Surprise, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Surprise, Arizona
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Surprise City Hall in January 2010.
Surprise Regional Library
Surprise Stadium
Surprise Rec Center
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Location in Maricopa County, Arizona
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 Surprise, Arizona
Location in Arizona
Surprise, Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Arizona |
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| County | Maricopa | |
| Founded | 1938 | |
| Incorporated (town) | December 12, 1960 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Mayor-council government | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 110.52 sq mi (286.25 km2) | |
| • Land | 110.30 sq mi (285.68 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.22 sq mi (0.57 km2) | |
| Elevation | 1,385 ft (422 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 143,148 | |
| • Rank | US: 189th | |
| • Density | 1,297.78/sq mi (501.08/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (MST (no DST)) | |
| ZIP codes |
85374, 85378–85379, 85387–85388
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| Area code(s) | 623 | |
| FIPS code | 04-71510 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2412016 | |
Surprise is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona. It is located in the southwestern United States. In 2020, the city had a population of 143,148 people. This was a big jump from 30,848 people in 2000.
Surprise is famous for being the spring training home for two Major League Baseball teams. These are the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers.
Contents
History of Surprise
The city of Surprise was started in 1938 by a woman named Flora Mae Statler. She was the daughter of Charles Gillett, who helped create the nearby city of Glendale. At first, people thought her husband, Homer C. Ludden, founded the city. But in 2010, records showed Flora Mae owned the land before they met.
People often say Flora Mae named the town "Surprise" because she "would be surprised if the town ever amounted to much." Her daughter agrees with this story. However, some think the name came from Surprise, Nebraska. It was common for pioneers to name new places after their hometowns. Homer Ludden was from Surprise, Nebraska.
When Surprise was first divided into lots, it was meant for affordable homes. These homes were for people who worked in farming. Back then, it was just a few houses and a gas station on one square mile of land. Since then, the city has grown a lot. It officially became a city in 1960. The original part of town is bordered by Greenway Road, El Mirage Road, Bell Road, and Dysart Road.
Surprise's City Hall is built on what used to be an airfield. This airfield was part of Luke Air Force Base. You can still see the outlines of the old runways from above today.
In the 1990s and early 2000s, many retired people moved to Surprise. They came to live in Sun City Grand. This is a special community for people aged 45 and older. It has a resort-like feel with homes built by Del Webb. Surprise is about 5 miles northwest of the first Sun City community. It is also next to Sun City West.
Where is Surprise?
Surprise is located about 20 to 30 miles northwest of Phoenix. It shares borders with several other towns. To the northeast is Peoria. To the east are Sun City West and Sun City. El Mirage is to the southeast. Glendale is to the south. To the west are Buckeye and Wittmann.
The city covers a total area of about 110.5 square miles. Only a very small part of this area, about 0.2 square miles, is water.
Population Growth
Surprise has grown very quickly over the years.
| Historical population | |||
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| 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% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 154,198 | 31.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were about 30,848 people living in Surprise. By 2010, this number had jumped to 117,517. The population continued to grow, reaching 143,148 in 2020.
The city has a mix of different people. In 2010, most residents were non-Hispanic white. There were also significant numbers of Black or African American, Asian, and Hispanic or Latino residents. The city's rapid growth has led to changes in its population makeup.
The average age in Surprise in 2000 was 46 years old. About 19.9% of the population was under 18 years old. About 25.4% of the population was 65 years or older.
Economy and Jobs
Surprise has many different types of jobs. Here are some of the biggest employers in the city:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
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| 1 | Dysart Unified School District | 1,760 |
| 2 | City of Surprise | 1,170 |
| 3 | Wal-Mart | 890 |
| 4 | Sun Health Foundation | 570 |
| 5 | Fry's Food and Drug | 550 |
| 6 | Costco | 370 |
| 7 | The Home Depot | 300 |
| 8 | McDonald's | 270 |
| 9 | Safeway | 240 |
| 10 | Maricopa County | 230 |
Arts and Culture
The Surprise Regional Library is a large library in the city. It cost $5.5 million to build and is 20,000 square feet. Surprise also has two other smaller library branches. As of July 1, 2023, the city of Surprise now runs its own public library system.
You can find many public art pieces around Surprise. Many of these artworks were created with the help of the WHAM community art center.
The city hosts fun events throughout the year. These include an Easter Eggstravaganza and a Sparkling Surprise Christmas event. Both are held at the city's recreation campus. There are also smaller community events like "Sundays in the Park" and "Lunchtime Theater."
Sports in Surprise
Surprise is a big place for baseball fans! It is the spring training home for two Major League Baseball teams: the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers. These teams practice and play games at Surprise Stadium.
The city also had a baseball team called the Surprise Fightin' Falcons in 2005. Today, it is home to the Surprise Saguaros, a team in the Arizona Fall League. In 2005, ESPN SportsCenter even visited Surprise for its "50 States in 50 Days" show.
Surprise also has a Tennis and Racquet Complex. This complex hosts many professional tennis events. It was chosen for the Fed Cup Quarter Final between the U.S. and Argentina in 2009. That same year, it hosted the first United States National Pickleball championships.
Parks and Recreation
Surprise has a large Aquatics Center, which is a swimming facility. It is 10,562 square feet. There is also a smaller community pool called Hollyhock.
The city has 15 parks. The most well-known is Surprise Community Park. This park is 25 acres and has a playground, pickleball courts, basketball courts, a fishing lake, and dog parks.
Education in Surprise
Most of the schools in Surprise are part of the Dysart Unified School District. A small part of northern Surprise is served by the Nadaburg Unified School District. There are also charter schools in the area. These include Arizona Charter Academy, Paradise Education Center, and Legacy Traditional School.
For higher education, Rio Salado College has a building in Surprise. It is part of the Maricopa County Community College District.
Ottawa University–Arizona is a private, Christian university. It opened a campus in Surprise in 2017. The university has grown quickly. It has many sports teams and new buildings. These include a large dormitory, a student union, and the O'Dell Center for Athletics.
City Infrastructure
Roads and Transportation
Surprise is connected by major roads like Loop 303 and U.S. Route 60. U.S. Route 60 goes southeast to Phoenix. It also goes northwest to Wickenburg and Las Vegas.
Police Department
The Surprise Police Department helps keep the city safe. It has different teams that handle various tasks. These include field operations, investigations, and technical services.
Mission Home Cemetery
The Mission Home Cemetery is a historic cemetery in Surprise. It is also known as the Sleeping Bride Cemetery.
See also
In Spanish: Surprise (Arizona) para niños
