Anthem, Arizona

Anthem, Arizona
—  Census Designated Place  —
Location in Maricopa County and the state of Arizona
Coordinates: 33°52′2″N 112°8′49″W / 33.86722°N 112.14694°W / 33.86722; -112.14694Coordinates: 33°52′2″N 112°8′49″W / 33.86722°N 112.14694°W / 33.86722; -112.14694
Country	United States
State	Arizona
County	Maricopa
Elevation	1,863 ft (568 m)
Time zone	Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings (UTC-7)
ZIP codes	85086, 85087
Area code(s)	623
FIPS code
GNIS feature ID	2054803[1]

Anthem is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. As of the 2010 census, Anthem had a population of 21,700 people. The result of a Del Webb development on a large parcel of land adjacent to the town of New River, it is a planned suburb 34 miles north of downtown Phoenix that opened in 1998. Although Anthem is currently unincorporated, Phoenix is slated to annex the community by 2020 as documented in the City of Phoenix General Plan. Most of the community sits at the foot of Daisy Mountain.

Overview

Featuring sweeping mountain vistas, golf, hiking and other recreational opportunities, Anthem has been described as one of the best places to live in Arizona by Phoenix Magazine^{[citation needed]} and the best place to raise a family by Parenting Magazine in November 2003.^{[citation needed]} Anthem’s Outlet Mall is a source of jobs for many of Anthem’s adolescents, as well as a local gathering place for events, both local and non-local.

Anthem public schools are in the Deer Valley Unified School District. In 2010-2011, Deer Valley was named an Advanced Placement Achievement district, one of four in Arizona. Anthem has four elementary schools, including Anthem School, Canyon Springs School, Diamond Canyon School, Gavilan Peak School and one high school, Boulder Creek High School.

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2010, there were 21,700 people residing in the CDP. The population density was 2717.8 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the CDP was 89.69% White, 1.89% Black or African American, 0.65% Native American, 2.61% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 2.05% from other races, and 2.96% from two or more races. 9.20% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Transportation

Interstate 17 is the primary connection to the area from the rest of the Phoenix metropolitan area. In 2010, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) completed a project that widened I-17 from Loop 101 to Anthem Way. the project widened I-17 from 2 lanes to 3 General Purpose lanes and a HOV lane from Loop 101 to Carefree Highway and 3 lanes in each direction from Carefree Highway to Anthem Way. This project reduced traffic congestion for commuters between Anthem and the Phoenix metro area.

Anthem is nearly inaccessible other than by automobile. Valley Metro does not provide bus service to Anthem, nor is there a circulator bus. Taxis from metro Phoenix are very expensive. Bicycles are not permitted on I-17 (on the shoulder, adjacent to cars and trucks typically traveling 75 mph or faster). Furthermore, until July 2009 there were only four ways into and out of the community: two freeway exits on I-17, a frontage road to the New River area, and a connection to the Maricopa County street grid at Desert Hills Drive. The latter connection, however, is normally open only to emergency vehicles.

In October 2009, a two-way frontage road connecting Carefree Highway to Gavilan Peak Parkway in Anthem was opened on the East side of I-17. This frontage road, combined with North Valley Parkway and Norterra Parkway provide a surface street route to the rest of the Phoenix metro area.

Utility Rate Increases and Homeowners' Association Controversies

In December, 2010, Arizona American Water received permission to impose a 57% rate increase effective January 1, 2011, followed by additional increases January 1, 2012, and January 1, 2013 for a total of almost a 70% increase.^{[citation needed]} This follows on the heels of a lawsuit by several residents against Del Webb/Pulte Homes for failing to disclose infrastructure funding that was not included in the costs of the homes, meaning the water company had a balloon payment due which would cause a rate increase.^{[further explanation needed]}

Homeowners are required to utilize native and near-native plants in landscaping in order to conserve water and balance preservation of the Sonoran Desert with suburban development. Some residents^[who?] have noted the HOA does not comply with A.R.S. 33-1803 and issues fines without allowing owners access to the board under due process of law.^{[further explanation needed]}

Recreation

One of Anthem's benefits is its recreation center, play park, water park, and proximity to Daisy Mountain and the Anthem Trailhead. Access to the recreation center and water park is tightly controlled. Access to the play park is reserved for residents, but there is no enforcement and residents from surrounding communities take advantage of - and use - the park. Anthem also has many miles of bike/running trails and greenscape areas. Most major roads in Anthem offer bike lanes and many residents utilize electric golf carts for travel within the community.

There are two trails leading from Anthem to Daisy Mountain. A few miles away, on New River Road, is the former "Black Canyon Trailhead" (renamed "Anthem Trailhead" in 2007), a 62 mile trail used by mountain bikers and hikers, as well as horse-riders. Use of motorized vehicles is prohibited except for on flatter segments accessed only in New River.

Anthem also sits just north of Ben Avery Shooting Facility, a 1,600-acre shooting and archery facility managed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

References

1. ^ "Anthem, Arizona". Geographic Names Information System, U.S. Geological Survey. http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:2054803. 
2. ^ http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL2.ST13&prodType=table

External links

• Chamber of Commerce at Anthem
• Anthem at Newszap.com
• AnthemLocal - Directory of Businesses & Resources