Arizona Sun Corridor

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This article is about the Arizona megaregion. For the similarly named metropolitan area, see Valley of the Sun.
Arizona Sun Corridor
Megaregion of the U.S.

Phoenix

Tucson

Mesa
Coordinates: 33°N 112°W / 33°N 112°WCoordinates: 33°N 112°W / 33°N 112°W
Country USA
State Arizona
Population 5,517,131

The Arizona Sun Corridor, shortened Sun Corridor, is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of Arizona. The Sun Corridor is equivalent to Indiana in both size and population. It is one of the fastest growing conurbations in the country and is speculated to double its population by 2040.[1] The largest metropolitan areas are the Phoenix metropolitan area - Valley of the Sun - and the Tucson metropolitan area. The regions' populace is nestled in the valley of a desert environment.[1] Like Southern California, the urban area extends into Mexico.[1]

Its population is composed of a total of four metropolitan areas: Phoenix, Tucson, Prescott and Nogales. Out of these, two are metropolitan areas with over 1,000,000 residents: the Phoenix metropolitan area with 4,192,887 residents and the Tucson metropolitan area with 1,020,200 residents. The Arizona Sun Corridor is made up of all of Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties, along with parts of Yavapai, Santa Cruz and Cochise counties.[2] It is home to over 86 percent of Arizona's population.

To the west and south of the Arizona Sun Corridor is the Sonoran Desert; to the south is the border between the United States and Mexico, and to the east is the Arizona transition zone and the Mountains of Arizona.

Transportation

Road

Transportation in the region is provided by Interstate 8, Interstate 10, Interstate 17, and Interstate 19, among other roads.

Rail

Amtrak's Sunset Limited operates three times a week, connecting Maricopa, Arizona and Tucson. There is no other intercity rail in the region; however Phoenix Light Rail operates within the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Air

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and Tucson International Airport provide air transportation to the region, among other smaller airports. Recently, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport has become an option for low-cost carriers to fly into the Phoenix area as well.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Arizona Sun Corridor". America 2050. Retrieved March 21, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Maps - America2050". America 2050. Retrieved March 20, 2011.