| Phoenix is the 5th largest city in the country and the capital of the state of Arizona. It has around 1.6 million people with an MSA area population of 4,300,000. It is located in Maricopa county of Arizona. The city was founded in the 1860s along the Salt River. The elevation is about eleven hundred feet. Phoenix things to do include the Heard Museum, the Arizona Science Center, and the Musical Instrument Museum. Phoenix entertainment includes the Arizona Opera, the Phoenix Metropolitan Opera, and Ballet Arizona. Phoenix festivals and events include many events at the Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix International Raceway, and golf's annual Safeway International. The area is served by Sky Harbor International Airport. Phoenix weather has the highest temperatures among major United States cities with winter lows averaging 44 and summer high temperatures into the 120s. Rainfall is sparse usually less than one inch per month. Median family income for the area is about $46,000 per year. Many corporations call Phoenix home including Allied Waste, PetSmart, Avnet, U-Haul, Mesa Air Group, and Best Western. The area's military bases include Luke Air Force Base. Famous past or previous residents include Stevie Nicks, Buck Owens, Alice Cooper, and Wayne Newton. Professional teams that play in Phoenix include basketball's (NBA) Phoenix Suns, and the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA. The Aizona Cardinals of the National Football League. The Arizona Rattlers play in Phoenix for the Arena Football League at US Airways Center. NASCAR races are held at Phoenix International Raceway. Major League Baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks play at Chase Field. The areas main newspapers are the East Valley Tribune and the Arizona Republic. Area educational institutions include Arizona State University, Grand Canyon University, and the University of Phoenix. Politicians from the area include John McCain, Carl Hayden, Barry Goldwater, and Sandra Day O'Connor. |
