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Surprise
City of Surprise
The Surprise City Hall in January 2010
The Surprise City Hall in January 2010
Official seal of Surprise
Seal
Location of Surprise in Maricopa County, Arizona
Location of Surprise in Maricopa County, Arizona
Surprise is located in the United States
Surprise
Surprise
Location in the United States
Country  United States
State  Arizona
County Maricopa
Area
 • City 110.52 sq mi (286.25 km2)
 • Land 110.30 sq mi (285.68 km2)
 • Water 0.22 sq mi (0.57 km2)
Elevation
1,175 ft (358 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City 143,148
 • Rank US: 215th
 • Density 1,297.78/sq mi (501.08/km2)
 • Metro
4,489,109 (US: 12th)
Time zone UTC−7 (MST (no DST))
ZIP code
85374, 85378–85379, 85387–85388
Area code(s) 623
FIPS code 04-71510
GNIS feature ID 12009
Website http://www.surpriseaz.gov

Surprise is a city in Maricopa County, in the U.S. state of Arizona. The population was 30,848 at the 2000 census; however, rapid expansion has boosted the city's population to 117,517 at the 2010 census, an increase of 281%. As such, it is the second-fastest-expanding municipality in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area (after Gilbert) and, between 1990 and 2000, it was the sixth-fastest-expanding place among all cities and towns in Arizona. Census estimates in 2019 continue this accelerated growth pattern, with the population now estimated at 141,664.

The city has a 10,562-square-foot (981.2 m2) Aquatics Center and Maricopa County's northwest regional library, a $5.5 million, 20,000-square-foot (1,900 m2) library, along with a 100.3 cost of living index.

History

The city was founded in 1938 by Flora Mae Statler, who named it Surprise as she "would be surprised if the town ever amounted to much". Surprise officials previously thought the city was founded by Statler's husband, real estate developer and state legislator Homer C. Ludden, but in 2010 property records were discovered which listed Statler owning the land before she met Ludden.

Although there were only a few houses and a gas station on the one-mile (1.6 km)-square parcel of land when it was subdivided to build inexpensive houses for agricultural workers, Surprise has experienced tremendous growth in the years since.

Tens of thousands of retirees moved to the city in the 1990s and early 2000s to live in Sun City Grand, an age-restricted resort-like community, with homes built by the property development firm Del Webb. Surprise is about five miles (8 km) northwest of Del Webb's original Sun City development and adjacent to Sun City West.

Sun City Grand has become a large contributor to the city's population, which more than septupled (7 times) from 10,187 to about 75,000 in 2004. Rapid growth has led city officials to estimate the population at over 103,000 as of 2007, a figure the city maintains in spite of more conservative population estimates by the Census Bureau.

Geography

Surprise is located at 33°38′19″N 112°21′02″W / 33.63861°N 112.35056°W / 33.63861; -112.35056 (33.638632, -112.350434). It is about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Phoenix.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 85.6 square miles (221.1 km²), of which, 85.5 square miles (221.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.03%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1970 2,427
1980 3,723 53.4%
1990 7,122 91.3%
2000 30,848 333.1%
2010 117,517 281.0%
2020 143,148 21.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 30,848 people, 12,484 households, and 9,725 families residing in the city. The population density was 443.9 people per square mile (171.4/km2). There were 16,260 housing units at an average density of 234.0 per square mile (90.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 86.0% White, 2.6% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 7.9% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. 23.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In recent years, the racial makeup has varied due to the rapid expansion of the city.

There were 12,484 households, out of which 21.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.5% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.1% were non-families. 17.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.75 people.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 19.9% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 25.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $44,156, and the median income for a family was $47,899. Males had a median income of $33,079 versus $26,347 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,451. About 5.6% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

In 2010, Surprise had a population of 117,517. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 71.2% non-Hispanic white, 5.1% black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 2.6% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 0.1% non-Hispanic reporting some other race, 3.8% two or more races, and 18.5% Hispanic or Latino.

Economy

Largest employers

According to the city's 2016 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

# Employer # of employees
1 Dysart Unified School District 1,800
2 City of Surprise 1,020
3 Wal-Mart 770
4 Fry's Food and Drug 500
5 McDonald's 270
6 Maricopa County 210
7 Sun City Grand Community Association 200
8 The Home Depot 190
9 Kohl's Department Store 170
10 Sam's Club 160

Sports

The city is the spring training home of the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers baseball teams. These Major League Baseball teams use Surprise Stadium for their activities. The city also hosted a Golden Baseball League team in 2005, the Surprise Fightin' Falcons and the Recreation Campus ballpark and is the home city for a team in the Arizona Fall League, the Surprise Saguaros. It also hosted ESPN SportsCenter's 50 States in 50 Days segment on August 11, 2005.

As part of the city's Recreation Campus, Surprise is also home to the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex (STRC). Since its opening in August 2007, the complex has received numerous awards, including being named the 2008 Outstanding Facility of the year award by the USTA. The complex hosts various professional events throughout the year, including the Outback Champion Series tour, a USTA Pro Circuit event, and many USTA regional and sectional events. In 2009 the complex was chosen as the site for the Fed Cup Quarter Final between the U.S. and Argentina, and also that year it was chosen as the location for the first United States National Pickleball championships.

Panorama of Surprise Stadium
Panorama of Surprise Stadium

Education

The Dysart Unified School District serves the city of Surprise. Arizona Charter Academy is also located in the area.

Ottawa University–Arizona is a private, non-profit, Christian four-year university with a campus in Surprise's Civic Center Campus. Opened in Fall 2017, the University has grown from 300 students to nearly 900 students in Fall 2019 and boasts over 20 varsity level athletic teams. In 2019, OUAZ opened a 76,000 sf dormitory with 308 beds as well as a 26,000 sf student union with a fully equipped kitchen and dining facility, student lounge, team shop, conference areas and board room as well as the 35,000 sf, three-story O'Dell Center for Athletics.

Infrastructure

Roads

Surprise is served by Loop 303 and U.S. Route 60. U.S. Route 60 leads southeast to Phoenix and northwest to Wickenburg and Las Vegas (via U.S. Route 93). Surprise is also served by many major arterial roads.

Utilities

Surprise is served by the following utilities:

  • Cable: Cox Communications
  • Electricity: Arizona Public Service
  • Gas: Southwest Gas
  • Telephone: CenturyLink QC
  • Water: Circle City Water Company, Beardsley Water Company, Chaparral Water Company, EPCOR Water, the City of El Mirage, Morristown Water Company, Puesta Del Sol Water Company, Saguaro Acres, Saguaro View, and West End Water Company

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Surprise (Arizona) para niños

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