Hi ppilot,
Thank you for the opportunity to answer another one of your interesting questions.
Simply put, even though the state experiences searing summer
temperatures, and desolate deserts - since the invention of
air-conditioning people have been lured to Arizona for generations.
Winter visitors are attracted to warm temperatures, dry air and clear skies.
Arizona's landscapes include snow-capped mountains, swift rivers that
flow through rugged canyons, beautiful blue lakes, the world's largest
Ponderosa forest, and four distinct deserts: the Painted Desert, the
Mohave Desert, the Great Basin Desert, and the Sonoran Desert.
The history of Arizona begins with ruins of prehistoric civilizations
to legendary explorers, miners, cowboys and gunfighters of the old
west.
The state has two National Parks: The Grand Canyon and The Petrified Forest.
Arizona has seven National Monuments: Canyon de Chelly, Montezuma
Castle, Navajo, Sunset Crater, Tuzigoot, Walnut Canyon, and Wupatki.
=================================================
Leading up to the beginning of the 20th Century...
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/arizona/0211010012.html
"In the 19th century, cattle ranchers came (despite frightful tales of
spiny cactus forests) and found that a few corners of the state
actually had lush grasslands. At the same time, sidetracked
forty-niners were scouring the hills for gold (and found more than the
Spanish did). However, boomtowns -- both cattle and mining -- soon
went bust. Despite occasional big strikes, mining didn't prove itself
until the early 20th century, and even then, the mother lode was not
gold or silver, but copper, which Arizona has in such abundance that
it is called the Copper State.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Arizona struck a new source of gold. The
railroads made travel to the state easy, and word of the mild winter
climate spread to colder corners of the nation. Among the first
"vacationers" were people suffering from tuberculosis. These
"lungers," as they were known, rested and recuperated in the dry
desert air. It didn't take long for the perfectly healthy to realize
that they, too, could enjoy winter in Arizona, and wintering in the
desert soon became fashionable with wealthy northerners.
Today, it's still the golden sun that lures people to Arizona.
Scottsdale, Phoenix, Tucson, and Sedona are home to some of the most
luxurious and expensive resorts in the country. The state has seen a
massive influx of retirees, many of whom have found the few pockets of
Arizona where the climate is absolutely perfect -- not too hot, not
too cold, and plenty of sunshine."
*****
Frommer's - Arizona In Depth
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/arizona/0211020044.html
"Much of Washington's opposition to Arizona's statehood had been based
on the belief that Arizona could never support economic development.
This belief was changed in 1911 by one of the most important events in
state history -- the completion of the Roosevelt Dam (later to be
renamed the Theodore Roosevelt Dam) on the Salt River. The dam
provided irrigation water to the Valley of the Sun and tamed the
violent floods of the river. The introduction of water to the heart of
Arizona's vast desert enabled large-scale agriculture and industry.
Over the next decades, more dams were built throughout Arizona. The
Hoover Dam on the Colorado River became the largest concrete dam in
the Western Hemisphere when it was completed in 1936. The dam also
created the largest man-made reservoir in North America. Arizona's
dams would eventually provide not only water and electricity but also
recreation areas.
Despite labor problems, copper mining increased throughout the 1920s
and 1930s, and with the onset of World War II, the mines boomed as
military munitions manufacturing increased the demand for copper.
However, within a few years after the war, many mines were shut down.
Today, Arizona is littered with old mining ghost towns that boomed and
then went bust. A few towns, such as Jerome, Bisbee, and Chloride,
managed to hang on after the mines shut down and were eventually
rediscovered by artists, writers, and retirees. Bisbee and Jerome are
now major tourist attractions known for their many art galleries.
World War II created a demand for beef, leather, and cotton (which
became the state's most important crop), and Arizona farmers and
ranchers stepped in to meet the need. During the war, Arizona's clear
desert skies also provided ideal conditions for training pilots, and
several military bases were established in the state. Phoenix's
population doubled during the war years, and, when peace finally
arrived, many veterans returned with their families. However, it would
take the invention of air-conditioning to truly open up the desert to
major population growth.
