Surprise, Arizona

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Surprise, Arizona
 
Surprise City Logo
County Maricopa County, Arizona
Area
 - Total
 - Water
180.0 km² (69.5 mi²)
0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) 0.03%
Population

 - Total est. (2005)
 - Density


74,411[1]
413.6/km²
Time zone Mountain: UTC-7

Latitude
Longitude

33°39'6' N
112°23'50' W
City of Surprise Official Website

Surprise is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA. The population was 30,848 at the 2000 census. The city population is estimated to be 74,411 according to a 2005 mid-decade census survey[1], although current growth rates would indicate the city has now attained a population of over 100,000 [1]. As such, it is the second fastest-growing municipality in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area (after Gilbert), and between 1990 and 2000, it was the sixth fastest-growing place among all cities and towns in Arizona.

Contents

[edit] History

The city was founded in 1937 by real estate developer and state legislator Homer C. Ludden, who named it after his hometown of Surprise, Nebraska. Although there were only a few houses and a gas station on the one-mile-square parcel of land when Ludden subdivided it to build inexpensive houses for agricultural workers, Surprise has experienced tremendous growth in the years since.

Tens of thousands of retirees moved to the city in the 1990s and early 2000s to live in Sun City Grand, an age-restricted resort-like community, with homes built by the property development firm Del Webb. (Surprise is about five miles northwest of Del Webb's original Sun City development.)

Since it opened in 1996, Sun City Grand has become a large contributor to the city's population, which more than quadrupled from 10,187 to about 75,000 in 2004.[2] (The city's population is now considerably larger than Ludden's hometown, which had a population of 44 in the 2000 United States Census.) With a new home completed about every three hours, the Arizona city's population is expected to reach 80,000 by the end of 2005, and to double in the next decade, according to the city. Thirty-two of the state's top 50 homebuilders cater to new homebuyers, who are attracted by the city's modestly-priced homes, its relative proximity to Phoenix, and by the property taxes, which the city claims are among the lowest in the state.

[edit] Geography

Surprise is located at 33°39′6″N, 112°23′50″W (33.651785, -112.397197)GR1. It is about 20 miles northwest of Phoenix.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 180.0 km² (69.5 mi²). 180.0 km² (69.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.03%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 30,848 people, 12,484 households, and 9,725 families residing in the city. The population density was 171.4/km² (443.9/mi²). There were 16,260 housing units at an average density of 90.3/km² (234.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.97% White, 2.61% Black or African American, 0.43% Native American, 1.07% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 7.87% from other races, and 1.99% from two or more races. 23.29% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 12,484 households out of which 21.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.5% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.1% were non-families. 17.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.75 people.

In the city the population was spread out with 19.9% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 25.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was US$44,156, and the median income for a family was US$47,899. Males had a median income of US$33,079 versus US$26,347 for females. The per capita income for the city was US$21,451. About 5.6% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Law and government

[edit] Local government

Surprise is governed on the local level by Mayor Joan H. Shafer and a six member City Council. The mayor is elected at large, while the City Council members are elected from the six districts which they represent. All representatives serve four-year terms.

[edit] Police force

The Surprise Police Department consists of four divisions:

  • Field Operations Division
Comprised of six squads of Patrol Officers, complimented by the Support Services Unit which includes K-9 Officers, Animal Control Officers, and Motor Officers. It is the largest division in the department.
  • Administrative Services Division
Consists of The Community Relations Unit, Training Unit, Public Information Unit, Records Unit, Recruiting Unit and Technical Services Unit.
  • Criminal Investigations Division
Includes Detectives, General and Special Investigations, the Special Assignment Unit (SAU), and Evidence Technician.
  • Technical Services Division
Is comprised of civilian employees and is supervised by a civilian.

[edit] Sports

The city is the spring training home of the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers baseball teams. These Major League Baseball teams use Surprise Stadium for their activities.


[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Annual Estimates of the Population for All Incorporated Places in Arizona (CSV). 2005 Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division (June 21, 2006). Retrieved on November 14, 2006.
  2. ^ Surprise, Arizona government web site - About Surprise

[edit] External links


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