Glendale, Arizona is a city with a diverse history, treasured by its residents and community members. A major suburb of Phoenix, those moving to Glendale will enjoy warm, sunny climate, big city amenities and enough sporting events to keep even the biggest sports enthusiast satisfied. Discover today what Glendale can offer you.
History:
In 1880, the land now called Glendale was empty desert. That changed, when in 1882, William J. Murphy joined three Arizona builders to lead the Arizona Canal Co. project, which would bring water to the desert land. In 1885, with the help of some 225 mules and all of the available machinery, Murphy and his team completed the canal. By the late 1880s, come to Glendale after the turn of the century. World War I brought a new wave of energy into Glendale. With cotton prices reaching $2 a pound and high demands for food, farmers stayed busy. Soon, there was soon a need for more housing. Though the early parts of the 1900s brought about economic success, Glendale felt the affects of the Depression. World War II saw the construction of Thunderbird Field, which was built to train civilian pilots for the Army. While this field was being built in 1941, the army was busy working on a larger base just a few miles west of Glendale. The 1990s saw projects such as Marshall Ranch and Marbrisa Ranch, as well as the changing of Valley West Mall to Manistee Towne Center. Today, Glendale is the sports destination for all of Arizona with the state-of-the-art University of Phoenix Stadium playing host to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and BCS Championship games as well as the 2008 Super Bowl.
Economy:
The military was once the major government employer in Glendale. Today, Glendale Elementary and the portions of the Deer Valley Unified and Peoria Unified districts operating in Glendale are among the city's larger employers. Glendale Community College and the city of Glendale are also significant employers. Manufacturing and tourism, traditionally the base of the city's economy, continue to be important to the area. Major industrial products manufactured by companies located in the metropolitan area include aircraft parts, electronic equipment, radios and leather goods. As the result of the population boom, the economy of the area has taken on new dimensions in recent decades by moving into technology and service industries. Another sector of growth has been financial services and banking as several significant processing and regional headquarters operations call the area home. High technology and aerospace firms hold a considerable share of the manufacturing jobs throughout the state.
Tourism:
Glendale is the perfect setting for the outdoor and athletic enthusiast. Love to hike? The city offers approximately 40 miles of hiking trails open from sunrise to sunset. Trails are expansive and not overly demanding. Trails include Skunk Creek Linear Park, Thunderbird Park, Bridle Path, Thunderbird Paseo Path and the Grand Canal Linear Park. Cyclists looking for bike trails will find more than 100 miles of bike routes in Glendale. Head over to the Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium, Arizona's largest collection of exotic animals, including white tigers, white alligators and much more. The Aquarium, recently opened Arizona's first and only public aquarium, with 180,000 gallons of fresh 7 salt water in 80 exciting exhibits. For sports enthusiasts, Glendale is home to the National Football League's Arizona Cardinals, the National Hockey League's Phoenix Coyotes, and the national Lacrosse League's Arizona Sting. Other nearby professional sports offerings include Major League Baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks, the National Basketball Association's Phoenix Suns, and the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury.