Paradise Valley, Arizona

Town in Maricopa County, Arizona

Town in Arizona, United States

Paradise Valley, Arizona

Town

Welcome sign

Flag

Seal

Motto:

"There is a reason we call this valley 'paradise'"[1]

Location in Maricopa County, Arizona

Paradise Valley

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Paradise Valley

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Paradise Valley

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Coordinates: 33°31′52″N 111°56′34″W﻿ / ﻿33.53111°N 111.94278°W﻿ / 33.53111; -111.94278
Country|  United States
State|  Arizona
County| Maricopa
Government

• Mayor| Mark Stanton
Area

[2]

• Total

| 15.41 sq mi (39.90 km2)
• Land| 15.38 sq mi (39.83 km2)
• Water| 0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2)
Elevation

[3]

| 1,854 ft (565 m)
Population

(2020)[4]

• Total

| 12,658
• Density| 823.02/sq mi (317.77/km2)
Time zone| UTC-7 (MST (no DST))
ZIP code|

85253

Area code| 480
FIPS code| 04-52930
GNIS feature ID| 2413114[3]
Website| www.paradisevalleyaz.gov

Paradise Valley is a desert and mountain town in Arizona east of state capital Phoenix. The town is known for its golf courses, spectacular mountain views, numerous upscale resorts and restaurants, natural beauty with desert landscaping and gorgeous sunsets, high end real estate with zoning that ensures large lots, the workshop of Paolo Soleri, and close proximity to Scottsdale and Phoenix.[5][6] According to the 2020 census, its population was 12,658.[4]

The town's name comes from the expansive area known as Paradise Valley that spreads from north of the Phoenix Mountains to Cave Creek and Carefree on the north and the McDowell Mountains to the east. Resident children in the majority of the municipality attend schools in the Scottsdale Unified School District.

## History

[edit]

Paradise Valley, looking east to Mummy Mountain

The town's history dates to a more agrarian society. After the initial European settlement, Paradise Valley was first used for cattle grazing. In the 1880s, when the land was being surveyed so it could be developed into agricultural lots, the name "Paradise Valley" first came into use, given by surveyors from the Rio Verde Canal Company and its manager at the time, Frank Conkey.[7] The name may have been chosen due to the abundance of spring wildflowers and palo verde trees.[8] Mainly an agricultural area during the 1800s and the first half of the 1900s, the area began to be settled after World War II, on large one-to-five-acre (4,000 to 20,200 m2) lots for which it became known.

As the neighboring settlements of Phoenix and Scottsdale began to grow and annex adjoining areas, the residents of what became Paradise Valley were concerned that the qualities they most valued would be lost if they were consumed by their larger neighbors.[9] These residents formed the "Citizens Committee for the Incorporation of The Town of Paradise Valley, Arizona", which collected enough signatures to take to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. The supervisors granted the petition, allowing the town of Paradise Valley to be incorporated on May 24, 1961.[8]

Today, Paradise Valley is one of Phoenix's wealthiest suburbs.[10][11][12]

## Geography

[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has an area of 15.4 square miles (40 km2), of which 0.03 square miles (0.08 km2), or 0.18%, is water.[2]

Mummy Mountain dominates Paradise Valley's central terrain. Other landmarks include Camelback Mountain on the southern border and the Piestewa Peak mountainous area on the western border.

Camelback Mountain Barry Goldwater Memorial

Several historical sites are within the town, including the Harold C. Price, Sr. House, McCune Mansion/Hormel Mansion, and Barry Goldwater Memorial Park.

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1970| 6,637| | —
1980| 11,085| | 67.0%
1990| 11,773| | 6.2%
2000| 13,664| | 16.1%
2010| 12,820| | −6.2%
2020| 12,658| | −1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]

As of the 2020 census the town had a population of 12,658, consisting of 5,728 households.

From the 2000 census: The population density was 881.7 inhabitants per square mile (340.4/km2). The 5,499 housing units averaged 354.8 per square mile (137.0/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.6% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 2.0% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.4% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. About 2.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 5,034 households, 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 76.1% were married couples living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.3% were not families; 13.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the town, the population was distributed as 24.9% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 18.8% from 25 to 44, 35.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $150,228, and for a family was $164,811. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $52,302 for females. The per capita income for the town was $81,290. About 1.9% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over. In 2012, the Forbes magazine named Paradise Valley's zip code, 85253, the 71st-most expensive in the United States. This ranking also makes it the most expensive in the state of Arizona.[14] In February 2024, Business Insider highlighted how the city was seeing a notable increase in the number of wealthy transplants from California. The Wall Street Journal described this trend a year earlier.[15][16]

## Government

[edit]

Mayor Jerry Bien-Willner, first elected in 2018, began his third term as mayor of Paradise Valley in 2022.[17] The mayor and six town council members are the elected representatives of the Town of Paradise Valley. The council has six members, who are elected to serve four-year staggered terms. In 2010, voters approved direct election of the mayor. Scott LeMarr became the first directly elected mayor in 2012. The council still selects its vice mayor from among its members.

