Fountain Hills, Arizona

Fountain Hills is a town in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. Known for its impressive fountain, once the tallest in the world, it borders the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, and Scottsdale. The population was 23,820 as of the 2020 census.[5] Between the 1990 and 2000 censuses it was the eighth-fastest-growing place among cities and towns in Arizona. The median value of an owner-occupied housing during the period 2016-2020 was estimated at $402,100.[6]

Fountain Hills, Arizona
Town
The fountain of Fountain Hills can shoot water to a height of up to 560 feet (170 m).
The fountain of Fountain Hills can shoot water to a height of up to 560 feet (170 m).
Official seal of Fountain Hills, Arizona
Seal
Motto: 
"All That Is Arizona"[1]
Location of Fountain Hills in Maricopa County, Arizona
Location of Fountain Hills in Maricopa County, Arizona
Fountain Hills is located in Arizona
Fountain Hills
Fountain Hills
Fountain Hills is located in the United States
Fountain Hills
Fountain Hills
Coordinates: 33°36′N 111°43′W
Country United States
State Arizona
County Maricopa
Incorporated1989
Government
 • MayorGinny Dickey
Area
[2]
 • Total20.37 sq mi (52.76 km2)
 • Land20.28 sq mi (52.53 km2)
 • Water0.09 sq mi (0.22 km2)
Elevation
[3]
1,798 ft (548 m)
Population
 (2020)[4]
 • Total23,820
 • Density1,174.38/sq mi (453.43/km2)
Time zoneUTC-7 (MST (no DST))
ZIP codes
85268-85269
Area code480
FIPS code04-25300
GNIS feature ID2412647[3]
Websitewww.fountainhillsaz.gov

History

Before the development of Fountain Hills, the area was home to the Yavapai people, and petroglyphs can be found near the Dixie Mine in the northwest corner of the town along the mountains.

Two boys posing at the petroglyphs by the Dixie Mine, Fountain Hills, AZ

In the early 20th century, the area that became Fountain Hills and the McDowell Mountain Regional Park was part of the Pemberton Ranch,[7] later renamed the P-Bar Ranch. Fountain Hills High School is built on the site of one of the P-Bar Ranch's buildings, and a plaque stands in the parking lot to commemorate this.

Fountain Hills was developed by C. V. Wood, president of McCulloch Oil, and was named after the towering man-made fountain in the center of town.[8][9] The town was incorporated in 1989.[10]

Geography

Fountain Hills is in eastern Maricopa County, on the eastern edge of the Phoenix urbanized area. It is 31 miles (50 km) northeast of downtown Phoenix and sits on the east side of the south end of the McDowell Mountains. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 20.4 square miles (53 km2), of which 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2), or 0.42%, are water. The elevation is 1,520 feet (460 m) at the fountain, 500 feet (150 m) higher than in Phoenix.[11] The elevation reaches 3,190 feet (970 m) on the western border of the town, on a spur of the McDowell Mountains.

To the east of the town is the Verde River, a tributary to the Salt River. Inside the town there are many washes that run through Fountain Hills into the Verde River. Some of these washes include the Ashbrook, Balboa, Legend, and Colony Washes. During times of rain the washes flood with water and can sometimes block roads with their water. Signs mark several of the intersections of washes and major streets in the town.

To the southwest and northwest regions of Fountain Hills are the McDowell Mountains, a chain of extinct volcanic remnants. The highest mountains in the range are East End (4,067 ft (1,240 m)), McDowell Peak (4,034 ft (1,230 m)), and Thompson Peak (3,982 ft (1,214 m)),[12] all in neighboring Scottsdale.

Climate

The area has a large amount of sunshine year round due to its stable descending air and high pressure. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Fountain Hills has a hot desert climate, abbreviated "Bwh" on climate maps.[13]

