106-452: AFHS may refer to: Agua Fria High School , Avondale, Arizona, US American Falls High School , American Falls, Idaho, US American Fork High School , American Fork, Utah, US Apex Friendship High School , Apex, North Carolina, US Austintown-Fitch High School , Austintown, Ohio, US Al fondo hay sitio See also [ edit ] AFH (disambiguation) Topics referred to by
212-519: A US Commission on Civil Rights of hearing that of 31,000 homes that had recently sprung up in this neighborhood, not a single one had been sold to an African-American. Phoenix's African-American and Mexican-American communities remained largely sequestered on the south side of town. The color lines were so rigid that no one north of Van Buren Street would rent to the African-American baseball star Willie Mays , in town for spring training in
318-641: A hot desert climate ( Köppen: BWh ), typical of the Sonoran Desert , and is the largest city in America in this climatic zone. Phoenix has long, extremely hot summers and short, mild winters. The city is within one of the world's sunniest regions, with its sunshine duration comparable to the Sahara region. With 3,872 hours of bright sunshine annually, Phoenix receives the most sunshine of any major city on Earth. Average high temperatures in summer are
424-416: A majority minority . Although enrollment increased from 2013 to 2017, since 2017, enrollment has declined, from 1,757 students during the 2017–2018 school year to 1,608 students in the 2021–2022 school year. A shift in demographics has also occurred in the same time frame; the percentage of Hispanic and Latino students increased by 5%, while the percentage of Caucasian students decreased by 6%. Agua Fria
530-478: A $ 31.6 million bond fund; the fund allocated $ 8.2 million for construction and repair projects at Agua Fria High School. The AFUHSD began construction on a students service building and a new library roof at Agua Fria High School in June 2012. In 2013, a new administration building was constructed at Agua Fria—along with renovations to the girls locker room, new security cameras, and resurfaced track fields—using part of
636-628: A city known for its agriculture. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company donated $ 15,000, as did Educational Facilities Laboratories, to help finance a study from Arizona State University to assess the educational output of Litchfield Park. As the westward expansion of Phoenix continued, economic activity in the West Valley grew. The completion of Interstate 10 in the West Valley and construction on Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station contributed to an increase in high school enrollment in
742-452: A duel; Chenowth killed Favorite and was forced to withdraw from the race. The town grew during the 1870s, and President Ulysses S. Grant issued a land patent for the site of Phoenix on April 10, 1874. By 1875, the town had a telegraph office, 16 saloons, and four dance halls, but the townsite-commissioner form of government needed an overhaul. An election was held in 1875, and three village trustees and other officials were elected. By 1880,
848-772: A foreign language, two years of a fine arts class, and four years of an elective class. Agua Fria offers various elective courses and implements a vocational education program in fields such as coding , construction, and graphic design . Additionally, Agua Fria maintains a relationship with Luke Air Force Base and offers the Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps program. Agua Fria offers multiple Advanced Placement (AP) classes, focusing on English, mathematics, science, history, art, and foreign languages. Students may earn college credit for taking these courses. As of 2022, Agua Fria offered 13 AP classes, and its AP program
954-561: A four percent annual population growth rate over a 40-year period from the mid-1960s to the mid-2000s, and was among the nation's ten most populous cities by 1980. Phoenix is also one of the largest plurality-Hispanic cities in the United States, with 42% of its population being Hispanic . The Hohokam people occupied the Phoenix area for 2,000 years. They created roughly 135 miles (217 kilometers) of irrigation canals, making
1060-551: A fungal lung infection. Unlike most desert locations which have drastic fluctuations between day and nighttime temperatures, the urban heat island effect limits Phoenix's diurnal temperature variation . As the city has expanded, average summer low temperatures have been steadily rising. Pavement, sidewalks, and buildings store the Sun's heat and radiate it at night. The daily normal low remains at or above 80 °F (27 °C) for an average of 74 days per summer. On July 19, 2023, at
1166-508: A grid layout pattern that has been the hallmark of Phoenix's urban development ever since. On February 12, 1871, the territorial legislature created Maricopa County by dividing Yavapai County; it was the sixth one formed in the Arizona Territory. The first election for county office was held in 1871 when Tom Barnum was elected the first sheriff. He ran unopposed when the other two candidates (John A. Chenowth and Jim Favorite) fought
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#17328008208771272-586: A growth rate under 24% in a census decade. However, in 2016, Phoenix once again became the fastest growing city in the United States, adding approximately 88 people per day during the preceding year. The Phoenix Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (officially known as the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler MSA ), is one of 10 MSAs in Arizona, and was the 11th largest in the United States, with a 2018 U.S. census population estimate of 4,857,962, up from
1378-466: A joint congressional resolution granting statehood to Arizona, due to his disapproval of the state constitution's position on the recall of judges. In 1913, Phoenix's move from a mayor-council system to council-manager made it one of the first cities in the United States with this form of city government. After statehood, Phoenix's growth started to accelerate; eight years later, its population reached 29,053. In 1920, Phoenix would see its first skyscraper,