The Town's accredited police department[18] is led by Chief Freeman Carney.[19]

In 2012, citizens gathered 500 signatures on a petition requesting that the council reconsider the issue of direct election of the mayor. In June 2012, the council voted to return the question of direct election of mayor to the people.[20] Residents voted to keep direct election of the mayor.

Paradise Valley is in the 1st Congressional District, which has been represented by David Schweikert since 2021.[21] Despite the town's conservative lean, at the state level it has been represented by three Democrats since 2020. A part of Legislative District 28, it is represented by Christine Marsh in the State Senate and by Kelli Butler and Aaron Lieberman in the House of Representatives.[22]

## Education

[edit]

Most of Paradise Valley is within the Scottsdale Unified School District.[23] A small portion is served by Creighton Elementary School District and Phoenix Union High School District.[24]

Several charter schools also are in the area including nearby Great Hearts Academies, BASIS Schools, and private schools such as Phoenix Country Day School.

## Economy

[edit]

### Top employers

[edit]

According to Paradise Valley's 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,[25] the top employers in the town as of 2020 were:

#  | Employer  | # of Employees

|
|

1  | Omni Scottsdale Resort and Spa  | 331
2  | Sanctuary on Camelback | 324
3  | The Scottsdale Plaza Resort  | 283
4  | Hermosa Inn | 202
5  | Mountain Shadows  | 190
6  | Double Tree Paradise Valley Resort | 160
7  | Phoenix Country Day School | 145
8  | Town of Paradise Valley  | 109
9  | Camelback Inn | 97
10  | Early Learning Childhood Center  | 82

## Confusion with other Paradise Valley designations

[edit]

The town is not to be confused with Paradise Valley Village, an official municipal designation, in northeast Phoenix. For instance, Paradise Valley Community College, Paradise Valley High School, Paradise Valley Mall, Paradise Valley Golf Course, and the former Paradise Valley Hospital are all several miles north of the town, in Phoenix. The Paradise Valley Unified School District does not serve the town of Paradise Valley either, only the areas north of it; its boundaries end a few miles north of the border.

## Notable people

[edit]

Main article: List of people from Paradise Valley, Arizona

* Michael Bidwill, businessman, prosecutor, and football executive; he is the principal owner, chairman, and president of the Arizona Cardinals
* Charles Boyer, Franco-American actor
* Alice Cooper, shock rock singer and co-founder of Alice Cooper's Solid Rock Foundation
* Sheryl Cooper, dancer, dance instructor, and choreographer, and co-founder of Alice Cooper's Solid Rock Foundation. Wife of Alice Cooper.
* Doug Ducey, politician and businessman, governor of Arizona
* Barry Goldwater, U.S. senator and 1964 Republican presidential nominee
* Jay Grdina, businessman and former pornographic actor
* Bil Keane, cartoonist, creator of The Family Circus
* Kliff Kingsbury, Arizona Cardinals head coach
* Brooks Lennon, soccer player who represented the United States national team[26]
* G. Gordon Liddy, Watergate scandal figure and Nixon appointee
* Leslie Nielsen, Canadian-American actor
* Sandra Day O'Connor, former Justice of the US Supreme Court
* Michael Phelps, former competitive swimmer and the most successful and most decorated Olympian of all time, with a total of 28 medals
* Dan Quayle, Vice President of the United States (1989–1993), U.S. senator from Indiana (1981–1989), and representative of Indiana's 4th congressional district (1977–1981)
* William Rehnquist, former Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court

## See also

[edit]

* Arizona portal

* List of historic properties in Paradise Valley, Arizona
* Saint Barnabas on the Desert

