Search results
The Phoenix Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (officially known as the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler MSA [151]), is one of 10 MSAs in Arizona, and was the 11th largest in the United States, with a 2018 U.S. census population estimate of 4,857,962, up from the 2010 census population of 4,192,887. Consisting of both Pinal and Maricopa counties, the MSA accounts for 65.5% of Arizona's population.
- Overview
- Character of the city
- City site
- Climate
- City layout
Phoenix, city, seat (1871) of Maricopa county and capital of Arizona, U.S. It lies along the Salt River in the south-central part of the state, about 120 miles (190 km) north of the Mexico border and midway between El Paso, Texas, and Los Angeles, California. The Salt River valley, popularly called the Valley of the Sun, includes not only Phoenix b...
With its broad, tree-lined avenues, Spanish-style architecture, and surrounding mountains, Phoenix bears much resemblance to Los Angeles. Like its California counterpart, Phoenix is a metropolis with not one but many centres, all at considerable distances from one another. From its historic heart to the west of Sky Harbor International Airport, the...
Phoenix lies near the confluence of the Gila and Salt rivers and is situated at the extreme northern part of the Sonoran Desert, an arid ecological zone whose characteristic plant is the nationally protected saguaro cactus. To the east of Phoenix are the rugged Superstition Mountains, a large complex of volcanic calderas that formed about 305 million years ago; the mountains reach to about 3,000 feet (900 metres) at their highest point. The Mazatzal Mountains rise to the northeast; the Verde River flows to the west of the mountains, entering the Salt River east of Phoenix.
The broad valley in which the city lies extends west to the Colorado River and south to the mountain chains north of Tucson, although the geographic borders of Phoenix end far short of those natural barriers. The Phoenix metropolitan area—the Valley of the Sun—stands at an elevation of 1,100 feet (335 metres) above sea level. The northern and eastern ends of this valley rise into the surrounding volcanic peaks; the remainder is level terrain, dotted with small volcanic mountains of granite and schist. Camelback Mountain, Piestewa Peak, and South Mountain are the most prominent of these urban peaks, reaching elevations of about 2,600 to 2,700 feet (790 to 820 metres).
Britannica Quiz
U.S. State Capitals Quiz
Phoenix has a dry, warm climate that in the winter months attracts tens of thousands of visitors. The average daily high temperature in the winter approaches 70 °F (21 °C), but summer highs typically rise to more than 100 °F (38 °C). It is almost always sunny throughout the year.
Exclusive academic rate for students! Save 67% on Britannica Premium.
Learn More
Precipitation averages less than 8 inches (200 mm) annually, divided almost evenly between the winter and summer months. In summertime, the so-called monsoon season, much of this precipitation returns to the atmosphere almost immediately through evaporation or transpiration.
Until relatively recently, some three-fifths of the land within the Phoenix city limits was undeveloped. In the mid-1970s a plan was proposed to develop these vacant lands through a program of “infill” construction, taking advantage of the infrastructure that was already in place. Instead, however, the city pursued a policy of annexing surrounding communities, expanding outward to accommodate its growing population.
Phoenix has grown to absorb many satellite communities, and it is surrounded by other independent municipalities that have boomed on their own. These include Scottsdale, an affluent area known for its shopping and art districts, to the northeast; Fountain Hills, an exclusive community in the hills east of Scottsdale; Tempe, a middle-class suburb that is home to Arizona State University, to the east and Mesa, the “Mormon capital of Arizona,” farther east; Chandler, where a high-technology centre has emerged, to the southeast; the once-small agricultural communities of Gilbert and Queen Creek east of Chandler; Glendale, Goodyear, and Avondale to the west; and Sun City, one of the first retirement communities in the country, to the northwest.
Visit Phoenix and experience outdoor adventure, high culture and relaxing resorts. Discover hotels, restaurants, events, and things to do in Phoenix.
Summer Events in Phoenix- Explore Downtown Phoenix | Cultural Attractions & Things to Do
- Your Guide To First Friday Art Walk in Phoenix
- Things to Do on the Salt River
- Cheap and Free Things to Do in Phoenix
- Camelback Mountain | Visit Phoenix
- Things To Do with Kids in Phoenix
- Footprint Center - Phoenix AZ, 85004
- Phoenix Travel Guide | Visit Phoenix
- 2 hours to Half Day. TIME TO SPEND. The desert may seem like the last place you'd expect to find flora. Yet the Desert Botanical Garden is home to thousands of species of cacti, trees and flowers from all around the world.
- Free, Parks and Gardens, Hiking. TYPE. 2 hours to Half Day. TIME TO SPEND. As one of the highest peaks in Phoenix, Camelback Mountain is among the most scenic hiking spots in the city.
- Museums. TYPE. 2 hours to Half Day. TIME TO SPEND. The Musical Instrument Museum, located about 20 miles north of downtown Phoenix, invites visitors to check out its collection of more than 6,000 instruments from around the world.
- Zoos and Aquariums. TYPE. 2 hours to Half Day. TIME TO SPEND. The Phoenix Zoo is a great place to enjoy nature without your little ones dying of boredom.
Explore Phoenix, Arizona. America’s 5th-largest city offers cosmopolitan pursuits – dining, resorts, the arts, shopping – amid beautiful, hike-able desert scenery.
Aug 27, 2024 · Being one of the most beautiful places in America, Phoenix is a charming capital city of Arizona. Throughout the year, it boasts beaming sun and delightfully warm temperatures, and its expanses of dry desert are among the reasons it is so well-loved.
Jun 11, 2024 · Phoenix is one of Arizona’s best cities – there’s no doubting that. Phoenix has bustling city life, art galleries galore, and some world-class museums and day trip opportunities, including the chance to head out into the Sonoran Desert.
