Ahwatukee Foothills is bounded by I-10 to the east, South Mountain to the north and the Gila Indian Reservation to the west and south. The village was named after the once existing Ahwatukee Ranch, which was one of the most beautiful and lavish homes when it was built in 1922.

Gilbert is the fastest growing community in Arizona. Between 1980 and 1991, Gilbert experienced a 410 percent population increase. The rapid growth is largely due to the quality of life Gilbert residents enjoy. A superior school system, quality housing in a variety of price ranges, recreational amenities and employment opportunities are some of the reasons that Gilbert has attracted new residents and business.

Gilbert is central to many of Arizona's scenic attractions. To the northeast lie the fabled Superstition Mountains, location of the legendary Lost Dutchmanïs Gold Mine. Also northeast of Gilbert, the Tonto National Forest contains scenery ranging from rugged desert to cool pines. Water sports are popular at several huge man-made lakes within the forest. Ruins of long-disappeared Indian civilizations are also common in the Valley area.

Because of Gilbert's proximity to the Phoenix metropolitan area, recreational opportunities are many and varied. Professional sports include baseball, basketball, football, and hockey, as well as horse and dog racing. Cultural pursuits range from symphony to theater to art galleries, shows and museums.

Glendale is a dynamic city located in the rapidly growing northwest part of the Phoenix metropolitan area (also known as the “Valley of the Sun”).

Signs posted at Surprise’s borders these days tell a different story: “Population Increasing Daily.” Since Del Webb’s Sun City Grand opened in 1996, Surprise’s growth has been, well, surprising.

The population more than quadrupled from 10,187 to an estimated 57,000, earning Surprise the title of Arizona’s fastest growing city four years out of the past five. With a new home completed every three hours, projections are that Surprise’s population will reach 58,000 by year’s end.

There were more than 3,200 single-family home starts in 2002, with 58,000 more anticipated during the next decade. Boasting 32 of Arizona’s top 50 homebuilders; Surprise offers world-class resort retirement living, as well as award-winning master planned family communities. Prospective residents may walk through more than 100 model homes and choose from hundreds of floor plans in the 36 subdivisions now under construction.

Even the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers decided to take up residence here. The once-sleepy square mile farming community surprised just about everyone in 2001 when it successfully courted the two teams away from their Florida training homes, and snagged more than $32 million in funding from the Maricopa County Tourism and Sports Authority.

The $37 million Cactus League Spring Training facility and stadium was completed in 2002, along with a regional library, aquatic center, recreation center, and passive park – the first installments on a square-mile-plus downtown development dubbed Surprise Center. A joint venture with Carefree Partners (a division of Valley shopping center developer Westcor) it will feature government offices, shops, upscale restaurants and entertainment venues.

In 2002, in addition to the openings at the Surprise Recreation Campus, the City opened its new Senior Center, opened a third fire station and completed renovations at City Hall and at the Municipal Court. Also in 2002, construction began on a large expansion at the City’s South Wastewater Treatment Facility and the design of a new Public Safety and Municipal Court has been completed. Yet, Surprise property tax rate ranks among the lowest in the state.

Along with the population, City staff has tripled from 96 in 1996 to more than 420 this year. The Fire Department added two new fire engines and 17 positions, while the Police Department added more than 10 employees.

Commercial development is booming, as well. A Wal-Mart Supercenter and a sizeable Home Depot opened in 2000 as anchor tenants of Surprise Towne Center, a power retail development. Situated on the northwest corner of major thoroughfares, Grand Avenue and Bell Road, it features more than 40 locally and nationally known stores including PetsMart, Office Max, Famous Footwear, banks, restaurants. Just across the road, at Surprise Marketplace, Target and Lowe’s Home Improvement Center have opened stores that anchor a second power center. Throughout the 72-square-mile city, luxury apartments, churches, gas stations, restaurants, grocery and drug stores, are cropping up.

A large post office opened in late 2001, years ahead of schedule, and the Dysart Unified School District opened a two-story elementary school at its 1,200-student capacity in August 2001. Another elementary school opened in 2002 and the district’s second high school and two more elementary schools are under construction and due to open in August 2003.

Opened in 1996 in Surprise, Rio Salado Community College’s Lifelong Learning Center services about 5,000 students a year with a wide variety of courses from basic to advanced computer programming, special interest and associate degree programs.

Nearby Del E. Webb Memorial Hospital recently expanded to include women’s services, labor and delivery, and pediatric neonatal wing.

More growth is on the horizon.

With projections that Surprise’s population could hit 300,000 by 2020, city leaders are taking a proactive approach to planning. Just approved by voters in March 2001, the city’s updated general plan encompasses a 220-square-mile planning area and serves as a roadmap to the future.

General Statistics

Population 1894-1995