan areas in the country with 3,865,077 | | | | places like Saudi Arabia or Baghdad, Iraq are |
| residents. The metropolitan area population soared | | | | hotter than Phoenix. Temperatures reach 100° |
| 45% during the 1990s, while Arizona became the | | | | or more nearly 90 days per year. The all-time |
| second fastest growing state. The majority of | | | | high is 122° recorded in 1990. Winter months are |
| residents in Phoenix are White Non-Hispanic | | | | usually mild and sunny. Snow is extremely rare. |
| (55.8%), followed by Hispanic (34%) and Black | | | | The first snowfall was officially recorded in 1896. |
| (5%). Household income in the city has risen | | | | Only seven times since then have accumulations |
| slowly since annual earnings averaged $41,207 in | | | | of one-tenth inch or greater been seen. Annual |
| 2000. Census estimates in 2005 show $42,353 of | | | | precipitation averages between eight to nine |
| home earnings yearly. Unemployment is fairly low | | | | inches. Arizona State University located in Tempe |
| at 5.6%. The percentage of residents living in | | | | has a satellite campus in Phoenix. ASU is one of |
| poverty was four points above the national rate | | | | the largest public universities in the U.S. The city is |
| of 12.4%. The poverty level among Black, | | | | also home to the University of Phoenix, the |
| Hispanic and Native American residents was more | | | | largest private, for-profit university in the nation |
| than double the U.S. rate. | | | | with over 130,000 students throughout the |
| For anyone relocating to Phoenix, the job market | | | | country, Canada, Mexico and the Netherlands. |
| is wide open. The city was once primarily | | | | Phoenix has the seventh-busiest airport in the |
| agricultural, mainly cotton and citrus farming. Jobs | | | | nation. Over 41 million travelers used Sky Harbor |
| today are being created in many areas. Numerous | | | | airport in 2005 with access to 100 destinations. |
| high-tech and telecommunications companies have | | | | Phoenix is also home to some professional sports |
| relocated to the area. Five Fortune 1000 | | | | teams with the NBA Phoenix Suns and NHL |
| companies can be found with headquarters in the | | | | Phoenix Coyotes. Pro baseball’s Arizona |
| community. Major operations in the Phoenix area | | | | Diamondbacks and the NFL Arizona Cardinals are |
| include Intel, US Airways, Motorola, Honeywell, | | | | in the metro area. Phoenix International Raceway |
| Boeing, American Express, Prudential and Charles | | | | is a major venue for five NASCAR auto racing |
| Schwab. Employment at Intel accounts for about | | | | events each year, including two Nextel Cup races. |
| 11,000 jobs. The military has a significant presence | | | | With more than 200 golf courses, the community |
| with Luke Air Force Base. The city is also a | | | | has been called the "golf capital of the world. |
| popular place for the film industry. Major motion | | | | |