| Chandler
Chandler gets its name from A.J. Chandler, the Arizona
Territory's first veterinary surgeon (circa 1887),
who invested the profits from his practice in a landholding
known as Chandler Ranch, which he then divided into
agricultural plots and advertised for sale in 1911.
He later built the San Marcos Hotel, a lavish golf
course resort which became a popular getaway spot
for such famous and infamous icons as Erroll Flynn,
Gloria Swanson, Fred Astaire, Al Capone and Herbert
Hoover. This combination of agriculture and tourism
helped Chandler grow to its current size of 71.5 square
miles with a population of 208,631 a median age of
31.2 (reflecting the large number of young families)
and an average family income of $66,730.
Located just 25 miles southeast of downtown Phoenix,
the open land that once drew farmers and ranchers
now attracts high tech manufacturing companies like
Intel, Motorola and Microchip Technologies, earning
it the nickname, "The Silicon Desert."
More than 64% of Chandler's population is between
the ages of 18 and 54, with 75% of the 30,000 manufacturing
sector workers employed in high technology fields,
compared with the national average of 15%.
The outstanding educational programs offered throughout
the school district have resulted in nearly all of
its schools being awarded citations for excellence
by outside organizations, including the Arizona Department
of Education and the U.S. Department of Education.
Chandler students consistently have test scores higher
than state and national averages. Chandler also has
the distinction of recently being named the safest
city in the state.
The Chandler Center for the Arts is the city's cultural
hub. On the lighter side, the yearly Chandler Ostrich
Festival, held in March, gives spectators the unique
chance to see ostriches pulling jockeys in lightweight
chariots.
Opportunities for outdoor activities abound here.
Chandler's planning includes developing one neighborhood
park in each square mile of the city. There is a 6.5
mile system of parks and trails along the Consolidated
Canal for walking, running and playing. Chandler's
Parks and Recreation system was named tops in the
country in 1998 for its programs, receiving the National
Recreation and Parks Associate Gold Medal Award.
Come and see all that Chandler has to offer!
www.chanderchamber.com
www.visitchandler.com |