During the postwar years, Arizona attracted a number of large
manufacturing industries and slowly moved away from its agricultural
economic base. Today, electronics manufacturing, aerospace
engineering, and other high-tech industries provide employment for
thousands of Arizonans. The largest segment of the economy, however,
is now in the service industries, with tourism playing a crucial role.
Even by the 1920s, Arizona had become a winter destination for the
wealthy, and the Grand Canyon, declared a national park in 1919, has
lured more and more visitors every year. The clear, dry air attracted
people suffering from allergies and lung ailments, and Arizona became
known as a healthful place. With Hollywood Westerns enjoying immense
popularity, dude ranches began to spring up across the state.
Eventually the guest ranches of the 1930s gave way to the resorts of
the 2000s. Today, Scottsdale and Phoenix boast the greatest
concentration of resorts in the continental United States. In
addition, tens of thousands of retirees from as far north as Canada
make Arizona their winter home and play a substantial role in the
state's economy
By the 1960s, Arizona had become an urban state with all the problems
confronting other areas around the nation. The once-healthful air of
Phoenix now rivals that of Los Angeles for the thickness of its smog.
Allergy sufferers are plagued by pollen from the nondesert plants that
have been introduced to make this desert region look more lush and
inviting. The state's economy is still growing, though. High-tech
companies continue to locate within Arizona, and the steady influx of
both retirees and Californians fleeing earthquakes and urban problems
is giving the state new energy and new ideas."
[edit]
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/arizona/0211020043.html
"Arizona's environmental politics have been somewhat contentious in
recent years. Although many people think of the desert as a wasteland
in need of transformation, others see it as a fragile ecosystem that
has been endangered by the encroachment of civilization."
[edit]
"Way up at the north end of the state, remote Grand Canyon National
Park is suffering from its own popularity. With roughly four million
visitors a year, the park now sees summer traffic jams and parking
problems that have made a visit an exercise in patience. To help
alleviate congestion and air pollution, the national park has begun
using alternative-fuel buses for transporting visitors around the
South Rim and Grand Canyon Village. There is also a plan to build a
light-rail system to shuttle visitors into the park from a parking lot
outside the park's boundaries. Such a system would solve the parking
problems within the park, but questions about the cost have now
stalled implementation."
[edit]
"Tourism continues to boom in Arizona, and in the past two years,
three huge mega-resorts have opened in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area.
Downtown Phoenix has positioned itself as the state's sports and
entertainment mecca, with Bank One Ballpark, the America West Arena,
numerous sports bars and nightclubs, and even a combination barbecue
joint and sports bar operated by former rock star Alice Cooper."
[edit]
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/arizona/0211023569.html
"As more and more artists and craftspeople headed for Arizona, the
towns in which they congregated came to be known as artist colonies,
and galleries sprang up to serve a growing number of visitors.
Although Sedona is probably the best known of these communities,
others include the former mining towns of Jerome and Bisbee, along
with Tubac, the first Spanish settlement in Arizona. All four have
numerous galleries and crafts shops. It is upscale Scottsdale, though,
that has the state's highest concentration of art galleries."
=================================================
infoplease.com - Arizona
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/us/A0856705.html
Modern Development
"Irrigation, spurred by the Desert Land Act and by Mormon immigration,
promoted farming in the southern part of the territory. By 1900,
diverted streams were irrigating 200,000 acres (80,940 hectares). With
the opening of the Roosevelt Dam (1911), a federally financed project,
massive irrigation projects transformed Arizona's valleys. Although
Arizona's mines were not unionized until the mid-1930s, strikes
occurred at the copper mines of Clifton and Morenci in 1915 and at the
Bisbee mines in 1917.
During World War II, defense industries were established in Arizona.
Manufacturing, notably electronic industries, continued to develop
after the war, especially around Phoenix and Tucson; in the 1960s,
manufacturing achieved economic supremacy over mining and agriculture
in Arizona. During the 1970s and 80s the state experienced phenomenal
economic growth as it and other Sun Belt states attracted
high-technology industries with enormous growth potential."