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Katy Suzanne. "Escaping in Glamour – Part 2: Phoenix, Arizona". Archived from the original on August 18, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
2. ^ a b "2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Arizona". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
3. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Paradise Valley, Arizona
4. ^ a b "Paradise Valley town, Arizona: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
5. ^ "Community Profile for Paradise Valley, AZ". www.azcommerce.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
6. ^ Corbett, Peter (November 9, 2006). "Median home price down in Scottsdale". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved March 12, 2008.
7. ^ Will Barnes, Arizona Place Names, revised and enlarged by Byrd Granger, University of Arizona Press, 1960, p. 190. http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=inu.30000118510936;view=1up;seq=216
8. ^ a b ”Town of Paradise Valley History”, http://www.ci.paradise-valley.az.us/DocumentCenter/Home/View/223, accessed 4/7/15
9. ^ "Paradise Valley Living".
10. ^ Clancy, Michael. "Paradise Valley still wealthiest place in Arizona". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
11. ^ "Wealthiest Zipcodes in Metro Phoenix". Zipdatamaps.com. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
12. ^ "No surprise: Arizona's most expensive Zip codes are in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley - Phoenix Business Journal". Archived from the original on October 12, 2014.
13. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
14. ^ "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes". Forbes. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
15. ^ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
16. ^ Brandt, Libertina. "Why Are Millionaires From All Over the Country Moving to This Little-Known Arizona Suburb?". WSJ. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
17. ^ "Mayor Jerry Bien-Willner | Paradise Valley, AZ - Official Website". www.paradisevalleyaz.gov. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
18. ^ "Paradise Valley Police Department now an accredited agency". The Daily Independent at YourValley.net. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
19. ^ "Paradise Valley police chief steps down, successor to begin in December". KTAR.com. October 17, 2022. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
20. ^ "Help Center - The Arizona Republic". help.azcentral.com. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
21. ^ "Arizona's 6th Congressional District". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
22. ^ "Member Roster". www.azleg.gov. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
23. ^ "About Us Archived February 3, 2013, at the Wayback Machine." Scottsdale Unified School District. Retrieved on October 2, 2012.
24. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Maricopa County, AZ" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. pp. 3, 7 (PDF pp. 4, 8/11). Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
25. ^ Town of Paradise Valley ACFR
26. ^ "Brooks Lennon". United States Soccer Federation. Retrieved July 22, 2025.

* "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Media related to Paradise Valley, Arizona at Wikimedia Commons

* v
* t
* e

Phoenix metropolitan area

Core city|

* Phoenix

Largest suburbs
(over 100,000 inhabitants)|

* Chandler
* Gilbert
* Glendale
* Mesa
* Peoria
* Scottsdale
* Surprise
* Tempe

Other suburbs and towns
(over 10,000 inhabitants)|

* Anthem
* Apache Junction
* Avondale
* Buckeye
* El Mirage
* Fountain Hills
* Goodyear
* Gold Canyon
* Luke Air Force Base
* New River
* Paradise Valley
* Queen Creek
* San Tan Valley
* Sun City
* Sun City West
* Sun Lakes
* Waddell

Smaller suburbs and towns
(over 5,000 inhabitants)|

* Carefree
* Cave Creek
* Guadalupe
* Litchfield Park
* Tolleson
* Youngtown

Exurbs|

* Superior
* Wickenburg
* Wittmann
* Morristown
* Coolidge
* Florence
* Casa Grande
* Black Canyon City
* Gila Bend
* Eloy
* Maricopa

Counties|

* Maricopa
* Pinal

Native American reservations|

* Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
* Gila River Indian Community

Subregions|

* East Valley
* North Valley
* West Valley

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

County seat: Phoenix

Cities|

* Apache Junction‡
* Avondale
* Buckeye
* Chandler
* El Mirage
* Glendale
* Goodyear
* Litchfield Park
* Mesa
* Peoria‡
* Phoenix
* Scottsdale
* Surprise
* Tempe
* Tolleson

Towns|

* Carefree
* Cave Creek
* Fountain Hills
* Gila Bend
* Gilbert
* Guadalupe
* Paradise Valley
* Queen Creek‡
* Wickenburg‡
* Youngtown

CDPs|

* Aguila
* Anthem
* Arlington
* Circle City
* Citrus Park
* Gila Crossing
* Kaka
* Komatke
* Maricopa Colony
* Morristown
* New River
* Rio Verde
* St. Johns
* Sun City
* Sun City West
* Sun Lakes
* Theba
* Tonopah
* Wintersburg
* Wittmann

Populated
places|

* Apache Wells
* Arrowhead Ranch
* Beardsley
* Camp Creek
* Chandler Heights‡
* Chiulikam
* Co-op Village
* Cotton Center
* Crag
* Desert Hills
* Dreamland Villa
* Forepaugh
* Fort McDowell
* Hassayampa
* Higley
* Laveen
* Leisure World
* Liberty
* Maricopa Village
* Moivayi
* Palo Verde
* Papago
* Rainbow Valley
* Salt River
* San Lucy Village
* Sentinel
* Sunflower
* Sunnyslope
* Tortilla Flat
* Totopitk
* Waddell
* Weedville

Indian reservations|

* Gila River Indian Community‡
* Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community
* Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation
* Tohono Oʼodham Indian Reservation‡

Ghost towns/
former populated places|

* Agua Caliente
* Allenville
* Cashion
* Harqua
* Lizard Acres
* Marinette
* Perryville
* Sundad
* Vulture City

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* Arizona portal
* United States portal

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* United States
* Israel

Geographic|

* MusicBrainz area

Other|

* Yale LUX

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