| The Phoenix Metropolitan Area, often referred to as the Valley of the Sun, the Salt River Valley or Metro Phoenix, is a metropolitan area of 2,000 square miles and a population of nearly 4.3 million, centered on the city of Phoenix. Greater Phoenix is the fifth largest metropolitan area in the United States, encompassing more than 20 communities.
Located in the Salt River Valley in the south central part of the state, Phoenix is situated on flat desert terrain at an elevation of 1,117 feet. The climate is warm, with low humidity. The most remarkable weather feature is sunshine approximately 325 days per year, making the Phoenix area one of the sunniest in the country. The area gets 7 inches of rain per year. The US average is 37. Snowfall is 0 inches. The average US city gets 25 inches of snow per year.
The metro area boasts a system of municipal and regional parks perhaps without equal in size and number. These parks are largely preserves of unspoiled and scenic desert and mountains with wonderful opportunities for hiking, biking, horseback riding, camping, or just enjoying peace and quiet. Greater Phoenix is home to more than 200 golf courses.
Phoenix is one of only 13 U.S. cities with franchises in all four major professional sports leagues: Phoenix Suns (NBA), Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB), Arizona Cardinals (NFL) and Arizona Coyotes (NHL). 15 Major League Baseball teams conduct spring training in the Cactus League, which in 2014 drew 1.63 million fans.
Courtesy of the Arizona Department Of Transportation |
The metropolitan area of Phoenix contains one of the nation's largest and fastest-growing freeway systems. The Phoenix Metropolitan Area has remained a very automobile-dependent city.
Its first freeway opening in 1958, a year preceding most cities' first freeway openings. The backbone of Phoenix's freeway system is composed of three major freeways, Interstate 10, Interstate 17, and U.S. Route 60.
The street and freeway planning scheme is fundamentally a grid, which makes it fairly easy to find your way around. Central Avenue and Washington Street are two of Phoenix's arterial roads, and are the dividing lines between its north and south, and east and west areas of the Valley, respectively. An arterial road or street is a major thoroughfare designed for high-capacity traffic. |
Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport is located in the middle of the Phoenix area, less than ten minutes from downtown, and within 20 miles of almost all of our towns and cities. Come to The Valley Of The Sun, an area rich with art and culture, resorts, shopping, nightlife, attractions and events, all surrounded by beautiful desert scenery.
There are museums to suit nearly every taste. The Heard Museum (Native American); Desert Botanical Garden (the world's largest collection of desert plants); Taliesin West (home of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation); the Phoenix Art Museum (the Southwest's largest art museum); the Arizona Science Center; the Hall of Flame (featuring the world's largest collection of fire-fighting equipment); Pueblo Grande Museum and Cultural Park (Native American) and the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) are among the cultural hot spots.
The timeless Southwestern backdrop of Metro Phoenix is the perfect setting for family vacations, weekend adventures or romantic getaways. Enjoy resorts and spas, golf courses that stay emerald-green all year, mountain parks crisscrossed with trails, sports venues, and a spectrum of boutiques and fashionable malls few regions in America can match. |
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