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Phoenix Area Guide

General Information

Phoenix isn’t just the capital of Arizona, it’s the largest city in the state, as well as the fifth most populated city in the United States. Home to around 1.6 million people, Phoenix stands as the anchor of the metropolitan area, also known as the Valley of the Sun.
Notable for its political culture and home to many politicians including John McCain, Janet Napolitano and Sandra Day O’Connor, Phoenix is also a great place to visit, featuring such attractions as hot air ballooning, and home of the Arizona Challenger Space Center. Home to great restaurants, museums and so much more, residents will tell you it’s a great place to live and raise a family, so pack a bag and come see us, we’ll welcome you with open arms and before you know it, you’ll have called your Realtor to start looking for a house.

History

First called Pumpkinville because of the large pumpkins that grew wild in the fields along the old Hohokam built canals, Jack Swilling, a Civil War veteran, came to find his fortune in the west. Stopping for a rest at the foot of the White Tank Mountains, Swilling came upon the abandoned river valley and thought it had great potential for farming. The terrain and climate were good, it just needed a water source, which the old canals provided. Established as a settlement, Pumpkinville soon became Swilling’s Mill in his honor, but later renamed twice more before it became East Phoenix. Finally, Lord Darrell Duppa suggested Phoenix, saying it described a city born from the ruins of a former civilization.
Officially recognized by the Board of Supervisors in Yavapai County on May 4, 1865, Phoenix formed an election precinct and the first post office was established on June 15, 1868, where Jack Swilling served as post master. The coming of the railroad in the 1880’s was just one of the events that revolutionized the economy of Phoenix.
Merchandise now came into the city by rail instead of wagon and Phoenix grew enough through trade to form a Chamber of Commerce, officially founded in November of 1888. By 1911, the Roosevelt Dam east of the valley was completed, forming several new lakes in the area. With its growth, on February 14, 1912, under President Taft, Phoenix officially became the capital of the new state of Arizona. By 1950, Phoenix boasted residents of over 100,000, with 148 miles of paved streets. Over the years, Phoenix has grown and become a favorite destination for tourists, coming to enjoy the exotic desert settings and recreational activities. To learn more about Phoenix’ history, visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix,_Arizona

Attractions & Activities

Fighter Combat International Soar with the eagles with power rides, loops, rolls, and tail slides while learning air combat maneuvers from actual fighter pilots. To learn more, visit:

http://phoenix.about.com/od/attractionsandevents/Things_to_Do_and_See_Having_Fun_in_Phoenix.htm


Arizona Challenger Space Center A community resource center, the Arizona Challenger Space Center is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, created following the tragic events of the Challenger Space Shuttle. It focuses on continuing to inspire space exploration and scientific pursuits in their honor. To learn more, visit: http://phoenix.about.com/od/entermus/ss/challenger.htm

Cross Woods Indoor Golf Center Day or night, rain or shine, all levels of golfers can enjoy indoor golf and the indoor driving range at Cross Woods Indoor Golf Center. To learn more, visit: http://phoenix.about.com/od/sportsgolf/ss/indoorgolf.htm

Parks & Recreation

Thousands of visitors enjoy the parks in Phoenix! Come join us and explore our parks, learn about the desert and enjoy all the programs that make every day life fun in Phoenix. To see a complete list of parks, their amenities and activities, visit: http://phoenix.about.com/od/parks/Parks_and_Recreational_Areas.htm

Events Calendar Phoenix has events and adventures throughout the year for residents and tourists alike and invites you to join them. They take care of the details, you just come enjoy the fun! For a complete listing of events and happenings in Phoenix, visit: http://www.eventsandadventures.com/phoenix-home.html