Climate data for Fountain Hills, Arizona, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1979–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 82
(28)		 91
(33)		 101
(38)		 107
(42)		 114
(46)		 121
(49)		 125
(52)		 118
(48)		 115
(46)		 107
(42)		 95
(35)		 84
(29)		 125
(52)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 75.6
(24.2)		 80.4
(26.9)		 88.6
(31.4)		 97.4
(36.3)		 103.9
(39.9)		 110.9
(43.8)		 112.6
(44.8)		 111.4
(44.1)		 107.7
(42.1)		 100.5
(38.1)		 87.5
(30.8)		 76.5
(24.7)		 114.0
(45.6)
Average high °F (°C) 63.9
(17.7)		 67.4
(19.7)		 73.9
(23.3)		 82.0
(27.8)		 91.0
(32.8)		 100.6
(38.1)		 103.0
(39.4)		 101.9
(38.8)		 97.1
(36.2)		 86.6
(30.3)		 73.7
(23.2)		 63.0
(17.2)		 83.7
(28.7)
Daily mean °F (°C) 54.2
(12.3)		 56.8
(13.8)		 62.3
(16.8)		 69.2
(20.7)		 77.8
(25.4)		 86.7
(30.4)		 91.6
(33.1)		 90.9
(32.7)		 85.4
(29.7)		 74.6
(23.7)		 62.5
(16.9)		 53.5
(11.9)		 72.1
(22.3)
Average low °F (°C) 44.5
(6.9)		 46.2
(7.9)		 50.7
(10.4)		 56.4
(13.6)		 64.5
(18.1)		 72.8
(22.7)		 80.3
(26.8)		 79.8
(26.6)		 73.7
(23.2)		 62.6
(17.0)		 51.3
(10.7)		 43.9
(6.6)		 60.6
(15.9)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 32.6
(0.3)		 35.0
(1.7)		 39.7
(4.3)		 45.1
(7.3)		 53.1
(11.7)		 62.0
(16.7)		 69.6
(20.9)		 69.9
(21.1)		 62.8
(17.1)		 48.8
(9.3)		 38.9
(3.8)		 31.9
(−0.1)		 29.8
(−1.2)
Record low °F (°C) 23
(−5)		 25
(−4)		 30
(−1)		 36
(2)		 44
(7)		 49
(9)		 57
(14)		 58
(14)		 51
(11)		 37
(3)		 29
(−2)		 24
(−4)		 23
(−5)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.41
(36)		 1.33
(34)		 1.28
(33)		 0.33
(8.4)		 0.23
(5.8)		 0.14
(3.6)		 0.80
(20)		 1.33
(34)		 0.81
(21)		 0.63
(16)		 0.74
(19)		 1.15
(29)		 10.18
(259)
Average precipitation days 3.6 3.9 3.4 1.4 1.2 0.3 2.9 4.4 2.6 2.3 2.2 3.4 31.6
Source: NOAA[14][15]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19802,771—
199010,030262.0%
200020,235101.7%
201022,48911.1%
202023,8205.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[16]

As of the census of 2020, there were 23,820 people in 11,918 households in the town. The population density was 1,113.8 inhabitants per square mile (430.0/km2). There were 13,167 housing units at an average density of 577.5 per square mile (223.0/km2). The ethnic makeup of the town was 94.1% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 1.8% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 1.1% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race make up 4.1% of the population.

There were 11,918 households, out of which 18.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. Householders living alone make up 25.7% of all households, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.56.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 14.4% under the age of 18, 85.6% 18 years and over, and 27.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53.9 years. There were 47.8% males and 52.2% females.

According to the 2020 American Community Survey, the median income for a household in Fountain Hills for the period 2016-2020 was $85,200.[6]

The per capita income for the town was $59,791. About 3.3% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

The Fountain

Fountain Hills has the world's fourth-tallest fountain, and the second tallest in the United States. It was built in 1970 in Zürich, Switzerland, by Robert P. McCulloch, the year before the reconstruction of the London Bridge in Lake Havasu City, another of McCulloch's projects. The fountain sprays water for about 15 minutes every hour on the hour between 9am and 9pm. The plume rises from a concrete water-lily sculpture in the center of a large man-made lake. The fountain, driven by three 600 horsepower (450 kW) turbine pumps, sprays water at a rate of 7,000 US gallons (26,000 L; 5,800 imp gal) per minute through an 18-inch (460 mm) nozzle. With all three pumps under ideal conditions, the fountain reaches 560 feet (170 m) in height,[17] though in normal operation only two of the pumps are used, with a fountain height of around 300 feet (91 m). When built it was the world's tallest fountain, a record it held for over a decade.[18]

The Town of Fountain Hills has partnered with EarthCam[19] to bring live streaming views of its world-famous fountain. The live stream camera can be accessed on the Experience Fountain Hills website.[20] To help celebrate the fountain's 50th year, the town installed a new LED lighting system with four lights mounted directly under the fountain and six lights on the shore for a total of 10 lights to provide ample lighting and still meet the Dark Skies regulations.[21]