1484-741: A language facility, and in 1962, the district proposed a 39 cent tax increase, citing the need to withdraw tuition payments from other schools—such as the newly constructed Dysart High School in El Mirage —in the district. A $ 4.8 million bond proposal in 1974 succeeded in Litchfield Park, but failed in Avondale. The measure would have added a new high school in Goodyear, to help alleviate overcrowding issues at Agua Fria Union. In 1969, plans began to form to reform education in Litchfield Park,
1590-402: A long drought, and the reservoir which was supposed to be behind the dam was virtually dry. The humorist Will Rogers , who was on hand as a guest speaker joked, "If that was my lake, I'd mow it." Phoenix's population had nearly doubled during the 1920s and by 1930 stood at 48,118. It was also during the 1930s that Phoenix and its surrounding area began to be called "The Valley of the Sun", which
1696-409: A myriad of residential tract developments on both farmland and desert." Retail outlets and office complexes spread out and did not concentrate in the small downtown area. There was low population density and a lack of widespread and significant high-rise development. As a consequence Phoenix became a textbook case of urban sprawl for geographers. Even though it is the fifth most populated city in
1802-484: A part of the AFUHSD upon its formation. In 1956, Agua Fria Union High School was established in Avondale, replacing Litchfield Park High School, and designed to accommodate 350 students. The school was constructed on 57 acres—purchased for $ 57,000 on Riley Drive—and cost $ 500,000 to build. The initial salary for teachers was $ 3,507. Upon its opening, Chauncey Coor became the superintendent of Agua Fria, eventually becoming
1908-686: A planning committee appointed directly by the city council. According to the city-issued village planning handbook, the purpose of the village planning committees is to "work with the city's planning commission to ensure a balance of housing and employment in each village, concentrate development at identified village cores, and to promote the unique character and identity of the villages." There are 15 urban villages: Ahwatukee Foothills , Alhambra , Camelback East , Central City , Deer Valley , Desert View, Encanto , Estrella , Laveen , Maryvale , North Gateway, North Mountain, Paradise Valley, Rio Vista , and South Mountain. The urban village of Paradise Valley
2014-426: A population of nearly 1.6 million, and millions more in nearby suburbs. After the war, many of the men who had undergone their training in Arizona returned with their new families. Learning of this large untapped labor pool enticed many large industries to move their operations to the area. In 1948, high-tech industry, which would become a staple of the state's economy, arrived in Phoenix when Motorola chose Phoenix as
2120-478: Is 7.22 in (183 mm). The region's trademark dry and sunny weather is interrupted by sporadic Pacific storms in the winter and the arrival of the North American monsoon in the summer. Historically, the monsoon officially started when the average dew point was 55 °F (13 °C) for three days in a row—typically occurring in early July. To increase monsoon awareness and promote safety, however,
2226-587: Is a one-time National Blue Ribbon School , having received the award in 1982, when the program was founded. In 2022, U.S. News & World Report ranked Agua Fria 4,682nd nationally and 84th among schools in Arizona. Consistent with other high schools in the Agua Fria Union High School District, the curriculum at Agua Fria typically includes four years of English and mathematics, and three years of laboratory-based sciences and history. In addition, students also take one year of
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#17328008208772332-632: Is also home to a plethora of native reptile species including the Western diamondback rattlesnake , Sonoran sidewinder , several other types of rattlesnakes, Sonoran coral snake , dozens of species of non-venomous snakes (including the Sonoran gopher snake and the California kingsnake ), the gila monster , desert spiny lizard , several types of whiptail lizards , the chuckwalla , desert horned lizard , western banded gecko , Sonora mud turtle , and
2438-645: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Agua Fria High School Agua Fria High School is a public high school in Avondale, Arizona , United States. Operated by the Agua Fria Union High School District , it is the first school built in the district and its only school until the establishment of Millennium High School in 1999. Established as Litchfield Park High School , it graduated its first class in 1932. In 1956,
2544-418: Is distinct from the nearby Town of Paradise Valley . Although the urban village is part of Phoenix, the town is independent. In addition to the above urban villages, Phoenix has a variety of commonly referred-to regions and districts, such as Downtown , Midtown , Uptown, West Phoenix, North Phoenix , South Phoenix , Biltmore Area , Arcadia , and Sunnyslope . While some of the native flora and fauna of
2650-499: Is home to the only thriving feral population of rosy-faced lovebirds in the U.S. This bird is a popular birdcage pet, native to southwestern Africa. Feral birds were first observed living outdoors in 1987, probably escaped or released pets, and by 2010 the Greater Phoenix population had grown to about 950 birds. These lovebirds prefer older neighborhoods where they nest under untrimmed, dead palm tree fronds. The area
2756-561: Is in the mid-to-low 30s. It rarely drops to 32 °F (0 °C) or below. Snow is rare. In July 2023, it became the first major city in the US to have an average monthly temperature of over 100 °F (38 °C) with an average daily mean temperature for the month at 102.7 °F (39 °C), which is also the hottest month ever recorded in the city. That same month the city had an unprecedented streak of 31 days with 110 °F (43 °C)+ highs that lasted from June 30 to July 30. That year
