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APACHE JUNCTION  

Apache Junction is a desert community nestled in the shadows of the Superstition Mountains, 2,070 feet above sea level and 35 miles directly east of Phoenix on Highway 60 (Superstition Freeway). It is the eastern most community in the Phoenix-Mesa metropolitan area. The city currently encompasses 36.5 square miles with a year-round population estimated at 42,000. Each year the city welcomes over 35,000 seasonal residents, increasing the population from mid-October to mid-April to over 77,000.  

With its mining and transportation roots in the late 19th- and early 20th-centuries, Apache Junction did not develop a central downtown but spread slowly along the Apache Trail, centering around the old Superstition Inn in the 1950s and 1960s. The city is actively working to develop the area as a 21st-century centerpiece for combined retail, office and downtown residential living – all consistent with Apache Junction’s southwestern, territorial feel. Despite its rapid growth, Apache Junction remains a city of wide-open spaces and a gateway to natural splendor.  

Employment:
Employment figures for Apache Junction do not truly represent its economic activity; proximity to metropolitan Phoenix gives a far more realistic indication of the area’s economic base. Apache Junction’s economy is based almost exclusively on recreation and retirement. Most commercial services in the area cater to tourists and recreation seekers on their way to Arizona’s central lakes and forests. Extensive developments and accommodations serve many retired persons and winter visitors.  

Median Income & Home Value
Estimated median household income in 2007: $46,465 (it was $33,170 in 2000)
Estimated median house or condo value in 2007: $191,547 (it was $74,000 in 2000)
Mean prices in 2007: All housing units: $174,257; Detached houses: $228,185; Townhouses or other attached units: $215,361; In 2-unit structures: $132,188; In 5-or-more-unit structures: $64,041; Mobile homes: $51,711; Occupied boats, RVs, vans, etc.: $40,826 

Attractions:
Superstition Nature CNTR (Cultural Attractions- Events- & Facilities; 4650 East Mammoth Mine Road) (1), Superstition Mountain Historical Society & Museum (Cultural Attractions- Events- & Facilities; 4087 North Apache Trail) (2), Goldfield Ghost Town & Mine Tours Inc (Cultural Attractions- Events- & Facilities; 4650 East Mammoth Mine Road) (3), Prospector's Palace (Amusement & Theme Parks; Goldfield Ghost Town) (4), Country Entertainer (Arcades & Amusements; 1290 North Gold Drive) (5), Apache Trail Tours Superstition MTN Adventures (Tours & Charters; 4650 East Mammoth Mine Road) (6), Adventures West Tours (Tours & Charters; 1652 South Cedar Drive) (7) 

Location & Lifestyle:
This community serves as the gateway to the Superstition Mountain Wilderness Area. Drive the historic Apache Trail, a designated Scenic Byway, and discover tales of lost gold, bandits, miners, and treasure hunters. Discover a history of mystic native shrines, Spanish exploration, ranching, and of course, cowboys. President Theodore Roosevelt said upon visiting the area in 1911, “The Apache Trail combines the grandeur of the Alps, the glory of the Rockies, the magnificence of the Grand Canyon and then adds an indefinable something that none of the others have. To me, it is most awe-inspiring and most sublimely beautiful.” Apache Junction is a growing community with a rural hometown appeal. It is the easternmost town in the Phoenix metropolitan area. It offers a laid-back lifestyle with wide-open space all around. The city began with mining and transportation roots and was a convergence point of labor and supplies used for mining and dam construction.
 

PHOENIX
Incorporated in 1881, Phoenix ranks as one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. Here you’ll learn about the city’s arts and culture amenities, sports and recreation activities, and dining and lodging opportunities.  

Because of the area’s beautiful weather, you’ll be able to enjoy most activities year-round. Check out the links on this page and find out for yourself why Phoenix is such a dynamic city. 

Recreation:
Looking to take in a little culture or get out and get active? In Phoenix you can do plenty of both. You can browse through some of the Valley's best local art studios and museums. Explore the remains of a 1,500-year-old Hohokam village, enjoy a night at the theater or tour historic neighborhoods. Outdoors, you can mountain bike along world-class trails, find solitude hiking in the expansive South Mountain Park and Preserve, picnic in one of more than 100 urban parks, cool off in one of 29 public swimming pools or play a round of golf at one of several championship courses. 

The total acreage of Phoenix including mountain preserve is 40,689. With over 215 cleaned and maintained mountain parks & recreation areas, 8 municipal golf courses, miles of bicycle pathways, swimming pools & tennis courts, it’s no wonder Phoenix is a premier destination for living. 

Attractions:
Phoenix is a world-class destination because of its natural beauty, sunny skies, manicured golf courses and sports and cultural attractions. The city’s extensive desert preserve system offers visitors easy access to the Sonoran Desert and its surprising biological diversity.  

The Phoenix Points of Pride highlight many of the city’s most unique attractions, and city-run facilities such as Pueblo Grande Museum and Heritage and Science Park offer visitors a chance to learn about the Valley’s native heritage and history. And the Phoenix Zoo is always a fantastic destination. 

