Category Archives: Geographic

Spotlight on Las Vegas NV

Las Vegas City Image

To celebrate the grand opening of our newest storage location serving the West Las Vegas / Enterprise, Nevada area – we’ve harkened back to our “Spotlight” series, and take the opportunity to tell you a little bit about the area surrounding.

Las Vegas certainly needs no introduction but we’ll introduce it, anyway.

Las Vegas – a city now known world-wide for its gaming and gambling industry, officially incorporated in 1911, just a year after Nevada actually outlawed gambling. But that was not the first of the seeming contradictions that are connected with the city. Going back further – to 1855, the area was first settled (and subsequently abandoned), by a group of Mormons who likely would never have imagined that its future nickname would become “Sin City”.  Then, in the early 1930’s the desert city became home to workers building the huge Hoover Dam, which would create the nearby Lake Mead. A huge body of water in the midst of the arid valley.

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Spotlight on Henderson NV – part 2

In honor of opening our second self storage location in Henderson, we thought we would do a second “Spotlight on Henderson” (see our first one, here).

This Way to Henderson!

Henderson, Nevada is located just 16 miles southeast of Las Vegas and is the second largest city in Nevada. With a population of roughly 320,000 people (2019), Henderson has a lot to offer for visitors and residents alike.

The city is located within the Mojave Desert region and has a hot desert climate. This makes it the perfect city for “snowbirds” during the winter months. If winter is just too bone-chilling and unpleasant where you live, spend the winter down in Henderson. The highs during the winter months are around 50-65° F with the lows, on average, in the 40s. There’s no need for that thick winter parka here! Any warm winter clothes can be put away in storage, and Dollar Self Storage, now with a new storage location at S. Arroyo Grande Boulevard, is here to help with all of your storage needs.

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Spotlight on Goodyear, AZ

The Estella Star Tower, Goodyear AZ

Located less than a 20-minute drive outside of bustling Phoenix, Goodyear, Arizona offers a great suburban lifestyle. It is a wonderful place to live if you are looking for a quieter lifestyle but enjoy the occasional visit to the city.

As one might guess from the name of the city, Goodyear owes its origins to the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. In 1917, land in Arizona was purchased by the Goodyear Company to farm cotton, an essential ingredient in airplane tires at the time. From its early origins as a cotton farm, Goodyear grew over the years, and a substantial amount of housing was built during World War II. In 1985, Goodyear, AZ was officially declared a city.

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California Wildfires

The western coast of the United States, particularly California, is well known for wildfires. California experiences the greatest number of wildfires out of all of the states, and in 2019 alone, over 1.3 million acres were burned in 5,300 separate fires. Wildfire occurrence and the annual amount of acres burned has been increasing since 1950.

California Wildfires

Fire season in California typically occurs from August to November. Fire is a natural occurrence in many California ecosystems, including brushlands and forests. It helps clear out the leaf litter on forest floors and dry vegetation in brushlands, adding more nutrients to the soil and fostering new life.

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Spotlight on Peoria

Discovery Trail, Peoria, Arizona

Peoria, Arizona is a rapidly expanding city located 30 minutes northwest of Phoenix. 164,000 people call this Sonoran Desert city home, and it is well known for its parks, open space recreational areas, and lively entertainment district. 

Peoria was established in 1886 by William J. Murphy. Murphy was working on a canal construction project in Arizona when he realized the great potential of the area. He returned to his home in Peoria, Illinois and recruited families to found an agricultural community of the same name in Arizona. Over the years, Peoria grew, and it was formally incorporated in 1954. 

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Arizona: Fun In The Sun

Phoenix Tucson Summer StorageWhen most people hear the words “Arizona” and “summer” in the same sentence, they probably just think of unbearable heat and being uncomfortable.  While temps in Arizona do get pretty high in the summer, there are lots of cool and fun activities that this beautiful state has to offer. According to  Planet Ware, there are 17 must see attractions in this beautiful state: The Grand Canyon, Sedona, Monument Valley, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Phoenix, Hoover Dam, Jerome, Havasu Falls, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Bisbee, Lake Mead, Tombstone, Petrified Forest National Park, Saguaro National Park, Antelope Canyon, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and Tumacacori National Historical Park.  All of these places are in different parts of the state and would allow someone to appreciate all the beauty Arizona has to offer.

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Is It Hot In Here?!

storage near california beachesIt’s that time again!  Students are counting down the days till school is out; campsites are starting to fill up and many of us start planning a few getaways where we can cool off.  Summer is almost here!

Some of us may be contemplating doing different activities this summer.  Trying to camp for the first time, taking a trip to a location we’ve never been to or maybe doing something big: like purchasing a boat, jet skis or an RV.  Being that Dollar Self Storage has five storage locations in California we’ve come to appreciate the beauty this state has to offer.   Continue reading

Spotlight on Apache Junction

Apache Junction Self Storage SignApache Junction, Arizona is located at the base of the Superstition Mountains about 35 miles east of Phoenix. Incorporated in 1978 it has a current population of approximately 40,000 people.

Like many parts of Arizona, Apache Junction is rich in Western heritage. In fact, just a few miles away is the historic Goldfield Ghost Town. Adding to its western heritage is a history of film-making with many movies of the Western genre having been filmed in the area.  Movies with stars such as Audie Murphy, Elvis Presley,  Jason Robards, and John Wayne were shot nearby. Continue reading

Unconventional Storage

hoover damIn a recent article from SFGate.com, it was reported that in the recent heat wave that caused temperatures in parts of the Western U.S. to skyrocket into triple digits, snow melt was accelerated. With the high temperatures turning snow into water, 12 billion gallons of H2O poured into Lake Tahoe in the last week.  That’s over 18,000 Olympic sized swimming pools!

Lakes and reservoirs are one of the main ways we store water – and they are crucial in dry areas like the Southwestern United States.  After the outlet from a natural lake has been damned, the water level can then be regulated in order to match the amount of rainfall, snow melt, and needs of the surrounding community. Continue reading

Food Truck Culture in Mesa, Arizona

tacosIt is a 21st century fact that food from a truck has been elevated to high culinary art. It used to be something you would only eat if there were absolutely no other options. Now it is something people will drive miles and stand in long lines for. How did this happen? Well, some people point to the economic recession as a factor; others talk about the high cost of building out a brick and mortar restaurant. Continue reading