2862-538: Is in the south-central portion of Arizona; about halfway between Tucson to the southeast and Flagstaff to the north, in the Southwestern United States . By car, the city is approximately 150 miles (240 kilometers) north of the US–Mexico border at Sonoyta and 180 mi (290 km) north of the border at Nogales . The metropolitan area is known as the "Valley of the Sun" due to its location in
2968-483: Is majority Hispanic and Latino . A one-time Blue Ribbon school , Agua Fria is ranked 4,682nd nationally and 84th in Arizona by U.S. News and World Report . Efforts to form a high school district in Litchfield Park began to form in the late 1920s. However, to organize, the district needed a valuation of $ 1,500,000 or an average daily attendance of 200 or more, neither of which the district had. The petition
3074-605: Is so common, nearly all homes in Phoenix have air conditioning , though poorer residents may not be able to afford to repair or operate them when needed. Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, was ranked seventh for most ozone pollution in the United States according to the American Lung Association . Vehicle emissions are cited as precursors to ozone formation. Phoenix also has high levels of particulate pollution; although, cities in California lead
3180-469: Is the presence of Africanized bees which can be extremely dangerous—even lethal—when provoked. The Arizona Upland subdivision of the Sonoran Desert (of which Phoenix is a part) has "the most structurally diverse flora in the United States." One of the most well-known types of succulents, the giant saguaro cactus , is found throughout the city and its neighboring environs. Other native species are
3286-798: The Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum opened at the Arizona State Fairgrounds , west of downtown. When Phoenix was awarded an NBA franchise in 1968, which would be called the Phoenix Suns , they played their home games at the Coliseum until 1992, after which they moved to America West Arena . In 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson approved the Central Arizona Project , assuring future water supplies for Phoenix, Tucson, and
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3392-635: The Avondale Elementary School District , Litchfield Park High School District, and the Tolleson Union High School District met to address the issue. The Avondale and Litchfield Park districts agreed to establish a union school district . The necessity for a high school district in Avondale contributed to the formation of the Agua Fria Union High School District (AFUHSD) in 1955. Litchfield Park High School, now Litchfield High School, became
3498-524: The Carnegie Free Library opened seven years later, on February 18, 1908, dedicated by Benjamin Fowler. The National Reclamation Act was signed by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1902, which allowed dams to be built on waterways in the west for reclamation purposes. The first dam constructed under the act, Salt River Dam#1 , began in 1903. It supplied both water and electricity, becoming
3604-819: The First National Bank Plaza , the Valley Center (the tallest building in Arizona), and the Arizona Bank building . On September 25, 1981, Phoenix resident Sandra Day O'Connor broke the gender barrier on the U.S. Supreme Court , when she was sworn in as the first female justice. In 1985, the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station , the nation's largest nuclear power plant, began electrical production. Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa both visited
3710-663: The Heard Building ; it was the tallest building in the state until the completion of the Luhrs Building in 1924. In 1929, Sky Harbor was officially opened, at the time owned by Scenic Airways . The city purchased it in 1935 and continues to operate it today. On March 4, 1930, former U.S. President Calvin Coolidge dedicated a dam on the Gila River named in his honor. However, the state had just been through
3816-487: The Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009. Other athletes that graduated from Agua Fria include baseball players Aaron Altherr , Cardell Camper , Shawn Gilbert , and Sammy Solis . Computer programmer Terry A. Davis claimed to have graduated from Agua Fria in 1988. Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix ( / ˈ f iː n ɪ k s / FEE -niks ) is the capital and most populous city of
3922-459: The Santa Fe, Prescott and Phoenix Railway in 1895 connected Phoenix to Prescott, Flagstaff, and other communities in the northern part of the territory. The increased access to commerce expedited the city's economic rise. The Phoenix Union High School was established in 1895 with an enrollment of 90. On February 25, 1901, Governor Oakes Murphy dedicated the permanent Capitol building , and
4028-505: The Sonoran Desert can be found within Phoenix city limits, most are found in the suburbs and the undeveloped desert areas that surround the city. Native mammal species include coyote , javelina , bobcat , mountain lion , desert cottontail rabbit , jackrabbit , antelope ground squirrel , mule deer , ringtail , coati , and multiple species of bats, such as the Mexican free-tailed bat and western pipistrelle , that roost in and around
4134-594: The U.S. state of Arizona , with 1,662,607 residents as of 2024. It is the fifth-most populous city in the United States and the most populous state capital in the country. Phoenix is the most populous city of the Phoenix metropolitan area , also known as the Valley of the Sun, which in turn is part of the Salt River Valley and Arizona Sun Corridor . The metro area is the 10th-largest by population in
