Avondaleis a city inMaricopa County,Arizona,United States, adjacent toPhoenix.As of the2020 census,the population of the city was 89,334,[3]up from 76,238 in 2010 and 35,883 in 2000.

Avondale, Arizona
City
Entrance sign
Entrance sign
Flag of Avondale, Arizona
Location in Maricopa County, Arizona
Location in Maricopa County, Arizona
Coordinates:33°26′01″N112°20′59″W/ 33.43361°N 112.34972°W/33.43361; -112.34972
CountryUnited States
StateArizona
CountyMaricopa
Government
• MayorKenn Weise
Area
• Total
47.87 sq mi (123.99 km2)
• Land47.62 sq mi (123.33 km2)
• Water0.26 sq mi (0.67 km2)
Elevation974 ft (297 m)
Population
• Total
89,334
• Density1,876.13/sq mi (724.38/km2)
Time zoneUTC-7(MST(nodaylight saving time))
ZIP codes
85323, 85392
Area code623
FIPS code04-04720
GNISfeature ID2409765[2]
Websitewww.ci.avondale.az.us

Avondale, incorporated in 1946, has experienced rapid residential and commercial growth in the years since 1980. Once primarily a sparsely populated farming community with many acres of alfalfa and cotton fields, Avondale has transformed into a major bedroom suburb for Phoenix.

History

edit

William "Billy" G. Moore, arrived in Arizona in the late 1860s, settling near the Agua Fria River in 1880. Moore called bought land and named his settlement "Coldwater, Arizona" - apparently for both the river and the water that flowed from a local spring. He served a brief stint as Justice of the Peace for the Agua Fria area. He eventually established a stage stop near Agua Fria crossing, the Coldwater Stage Station in the 1880s. The state station was one of the very earliest stage stations in the region, supplying travelers with provisions on their way from Tucson to northern Arizona and California. A saloon and a general store were also built, bringing in more commerce for the settlement.

The post office was established in 1896 at a site near Avondale Ranch. From 1901 until 1905, William Moore served as Postmaster of the Coldwater post office. The post office eventually became known as Avondale, taking the name of the nearby ranch, and the name Coldwater was discontinued. In December 1946, the City of Avondale was incorporated.

Subsequent development resulted in a conglomeration of styles and architecture along Western Avenue typical of small western towns, with ranching, the railroad, and cotton farming as the main industries. Recently, the city has seen tremendous growth in new development, both residential and commercial, while the Old Town area along Western Avenue preserves the historic business district and safeguards opportunities for small, independent businesses.[4]

Avondale is a modern city, near the heart of the Phoenix metropolitan area. Over the last decade, population growth took place at a rate of over 114%, making the city one of the fastest-growing in Maricopa County.[5]

Geography

edit

Avondale is located at33°26′01″N112°20′59″W/ 33.43361°N 112.34972°W/33.43361; -112.34972(33.435322, −112.349758).[6]It is bordered to the west byGoodyear,to the north byLitchfield Park,and to the east byPhoenixandTolleson.

According to theUnited States Census Bureau,the city has a total area of 47.9 square miles (124 km2), of which 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2), or 0.54%, are water.[1]TheGila Rivercrosses the southern part of the city, joined from the north by theAgua Fria River.

Interstate 10crosses the northern part of Avondale, with access from exits 129 through 133A. The freeway leads east 15 miles (24 km) toDowntown Phoenixand west 134 miles (216 km) toBlythe, California.

Climate

edit

Avondale has a large amount of sunshine year-round due to its stable descending air and high pressure. According to theKöppen Climate Classificationsystem, the city has aHot desert climate,abbreviated "Bwh" on climate maps.[7]

Wintersare sunny and mild with nighttime lows averaging between 40 °F (4 °C) and 50 °F (4 °C and 10 °C) and daytime highs ranging from 60 °F (16 °C) to 75 °F (16 °C to 24 °C). The record low temperature recorded in Avondale is 16 °F (−9 °C).Summersare extremely hot, with daily high temperatures at or above 100 °F (38 °C) for the entirety of June, July, and August, as well as many days in May and September. An occasionalheat wavewill spike temperatures over 115 °F (46 °C) briefly. Nighttime lows in the summer months average between 70 °F (21 °C) and 80 °F (21 °C and 27 °C), with an occasional overnight low above 80 °F (27 °C) not uncommon. Avondale's record high temperature stands at an impressive 125 °F (52 °C), a few degrees warmer than the record forPhoenix,and just 3 °F (−16 °C) shy ofArizona's state record of 128 °F (53 °C), recorded inLake Havasu Cityon June 29, 1994.