  • The famous fountain in Fountain Hills, Arizona, running at full height.
    The "World Famous Fountain" in Fountain Hills can attain a height of 560 feet (170 m) when running on all three of its pumps.
  • The fountain is bathed in green in Fountain Park with LED lights during holidays and special events. There are eight colors available to shine on the spray.
    The fountain in Fountain Park is lighted with LED lights during holidays and special events. There are eight colors available to shine on the spray.
  • The fountain of Fountain Hills
    The fountain of Fountain Hills

International Dark Sky Community
Red moon from a lunar eclipse with the fountain in the foreground
Lunar Eclipse over Fountain Park in Fountain Hills

In January 2018, the town of Fountain Hills was designated an International Dark Sky Community[21] by the International Dark Sky Association.[22] The town is one of only two International Dark Sky Communities located near a large metropolitan area. As of 2021, 34 communities in the world have earned the Community designation, among Dark Sky Reserves, Parks, and Sanctuaries. The Fountain Hills Dark Sky Association (FHDSA) worked with town council and town staff to change outdoor lighting and sign ordinances to address light pollution. This designation is a result of both geography and lighting ordinances. The community is shielded from the lights of the larger cities in the Phoenix metro region by the McDowell Mountains to the west. The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation to the east, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community to the south, and the McDowell Mountain Regional Park all help the town preserve its dark skies. The absence of street lights and the presence of only low-impact outdoor lighting creates an outstanding environment for stargazing. The Fountain Hills Dark Sky Association is currently working to develop a 15,000 square feet (1,400 m2) International Dark Sky Discovery Center that will include a Dark Sky Observatory, Hyperspace Planetarium, Inspiration Theater, and an Immersion Zone.[23] Fountain Hills was the home to Charles W. Juels' Fountain Hills Observatory (678), where 475 asteroids were discovered between 1999 and 2003, including 20898 Fountainhills.[24]

Events

The town hosts a number of events each year at Fountain Park, including three large art fairs: the Spring Fountain Festival of Fine Arts and Crafts and the Fall Fountain Festival of Fine Arts and Crafts, both presented by the Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce, and the Thunderbird Artists' Fountain Hills Fine Art Festival. Each year, the town hosts a St. Patrick's Day celebration in which the town's fountain is dyed green. Other signature events include a 4 July celebration, an annual Music Fest,[25] Irish Fest,[26] and Concours in the Hills — a car show which featured over 1,000 vehicles and 50,000 attendees in February 2023.[27]

  • More than 120,000 people attend the annual Fountain Festival each fall in Fountain Hills.
    The Annual Fountain Festival celebrates the arts in Fountain Hills each fall.
  • Turkey Trot participants run or walk around the famous fountain Thanksgiving morning.
    For 31 years, the Turkey Trot has been a family tradition Thanksgiving morning.
  • Spectators look at sports cars at Concours in the Hills.
    More than 1,000 high-end cars from around the world drew nearly 50,000 enthusiasts to Fountain Hills for Concours in the Hills 2022.

Arts

Fountain Hills is home to one of the largest public art collections in Arizona. The art collection, which features over 150 pieces, is part of a partnership between the Town of Fountains Hills and the Public Art Committee of the Fountain Hills Cultural and Civic Association.[28] Art is a significant part of the Town's heritage. The eight fountains along the Avenue of the Fountains were the beginning of the public art collection. Bronze sculptures and fountains with Community Profile themes ranging from the whimsical to the serious dot the streets and adorn the public buildings, plazas and parks. The collection also contains a wide variety of other art types and media, including paintings, stone, photography and metals. Residents and visitors are invited to wander the streets or take the "Art Walk" guided tour.

Fountain Hills Theater is a performing arts venue entering its 28th season and offering over 16 productions a year to local communities as well as performing an arts education year-round for youth.

Government

Fountain Hills has a council–manager system. The current mayor of Fountain Hills is Ginny Dickey, first elected in August 2018, and reelected in 2020 and 2022. The current Town Council consists of the mayor and six councilmembers. Councilmembers include Vice Mayor Sharron Gryzbowski, Councilmember Gerry Friedel, Councilmember Peggy McMahon, Councilmember Brenda Kalivianakis, Councilmember Allen Skillicorn, and Councilmember Hannah Toth. Councilmembers serve 4-year terms, and the mayor serves a 2-year term. They select a town manager, attorney, and magistrate.