4240-638: The White Tank Mountains to the west, the Superstition Mountains far to the east, and both South Mountain and the Sierra Estrella to the south/southwest. Camelback Mountain , North Mountain, Sunnyslope Mountain , and Piestewa Peak are within the heart of the valley. The city's outskirts have large fields of irrigated cropland and Native American reservation lands. The Salt River runs westward through Phoenix, but
4346-566: The attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States' use of Luke Air Force Base in World War II , along with the formation of the Goodyear Aircraft Corporation , Litchfield Park High School was expanded. By 1944, there were 141 students at Litchfield Park. The increase in Litchfield Park's student population necessitated a building project to handle the new students, and in 1942, a small building with two classrooms
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4452-552: The desert tortoise . Native amphibian species include the Couch's spadefoot toad , Chiricahua leopard frog , and the Sonoran desert toad . Phoenix and the surrounding areas are also home to a wide variety of native invertebrates including the Arizona bark scorpion , giant desert hairy scorpion , Arizona blond tarantula , Sonoran Desert centipede , tarantula hawk wasp , camel spider , and tailless whip scorpion . Of great concern
4558-669: The organpipe , barrel , fishhook , senita , prickly pear and cholla cacti; ocotillo ; Palo Verde trees and foothill and blue paloverde ; California fan palm ; agaves ; soaptree yucca , Spanish bayonet , desert spoon , and red yucca ; ironwood ; mesquite ; and the creosote bush . Many non-native plants also thrive in Phoenix including, but not limited to, the date palm , Mexican fan palm , pineapple palm , Afghan pine , Canary Island pine , Mexican fencepost cactus , cardon cactus , acacia , eucalyptus , aloe , bougainvillea , oleander , lantana , bottlebrush , olive , citrus , and red bird of paradise . Phoenix has
4664-481: The "Five C's" anchoring Phoenix's economy. These remained the driving forces of the city until after World War II , when high-tech companies began to move into the valley and air conditioning made Phoenix's hot summers more bearable. Phoenix is the cultural center of Arizona. It is in the northeastern reaches of the Sonoran Desert and is known for its hot desert climate . The region's gross domestic product reached over $ 362 billion by 2022. The city averaged
4770-620: The 1960s, with tourism becoming the third largest industry by the end of the decade. In 1965, the Phoenix Corporate Center opened; at the time it was the tallest building in Arizona, topping off at 341 feet. The 1960s saw many other buildings constructed as the city expanded rapidly, including the Rosenzweig Center (1964), today called Phoenix City Square , the landmark Phoenix Financial Center (1964), as well as many of Phoenix's residential high-rises. In 1965
4876-432: The 1960s. In 1964, a reporter from The New Republic wrote of segregation in these terms: "Apartheid is complete. The two cities look at each other across a golf course." The continued rapid population growth led more businesses to the valley to take advantage of the labor pool, and manufacturing, particularly in the electronics sector, continued to grow. The convention and tourism industries saw rapid expansion during
4982-421: The 2000 census (a total of 124,000 people), while the entire Phoenix metropolitan area grew by 28.9% during the same period. This compares with an overall growth rate nationally during the same time frame of 9.7%. Not since 1940–50, when the city had a population of 107,000, had the city gained less than 124,000 in a decade. Phoenix's recent growth rate of 9.4% from the 2010 census is the first time it has recorded
5088-556: The 2000s, the AFUHSD would continue to use bonds and grants to fund projects at Agua Fria. In 2008, the district applied for an Arizona School Facilities Board energy project implementation grant, which would implement water saving measures at Agua Fria, such as low-flow faucets, waterless urinals, and a smart landscape irrigation system. In 2011, the AFUHSD contracted Tempe -based Clean Energy to install solar panels at Agua Fria High School, following similar projects at Verrado High School and Desert Edge High School . The age and slope of
5194-549: The 2010 census population of 4,192,887. Consisting of both Pinal and Maricopa counties, the MSA accounts for 65.5% of Arizona's population. Phoenix only contributed 13% to the total growth rate of the MSA, down significantly from its 33% share during the prior decade. Phoenix is also part of the Arizona Sun Corridor megaregion (MR), which is the tenth most populous of the 11 MRs, and the eighth largest by area. It had
5300-500: The 2011 bond fund. The passage of a B-bond in 2012 allowed the AFUHSD to add bleachers to the softball field at Agua Fria, resurface its tennis courts, and paint the exterior of the school. The bond also helped pay for other security upgrades, such as improved fencing and campus perimeter upgrades, in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting . In the 2015-2016 school year, the boys locker room and
5406-630: The 2015-2016 school year, 49% of students attended some form of post-secondary education. Agua Fria High School fields 23 varsity teams , including badminton, track / cross country , football , golf, swimming, volleyball, basketball, soccer, wrestling , baseball/softball, and tennis, competing under the Agua Fria Owls moniker in the Arizona Interscholastic Association . In the AIA, the Agua Fria Owls compete in
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#17328008208775512-579: The 2021–2022 school year, Agua Fria had an enrollment of 1,608 students and 92.60 teachers (on FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 17.37. As of 2019, 57% of students are on free or reduced lunch. The National Center for Education Statistics reported that in 2021 and 2022, the ethnic demographics of students was 69.8% Hispanic and Latino American , 13.3% Caucasian , 11.5% African American, 1.7% Asian American, and 3.7% other including American Indian , Alaska Native , Native Hawaiian , Pacific Islander American , and multiple raced backgrounds, making up