Snow is rare in the area, occurring once every several years. Lows in the winter occasionally dip below freezing, which may damage some desert plants such assaguarosand othercacti.In the summer (mainly July, August, and early September), theNorth American Monsooncan hit the Phoenix area in the afternoon and evening (possibly continuing overnight), causing rain showers even from a sunny morning. Dust storms are occasional, mainly during the summer.

Climate data for Avondale, Arizona
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 89
(32)
93
(34)
100
(38)
105
(41)
115
(46)
125
(52)
125
(52)
120
(49)
116
(47)
109
(43)
98
(37)
89
(32)
125
(52)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 65
(18)
70
(21)
76
(24)
85
(29)
94
(34)
103
(39)
105
(41)
103
(39)
98
(37)
87
(31)
74
(23)
64
(18)
85
(30)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 42
(6)
45
(7)
50
(10)
56
(13)
64
(18)
72
(22)
79
(26)
79
(26)
72
(22)
59
(15)
48
(9)
41
(5)
59
(15)
Record low °F (°C) 16
(−9)
22
(−6)
22
(−6)
27
(−3)
36
(2)
49
(9)
57
(14)
50
(10)
44
(7)
31
(−1)
22
(−6)
20
(−7)
16
(−9)
Averageprecipitationinches (mm) 0.99
(25)
1.28
(33)
0.97
(25)
0.37
(9.4)
0.11
(2.8)
0.04
(1.0)
0.83
(21)
1.23
(31)
0.95
(24)
0.49
(12)
0.68
(17)
0.99
(25)
8.93
(227)
Source: The Weather Channel[8]

Gila and Salt River Meridian

edit
The initial point of the Gila and Salt River Meridan

The surveying marker of the Gila and Salt River Meridian is located on Monument Hill. Ever since 1851, this has been the center point used by the state to measure the land in Arizona. The federal government recognized this point for measuring the boundary between the United States and Mexico after theMexican–American Warended. The first survey, conducted in 1867, involved the first 36 miles (58 km) of Arizona. Up until 1874, this was the epicenter of all surveying in Arizona for property deeds. It was listed in theNational Register of Historic Placeson October 15, 2002, Reference #02001137. Monument Hill is located at 115th Avenue and Baseline Road in Avondale.[9]

Demographics

edit
Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1920517
19301,770242.4%
19502,505
19606,151145.5%
19706,6267.7%
19808,16823.3%
199016,16998.0%
200035,883121.9%
201076,238112.5%
202089,33417.2%
2024 (est.)94,8706.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
World Population Review[11]

2020 census

edit
Avondale city, Arizona – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[12] Pop 2010[13] Pop 2020[14] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
Whitealone (NH) 15,959 25,958 23,127 44.48% 34.05% 25.89%
Black or African Americanalone (NH) 1,748 6,643 8,272 4.87% 8.71% 9.26%
Native AmericanorAlaska Nativealone (NH) 245 746 991 0.68% 0.98% 1.11%
Asianalone (NH) 654 2,532 3,445 1.82% 3.32% 3.86%
Pacific Islanderalone (NH) 38 208 339 0.11% 0.27% 0.38%
Some Other Racealone (NH) 39 173 550 0.11% 0.23% 0.62%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial(NH) 611 1,638 2,932 1.70% 2.15% 3.28%
Hispanic or Latino(any race) 16,589 38,340 49,678 46.23% 50.29% 55.61%
Total 35,883 76,238 89,334 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

Avondale first appeared on the 1920 U.S. Census as the 45th Precinct of Maricopa County (AKA Coldwater).[15]In 1930, it simply appeared as the Coldwater Precinct. It was recorded as having a Spanish/Hispanic majority for that census[16](the census would not separately feature that racial demographic again until 1980). With the combination of all county precincts into three districts in 1940, it did not report on that census. In 1946, it was incorporated as the town of Avondale, and has appeared on every census since 1950. In 1959, it upgraded to a city.[17]

As of the census of 2000, there were 35,883 people, 10,640 households, and 8,724 families residing in the city. The population density was 869.7 inhabitants per square mile (335.8/km2). There were 11,419 housing units at an average density of 276.8 per square mile (106.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 63.27%White,5.20%BlackorAfrican American,1.28%Native American,1.89%Asian,0.14%Pacific Islander,24.32% fromother races,and 3.89% from two or more races. 46.23% of the population wereHispanicorLatinoof any race.

