Phoenix, the State Capital, is located in
Maricopa County and it is the county seat. It lies northwest of
Tucson between Wickenburg and Florence along Interstate 17. The city also is near Lake Pleasant and Saguaro Lake.
Phoenix was established at the site of an ancient Native American irrigation system. Named after the mythical bird, it was a new town risen from an old habitation. In 1868, pioneers capitalized on the system's remains; water was diverted from the Salt River and farming began. Construction of the 1911 Roosevelt Dam on the river brought water and power to Phoenix, ushering in a new farming era.
Today, Phoenix is the sun-drenched hub of the agriculturally rich Salt River Valley. It also is an electronics, research and development, telecommunications and aerospace center. Phoenix boasts numerous indoor and outdoor diversions, including parks, national monuments, museums and sports teams.
Phoenix is part of the Phoenix-Mesa, Arizona metro area.