Vital Statistics -Location / Description Guadalupe (Gua-da-loo-pay) is a buried treasure amidst
the bustling and ever-growing metropolitan Phoenix area. Unlike its surrounding
cities and towns, entering Guadalupe is like stepping into Mexico without ever
leaving the United States. It is a town with a cultural richness that hasn't
been spoiled despite the high tech changes going on around it. It is a Yaqui
Native American and Mexican community with a very strong cultural and ethnic
identity. It is named for the Virgin of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico.
In Guadalupe, even the streets retain their Mexican names as in the main street:
Avenida Del Yaqui. It is primarily a residential area with retail and service
businesses. Most of these businesses have managed to keep their ethnic color
and look different than traditional store fronts with Mexican artifacts hanging
from the storefronts. Guadalupe is often referred to as the "Little Mexico" of
Arizona.
Guadalupe is situated between Phoenix and Tempe, at the base of South Mountain.
It is approximately 7 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.
Population / Elevation
Population: 5258
Elevation: 1248
Area: 1 square mile. Guadalupe is destined to remain
this size since it is surrounded by manmade boundaries: Interstate 10 and the
city of Phoenix on the west, Baseline Road and the city of Tempe on the North,
the city of Tempe on the South, and the Salt River Project's Highline Canal on
the East.
Weather
History
Guadalupe was founded by Yaqui Native Americans in the early 1900s. The Yaqui
Native Americans had fled their homeland along the Yaqui River in Sonora, Mexico,
to avoid persecution and enslavement by the Mexican government under Porforio
Diaz. Many Yaquis entered Arizona and several villages were established. The
people of Arizona were sympathetic to the plight of these refugees who set up
communities. Catholic and Presbyterian missionaries also supported the community
and helped secure land for a legal town site in 1914. By the 1960s, Guadalupe
was no longer just Yaqui but Hispanic as well.
The town of Guadalupe was incorporated
in 1975.
Things To Do
Water sports
Yaqui and Mexican festivals
Boating and fishing
Hiking, golf, and horseback riding
Picnicking
Events
Yaqui Lent and Easter Ceremonies - ceremonial rites in the
plaza with 300-year-old religious rites of the participants. (There are local
fines for photographing, recording, or drawing the activities.) (March/April)
Feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (December 12)
Christmas Celebrations
Lodging
Hotels/Motels
There are hotels and motels in Guadalupe 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
For more information, contact:
Guadalupe Chamber of Commerce
c/o Town of Guadalupe
9050 S. Avenida del Yaqui
Guadalupe, AZ 85283
602-730-3080 Fax 602-730-3096
Papago Park - Home to Desert Botanical Gardens (http://www.dbg.org)
This is a living museum featuring 50,000 desert plants from around the world.
Enjoy tours, concerts, seasonal exhibits, special events and family activities.
It is also the site of the Phoenix Zoo. (http://www.phoenixzoo.org)
Downtown Phoenix - Home of the Phoenix Suns and the Arizona Diamondbacks
Old Scottsdale - Experience the Old West.
Arizona State University (Main Campus) - (http://www.asu.edu)
- 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." Arizona State University's
main campus is in Tempe
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.
Recreation & Wilderness Areas
Firebird Lake with power-boat races
Tempe Town Lake - (http://www.tempe.gov/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.
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
El Tianguis is a Mexican style
22,000 square foot shopping square with colorful restaurants and shops offering
imported products. Products available: pickled cactus, made-to-order piñatas,
authentic Mexican pottery, Yaqui art, leather boots and saddles. Some of the
products here are unavailable anywhere else in Arizona. Weekends - expect
live music.
Avenida Del Yaqui (main street in town) where you can discover roadside fruit
stands, numerous specialty shops, and one of the only authentic Mexican bakeries
in the Valley. Imported pottery, artifacts, metal work, art, and more.
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