Spotlight on Phoenix

phoenixThe city of Phoenix, Arizona is a jewel of the southwest that has attracted explorers, adventurers, farmers, artists, archaeologists, scientists, mystics, and tourists for over 150 years. Phoenix is situated in the Salt River Valley of southern Arizona, in an area that had been occupied for more than 2,000 years by the Hohokam people, who mysteriously abandoned the area between 1300 and 1450, after what we now believe were extensive periods of drought and severe flooding. They left behind many artifacts of their impressive culture, including an extensive irrigation canal system, the remains of which served as the skeleton for the modern Arizona Canal, Central Arizona Project Canal, and the Hayden-Rhodes Aqueduct. This is how the city got its name, rising as it did from the ashes of a former civilization.

Phoenix grew at a rapid pace in the twentieth century, especially after World War II, when a shift from agriculture and natural resources to high-tech industries began to take place. Previously, the backbone of the economy had been “The Five C’s”: copper, cattle, climate, cotton, and citrus. But after the war, companies like Motorola, McDonnell Douglas, and Intel moved into the valley to set up manufacturing operations. This triggered huge growth, spurred on by advances in air conditioning that allowed work places and homes to be more comfortable during periods of extreme heat. Phoenix became the template for suburban development for the rest of the country.

Today, Phoenix is a sprawling city divided into 15 urban villages which have their own planning committees appointed by the city council. The city itself has a population of over 1.5 million, but the metropolitan area is comprised of many large bordering cities like Mesa, Chandler, and Tempe, bringing the total population for the Phoenix Metropolitan Area to over 4.5 million, the12th largest in the nation.

Phoenix is a very attractive destination during the winter for visitors from the colder climates, and many of them return every winter, earning the designation “snowbirds”. It is easy to understand why: the city averages 300 days of sunshine a year, and, according to the World Meteorological Organization’s rankings, is the second sunniest city in the world!

There are eight Dollar Self Storage locations in the greater Phoenix Metropolitan area, and we are very proud to be a part of this amazing city. Oh, and if you happen to be a snowbird looking for some sunshine, we have RV storage at our Phoenix (Peoria) location and our Apache Junction (Old West Hwy) location.

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