Overview
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Phoenix has always experienced rapid growth, expanding from its original 320 acres to its current size of 517 square miles. Its dense downtown area is surrounded by miles of residential housing developments which are home to over 1,500,000 residents. Phoenix is now the 5th largest city in the country based on population. The continued influx of people has had a negative impact on traffic and attempts to ease the congestion with a new Light Rail helped centrally located residents, but there is definitely a void in public transportation for those living in outlying areas of the city. Both the North and West sides of the Valley experienced unprecedented growth in the last few years, which has subsequently stopped due to the real estate bust. Phoenix's economy has always relied heavily on Real Estate and Construction and the negative state of both these industries is being felt throughout the city.
The good news is that Phoenix is home to major tech giants such as Intel and Motorola and continues to attract major corporations to help boost its economy and employment. Its residents include several professional sports teams including the Phoenix Suns, The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Phoenix Coyotes. Shopping and entertainment are top notch, and the clubbing scene offers something for everyone-rock, rap or country. Phoenix hosts some of the biggest events in the country, including the occasional Super Bowl, and boasts several high-end resorts which cater to tourists. Summers here are indescribably hot and the fact that it's a dry heat does not diminish the brain searing received by venturing out during midday in July. This heat does not seem to phase the avid golfers playing the over 186 golf courses located in the city and surrounding areas like Scottsdale and Sedona. The winters tend to attract retirees due to the mild climate, though most of them head north around April, which does ease traffic congestion a bit. Phoenix offers something for every age group and continues to work at becoming a culturally diverse city in every aspect.
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Having lived here for over 30 years, I have seen experienced the good and bad that have come with Phoenix's growth. If you can tolerate the heat in the summer, it's a nice place to live. There's a pretty hip crowd if you are into the club scene, with lots of young professionals taking part in the cultural and recreational activities around the city. The city is HUGE, and while public transportation is available, it is not always convenient or easy to use, so having a car is pretty essential. The cost of living is reasonable, rents for a 1 bdrm apartment start at about $700/mo, cheaper if you want to live in some of the more questionable areas of town, toward South Phoenix.
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