5618-667: The 4A conference and in Division II. Agua Fria's music program was founded in 1958, comprising a jazz band, marching band , concert band, and choral groups. In addition, Agua Fria has a mariachi band. The marching band and color guard , competing as the Band of Owls, participate in Division 2A in the Arizona Marching Band Association competition. The band also performs in other events, such as
5724-497: The AFUHSD, sophomores, juniors, and seniors at Verrado can attend online classes through the school. These classes are taken outside of school hours, and a fee is required. In 2016, ProPublica reported that around a fifth of students take the SAT or ACT , and 2% are in a gifted and talented program . As of 2022, Agua Fria students had an average SAT composite score of 1120 out of 1600. The Arizona Board of Regents found that, for
5830-697: The Gila River Valley, from Florence in the east to the Estrellas in the west. Their crops included corn, beans, and squash for food as well as cotton and tobacco. They banded with the Maricopa for protection against incursions by the Yuma and Apache tribes. The Maricopa are part of the larger Yuma people; however, they migrated east from the lower Colorado and Gila Rivers in the early 1800s, when they began to be enemies with other Yuma tribes, settling among
5936-434: The Goodyear area forced the AFUHSD to convert Agua Fria North into a four-year high school, and in 1999, Agua Fria North reopened as Millennium High School . In the 2000s, Agua Fria High School began to experience further growth attributed to new housing developments in the West Valley and farm fields, with the AFUHSD nearly doubling in enrollment since 1995. Beginning in 1998, the AFUHSD implemented multiple funding phases;
6042-518: The Hohokam. Other nearby settlements later merged to become the city of Tempe . The history of Phoenix begins with Jack Swilling , a Confederate veteran of the Civil War who prospected in the nearby mining town of Wickenburg in the newly formed Arizona Territory . As he traveled through the Salt River Valley in 1867, he saw a potential for farming to supply Wickenburg with food. He also noted
6148-497: The National Weather Service decreed that starting in 2008, June 15 would be the official "first day" of the monsoon, and it would end on September 30. When active, the monsoon raises humidity levels and can cause heavy localized precipitation, flash floods, hail, destructive winds, and dust storms —which can rise to the level of a haboob in some years. As of 2020, Phoenix was the fifth most populous city in
6254-582: The Phoenix Concept 2000 plan which split the city into urban villages, each with its own village core where greater height and density was permitted, further shaping the free-market development culture. The nine original villages have expanded to 15 over the years (see Cityscape below). This officially turned Phoenix into a city of many nodes, which would later be connected by freeways. The Phoenix Symphony Hall opened in 1972; other major structures which saw construction downtown during this decade were
6360-469: The Salt River Valley. It lies at a mean elevation of 1,086 feet (331 m), in the northern reaches of the Sonoran Desert . Other than the mountains in and around the city, Phoenix's topography is generally flat, which allows the city's main streets to run on a precise grid with wide, open-spaced roadways. Scattered, low mountain ranges surround the valley: McDowell Mountains to the northeast,
6466-476: The United States , with the census bureau placing its population at 1,608,139, edging out Philadelphia with a population of 1,567,872. In the aftermath of the Great Recession, Phoenix had a population of 1,445,632 according to the 2010 United States census , the sixth largest city and still the most populous state capital in the United States. Prior to the Great Recession, in 2006, Phoenix's population
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#17328008208776572-415: The United States with approximately 4.95 million people as of 2020 , making it the most populous in the Southwestern United States . Phoenix, the seat of Maricopa County , is the largest city by population and area in Arizona, with an area of 517.9 square miles (1,341 km ), and is also the 11th-largest city by area in the United States. Phoenix was settled in 1867 as an agricultural community near
6678-436: The United States, the large area gives it a low density rate of approximately 2,797 people per square mile. In comparison, Philadelphia , the sixth most populous city with nearly the same population as Phoenix, has a density of over 11,000 people per square mile. Like most of Arizona, Phoenix does not observe daylight saving time . In 1973, Governor Jack Williams argued to the U.S. Congress that energy use would increase in
6784-518: The Valley in 1987. There was an influx of refugees due to low-cost housing in the Sunnyslope area in the 1990s, resulting in 43 different languages being spoken in local schools by 2000. The new 20-story City Hall opened in 1992. Phoenix has maintained a growth streak in recent years, growing by 24.2% before 2007. This made it the second-fastest-growing metropolitan area in the United States, surpassed only by Las Vegas . In 2008, Squaw Peak,
6890-422: The West Valley. In 1976, voters approved a $ 3,975,000 bond to construct a new high school for freshmen and sophomores, completing the goals of the AFUHSD's bond proposal in 1974. The proposal also included funds to remodel the physical education rooms at Agua Fria Union. By 1982, Agua Fria North—Agua Fria Union High School's northern campus—was established as an all-freshman high school. In 1998, continued growth in