There were 10,640 households, out of which 47.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.0% were non-families. 12.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age. The average household size was 3.36 and the average family size was 3.66.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 34.2% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 17.7% from 45 to 64, and 5.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $49,153, and the median income for a family was $51,084. Males had a median income of $35,134 versus $27,487 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,919. About 10.3% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.2% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

edit

Top employers in Avondale as of 2022.[18]

# Employer # of employees[18]
1 Amazon 1,030
2 City of Avondale 660
3 Tolleson Union High School District 560
4 Fry’s Food Stores 520
5 Maricopa County Community Colleges 460
6 Avondale Elementary School District 420
7 Akos 400
8 Littleton Elementary School District 390
9 Walmart 380
10 Costco Wholesale 370

Sports

edit
The Phoenix International Raceway as viewed from the summit of Monument Hill

Avondale is home toPhoenix Raceway.Since 2020, Phoenix Raceway has served as host of the annualNASCARchampionship race, each November. It holds twoNASCAR Cup Seriesraces, twoXfinity Seriesraces, aNASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Seriesrace, anARCA Menards Seriesrace, and anARCA Menards Series Westrace annually.

Avondale Parks and Recreation Department offers sports for both youth and adults.[19]

Parks

edit

City parks:

  • Alamar Park, 4155 S El Mirage Rd
  • Las Ligas, 12421 W Lower Buckeye Road
  • Festival Fields, 101 E. Lower Buckeye
  • Donnie Hale Park, 10857 West Pima St.
  • Friendship Park / Dog Park, 12325 West McDowell
  • Mountain View, 201 E Mountain View Drive[20]
  • Sernas Plaza Park, 521 E Western Ave
  • Fred Campbell Park, 101 E Lawrence Blvd
  • Dennis DeConcini, 351 E Western Ave
  • Dessie Lorenz Park, 202 E Main St
  • Doc Rhodes Park, 104 W Western Ave

Government

edit

Avondale falls within Arizona's 3rd Congressional District, served byRepresentativeRaúl Grijalvaand Arizona's 19th State Legislative District, served byRepresentativesLorenzo SierraandDiego EspinozaandSenatorLupe Contreras, allDemocrats.

Mayors

edit
  • Troy G. Fincher, ca.1949[21]
  • Russell H. Brinker, ca.1959[22]
  • Laverne R. Turner, ca.1963[23]
  • Thomas F. Morales, Jr., ca.1996[24]
  • Ronald J. Drake, ca.2000-2005[25]
  • Marie Lopez Rogers, ca.2006-2013[26]
  • Kenneth N. Weise, 2014-present[27]

Education

edit

Avondale is served by theLittleton Elementary School District,theAvondale Elementary School District,theAgua Fria Union High School DistrictandTolleson Union High School District.Within city boundaries are four public high schools—Agua Fria High School,La Joya Community High School,Westview High SchoolandWest Point High School.

Avondale also has several charter schools. Legacy Traditional School andImagine Schoolsfor elementary and middle school education, andEstrella High SchoolandSt. John Paul II Catholic High Schoolfor high school.[28]

Estrella Mountain Community College,established in 1992, is located in the city.Rio Salado College,a part of theMaricopa County Community College District,has a satellite building in Avondale.Universal Technical InstituteandEmpire Beauty Schoolsalso have campuses in Avondale.[29]

Infrastructure

edit

Transportation

edit

Avondale is served byValley Metro Bus.The Avondale ZOOM neighborhood circulator provides local service within Avondale.[30]Avondale is also served by local routes 3 (Van Buren Street,17 (McDowell Road), 41 (Indian School Road,express route 563 to Downtown Phoenix, and rural route 685 connectingAjoand Phoenix.

