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 Forklift Masts Phoenix - The capital city of Arizona is Phoenix. It has a population of over 1.5 million, making it the 6th largest city by population in the country and is the nation's biggest capital. By land area, it is the largest city in the nation. The Phoenix metropolitan area is known as the Valley of the Sun and has a population of around 4.2 million. The city of Phoenix serves as the county seat of Maricopa County.
The first residents to the area of what is now Phoenix, were the Hohokam people. The first settlers within the area of non-native ancestry came to the area in 1861 and settled near the Salt River. Phoenix was officially recognized as a township in 1868, then incorporated as a city in the year 1881. Since the mid-20th Century, a lot of the agricultural lands of the area have been replaced by suburbs because the population has burgeoned.
Phoenix is both the county seat and the state capital. The governmental institutions provide significant employment to the city and play a key role in the economy. The city's two biggest employers are the Arizona State and the U.S. military. Numerous local people are working at Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix's western suburbs. Arizona State University is an asset to Phoenix and is responsible for growing research capacities.
Historically, Phoenix was dependent on five resources known as the "5Cs": cattle, climate, copper, cotton and citrus. The economy has diversified from its five traditional resources to incorporate a significant high-tech and telecommunications sectors. Intel has a large Phoenix labor force, comprising around 10,000 individuals. Intel makes computer chips in water fabrication plants, several of which are located in the valley. The head office of Honeywell's Aerospace division are in the city of Phoenix, and many of Honeywell's mechanical and avionics facilities are situated within the metro area. Seven Fortune 500 companies are located within Phoenix: Allied Waste, Apollo Group, Freeport-McMoRan, Avnet, Pinnacle West and Petsmart.
The game of golf is a cornerstone of the city's recreation and tourism industries. The warm winter type of weather attracts golfers and tourists seeking seasonal recreational opportunities. The city of Phoenix also has the following sectors: utilities, trade and transportation; business and professional services; hospitality and leisure; health and educational services; financial services; and manufacturing.
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