Phoenix, Arizona
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| City of Phoenix, Arizona | |||||
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| Nickname: "Valley of the Sun" | |||||
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| Country | United States | ||||
| State | Arizona | ||||
| Counties | Maricopa | ||||
| History | |||||
| Incorporated | February 25, 1881 | ||||
| Government | |||||
| - Mayor | Phil Gordon (D) | ||||
| Area | |||||
| - City | 1230.5 km² (515.1 sq mi) | ||||
| - Land | 1229.9 km² (515.1 sq mi) | ||||
| - Water | 0.6 km² (0.2 sq mi) | ||||
| Elevation | 331 m (1086 ft) | ||||
| Population | |||||
| - City (2005) | 1,475,834 | ||||
| - Density | 1188.4/km² (3077.6/sq mi) | ||||
| - Urban | 3393000 | ||||
| - Metro | 3865077 | ||||
| Time zone | MST (UTC-7) | ||||
| - Summer (DST) | no daylight saving time (UTC) | ||||
| Website: http://www.phoenix.gov/ | |||||
Phoenix is the capital city of the U.S. state of Arizona. It is the largest city in that state. The city is the county seat of Maricopa County. It is the largest capital city in the United States. The city is located along the normally dry Salt River. It became a city on February 25 1881. People who live in Phoenix are known as Phoenicians.
Phoenix had an estimated 2005 population of 1,475,834 people. It was the sixth largest city in the United States in the 2000 census. Phoenix is a very large city. It has an area of 515 square miles. This makes it the 10th largest city by area. As of 2006, the Phoenix Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) was the 13th-largest in the United States, with an estimated population of 4,039,182 people.
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[change] History
[change] American Indian inhabitants
As early as 700 AD, the Hohokam people lived in the land that would become Phoenix. The Hohokam created about 135 miles (217 km) of irrigation canals. This let them grow things on the land.
It is believed that between AD 1300 and AD 1450 drought and floods caused the Hohokam to no longer live in the area.[1] Spanish and Mexican explorers knew of the area but they did not go as far north as the Salt River Valley.
[change] Early history
In 1867, Jack Swilling of Wickenburg, Arizona came to the area. He saw that the land was good for farming. The only problems he saw were a lack of rain and good irrigation. Swilling corrected the problem by having a series of canals built. A small community was created about four miles (6 km) east of the where the city is today[1].
The farming community was named Swilling's Mill. The name was later changed to Helling Mill, Mill City, and East Phoenix. Swilling was a Confederate soldier during the Civil War. He wanted to name the city "Stonewall," after Gen. Stonewall Jackson. Others people had other ideas for names. Finally, Lord Darrell Duppa suggested the name "Phoenix,". The name is the same as the mythological fire bird which is born again from its own ash after it dies. It was a good name for a city born from a former civilization.[2]
[change] Incorporation
On February 25 1881, Phoenix became an incorporated city. At that time it had a population of about 2,500 people. Phoenix held its first city election on May 3 1881. Judge John T. Alsap defeated James D. Monihon, 127 to 107, to become the city's first mayor.[3] In early 1888, the city offices were moved into the new City Hall.
The coming of the railroad in the 1880s was the first of several important events changed the economy of Phoenix. Phoenix became a trade center. In response, the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce was created on November 4 1888.
[change] References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Out of the Ashes, Early Life along the Salt River." City of Phoenix. Retrieved on November 26 2006.
- ↑ "Out of the Ashes, Phoenix is Born." City of Phoenix. Retrieved on November 26, 2006.
- ↑ "Out of the Ashes, Incorporation in 1881." City of Phoenix. Retrieved on November 26 2006.
[change] Other websites
- Official Government Website
- Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau
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