Buckeye, Arizona

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Town of Buckeye, Arizona
settlement_type = Town


imagesize =
image_caption =
image_

---

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in Maricopa County and the state of Arizona


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = Arizona
subdivision_name2 = Maricopa
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Jackie Meck
established_date = 1888
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 377.5
area_total_sq_mi = 145.8
area_land_km2 = 377.5
area_land_sq_mi = 145.8
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0
elevation_ft = 869
elevation_m = 265
population_as_of = 2007
population_footnotes =cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2007-04-04.csv|title=Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places in Arizona|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=2008-07-10|accessdate=2008-07-14]
population_total = 29966
population_metro =
population_density_km2 = 67.3
population_density_sq_mi = 174.2
timezone = MST
utc_offset = -7
latd = 33 |latm = 22 |lats = 14 |latNS = N
longd = 112 |longm = 35 |longs = 27 |longEW = W
website = http://www.buckeyeaz.gov/
timezone_DST =
utc_offset_DST =
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 85326, 85396
area_code = 623
GNIS_id = 2081
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 04-07940
blank1_name =
blank1_info =
footnotes =

Buckeye is a town in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town was 29,615.cite web | url = http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2006-04-04.csv | title = Annual Estimates of the Population for All Incorporated Places in Arizona|format = CSV | work = 2006 Population Estimates | publisher = U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division] In July 2007, "Forbes" ranked Buckeye as the 2nd-fastest growing municipality in the United States, having had its population grow by nearly 192% between 2000 and 2006. [Woolsey, Matt. - [http://www.forbes.com/forbeslife/2007/07/16/suburbs-growth-housing-forbeslife-cx_mw_0716realestate_2.html "America's Fastest-Growing Suburbs"] . - "Forbes". - July 16, 2007.]

Geography

Buckeye is located at coor dms|33|22|14|N|112|35|27|W|city (33.370520, -112.590899)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 145.8 square miles (377.5 km²), all of it land.

The town's very large planning area extends, at its widest points, 48 miles from north to south and 24 miles east to west. It borders the planning areas of Wickenburg to the north; Surprise, Glendale, and Goodyear to the east; and Gila Bend to the south. To the west is the unincorporated area known as Tonopah.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 6,537 people, 2,158 households, and 1,624 families residing in the town. The population density was 44.8 people per square mile (17.3/km²). There were 2,344 housing units at an average density of 16.1/sq mi (6.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 72.54% White, 3.37% Black or African American, 1.71% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 19.34% from other races, and 2.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 36.65% of the population.

There were 2,158 households out of which 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.47.

In the town the population was spread out with 33.8% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 101.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,383, and the median income for a family was $39,194. Males had a median income of $32,357 versus $24,901 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,627. About 16.2% of families and 18.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.6% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over.

Based on the 2005 Maricopa County Census Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, the 2005 population of Buckeye was estimated to be 25,406.

Neighborhoods

The original Buckeye was built around downtown's main street, Monroe Avenue. The first neighborhoods spread out from Monroe Avenue along First through Tenth streets and other cross streets.

In the mid-twentieth century, the Valencia neighborhood was built just north of downtown, centering upon Baseline Road and Fourth Street.

The biggest waves of development began in the early twenty-first century, with the Town's first master-planned community, Sundance. This neighborhood is located in general vicinity of the intersection of Yuma and Watson roads near Interstate 10. Sundance Towne Center is located here and is the first of several large shopping centers to be built in Buckeye.

Second came Verrado, a master-planned community located along Verrado Way north of Interstate 10. This new urbanist style development is highly regarded around the Phoenix area and across the United States. Nearby is the Buckeye Parkway Center retail development.

A few of the many other master-planned communities currently under development are Tartesso, Sun Valley, Sun City Festival, and Spurlock Ranch, all located along the Sun Valley Parkway north of Interstate 10. The community of WestPark is another growing development northwest of downtown Buckeye, where WestPark Elementary is located.

Many other smaller subdivisions are part of the town as well.

Due to the amount of land that the town has annexed or plans to annex (up to 600 square miles), the population may increase to over that of the current population of Phoenix itself. Buckeye is projected to expand to over 380,000 residents by 2030, with some projections giving the city some two million inhabitants by 2050, which would make it the largest suburb in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area and possibly the United States, surpassing Mesa which, by that time, will have been built out completely.

Recreation

A popular recreation destination in Buckeye is the Buckeye Hills Recreation Area. It is located 7 miles south of downtown Buckeye on State Route 85 (at mile marker 144). It contains camping, picnic areas, hiking trails, and a shooting range. The recreation area is part of the Maricopa County Regional Park program, while the shooting range is managed by the Buckeye Sportsman Club.

Media

Buckeye is served by all major Phoenix media in radio, television, and print. There are several more-localized newspapers including the Buckeye Sun, West Valley View, Arizona Republic's Southwest Valley edition, and the Buckeye Valley News. Buckeye also has a web-based news provider, InBuckeye.com.

In 2007, the book "Buckeye" was published by author Verlyne Meck, a lifelong resident of the Buckeye Valley. Featuring over 230 photographs and utilizing the testimonies and memories of other longtime residents and the archives of Buckeye Union High School and Buckeye Valley Museum, "Buckeye" tells the story of this desert town as it strives to retain its past amid the changes emerging around it as Arizona's Biggest Small Town.

Famous residents

*Upton Sinclair (author, 1878-1968)

References

External links

* [http://www.buckeyeaz.gov/ Town of Buckeye]