6996-527: The agricultural corridor between them. The following year, Pope Paul VI created the Diocese of Phoenix on December 2, by splitting the Archdiocese of Tucson, with Edward A. McCarthy as the first Bishop. In the 1970s the downtown area experienced a resurgence, with a level of construction activity not seen again until the urban real estate boom of the 2000s. By the end of the decade, Phoenix adopted
7102-478: The annual Billy Moore Days festival in Avondale. The Band of Owls participated in the Hollywood Christmas Parade in 2002; the trip cost $ 30,000, but was subsided using fundraisers and a $ 5,000 contribution. Notable Agua Fria alumni include former National Football League players Randall McDaniel , Everson Griffen , Bill Lueck , and Rusty Tillman , of which McDaniel was inducted into
7208-581: The area. After the departure of the Hohokam, groups of Akimel O'odham (commonly known as Pima), Tohono O'odham , and Maricopa tribes began to use the area, as well as segments of the Yavapai and Apache. The O'odham were offshoots of the Sobaipuri tribe, who in turn were thought to be the descendants of the Hohokam. The Akimel O'odham were the major group in the area. They lived in small villages with well-defined irrigation systems that spread over
7314-599: The city also had a record 55 days of daily highs topping 110 °F (43 °C)+, which also made summer of 2023 the hottest on record there, until it was beaten by the summer of 2024 with the hottest ever June at 97.0 °F (36 °C), the third hottest august August at 98.7 °F (37 °C) and the 2nd hottest July record at 101.1 °F (38 °C) by average daily temperature respectively. That same year in 2024, it also recorded an unprecedented 113 day streak of daily highs topping 100 °F (38 °C)+ that lasted from May 27 to September 16. Because extreme heat
7420-416: The city's second tallest mountain, was renamed Piestewa Peak after Army Specialist Lori Ann Piestewa , an Arizonan and the first Native American woman to die in combat while serving in the U.S. military, as well as being the first American female casualty of the 2003 Iraq War . 2008 also saw Phoenix as one of the cities hardest hit by the subprime mortgage crisis , and by early 2009 the median home price
7526-444: The city. There are many species of native birds, including Costa's hummingbird , Anna's hummingbird , Gambel's quail , Gila woodpecker , mourning dove , white-winged dove , the greater roadrunner , the cactus wren , and many species of raptors, including falcons , hawks , owls , vultures (such as the turkey vulture and black vulture ), and eagles , including the golden and the bald eagle . The greater Phoenix region
7632-467: The confluence of the Salt and Gila Rivers and was incorporated as a city in 1881. It became the capital of Arizona Territory in 1889. Its canal system led to a thriving farming community with the original settlers' crops, such as alfalfa , cotton , citrus , and hay , remaining important parts of the local economy for decades. Cotton, cattle , citrus, climate , and copper were known locally as
7738-576: The desert land arable, and paths of these canals were used for the Arizona Canal , Central Arizona Project Canal, and the Hayden-Rhodes Aqueduct . They also carried out extensive trade with the nearby Ancient Puebloans , Mogollon , and Sinagua , as well as with the more distant Mesoamerican civilizations. It is believed periods of drought and severe floods between 1300 and 1450 led to the Hohokam civilization's abandonment of
7844-399: The elementary school. The Southwest Cotton Company donated $ 9,000 to Litchfield Park, which was used to construct a study hall. The construction of a shared auditorium between the high school and the elementary school caused conflict; the auditorium was eventually turned into a gymnasium, resolving the conflict. The Litchfield Park Parent Teachers Association (LPPTA) was formed in 1944 to aid
7950-509: The eroded mounds of dirt that indicated previous canals dug by native peoples who had long since left the area. He formed the Swilling Irrigation and Canal Company that year, dug a large canal that drew in river water, and erected several crop fields in a location that is now within the eastern portion of central Phoenix near its airport. Other settlers soon began to arrive, appreciating the area's fertile soil and lack of frost, and
8056-476: The evening should Arizona observe DST. He went on to say energy use would also rise early in the day "because there would be more lights on in the early morning." Additionally, he said daylight saving time would cause children to go to school in the dark. Since 1979, the city of Phoenix has been divided into urban villages , many of which are based upon historically significant neighborhoods and communities that have since been annexed into Phoenix. Each village has
8162-639: The existing communities of the Akimel O'odham. The Tohono O'odham also lived in the region, but largely to the south and all the way to the Mexican border. The O'odham lived in small settlements as seasonal farmers who took advantage of the rains, rather than the large-scale irrigation of the Akimel. They grew crops such as sweet corn, tapery beans, squash, lentils, sugar cane, and melons, as well as taking advantage of native plants such as saguaro fruits, cholla buds, mesquite tree beans, and mesquite candy (sap from
8268-402: The extreme heat experienced in Phoenix and the surrounding areas during its long summers. There was more new construction in Phoenix in 1959 alone than from 1914 to 1946. Like many emerging American cities at the time, Phoenix's spectacular growth did not occur evenly. It largely took place on the city's north side, a region that was nearly all Caucasian. In 1962, one local activist testified at
8374-528: The farmhouse Swilling constructed became a frequently-visited location in the valley. Lord Darrell Duppa was one of the original settlers in Swilling's party, and he suggested the name "Phoenix", as it described a city born from the ruins of a former civilization. The Board of Supervisors in Yavapai County officially recognized the new town on May 4, 1868, and the first post office was established
