Phoenix/Scottsdale Information
Arizona Sunset: Chandler
Golf
Several golf courses are located within a five mile radius of the Embassy Suites Phoenix North hotel.
- Cave Creek Golf Course: two miles from hotel.
Call: 602.866.8076. Cost: $22.00-$28.00 - Pointe Hilton Lookout Mountain: five miles from hotel.
Call: 602.866.6356. Cost: $82.00-$89.00 - 500 Club: five miles from hotel.
Call: 623.492.9500. Cost: $55.00-$65.00 - The Legend at Arrowhead: seven miles from the hotel.
Call: 623.561.1902. Cost: $45.00-$55.00 - Luke Air force Base Golf Course. Military ID required.
Note: All pricing includes a cart. Also, the annual over seeding of these golf courses is planned during the first two weeks in October.
About the Phoenix Metropolitan Area
The population of Maricopa County is about 3.6 million people. Maricopa County is largely comprised of the Phoenix metropolitan area, which consists mostly of the cities of Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria, and several other neighboring cities and towns.
More than half of Arizona's population lives in Maricopa County.
The Phoenix metro area is just over 9,000 square miles in area.
About the People
There are slightly more men than women in the state.
About 82% of the people in Maricopa County are high school graduates. About 26 have at least one college degree. There are 15 institutions of higher learning, including Arizona State University and The Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Over 34% of the people 20+ years old in the Maricopa County are single.
About 29% of the population of Maricopa County is Hispanic/Latino, 4% is African-American, 3% is Asian and 2% is Native American.
Although the Phoenix area is well known as a retirement spot, only 11.1% of the population of Maricopa County is over age 65 (compared to 13.8% in Miami-Dade County).
The median household income in the Maricopa County in 2006 was about $52,000. About 20% of the households have an annual income greater than $100,000.
About the Environment
The skies are clear 59% of the time, partly cloudy 31% and cloudy 9%. Annual rainfall is about 7 inches. July is technically the hottest month, but in June and August when the temperature gets over 115°F it all feels the same to me. The unofficial Phoenix greeting is ". . . it's a dry heat!”
The major industries are manufacturing, services (includes tourism) and manufacturing.
The sales tax is in the 8-10% range, and varies slightly depending upon the city.
Other Phoenix Stuff
Phoenix is on Mountain Standard Time, and never moves the clock forward or back. Only the Navajo nation observes daylight saving time.
The average price for a new single-family home in Maricopa County is $290,000 (2007).
Different cities and towns within Maricopa County have property tax rates that vary within the range of about 8% to 15%, with the average being about 10% of assessed value.
Phoenix originated in 1866 as a hay camp.
There are six major lakes within an hour's drive from Phoenix (Bet you didn’t know this)
Arizona Stuff
State Flower: Saguaro Cactus Flower
State Bird: Cactus Wren
State Tree: Palo Verde
State Fossil: Petrified Wood
State Gemstone: Turquoise
State Amphibian: Arizona Tree Frog
State Reptile: Arizona Ridge-Nosed Rattlesnake
State Nickname: The Grand Canyon State
The name Arizona comes from the Indian "Arizonac" which means "little spring"
Phoenix averages 211 days of sunshine per year. An additional 85 days per year are only partly cloudy, leaving an average of 69 days of cloudy or rainy days.
Park South Mountain Park covers more than 20,000 acres, making it the largest city park in the world.
A saguaro cactus will take between 50 and 100 years to grow an arm. The saguaro cactus flower is the official state flower of Arizona.
Scottsdale
Scottsdale (pop. 210,000) is one of the Southwest's premier resort destinations. This young, active and wealthy community borders Phoenix to the east and north. With more than 170 golf courses, 11,000 hotel rooms, and 500 restaurants, millions of people come to enjoy the spas and resorts in Scottsdale each year.
Scottsdale's popularity is well-deserved. The beautiful desert landscapes have inspired such people as architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who built an internationally admired winter retreat here at Taliesin West. Outdoors lovers will find hundreds of things to do along the Salt River, in the rocky city parks and neighboring mountains, or on ranches in and around the city. Hot air balloon rides, horseback tours, kayaking, and mountain climbing are all just minutes from Scottsdale. There's plenty to do within the city limits as well. Luxury spas and resorts offer deluxe pampering among spectacular scenery. Annual events such as the horse-drawn Parada Del Sol parade and the Phoenix Open golf tournament bring diverse crowds to the city. Old Town Scottsdale preserves the original flavor of this community, and is near plenty of shopping and dining venues, many featuring the Southwest cuisine the area is famous for.
Scottsdale begins to the east of downtown Phoenix and Sky Harbor International Airport, and continues north all the way to Cave Creek and Carefree. It is accessible from Highways 101 and 202.
Grand Canyon
One of the world’s seven natural wonders, the Grand Canyon offers spectacular vistas of canyon walls that have been sculpted from the earth over the millennia by the mighty Colorado River. The shifting sun creates a palette of constantly changing colors, from deep russet to pale pink, from washed granite to golden brown. The South Rim is open year-round.
Experience it through nature walks and mule rides into the Canyon, or by driving around its scenic edge. The North Rim is open from mid-May through October, depending on weather conditions, and lodging is available.
Phoenix Airport (PHX), the sixth-busiest airport in the USA, is the principal gateway for Phoenix, capital of Arizona. Located surprisingly close to the city center, the airport gives easy access to the wealth of first-rate hotels and resorts that flourish in Phoenix and the Valley of the Sun.
Every year 40 million passengers travel between Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, about 40 other US destinations and 16 cities in Canada, Mexico, and Europe. More than 18 airlines serve PHX airport: it is a major hub.