Phoenix is the capital and most populous city in Arizona, with 1,680,992 people (as of 2019). It is also the fifth-most populous city in the United States, the largest state capital by population, and the only state capital with a population of more than one million residents.

Phoenix is the anchor of the Phoenix metropolitan area, also known as the Valley of the Sun, which in turn is part of the Salt River Valley. The metropolitan area is the 11th largest by population in the United States, with approximately 4.73 million people as of 2017. Phoenix is the seat of Maricopa County and the largest city in the state at 517.9 square miles (1,341 km2), more than twice the size of Tucson and one of the largest cities in the United States.

Phoenix was settled in 1867 as an agricultural community near 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. It is in the northeastern reaches of the Sonoran Desert and has a hot desert climate.

Phoenix is a hidden gem in the American West, with nearly perfect year-round weather and several impeccably designed championship courses. The greater Phoenix area also offers visitors an array of impressive cultural attractions, from internationally renowned museums dedicated to Native Americans’ history or classic art pieces at one’s favorite modern museum. Visitors can enjoy first-rate shopping on Central Avenue while listening to live music outside each store; If they’re looking for something more outdoorsy than retail therapy then try rock climbing during the summer months! There are plenty of activities available within city limits without even leaving them out.