Tempe Real Estate
Tempe has a land area of approximately 39.5 square miles with an elevation range of 1,140 to 1,495 feet (which is the top of Tempe Butte, aka ‘A’ Mountain, aka Hayden Butte). The population of Tempe in the 2000 census was 158,625 with an estimated population of 169,712 as of July 2006. The average temperature highs in the winter are in the 60’s & 70’s while the highs during the summer months average just over 100 degrees. The average annual rainfall is 7.63 inches.
According to the Tempe Historical Museum, the town of Tempe was named by “Lord” Darrell Duppa in 1979. The area reminded him of the Vale of Tempe near Mount Olympus in Greece. Tempe was the result of the merge of two communities: (1) San Pablo, which was founded in 1872, located east of Tempe Butte and consisted primarily of Hispanic settlers; and (2) Hayden’s Ferry, founded in 1870 by Charles Trumbull Hayden, located west of Tempe Butte and had a store, flour mill, warehouses, blacksmith shops and a ferry to cross the Salt River. In 1885 Tempe Normal School was established as a school for teachers. It later became Arizona State University in 1958.
Due to its strategic location in the Valley of the Sun, Tempe real estate is quite possibly the most diverse in the state of Arizona. Tempe Town Lake has re-introduced water activities to Tempe as well as lakeside living and development. Mill Avenue has been redesigned to allow pedestrians to enjoy Downtown Tempe, which is quite possibly the most vibrant city center in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Tempe has the fortune of having its downtown close to the college campus and to the lake. With the light rail coming soon, it can only get better.
Tempe has some residential areas north of the Salt River, but this is primarily commercial in nature. Development on the north side of Tempe Town Lake has already begun while development on the south shore is partially completed. West of downtown is a an array of small, older homes and apartment complexes. This area is desirable to Arizona State University students due to its proximity to the campus. However, this area may have a future as a historical district for this town. East of downtown Tempe, you will find numerous apartment complexes, townhouses, condos and single family homes. There is a variety of commercial enterprises along the Apache Road corridor, which also will contain the light rail.
As you continue south, single family homes become the primary residential dwellings, although there are townhouses and apartments mixed into these areas. Heading south, which is the way this city grew, you will notice that the homes become newer and more expensive. There are also some very affordable homes in this area. Most of these homes were built in the 1980s and 1990s. You can find pockets of developments that are very new, but Tempe primarily was built out by the early 1990s. You will be surprised to find small farms mixed among the homes in south Tempe.
There are four public high schools in Tempe: Corona Del Sol High School, Marcos De Niza High School, McClintock High School and Tempe High School. For emergency and other medical care, there is Tempe St. Luke’s Hospital. Several parks are located in Tempe, with Kiwanis Park near its center. There is an activity center here that includes a basketball gym, tennis courts, softball fields, a batting cage and an indoor wave/swimming pool. For that shopping experience, you can go to Arizona Mills Mall, near Interstate 10 on the west side of Tempe. Residents in this area have the best advantage for commuting to work in other Valley cities. U. S. Airways has chosen their headquarters close to downtown Tempe providing a large employment base for its residents.
Auto dealerships are found along Baseline Road and in the Tempe Auto Loop and they provide a great source of revenue for the city of Tempe. Shopping and dining can be found easily throughout this city.
Tempe has many advantages to living here. If you want quiet residential living and be close to vibrant dining, entertainment and sports activities, Tempe is your town. Everything points to the positive, whether is be the development around Tempe Town Lake, the impending light rail or the newly developed Tempe Marketplace. With Phoenix's Sky Harbor Airport within 15 minutes or less, you are a short hop from anywhere you wish to be. Visit Tempe and see for yourself.
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