The town contracts its law enforcement services with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO).

The Fountain Hills Fire Department has two fire stations and currently contracts with Rural Metro for staffing. Dave Ott is the Fire Chief.

Fountain Hills is in Arizona's 6th Congressional District and Arizona's 3rd State Legislative District.

Education

Fountain Hills Public Schools are part of the Fountain Hills Unified School District #98. The district provides education from pre-school through high school with Little Falcons Preschool, McDowell Mountain Elementary, Fountain Hills Middle School, and Fountain Hills High School.[29] The District has small class sizes at an average of 18:1, a Vibrant Special Education Program, Fountain Hills Virtual Academy, and a Career and Technical Education Program.[30]

Media
See also: Media in Phoenix, Arizona

The Fountain Hills Times Independent [31] is the town's weekly newspaper.[32] The paper has a weekly circulation of about 3,000.[33]

The parent company of the Times, Independent Newsmedia, Inc., which also owns Valley Newspapers, a state-of-the-art commercial printing plant that is located near Deer Valley Airport. The company also publishes community newspapers in Delaware, the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Florida and owns a press in Delaware. The Times also publishes the Fountain Hills/Rio Verde Telephone Directory, Fountain Hills Community Guide, Fountain Hills HOME.[34]

Notable people

Sister cities

Fountain Hills has three sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International:[36]

References
  1. "Town of Fountain Hills, Arizona". Town of Fountain Hills, Arizona. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  2. "2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Arizona". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Fountain Hills, Arizona
  4. "Fountain Hills town, Arizona: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  5. "Quick Facts – 85268 U.S. Census Bureau". data.census.gov. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  6. "2020 U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates". QuickFacts. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  7. https://arizona.hometownlocator.com/maps/feature-map,ftc,2,fid,32778,n,pemberton%20ranch.cfm
  8. Arroyo Rodriguez, Nadine (April 18, 2014). "Did You Know: The Fountain Hills Namesake Is Among the World's Largest". KJZZ. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  9. "Profile for Fountain Hills, Arizona, AZ". ePodunk. Archived from the original on February 10, 2013. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  10. "Town of Fountain Hills, Arizona". Town of Fountain Hills, Arizona. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  11. "About Fountain Hills | Fountain Hills, AZ - Official Website". www.fh.az.gov. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  12. Elevations from U.S. Geological Survey 7.5-minute topographic maps: "U.S. Geological Survey: Fountain Hills AZ". ACME Mapper. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  13. Climate Summary for Fountain Hills, Arizona
  14. "NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  15. "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  16. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  17. "The Fountain". Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
  18. "The Fountain (site disabled 2017-06-26)". Fountain Hills Guide. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  19. "LIVE NOW! Fountain Hills Cam".
  20. "Fountain Hills Fountain".
  21. "Fountain Hills Dark Sky Association". Fountain Hills Dark Sky Association. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  22. "International Dark Sky Association". International Dark-Sky Association. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  23. "Fountain Hills Dark Sky Association". Fountain Hills Dark Sky Association. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  24. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 20898 Fountainhills (2000 WE147)" (2018-01-24 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  25. "Special Events | Fountain Hills, AZ – Official Website". www.fh.az.gov. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  26. "Irish Fountain Fest". www.experiencefountainhills.org. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  27. "Home". concoursinthehills. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  28. "Public Art | Fountain Hills, AZ – Official Website". www.fh.az.gov. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  29. "Fountain Hills United School District #98". Fountain Hills United School District #98. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  30. "Fountain Hills Unified School District". www.fountainhillsschools.org. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  31. "Independent acquires 'Fountain Hills Times'". FHTimes. June 27, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  32. "Fountain Hills Times". Fountain Hills Times. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  33. "National Newspaper Association 2012 Better Newspaper Contest Winners" (PDF). National Newspaper Association. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  34. "Independent Newsmedia". Independent News Media. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  35. Miller, Rich (August 3, 2022). "Skillicorn loses again". Capitol Fax. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  36. "Interactive City Directory". Sister Cities International. Archived from the original on August 26, 2016. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
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