8480-555: The first multi-purpose dam, and Roosevelt attended the official dedication on May 18, 1911. At the time, it was the largest masonry dam in the world, forming a lake in the mountains east of Phoenix. The dam would be renamed after Teddy Roosevelt in 1917, and the lake would follow suit in 1959. On February 14, 1912, Phoenix became a state capital, as Arizona was admitted to the Union as the 48th state under President William Howard Taft . This occurred just six months after Taft had vetoed
8586-415: The first, approved in 1998 for $ 11 million, added 20 new classrooms to Agua Fria and added central plants for heating and cooling. In August 2000, the AFUHSD considered the sale of $ 2.78 million in school improvement bonds, adding an additional gymnasium to Agua Fria. In February 2009, a mercury spill occurred at Agua Fria High School, when several students began spreading mercury among themselves, causing
8692-458: The following month with Swilling as the postmaster. In October 1870, valley residents met to select a new townsite for the valley's growing population. A new location three miles to the west of the original settlement, containing several allotments of farmland, was chosen, and lots began to officially be sold under the name of Phoenix in December of that year. This established the downtown core in
8798-424: The height of an unprecedent heatwave that caused daily highs to top 110 °F (43 °C) or higher that lasted for 31 days straight, Phoenix set its record for the warmest daily low temperature, at 97 °F (36 °C). The city averages approximately 300 days of sunshine, or over 85% of daylight hours, per year, and receives scant rainfall―the average annual total at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
8904-421: The hottest of any major city in the United States. On average, there are 111 days annually with a high of at least 100 °F (38 °C), including most days from the end of May through late September. Highs top 110 °F (43 °C) an average of 21 days during the year. On June 26, 1990, the temperature reached an all-time recorded high of 122 °F (50 °C). The annual minimum temperature in Phoenix
9010-411: The mayor of Goodyear in the 1980s. In November 1957, the AFUHSD held a bond election for $ 137,000, designed to add an additional wing for classrooms, enlarge dressing rooms, and add a vocational agriculture building. The AFUHSD would continue to hold bond elections; in 1961, taxpayers voted on a $ 260,000 bond issue to finance the construction of twelve classrooms, physics and biology laboratories, and
9116-455: The mercury, which was obtained from a retired chemistry teacher. Emails surfaced as a result of the investigation revealed that mercury was present at the school as far back as 2007. Cleanup operations cost the EPA $ 800,000, of which $ 173,614 went to renovating parts of the school, including new walls for laboratories and science classrooms, new cabinets, and new carpet and sealed floors. Throughout
9222-535: The mesquite tree). They also hunted local game such as deer, rabbit, and javelina for meat. The Mexican–American War ended in 1848, Mexico ceded its northern zone to the United States, and the region's residents became U.S. citizens. The Phoenix area became part of the New Mexico Territory . In 1863, the mining town of Wickenburg was the first to be established in Maricopa County, to
9328-417: The nation in this hazard. PM2.5 particulate matter, which is a component of diesel engine exhaust, and larger PM10 particles, which can come from dust, can both reach concerning levels in Phoenix. In fact, people, pets, and other animals exposed to high concentrations of PM10 dust particles―primarily from dust storms or from disturbed agricultural or construction sites―are at risk of contracting Valley Fever ,
9434-592: The northwest of Phoenix. Maricopa County had not been incorporated; the land was within Yavapai County , which included the major town of Prescott to the north of Wickenburg. The Army created Fort McDowell on the Verde River in 1865 to forestall Indian uprisings. The fort established a camp on the south side of the Salt River by 1866, which was the first settlement in the valley after the decline of
9540-698: The riverbed is often dry or contains little water due to large irrigation diversions. South Mountain separates the community of Ahwatukee from the rest of the city. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 517.9 sq mi (1,341 km ), of which 516.7 sq mi (1,338 km ) is land and 1.2 sq mi (3.1 km ), or 0.2%, is water. Maricopa County grew by 711% from 186,000 in 1940 to 1,509,000 by 1980, due in part to air conditioning, cheap housing, and an influx of retirees. The once "modest urban sprawl" now "grew by 'epic' proportions—not only
9646-406: The roofs at Agua Fria introduced complexity, causing Clean Energy to instead install solar panels onto shade structures in the school's parking lot. The project cost $ 20 million, although much of the cost was subsided through tax credits and Arizona Public Service programs. The district estimated that it would save about $ 6.34 million in electricity costs over 20 years. That same year, voters approved
9752-457: The same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title AFHS . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=AFHS&oldid=1229689369 " Categories : Disambiguation pages Educational institution disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description
9858-632: The school in construction projects. The LPPTA was able to use funds from a community dance to build a First Aid room in 1945, and in 1946, the LPPTA was able to hold a carnival on the school's patio. The carnival's success allowed the LPPTA to hold another carnival, and helped pay for band uniforms. The city of Avondale lacked a school district until 1956. Prior to the establishment of Agua Fria Union High School, Avondale had been paying $ 77,743 to Tolleson Union, Litchfield Park, and Phoenix Technical School to provide education to its high school students. In 1952,
9964-483: The school relocated to Avondale and became Agua Fria Union High School , named for the adjacent Agua Fria River . Agua Fria experienced continuous growth throughout the late 20th century, brought about by economic developments in the West Valley area and the completion of Interstate 10 and Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station in the West Valley. As of 2022, Agua Fria offers 23 varsity sports and various extracurricular activities to its 1,608 students. The school
10070-531: The school's original gymnasium were remodeled. By 2014, the original gymnasium had been renamed in honor of O.K. Fulton, who had worked in the AFUHSD for 37 years until his passing in 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic , Agua Fria, along with the other schools in the AFUHSD, switched to a distance learning model. Agua Fria reopened in March 2021, following an executive order from Governor Doug Ducey . As of
10176-455: The site of its new research and development center for military electronics. Seeing the same advantages as Motorola, other high-tech companies, such as Intel and McDonnell Douglas , moved into the valley and opened manufacturing operations. By 1950, over 105,000 people resided in the city and thousands more in surrounding communities. The 1950s growth was spurred on by advances in air conditioning, which allowed homes and businesses to offset
10282-482: The town's population stood at 2,453. By 1881, Phoenix's continued growth made the board of trustees obsolete. The Territorial Legislature passed the Phoenix Charter Bill, incorporating Phoenix and providing a mayor-council government; Governor John C. Fremont signed the bill on February 25, 1881, officially incorporating Phoenix as a city with a population of around 2,500. The railroad's arrival in
10388-558: The valley in the 1880s was the first of several events that made Phoenix a trade center whose products reached eastern and western markets. In response, the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce was organized on November 4, 1888. The city offices moved into the new City Hall at Washington and Central in 1888. The territorial capital moved from Prescott to Phoenix in 1889, and the territorial offices were also in City Hall. The arrival of
10494-609: The worst mercury spill in Arizona history. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were called in to assess and investigate the spill. Agua Fria reopened one week after the spill was reported, although strict screening measures were implemented to detect traces of mercury. An analysis from the Avondale Police Department found that several hundred students and teachers were exposed to
10600-490: Was $ 150,000, down from its $ 262,000 peak in 2007. Crime rates in Phoenix have fallen in recent years, and once troubled, decaying neighborhoods such as South Mountain , Alhambra , and Maryvale have recovered and stabilized. On June 1, 2023, the State of Arizona announced the decision to halt new housing development in the Phoenix metropolitan area that relies solely on groundwater due to a predicted water shortfall. Phoenix
10706-459: Was 1,512,986, the fifth largest just ahead of Philadelphia. After leading the U.S. in population growth for over a decade, the sub-prime mortgage crisis, followed by the recession, led to a slowing in the growth of Phoenix. There were approximately 77,000 people added to the population of the Phoenix metropolitan area in 2009, which was down significantly from its peak in 2006 of 162,000. Despite this slowing, Phoenix's population grew by 9.4% since
10812-679: Was an advertising slogan invented to boost tourism. During World War II, Phoenix's economy shifted to that of a distribution center, transforming into an "embryonic industrial city" with the mass production of military supplies. There were three air force fields in the area: Luke Field , Williams Field , and Falcon Field , as well as two large pilot training camps, Thunderbird Field No. 1 in Glendale and Thunderbird Field No. 2 in Scottsdale. A town that had just over 65,000 residents in 1940 became America's fifth largest city by 2020, with
10918-573: Was constructed under the Litchfield Park High School District in Litchfield Park and dedicated to Paul W. Litchfield , the first CEO of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and the founder of Litchfield Park. The boundaries of Litchfield Park High School were drawn identical to the nearby Litchfield Elementary School. Approximately forty students attended Litchfield Park in its first year. In 1941, following
11024-489: Was constructed. In December 1943, the Bobo Construction Company was awarded a contract for $ 11,990 to construct an additional wing to the school's campus, adding two new classrooms. On multiple occasions, Litchfield Park High School used bonds to fund projects. In May 1928, voters in Litchfield Park approved a bond issue for $ 36,000, with $ 24,000 going to the high school, while the other $ 12,000 went to
11130-545: Was participated in by 34% of students, of which 49% passed their AP exams. Foreign language offerings at Agua Fria include Spanish, French, and German, the former culminating in AP Spanish Language and Culture . Through Estrella Mountain Community College 's dual enrollment program, certain classes at Verrado allow students to earn college credit concurrently as they take the course. As part of
11236-455: Was ultimately approved by George W. P. Hunt , who saw a business prospect in the formation of a school district, leading to the Litchfield Park High School District. Until the establishment of Litchfield Park High School, high school students attended a makeshift high school set up in a small wooden building near Pendergast Elementary School in Phoenix . In 1927, Tolleson Union High School was established. In 1928, Litchfield Park High School
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