Facts About Phoenix AZ

Population:
Phoenix City Limits: 1,445,632 (2010)
Greater Phoenix: 4,192,887 (2010)
Read more about Phoenix Area population.

City of Phoenix Land Area: 516 Square Miles

Greater Metro Land Area: Almost 2000 Square Miles

Phoenix Elevation: Average 1,100 feet above sea level

Average Annual Rainfall: Less than 8 inches

Average Days of Sunshine: 325 days
See Phoenix Weather, Average Temperatures and Climate.

Time Zone: Mountain Time Zone
Arizona does not switch to daylight savings time.

Nearby Boating Lakes:
Four large lakes within less than an hour of Phoenix including Lake Pleasant, Saguaro Lake, Canyon Lake, and Bartlett Lake.

Native American: Over 23 Indian Reservations in the Greater Phoenix area representing 21 different tribes.

Phoenix South Mountain Park:
Largest city park in the world at 16,500 acres.

Orientation:
Mexico Border: 162 miles south.
Grand Canyon: 221 miles north.
California Border: 138 miles west.
New Mexico Border: 246 miles east

Other Interesting Facts About Phoenix

According to legend, Phoenix gets its name from Cambridge-educated pioneer Darrell Duppa, who saw the ancient ruins and prehistoric canals of the Hohokam Indian and believed another civilization would rise from the ashes.

Greater Phoenix is located in Maricopa County which covers over 9,000 square miles.

Phoenix, the nation's 6th largest city is located in the Sonoran Desert which is considered the most ecologically diverse desert in the world.

There are over 200 golf course in the metropolitan area of Phoenix. The Phoenix Open (PGA Golf Tour) is held in February each year is the most attended event on grass averaging over 500,000 spectators.

Greater Phoenix averages almost 15 million visitors and tourist each year. More than 30 million visit the state of Arizona.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is among the ten busiest airports in the country and serves over 42 million passengers per year.

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 Phoenix Coyotes (NHL).

South Mountain Park is the largest municipal park in the world covering over 16,500 acres and boasts more than 50 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails.