Paradise Valley, Arizona

Paradise Valley is a small, affluent town in Maricopa County, Arizona, that is a suburb of Phoenix. It is Arizona's wealthiest municipality.[5] The town is known for its luxury golf courses, shopping, real estate, and restaurant scene. According to the 2010 census, the population of the town was 12,820.[3] Despite its relatively small area and population compared to other municipalities in the Phoenix metropolitan area, Paradise Valley is home to eight full-service resorts, making it one of Arizona's premier tourist destinations. It is also known for expensive real estate.[6]

Paradise Valley, Arizona
Town
Welcome sign in Paradise Valley
Paradise Valley, looking east to Mummy Mountain
Motto(s): 
There is a reason we call this valley 'paradise'[1]
Paradise Valley
Location in Maricopa County
Paradise Valley
Location in Arizona
Paradise Valley
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 33°32′41″N 111°57′23″W
Country United States
State Arizona
CountyMaricopa
Government
 • MayorJerry Bien-Willner
Area
 • Total15.42 sq mi (39.93 km2)
 • Land15.39 sq mi (39.86 km2)
 • Water0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2)
Elevation
1,342 ft (409 m)
Population
 • Total12,820
 • Estimate 
(2019)[4]
14,637
 • Density951.20/sq mi (367.25/km2)
Time zoneUTC-7 (MST (no DST))
ZIP code
85253
Area code(s)480
FIPS code04-52930
GNIS feature ID9197
Websitewww.ci.paradise-valley.az.us

It should not be confused with Paradise Valley Village, an official municipal designation, in northeast Phoenix. For instance, Paradise Valley Community College, Paradise Valley High School, Paradise Valley Hospital, Paradise Valley Mall, and Paradise Valley Golf Course are all several miles north of the town, in Phoenix. The town's name comes from the expansive area known as Paradise Valley that spreads from north of the Phoenix Mountains to Cave Creek and Carefree on the north and the McDowell Mountains to the east.

Residents attend schools in the Scottsdale Unified School District.

The Paradise Valley Unified School District is one of the state's largest, though like many other institutions with the name Paradise Valley, it refers to the Phoenix village, not to the town.

Overview and history

Paradise Valley is the wealthiest suburb of Phoenix.[7][8] It is known primarily for its many resorts and expensive real estate.[9] However, its history dates back to a more agrarian society.

After the initial European settlement, Paradise Valley was first used for cattle grazing. In the 1880s, when the land was being surveyed so it could be developed into agricultural lots, the name "Paradise Valley" first came into use, being given by surveyors from the Rio Verde Canal Company and its manager at the time, Frank Conkey.[10] According to the official town website, this name may have been chosen due to the abundance of spring wildflowers and palo verde trees.[11] Mainly an agricultural area during the 1800s and the first half of the 1900s, the area began to be settled after World War II, on large, one to five acres (4,000 to 20,200 m2) lots for which it became known.

As the neighboring settlements of Phoenix and Scottsdale began to grow and annex adjoining areas, the residents of what would become Paradise Valley were concerned that the qualities they most valued would be lost if they were consumed by their larger neighbors.[12] These residents formed "Citizens Committee for the Incorporation of The Town of Paradise Valley, Arizona", which collected enough signatures to take to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. The petition was granted by the supervisors, allowing the town of Paradise Valley to be incorporated on May 24, 1961.[11]

Geography

Paradise Valley is located at 33°32′41″N 111°57′23″W (33.544596, −111.956451).[13]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 15.5 square miles (40 km2), all of it land.

The central terrain of Paradise Valley is dominated by Mummy Mountain. Other landmarks include Camelback Mountain on the southern border and the Piestewa Peak mountainous area on the western border.

