Phoenix
Population 2010: 1,445,632, #6 in U.S., #1 in Arizona 1950: 106,818, #99 in U.S. 2010 Metropolitan Area: 4,192,887, #14 in U.S. 1950 Metropolitan Area: 331,770, #56 in U.S. Setting Phoenix was founded in 1868 in
the desert along the Salt River, which now is normally dry. Like other
southwestern cities, most of its growth came in the post-World War II era, when
air conditioning became common in homes and businesses. Arizona State University has a campus in downtown Phoenix. Buildings Tallest building: Chase Tower, 483 feet (1972) List of tallest buildings The old Arizona State Capitol (1901, 92 feet tall) is now a museum. The state government has moved to other buildings. Heritage Square has several historic residences and other buildings. Stores Phoenix has no downtown department stores. Arizona Center is an open-air shopping area. Trains Phoenix has not been served by Amtrak trains since 1996. The old Union Station (1923) is currently used for offices. METRO Light Rail opened a segment from downtown Phoenix to Mesa in 2008. Museums The Arizona Science Center is downtown, and the Phoenix Art Museum and Heard Museum are just north of downtown.
|  View north toward downtown Phoenix Theaters The AMC Classic Arizona Center 24 shows
first-run movies. The Orpheum Theater, a
restored 1929 movie palace, hosts the Phoenix Opera and touring musicals presented by the Theater League. The Phoenix Symphony and Arizona
Opera perform at Symphony Hall at the Phoenix Convention Center (1972). The Herberger Theater Center (1989) is also downtown. Sports The Arizona Diamondbacks of the National League play at
Chase Field (1998), which was the world’s first sports facility to combine a
retractable roof, air conditioning, and a natural turf field. The NBA Phoenix Suns and the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League play at US Airways Center (1992). The NFL Arizona Cardinals and the NHL Phoenix Coyotes play in the western suburb of Glendale. Convention and Visitors Bureau |