=================================================
http://www.miragehomes.com/Corporate/Profile_Overview/Market/market.html
"While analysts attribute Arizona's growth to various positive
economic factors like job creation and an overall favorable business
environment, what ultimately is fueling this growth is the state's
magnificent climate and the lifestyle it fosters. With over 300 days
of sunshine every year and eight months of spring-like temperatures,
Arizona continues to attract new residents and tourists in record
numbers. A large number of people make Arizona their new home every
year, and the state has been visited in recent years by over 20
million visitors annually including close to a half million seasonal
residents. Residents and tourists alike join in experiencing the
special lifestyle this resort destination has to offer a lifestyle
defined by golf, tennis, hiking, water sports and other outdoor
activities, along with dining, shopping and nightlife."
=================================================
The next article addresses issues mainly regarding Phoenix and the
surrounding areas, but it applies to most any large metropolitan area
where population growth has expanded too quickly, without enough
planning for the future.
Growth and the Future of Greater Phoenix: Quantity, Quality, or Both?
http://www.asu.edu/copp/morrison/growthandfuture.PDF
THE REGION?S DESTINY
"Continued, rapid growth of the Valley is inevitable. And, as has been
a constant pattern for cities in the western U.S. since World War II,
such growth is fundamentally characterized by low density sprawl. Carl
Abbott, an expert in western urbanology, describes these urban regions
as "multi-centered" areas. Greater Phoenix, with its 24 low density
cities and towns, certainly fits this description.
There are many reasons why our region will continue to grow. First of
all, it has some very attractive features - great weather, plentiful
land, economic opportunities, relaxed lifestyle. Given these
considerable assets and a continued strong marketing effort, the
result is easy to figure out. Second, the Valley has historically had
a pro-growth philosophy. It is human nature to want one?s business or
home or land to become more valuable, and promoting growth tends to do
just that. And, growth has also created significant cultural,
recreational and educational opportunities for Valley residents. In
short, an object in motion tends to stay in motion. Finally, we live
in a democratic, free market society with a justice system which is
currently ensuring ever-stronger private property rights. The fact is,
we really couldn?t stop the region?s growth even if we wanted to. A
recent article in Newsweek put it this way: "Viewed from the air,
there?s no apparent reason why a city like Phoenix, Arizona, already
the seventh largest in the nation, couldn?t keep growing forever."
[edit]
"All levels of government in the Valley - city, school district,
special district, county and state incur substantial costs when paying
for the infrastructure and services demanded by a growing population
and employment base. Equitably distributing such costs and providing
the necessary revenue requires negotiating a technical and political
maze.
And, in addition to the obvious up-front costs of building roads,
sewers, water treatment plants, and schools and the ongoing costs of
providing police, fire, education, and social services, there are many
hidden and indirect costs of growth as well."
[edit]
"For example, the region?s growth is a significant factor in our
violations of EPA air quality standards. Such violations have, among
other things, triggered regulations which increase the cost of
conducting private business. They also have cost implications
regarding public health care for people with respiratory ailments.
Another hidden cost of growth comes from the fact that sprawl at our
region?s edges tends to isolate our inner city core (especially
because of our inadequate public transit system). This isolation
creates all sorts of economic and social costs, including - a
geographic mismatch between where many new jobs are created (in
tourism-oriented and manufacturing businesses at the edge) and where
many of the people who can fill these jobs live (in the inner city); a
decrease in the value of existing personal and business investments in
older, established communities; and the permanent loss of agricultural
and recreational land.
The fact is, we really don?t know what is the net financial gain or
loss of Valley growth. We don?t even have a formula for computing it.
But a recent economic analysis of Arizona and other western states by
the Western Office of the Council of State Governments concluded that
"The faster we grow, the poorer we become."
[edit]
How Can We Improve the Region?s Quality of Life?
"Quality of life" is a concept which is used endlessly and
indescriminantly by Valley politicians, journalists, policy analysts,
business executives, and civic leaders. Yet, without adequate
definition, it is a term that conceals more than it reveals."
[edit]
"The question for the region remains, what exactly is "the good life?"
For one person, the most significant improvement in quality of life
may mean less gang violence in their neighborhood; another person
could consider protection of a desert recreational area an important
contribution to a quality lifestyle; still a third person may feel
that better job prospects would add the most to his or her quality of
life; and a fourth might be most concerned with the quality of public
education."