Interesting Facts:
-Phoenix covers more than 517 square miles and has a population of over 1.5 million, ranking it the fifth largest city in the country and the largest capital city in terms of population.
-Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is the eighth busiest in the U.S. and the world for passenger traffic for takeoffs and landings, handling more than 42 million passengers in 2007.
-More than 50 percent of the population is between 18 and 54 years of age, which is younger than the national average.
-In January 2000, after a yearlong, in-depth study of management efficiency by the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, Phoenix was the only city among the nation’s 35 largest urban centers to earn an overall grade of “A.” Phoenix also was named the “Best Run City in the World” in 1993 by the Carl Bertelsmann Foundation and has earned numerous other awards for efficient government operations.
-The new Phoenix Convention Center will be one of the top 20 convention centers in the United States in terms of size and will be able to host more than 80 percent of current convention business. 

GOLD CANYON 

Located just 35 minutes east of Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Gold Canyon is nestled in the beautiful Superstition Mountains. This former cattle ranch is now home to more than 23,000 residents in an unincorporated area of Pinal County, America’s fasted growing county. With phenomenal weather, unmatched scenery and small-town hospitality, Gold Canyon lives up to its reputation as the lost gold of Superstition Mountain. It was once a working cattle ranch at the foot of the southeastern side of the Superstition Mountains. It is the location of several Arizona’s most prestigious golf courses and noteworthy lifestyles. Over 6000 people call Gold Canyon home.  

Events
A variety of exciting events are held in Gold Canyon and the Superstition Mountain area throughout the year. The Superstition Mountain Country Club hosts the Safeway LPGA Invitational Golf Tournament every year in February. Arizona’s only Renaissance Festival comes every spring and boasts attendance figures into the hundreds of thousands over the two-month event.

Shopping & Restaurants
A variety of shops to choose from. Local art galleries feature artist Bev Doolittle’s work, and works by the very popular Arizona native, Anne Coe, can be found in multiple galleries as well. The restaurant at the Gold Canyon Golf Resort offers the finest Southwest cuisine and boasts Chef Enrique Morales, who studied under Southwest cooking guru, Mark Miller.
Restaurants with nearly every cuisine imaginable are plentiful in Gold Canyon. Specialty cuisines such as Asian and Southwestern combine with American, Italian, and Mexican favorites. From gourmet establishments to rustic old west grills, Gold Canyon’s tempting restaurants include eateries rich in history and a wide variety of locally owned favorites. Take the time to savor the richness of the unforgettable cuisine combined with the breathtaking beauty of Gold Canyon.  

Outdoor Activities
Hiking trails abound throughout the Gold Canyon area. Over 350 miles of improved trails exist in the adjacent Tonto National Forest. The forest is home to the Superstition Mountain’s famous Flat Iron, a towering peak of over 5,000 feet that overlooks the entire city of Phoenix. Explore the history of the Superstition Mountains and the Lost Dutchman State Park. Nature trails, horseback trails, picnic facilities, and a variety of educational programs are held throughout the year.
 

QUEEN CREEK  

Queen Creek is one of the best-kept secrets in Arizona. Exceptional climate (with 330 days of sunshine annually), natural recreational riches and a relaxed, rural lifestyle combine to fulfill the dreams and visions of those who relocate to one of America's best small towns. Its approximately 23,000 residents enjoy the benefits of small-town living close to a metropolitan area: low crime rates, easy commuting to and from metro Phoenix, excellent air quality and a variety of recreational activities, all elements of a low-stress lifestyle.  

Queen Creek is a family place, where the residents take pride in independence. It's a "first name" community, where a person behind the counter isn't an uncaring stranger, but someone who will know you by name.  

History
The Town of Queen Creek's name originated over a hundred miles away. Up in the eastern mountains surrounding the Town of Superior, the land is rich with supplies of ore. One of the many mines that opened up in those mountains was the Silver Queen. (Another was the Silver King, but it was later renamed the Magma Mine.) At the base of the Silver Queen mine there was a creek known as the Picket Post Creek. It was named after the oddly shaped mountain above it (the one you can see today above the State Aboretum). When the Silver Queen Mine opened for production, the name of the Picket Post Creek was changed to Queen Creek. That creek runs down from the mountains, past the mine, through the Queen Creek Canyon, into the area surrounding the present day Town of Queen Creek. 

Landmarks and Sites of Interest:
San Tan Historical Society Museum, Queen Creek’s First School, Our Lady of Guadalupe , Ellsworth Brothers Farms, Gold Mine Mountain Area, Queen Creek Potato Company, Schnepf Farms 

Back to Nature:
If you enjoy the great outdoors, Queen Creek is the place for you. You can ride a horse or hike into the mountains and across trails into the countryside. If a more relaxing time is your idea of fun, you can sit on the patio and view the San Tan and Goldmine Mountains to the south, and the Superstition Mountains to the northeast. 

Sports:
Founders Park, Desert Mountain Park, the Community Center and local schools offer ball fields, tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts. Four 18-hole golf courses are also available within the Queen Creek area. 

Shopping:
One of Arizona's largest shopping malls, Superstition Springs Center, is just 15 minutes to the north. 

Industry:
Access to both rail and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, as well as large tracts of affordable land, have brought the Queen Creek area to the attention of industry. Both TRW and Arch Chemicals are located nearby.  

Location:
Queen Creek, in the southeast corner of Maricopa County, Arizona is within 10 minutes of Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport and 30 minutes of Sky Harbor International Airport. This small town is an oasis in the East Valley of the Phoenix metropolitan area. 

Vision for the Future:
Filled with pride and dreams, the citizens of Queen Creek are aware of the growth moving toward our community. We are actively involved in the planning process to guide this growth and achieve our vision of a family-oriented community with a rural character, a supporting infrastructure, and a stable economy. 

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