It is named after the mythical Egyptian bird that rose from ashes. Phoenix rose from the ashes of the Hohokam culture. Mesa was already a city of about 1000 people about 22 miles east. Most of the area now covered by urban and suburban neighborhoods was formerly cultivated land of citrus, cotton, and lettuce. Now, Phoenix is the 6th largest city in the country, and the 11th largest metropolita area with nearly 3.5 million residents.
Phoenix is a major center of business, industry, tourism, and transportation.
It is a diverse city with a prominent Hispanic population. It is a great place to live, and has beautiful weather most of the year, but uncomfortably hot summers. Squaw Peak rises some 1800 feet above the surrounding city, with hiking trails to the top. When built in 1929, it was sufficiently far from Phoenix, surrounded by mountains. Now it is in Phoenix, surrounded by affluent subdivisions.