Barry Goldwater Memorial

Several historical sites are within the town, including the Harold C. Price, Sr. House, McCune Mansion/Hormel Mansion, and Barry Goldwater Memorial Park.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
19706,637—
198011,08567.0%
199011,7736.2%
200013,66416.1%
201012,820−6.2%
2019 (est.)14,637[4]14.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]

Paradise Valley's motto, coined by residents, is "there is a reason we call this valley 'paradise'".[1]

As of the census of 2000, 13,664 people, 5,034 households, and 4,163 families resided in the town. The population density was 881.7 people per square mile (340.4/km2). The 5,499 housing units averaged 354.8 per square mile (137.0/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.60% White, 0.73% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 2.02% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. About 2.66% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 5,034 households, 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 76.1% were married couples living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.3% were not families; 13.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the town, the population was distributed as 24.9% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 18.8% from 25 to 44, 35.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $150,228, and for a family was $164,811. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $52,302 for females. The per capita income for the town was $81,290. About 1.9% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over. In 2012, the Forbes magazine named Paradise Valley's zip code, 85253, the 71st-most expensive in the United States. This ranking also makes it the most expensive in the state of Arizona.[15]

Government

The mayor and six town council members are the elected representatives of the Town of Paradise Valley. The council is composed of six members who are elected to serve four-year staggered terms. In 2010, voters approved the direct election of mayor. Scott LeMarr became the first directly elected mayor in 2012. The council still selects its vice mayor from among its members. Jerry Bien-Willner, elected in 2018, is the current mayor. The chief of police is Pete Wingert.

In 2012, citizens gathered 500 signatures on a petition requesting the council reconsider the issue of direct election of mayor. The council voted in June 2012 to return the question of direct election of mayor to the people.[16] Residents voted to keep the direct election of Mayor.

Education

Most of Paradise Valley is within the Scottsdale Unified School District.[17] A relatively small portion, however, is served by Creighton Elementary School District and Phoenix Union High School District.

Several charter schools also are in the area, including nearby Great Hearts Academies and BASIS Schools, as well as private schools such as Phoenix Country Day School.

Economy

Top employers

According to Paradise Valley's 2014 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[18] the top employers in the town are:

# Employer # of Employees
1 Camelback Inn 604
2 Omni Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Montelucia 358
3 The Scottsdale Plaza Resort 330
4 Sanctuary on Camelback 307
5 DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel Paradise Valley – Scottsdale 165
6 Phoenix Country Day School 133
7 Paradise Valley Country Club 113
8 Hermosa Inn 101
9 Town of Paradise Valley 80
10 Scottsdale Cottonwoods Resort and Suites 72

Notable residents
Main article: List of people from Paradise Valley, Arizona

Paradise Valley is the setting of the television series The Secret World of Alex Mack.

See also

References
  1. Katy Suzanne. "Escaping in Glamour – Part 2: Phoenix, Arizona". Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  4. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  5. https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2018/02/02/the-rich-part-of-town-here-are-the-wealthiest-zip.amp.html
  6. Corbett, Peter (November 9, 2006). "Median home price down in Scottsdale". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved March 12, 2008.
  7. http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/scottsdale/2014/09/12/arizonas-wealthiest-place-paradise-valley/15525563/
  8. https://www.zipdatamaps.com/economics/income/agi/metro/wealthiest-zipcodes-in-metro-phoenix
  9. http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/morning_call/2014/10/no-surprise-arizonas-most-expensive-zip-codes-are.html
  10. Will Barnes, Arizona Place Names, revised and enlarged by Byrd Granger, University of Arizona Press, 1960, p. 190. http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=inu.30000118510936;view=1up;seq=216
  11. ”Town of Paradise Valley History”, http://www.ci.paradise-valley.az.us/DocumentCenter/Home/View/223, accessed 4/7/15
  12. http://www.paradisevalleyliving.com/about/
  13. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  14. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  15. "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes". Forbes. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  16. http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2012/06/19/20120619paradise-valley-1st-mayoral-race-stirs-2nd-thoughts.html
  17. "About Us Archived February 3, 2013, at the Wayback Machine." Scottsdale Unified School District. Retrieved on October 2, 2012.
  18. Town of Paradise Valley CAFR
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