Metro Phoenix Relocation Guide 2008 - (Page 12) The Valley of the Sun The beauty of the area is a constant pleasure and provides a sense of magic to the spirit. hoenix and the Valley of the Sun began with the discovery of the Salt River by the Hohokam Indians as early as 300 B.C. The waterways and canals built by the Hohokam society allowed the introduction of cotton, beans, corn, squash and introduced the weaving of cotton to the Southwest. These newcomers wasted no time in building a community to suit their needs, with single family homes, apartment buildings, an outdoor neighborhood recreation center, and a ceremonial spot for the celebration of special events. This ancient culture farmed and existed in the settlement for about 1,700 years, and reached a population of approximately 75,000 by A.D. 1100. After living in this part of the Sonoran Desert for more than ten centuries the Hohokam mysteriously disappeared, leaving a legacy that has helped modern civilization thrive. The irrigation system that transports water through the metropolis of Phoenix closely follows the sophisticated system of canals established by the Hohokam. The Pima, said to be descendents of the Hohokam later settled here. The Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeology Park is located about 5 miles east of downtown Phoenix at 4619 E. Washington Street. Much has been learned about this ancient society by studying animal and plant remains, burial sights and artifacts discovered at this site. Archaeologists have discovered a platform mound with what appears to be solstice markings that may suggest that the Hohokum had a ceremonial culture. It seems especially fitting then that Phoenix, Arizona’s capital city, should be named for the bird in Greek mythology that rose from its own ashes to live again. P As the area’s anchor city, Phoenix provides employment, educational and cultural opportunities to its residents and those of its neighboring cities. Collectively they are known as the “Valley of the Sun” and they cover a small part of the sprawling 9,127 square miles of Maricopa County. Some Valley cities are well-known to those outside Arizona: Scottsdale, as the resort destination of choice for discriminating sun and recreation worshippers; Tempe, as the site of Arizona State University; Paradise Valley, as a residential town as idyllic as the name implies; and Sun City, as home to active retirees. No matter what their interests, newcomers find a community waiting to welcome them. Two communities with burgeoning populations that deserve a close look are Mesa and Glendale, the state’s third and fourth largest cities after Phoenix and Tucson. Chandler and Gilbert (to the southeast) are becoming well-known as magnets for both young families and high-tech manufacturing firms. Fountain Hills, located above the Valley to the northeast in the McDowell Mountains, is fifteen minutes from the nearest city and prized for its solitude. The sister communities of Cave Creek and Carefree to the north comprise another secluded area, with rustic ranch spreads and milliondollar adobe homes inspired by Hohokam designs. 12 Relocation Guide™ The West Valley communities of Peoria, Avondale, Tolleson and Litchfield Park offer family-oriented lifestyles and affordable housing. The outlying farming communities of Goodyear, Buckeye and Surprise are rapidly mirroring the expansion of the closer-in West Valley communities. Great Climate The three primary reasons people relocate to the Valley of the Sun are warm weather, wages and weekends. Shining brightly more than 300 days each year, the sun does much more than generate a good tan. It attracts industries searching for a warm, dry climate that won’t interfere with their distribution networks, telecommunications systems or administrative operations. It attracts tourists who contribute an estimated $5 billion annually to the Valley economy. Tourism also draws a steady flow of newcomers looking to set down roots in a community that is socially, economically and culturally hospitable. For every three people who come to the Valley, two leave, helping somewhat to balance the influx. Nearly a third of these newcomers arrive from the Midwest, bringing with them the friendly characteristics known to that region. A Wonderful Mix of Communities Just as Phoenix is the “hub” of commercial activity in the Southwest, it is also the core around which twenty-plus communities have grown.
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