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Phoenix
Desert character. It can’t be conjured, landscaped or kindled with twinkling bulbs. John Ford knew that. So did Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis L’Amour. Spend a few days in Greater Phoenix and you’ll understand, too. America’s fifth-largest city still has cowboys and red-rock buttes and the kind of cactus most people see only in cartoons. It is the heart of the Sonoran Desert and the gateway to the Grand Canyon, and its history is a testament to the spirit of puebloans, ranchers, miners and visionaries.
This timeless Southwestern backdrop is the perfect setting for family vacations, weekend adventures or romantic getaways. Enjoy resorts and spas infused with Native American tradition, golf courses that stay emerald-green all year, mountain parks crisscrossed with trails, sports venues worthy of the Super Bowl and a spectrum of boutiques and fashionable malls few regions in America can match.
For Visitors Information:
125 N. 2nd Street
Phoenix, AZ 85004
(877) 225-5749
Visit the Official Phoenix Website
- County: Maricopa
- Year of Incorporation: 1881
- Elevation: 1,117 ft
- Population: 1,567,924
Phoenix Attractions
Dependable sunshine and warm temperatures make outdoor activities a way of life in Phoenix. Horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing are popular Phoenix activities for visitors and locals alike. Thrill seekers can soar above the desert plateau in a glider, sailplane or hot-air balloon. Visitors can also choose from water skiing, sailing, fishing and tubing in the region’s lakes and rivers.
Noteworthy attractions include South Mountain Park, encompassing more than 16,000 acres, the Heard Museum, featuring one of the nation’s largest collections of traditional and contemporary Native American art, and the Desert Botanical Garden with more than 50,000 desert plants.
Phoenix and its neighboring communities are also home to more than 200 golf courses. Some courses occupy desert canyons where civilization feels a world away, while others are part of opulent resorts where golfers can indulge themselves with a post-round spa treatment.
Phoenix History & Culture
Phoenix is a city that has not forgotten its past, as evidenced by the Southwestern architecture and Native American influences woven into the daily lifestyle of Phoenix residents. Phoenix’ earliest inhabitants were the Hohokam Indians, who thrived in the region until about 1450 AD. There is no record of the Hohokam after that, although they are believed to be ancestors of the Pima Indians. In the Pima language “hohokam” means “those who have gone."
The present city of Phoenix originated in 1860 as a small settlement on the banks of the Salt River. One of the city’s first settlers gave Phoenix its name, predicting that a great city would arise from the ancient Hohokam ruins like the legendary phoenix bird that was said to have risen from its own ashes.
With the construction of its first railroad in 1887, Phoenix drew settlers from all over the United States. In 1889, it was declared the capital of the Arizona territory.
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