Healthcare

edit

The public hospital system,Valleywise Health(formerly Maricopa Integrated Health System), operates Valleywise Community Health Center – Avondale. Its sole hospital, Valleywise Health Medical Center, is in Phoenix.[31]

Phoenix Children's Hospitalhas satellite facilities (Emergency Department - Avondale, and Sports Medicine PT - Avondale), at the corner of Avondale Boulevard and McDowell Road, and Avondale Boulevard and I-10 respectively.

Notable people

edit

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ab"2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Arizona".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedMay 5,2022.
  2. ^abU.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Avondale, Arizona
  3. ^ab"Avondale city, Arizona: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)".U.S. Census Bureau.RetrievedMay 5,2022.
  4. ^"History | City of Avondale".www.avondaleaz.gov.RetrievedJanuary 28,2023.
  5. ^"City of Avondale History | Avondale Library".www.avondalelibrary.org.RetrievedJanuary 28,2023.
  6. ^"US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990".United States Census Bureau.February 12, 2011.RetrievedApril 23,2011.
  7. ^Climate Summary for Avondale, Arizona
  8. ^"Monthly Averages for Avondale, AZ".Weather.com. 2018.RetrievedMay 17,2018.
  9. ^Did You Know: Monument Hill Is an Important Arizona Spot
  10. ^"Census of Population and Housing".Census.gov.RetrievedJune 4,2016.
  11. ^https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/arizona/avondale#:~:text=Avondale%20is%20a%20city%20located,population%20of%2089%2C568%20in%202020.
  12. ^"P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Avondale city, Arizona".United States Census Bureau.
  13. ^"P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Avondale city, Arizona".United States Census Bureau.
  14. ^"P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Avondale city, Arizona".United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^Bureau of the Census Library (1924)."Fourteenth Census of the United States - State Compendium - Arizona"(PDF).U.S. Government Printing Office.
  16. ^"Arizona - Composition and Characteristics"(PDF).United States Census Bureau.1930. pp. 141–163.
  17. ^"League of Arizona Cities and Towns".
  18. ^ab"Business, Jobs, and Industry Explorer".azmag.gov.RetrievedJanuary 5,2024.
  19. ^"Avondale AZ - Official Website".Archived fromthe originalon November 21, 2008.RetrievedNovember 6,2015.
  20. ^"Avondale AZ - Official Website - Parks".Archived fromthe originalon April 7, 2014.RetrievedApril 3,2014.
  21. ^1949-1950 Salisbury's Glendale, Arizona, north and west Maricopa County Directory,p. 89 – via Arizona Memory Project
  22. ^1959 The Mullin-Kille Glendale, Arizona ConSurvey City Directory,p. 526 – via Arizona Memory Project
  23. ^1963 The Mullin-Kille Glendale, Arizona ConSurvey City Directory,p. 22 – via Arizona Memory Project
  24. ^ci.avondale.az.us,City of Avondale, archived fromthe originalon January 10, 1998 – via Wayback Machine
  25. ^"Mayor/Council",ci.avondale.az.us,City of Avondale, archived fromthe originalon June 20, 2000 – via Wayback Machine
  26. ^Mayor Lopez Rogers,City of Avondale, archived fromthe originalon November 2, 2006 – via Wayback Machine
  27. ^"Council Profiles",avondale.org,City of Avondale, archived fromthe originalon July 3, 2014 – via Wayback Machine
  28. ^"Avondale Schools | Avondale, AZ School Ratings | Best Schools".www.greatschools.org.RetrievedJanuary 28,2023.
  29. ^"Avondale, AZ | Data USA".datausa.io.RetrievedJanuary 28,2023.
  30. ^"Transit Services | City of Avondale".RetrievedNovember 11,2021.
  31. ^"Locations".Valleywise Health.RetrievedDecember 2,2021.
  32. ^"Tribute to Randall McDaniel".Pro Football Hall of Fame.Archivedfrom the original on July 14, 2014.RetrievedAugust 29,2016.
  33. ^"Shelley Smith".National Football League.Archivedfrom the original on March 4, 2014.RetrievedAugust 29,2016.
edit