Phoenix was once a small, non-descript agricultural town. Today, it is a thriving commercial city which continues to develop every year. It is brimming with skyscrapers, posh resorts, golf courses and shopping malls. Life in Phoenix literally bursts with the excitement of state-of-the-art sporting facilities, cultural delights, enormous shopping malls and a lively nightlife.
Phoenix is the largest city in the state of Arizona and is also the state capital. The city airport, business district and urban areas have undergone an extensive redevelopment programme, which has seen both the population and economy grow at an increased rate.
Due to its desert location, Phoenix enjoys more than 300 sunny days each year. It is connected to a number of destinations by excellent highways and by air. Partly due to its easy access, the city has become a major tourist destination, especially in the winter months, when people come here to escape the cold. The other reason Phoenix has become so popular is because of the countless attractions on offer here. There are sporting games, cultural institutions, art galleries, theatres, historical sights and parks; not to mention the numerous restaurants, bars and clubs dotted around.
Hotels in Phoenix are largely concentrated around the city centre and throughout the various neighbourhoods. The city offers a wide range of hotels and inexpensive accommodation, many of which are suitable for both business travellers and holidaymakers. The city is renowned however for claiming to have more five-star hotels than any other US city.
Most of the hotels can be found spread across the following areas: Downtown Phoenix, East Van Buren, North Central Avenue, North Black Canyon and Phoenix Airport. International chain hotels include: Hilton Phoenix Hotel and Holiday Inn.
Many of Phoenix's hotels are fully booked during the peak summer and winter seasons, so booking in advance is essential.
The first colony to settle in Phoenix was founded by Jack Swilling who saw the potential of the area when he passed through it in 1867. One year later, a thriving farming community emerged, which was named Swilling’s Mill. The name Phoenix was recommended by Lord Darell Duppa and the new town was officially recognised in May 1868. Jack Swilling became Phoenix’s new postmaster.
The first public school in Phoenix opened in 1872, in the courtroom of the county building although there was a dedicated school building built by October 1873. Miss Nellie Shaver was appointed as the first female schoolteacher in Phoenix.
By 1881, Phoenix had outgrown its original borders and the town was incorporated into a city, holding its first elections in May of that year. Judge John T Alsap became the city's first mayor. The new city soon prospered and by the end of the year, it had an estimated population of approximately 2,500.
The building of the railroad in the 1880s was the first of several revolutionary events that saw a huge improvement in Phoenix’s economy. Merchandise now reached the city by rail instead of wagon, allowing Phoenix to become a commercial hub, with its products reaching eastern and western markets.
In 1912, under William Howard Taft, Phoenix became the capital of the newly formed state of Arizona. One year later, it changed its manner of governing to include a mayor, council members and a city manager, making it one of the first cities in the United States with this type of city government.
In 1950, the city’s population had grown to 105,000, with thousands more living in neighbouring communities. Today, Phoenix is the largest city in the state and a bustling centre with many attractions on offer for the millions of tourists who visit each year. It is one of America’s fastest growing cities.
Phoenix experiences an arid climate with some of the hottest seasonal temperatures of anywhere in the world. The temperature reaches or exceeds 38°C on an average of 89 days throughout the year. Most of these hot days fall between early June and early September.
The dry Arizona air makes the hot temperatures more bearable early in the summer, but this only lasts until July, as moisture rises sharply making the air a lot more humid.
The city sees extremely mild, sunny weather in the winter, which is ideal for those looking to escape cold weather and enjoy the outdoors. Rainfall is scarce, even in winter, and March is the wettest month of the year.
Although thunderstorms do occur during the year, they are most common during the monsoon from July to September. These can bring about strong winds, hail and even tornadoes, although these are very rare. Winter storms can occasionally bring in heavy rain, but these storms are very infrequent. Snow is extremely rare in the area, though has been known to fall on occasions.
Due to the year-round good weather, you can be guaranteed sunshine whenever you visit. Many people prefer to travel to Phoenix in winter, as temperatures are cooler but still warm. Summer can at times be unbearably hot, making sightseeing virtually impossible. The interim months in spring and autumn are also pleasant and see less crowds and cheaper prices.