[edit]
What Other Regions Have Done
"Valley leaders are not alone in trying to best chart a quality course
for the future of a fastgrowing region. Many other metropolitan areas,
cities, and states have struggled with the same issues we face. In
doing so, they have utilized many public policies, institutional
arrangements, and management strategies.
Since each region?s problems and politics are idiosyncratic, there is
no "formula" for determining what would be the right combination of
policy tools for the Valley. But, if we can first agree on what we
want the region to be like in the 21st century, there are mechanisms
for attaining that goal."
=================================================
Population Growth of the Southwest United States, 1900-1990
http://geochange.er.usgs.gov/sw/changes/anthropogenic/population/
"The population of the Southwestern United States has increased by
approximately 1,500% over the last 90 years, while the population of
the United States as a whole has grown by just 225%. In the Southwest,
Arizona and Nevada have led the way with increases of 2,880% and
2,840%, respectively."
[edit]
"Maricopa County (Phoenix), Arizona, had a 100-year growth rate of
10,275%, with most of that growth occurring between 1960 and 1990.
Considering both the local factors and the general population increase
that the southwestern United States has seen over the last 90 years,
and assuming that growth will continue, it is easy to see why plans
for the future are necessary. Water and natural resources need to be
managed to accommodate the future growth and economies need to be
examined to ensure a healthy environment."
=================================================
Western Arizona
http://www.arizonahandbook.com/W_AZ.htm
"Few landlocked states can boast more than 1,000 miles of shoreline!
The Colorado River, after its wild run through the Grand Canyon,
begins a new life in the western part of the state. Tamed by massive
dams and irrigation projects, the Colorado here flows placidly toward
the Gulf of California. The deep blue waters of the river and lakes
form Arizona's west boundary, separating the state from Nevada and
California. Boaters enjoy this watery paradise, breezing along the
surface or seeking quiet backwaters for fishing. But once you step
away from the life-giving waters, you're in desert country, the real
desert, where legends abound - of Native American tribes, hardy
prospectors, determined pioneer families, even a U.S. Army camel
corps.
THE LAND
Many small ranges of rocky hills break up the monotonous desert plains
of western Arizona, much of which lies at elevations under 2,000 feet.
The valley of the Colorado River, home to most of the human
inhabitants of western Arizona, drops from about 1,220 feet at the
west boundary of the Grand Canyon to just 70 feet at the Mexican
border. A few mountain ranges in the north rise high enough to support
forests of oak, pinyon and ponderosa pine, and even some fir and
aspen. The Hualapai Mountains, easily reached by road from Kingman,
stand as the highest and most notable of these "biological islands."
Hualapai Peak (8,417 feet) crowns the range. Old mines and ghost towns
dot the mineral-rich Cerbat and Black Mountains, also in the north.
The Kofa and Castle Dome Mountains in the south make up the Kofa
National Wildlife Refuge, home of desert bighorn sheep, mule deer,
desert tortoise, Gambel's quail, and rare native palm trees. Along the
Colorado River, the three national wildlife refuges of Havasu, Cibola,
and Imperial protect plants, animals, and migratory and native birds.
Climate
The sun shines down from azure skies nearly every day; few places in
the United States receive more sunshine than western Arizona. In
winter, thousands of "snowbirds" descend on the desert from northern
climes to enjoy the sun and fresh air. Winter nights can be frosty,
but daytime temperatures usually warm to the 60s or 70s F. Spring and
autumn often bring perfect weather - wildflowers, too, in the early
spring.
By May the snowbirds have returned to their nesting grounds, and
Arizona towns along the Colorado River often make the news as the
hottest spots in the country. Parker holds the Arizona record 127ºF on
one sizzling day in 1905. Yet despite average highs that exceed 100ºF
from June to September, many visitors do come in summer to play in the
water, cooling off by boating, water skiing, swimming, and tubing.
So western Arizona actually has two seasons: a winter that attracts
many retirees and others who enjoy fishing, exploring ghost towns,
prospecting, and hiking in the desert; and a summer of active water
sports."
