Vital Statistics -Location / Description Tempe adjoins Phoenix on the west, Scottsdale on the north, Mesa on the east, and Chandler and Guadalupe on the south. It is five minutes east of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. When complete, a state-of-the-art light rail will cross Tempe from border to border making transportation environmentally sound and easier for residents and visitors.
Population / Elevation
Population: 165,890 (2006)
Elevation: 1159
City Area: 39.5 Square Miles
Median resident age – 28.8
Weather
History
Tempe was once known as just a small college town, but things have changed. Today, it has blossomed into a vibrant and diverse city with fine hotels, a vibrant downtown, major shopping malls, industrial parks, research centers, art festivals, excellent cultural facilities, and some of the finest recreation destinations in the state. Its primary claim to fame is as the home to the main campus of Arizona State University - ASU. Tempe adjoins Phoenix on the west, Scottsdale on the north, Mesa on the east, and Chandler and Guadalupe on the south.
Things To Do
Golf
Running events
Triathlons
Biking
Tennis
Hiking
Mountain Climbing
Water sports
Art festivals and street fairs
Live music shows
Restaurants and cafes
Boutiques
Theaters
Concerts
Marathons
Street Parties
Fairs
Lodging
Hotels/Motels
There are hotels and motels in Tempe with something for every taste and price
range. For more information and a complete list. (Click here for: Rates,
availability and reservations online.)
Camping & RV Parks
There are many camping and RV accommodations in and around Tempe. For more information, contact:
Chamber of Commerce
909 E Apache Blvd
Tempe, AZ 85281
(480) 967-7891
Tempe Town Lake – Part of the Rio Salado recreational development – a manmade lake surrounded by facilities for recreational activities, music events, town parties including Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve fireworks, More than 2 million people visit Tempe Town Lake each year to boat, fish, attend concerts, fireworks and a variety of festivals. It's also one of Tempe's best development sites. Home to Tempe Beach Park.
McDowell Mountain Regional Park – camping, hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails on preserved lands. Sprawling trails for all ability levels.
Camelback Mountain – hiking trails
Piesta Peak – hiking trails. Piesta Peak was at one time referred to as Squaw Peak but recently renamed as a tribute to a Native American soldier (a woman) killed in Iraq.
Salt River Recreation – riding inner tubes down the Verde and Salt Rivers. Very popular during the hot days of summer.
Saguaro Lake and Canyon Lake – for boating and fishing.
Historic & Points of Interest
Arizona State University – ASU has grown into the largest university in the nation, with several campuses spread throughout the metropolitan area. The largest of these campuses is the Tempe ASU Campus, a square-mile center of knowledge and cultural experience. It is one of the top research universities in the US. ASU’s Sun Devils can be seen playing football at Sun Devil Stadium – marked by the giant “A” on the adjacent mountain. “ASU has a vision to be a New American University, promoting excellence in its research and among its students and faculty, increasing access to its educational resources and working with communities to positively impact social and economic development.”
Mill Avenue District – (http://www.downtowntempe.com/) Tempe’s colorful and exciting downtown. Mill Avenue is next to the main campus of Arizona State University. It is the vibrant heart of the city. It bustles with more than 100 boutiques, shops, restaurants, nightclubs, theaters, hotels and offices - all concentrated in the renowned Mill Avenue District. The area teems with professional and collegiate athletics, live music, movies, plays, street festivals, fun runs and dozens of community events. More than a dozen movie screens show new releases, classic films and cult favorites.
Tempe Center for the Arts
ASU Gammage Auditorium
Broadway in Arizona is a facility designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
