Tempe, Arizona

Introduction to Tempe

Tempe, Arizona is located southeast of Phoenix and is considered a major suburb of the larger city. Tempe has a population of around 160,000 and was named after the Valley of Tempe near Mount Olympus in Greece. Arizona State University is located here, as is the head offices of US Airways. The city was the host of the Fiesta Bowl, although that event is scheduled to move in the future. The city holds a Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Block Party, which is known as one of the largest New Year’s Eve parties in the country. Super Bowl XXX was held in Tempe, as were one of the 2004 Presidential debates. The city has a lively mixture of history, shopping, culture, dining, nightlife, sports, and special events to satisfy just about anyone. Fun in the sun is the name of the game in Tempe.

Tempe Culture

The city of Tempe has a Community Center Complex that is open to children and adults and is dedicated to helping them explore the arts. The Complex has a wide range of classes in the visual and performing arts, as well as other subjects. The Tempe Public Library is a $12 million structure that houses 405,000 volumes and features a wide variety of excellent reference material. The Tempe Historical Museum has collections and exhibits from Tempe’s rich history on display. The Tempe Symphony Orchestra features a number of free annual concerts at Boyle Auditorium. Tempe’s culture is rounded out by the Arizona State University’s Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Downtown Tempe has both Spring and Fall Art Festivals, as well as stand-up comedy clubs and professional theatre.

Tempe Sports and Leisure

Tempe has a wide variety of sporting events that make life interesting for the sports enthusiast. The NFL Arizona Cardinals play here, and the Tostitos Bowl is held every year in the city. Arizona State University has teams in a whole range of sports and leagues. Baseball fans can catch spring training with the Angels Major League Baseball team at Tempe Diablo Stadium. The city also has a number of parks, soccer fields, lighted tennis courts, and a destination park called Tempe Town Lake. Golf courses are plentiful in the area, such as Ken McDonald Golf Course, which has an 18-hole championship course and a fully equipped pro shop. Rolling Hills Golf Course has two executive 9-hole courses, a driving, range, and gold instruction.

Tempe Outdoors

Tempe offers its visitors and residents a whole range of outdoor activities, including rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking, and canyoncering. Diwanis Community Park offers the chance to catch fish or walk the dog, rent a boat or catch a seasonal movie in the park. Papago Park is a 296-acre park with softball fields, lagoon, picnic armadas, hiking and biking trails, and archeological sites.

Tempe at Night

Dining out in Tempe can be as casual or as elegant as the diners desire. Downtown Tempe has wide variety of restaurants, and it is the most concentrated area of cafes and eateries in the state of Arizona. Middle Eastern, Asian, Mexican, and American are very common in this area. Tempe also has a good selection of night clubs, cafes, and microbreweries for the nighttime partygoers.

Nearby Cities and Towns

High Points

Tempe strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Arizona):

Category	Trophy
Walking and Biking to Work (vs. Peers)	Top 3%
Public Transportation Use (vs. State)	Top 8%
College Educated Adults (vs. Peers)	Top 10%
Well-Paid Single Men (vs. State)	Top 11%
Well-Paid Single Women (vs. State)	Top 12%
Median Family Income (vs. Peers)	Top 18%