=================================================
Old Pueblo, New Tucson - one of the oldest towns in the United States
http://www.cityoftucson.org/about.html
"Yet, it is one of the "Mega-Trend" cities of the 21st Century: the
Optics Valley, premier health services center for the Southwest, the
astronomy center of the world, home of a premier research institution
- University of Arizona, and a tourism destination."
[edit]
"Tucson served as capital of the Arizona Territory from 1867 to 1877."
[edit]
"Tucson boasts the best of both worlds...the progress and innovation
of a metropolitan community and the friendly, caring atmosphere of a
small town. Tucson's rich cultural heritage centers around a unique
blend of Native American, Spanish, Mexican and Anglo-American
influences. Blessed with the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert and
an unsurpassed climate of 360 sunny days a year, Tucsonans embrace a
rare lifestyle and are committed to preserving that quality of life."
[edit]
"The Tucson metropolitan area supports over 750,000 residents. As
metropolitan Tucson continues to grow by nearly 2,000 new residents
each month, the challenge of meeting citizen expectations also
increases.
The City of Tucson is committed to providing quality municipal
services which promote a healthy community, offer opportunities for
participation and leisure and enable citizens to prosper at work and
at home."
=================================================
Cottonwood/Sedona Arizona
http://cottonwood.verdevalley.com/fed.shtml
POPULATION
"The Cottonwood/Sedona area, long recognized as an outstanding tourist
destination, has attracted the attention of those interested in
commercial and industrial development. The area has experienced rapid
population growth, as visitors discover the outstanding amenities of
the Valley. This factor has created a strong labor market for
potential employers. Cottonwood currently has a population of 20,000.
The Verde Valley's population is approximately 55,000."
[edit]
CITY OF COTTONWOOD
"Cottonwood developed as the "in-between city" servicing nearby mining
and smelter towns. It attracted entrepreneurs who aspired to start and
operate businesses free from the restriction of company towns. Today,
the city of Cottonwood remains a progressive community committed to
quality growth and development in order to enhance economic
opportunity for all its citizens."
=================================================
Population Growth (Flagstaff)
http://www.cpluhna.nau.edu/Change/populationgrowth.htm
"The population of the Colorado Plateau has increased six-fold since
the turn of the century and has more than doubled since the mid-1960s.
This growth rate is two-and-a-half times greater than the nation?s
rate of 39% for that same period. Population growth on the Plateau is
now outpacing growth in the western U.S. as a whole, as people fleeing
the urbanization of the Pacific Coast move into the intermountain
west. From 1990 to 1994 alone, the population of the Colorado Plateau
increased 13 percent."
[edit]
"The largest city on the Plateau - Flagstaff, Arizona - has a
population of between 50,000 and 60,000 full and part-time residents.
Although the world's largest continuous ponderosa pine forest
surrounds the city and is largely public land, natural meadows and
other open spaces important to wildlife in and around Flagstaff are
being sacrificed to the "sprawl" of new home development. Growth in
outlying areas has increased dependency on automobile transportation,
causing unacceptable traffic congestion both in and out of town. The
negative effect on the quality of life has led to the formation of
vigorous citizen activist organizations trying to protect the land,
the wildlife, and local values."
=================================================
http://darlenewills.point2homes.biz/About_Arizona/page_316726.html
"Between 1940 and 1960, Arizona's population increased more than 100%,
and since then growth has continued. By the 2000 census the cumulative
increase since 1940 amounted to more than 1000%, and Arizona was
ranked among the fastest growing states in the nation. The mountainous
north, however, has not shared the population growth of the southern
sections of the state."
=================================================
View From The Driver's Seat by Ron
http://www.movinon.net/Driver/number60.html
What's so Special About Arizona?
=================================================
Phoenix Retirement
http://www.insiders.com/phoenix/main-retire.htm
=================================================
The bottom line :)
Surprise! Arizona's population beats expectations
http://www.azcentral.com/specials/special18/articles/1229census.html
"The only way you're going to stop people from moving here is if the
sun stops shining," Deputy Director Spencer Kamps said.
=================================================
keyword search:
arizona population growth 1900's - 2000's
factors affecting arizona's growth
arizona history population growth
arizona population growth positive
arizona population growth negative
Best regards,
tlspiegel |
