Phoenix – Hot, Hot, Hot!

Phoenix, located in the southwestern United States in south central Arizona, is the fifth most populous city in the United States, with roughly 1.6 million people. Phoenix is the state capital of Arizona and a center of education and research, finance, government services, aerospace, high technology, telecommunications, and travel and tourism. Phoenix has a land area of 519 square miles. The land in and around what is today Phoenix was occupied by the native Hohokam tribe, though was later abandoned. With the end of the Mexican-American War in 1848, the New Mexico Territory, including Phoenix, was ceded to the United States. Phoenix – and the Territory of Arizona – was sympathetic to the Confederate cause during the American Civil War. The arrival of the railroad in the late 1880’s had a transformational effect on Phoenix and its economy. During World War II, Phoenix served as both a distribution center and location for prisoner of war camps. Since then, Phoenix has grown significantly as a business center, residential area, and tourist destination. Phoenix has the hottest climate of any major American City. While hard hit during the real estate bust of 2008, rental markets in Phoenix have stabilized and the city’s real estate market is improving.

The Phoenix Economy: From Agriculture to the Five C’s to Seeing Green

Phoenix is a major economic and commercial center. The city is home to seven companies listed on the Fortune 500 list of largest U.S companies. From its early history as an agriculture based economy, Arizona in the century leading up to the mid 1900’s to an economy based on the “five C’s:” cattle, copper cotton, citrus, and climate. While not as crucial as drivers of the Phoenix economy as they once were, they still play a role. In addition, today’s Phoenix economy encompasses education and research, finance, government, aerospace, high technology, manufacturing, telecommunications, and travel and tourism.

Education in Phoenix: Sun Devils Rule

Educational attainment among the Phoenix populace is just slightly below that of the U.S. as a whole. As of 2000, roughly 77% of its residents aged 25 and older had completed high school and roughly 23% had completed college. There are numerous colleges and universities in Phoenix. Arizona State University has a substantial presence in nearby Tempe and in Phoenix and is home to over 70,000 students. Among other institutions of higher learning in Phoenix are: Phoenix Seminary, Southwestern College, and Western International University.

The Crime Scene in Phoenix: A Mixed Picture

Phoenix ranks closely with New York and Los Angeles in terms of violent crime and murder rates in large U.S. cities. However, Phoenix runs substantially above those cities in terms of burglary, larceny, and auto vehicle theft. Phoenix does seem to be focusing on its crime rates, and the city did see violent crime decline nearly 17% and property crime decline 20% in 2009. The city is the safest it has been in about two decades.

The Phoenix Population and Politics: Republican Tilt

Phoenix has a population of approximately 1.6 million people. Its population has been growing rapidly, at a rate of 2.9% per year over the past decade. The population of Phoenix is highly diverse. People of Hispanic or Mexican origin comprise as much as 50% of the population; non-Hispanic Caucasians – 25%; African Americans – 6%; and others – 19%. Phoenix has leaned Republican in presidential votes, though by a relatively slim margin. In the 2008 U.S. presidential election, Phoenix voters chose Republican candidate John McCain over Democratic candidate Barack Obama by a ratio of 55%-44%.