More than a Desert

As the nation’s 12th-largest metropolitan, Greater Phoenix is a well-known locale.

But aside from our 321 sunny days a year, 4 professional sports teams (one for every major league) and world-class resorts, many people know very little about the region.

Read on to get to know Greater Phoenix a little better.

Demographics and Labor Force

• Greater Phoenix is expected to be one of the 10 biggest metros in 2025 with a projected population of 6.9 million.
• The average age of a Phoenician is 33.7, making Greater Phoenix the country’s third youngest metro.
• Greater Phoenix residents speak 110 languages – the 3rd highest number recorded in the nation.

Culture 

• Arizona is home to 23 reservations representing 21 different Native American tribes.
• Greater Phoenix boasts Taliesin West and Gammage Auditorium, both designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
• The Desert Botanical Garden has the largest variety of desert plants and cacti in the world.

Recreation

• Arizona has more parks and national monuments than any other state.
• At over 16,000 acres, South Mountain Park is the largest municipal park in the U.S.
• Though Greater Phoenix is in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, it stands at an elevation of 1,117 feet and has six lakes within a 75-mile drive.
• The Waste Management Phoenix Open, played each February in Scottsdale, is the best-attended event on the PGA Tour, averaging more than 500,000 spectators.
• Greater Phoenix is home to over 200 golf courses.
• 12 Major League Baseball teams conduct spring training in Greater Phoenix.