1. History

2. Geography
    Climate 

3. Demographics

4. Arts and culture
    The Fountain  Annual fairs 

5. Government

6. Education

7. Media

8. Notable people

9. Sister cities

10. Gallery

11. References

12. External links

Fountain Hills is a town in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. Known for its impressive fountain, once the tallest in the world, it borders on the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, and Scottsdale, Arizona. The population is 22,489, as of the 2010 census.^[2] Between the 1990 and 2000 censuses it was the eighth-fastest-growing place among cities and towns in Arizona.

History

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

In the early 1900's, the area that became Fountain Hills and the McDowell Mountain Regional Park was part of the Pemberton Ranch^[4], 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.^[5][6] It was incorporated in 1989.^[7]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of {{convert|18.2|sqmi|sigfig=3}}, of which {{convert|18.1|sqmi|sigfig=3}} is land and 0.1 square mile (0.26 km²) ({{#expr:(100*(0.1/18.2)) round 2}}%) is water.

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 mountains. The highest mountains in the range are East End ({{convert|4033|ft|abbr=on}}) and Thompson Peak ({{convert|3910|ft|abbr=on}}).

Climate

This 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.^[8]

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 22,489 people, 10,339 households, and 7,121 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|1113.8|PD/sqmi|/sqkm}}. There were 13,167 housing units at an average density of {{convert|577.5|/sqmi|/sqkm}}. 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 10,339 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 a 2010 Census American Community Survey 3-year estimate, the median income for a household in the town was $75,038, and the median income for a family was $91,585.^[11]

The per capita income for the town was $47,441. About 3.0% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.6% of those under age 18 and 0.7% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

The Fountain

Fountain Hills has the world's fourth-tallest fountain. It was built in 1970, 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 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 {{convert|600|hp}} turbine pumps, sprays water at a rate of {{convert|7000|USgal}} per minute through an {{convert|18|in|adj=on}} nozzle. With all three pumps under ideal conditions, the fountain reaches {{convert|560|ft|m}} in height,^[12] though in normal operation only two of the pumps are used, with a fountain height of around {{convert|300|ft|m}}. When built it was the world's tallest fountain, a record it held for over a decade.^[13]

Annual fairs

The town has three annual fairs—a local art fair, the Fountain Hills Great Fair, which incorporates arts and a carnival, and the Thunderbird Artists' Fountain Hills Fine Art & Wine Affaire. Each year the town's fountain is dyed green in celebration of St. Patrick's day.^[14]

Fountain Hills Theater is an award-winning 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, elected in August 2018. The current Town Council consists of the mayor and six councilmembers: Councilmembers Dennis Brown, Alan Magazine, Art Tollis, Sherry Leckrone, Mike Scharnow, and David Spelich. Grady Miller has been serving as the Town Manager since 2015. Among other council appointed staff are Town Attorney Aaron Aronson and Town Magistrate Robert Melton.

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

Fountain Hills' Fire Department has two fire stations and contracts with Rural Metro for staffing of its fire department. Dave Ott is the Fire Chief.

Fountain Hills is in Arizona's 6th Congressional District, served by Representative David Schweikert and Arizona's 23rd State Legislative District served by Representatives Jay Lawrence and John Kavanagh. Michelle R. Ugenti is a member of the Arizona Senate.

Education

Fountain Hills Public Schools are part of the Fountain Hills Unified School District #98. The district has two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. StudentsFountain Hills High School.^[15]

Media

The Fountain Hills Times is the town's weekly newspaper and is published in Fountain Hills.^[16] The paper has a weekly circulation of about 3,000.^[17]

The parent company of the Times, Western States Publishers, Inc., also publishes the Fountain Hills/Rio Verde Telephone Directory, Fountain Hills Community Guide, Fountain Hills HOME.^[18]

Notable people

• Joe Arpaio – former sheriff of Maricopa County
• Kathy Ahern – professional golfer

Sister cities

• {{flagicon|El Salvador}} – Concepcion de Ataco, El Salvador
• {{flagicon|Germany}} – Dierdorf (Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
• {{flagicon|Belgium}} – Kasterlee (Antwerpen, Belgium)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} – Zamość, Poland

Gallery

The Stoneman Road, established by Colonel George Stoneman, was an important supply road between Fort McDowell and Fort Whipple in Prescott between 1870 and 1890 on what is today the Yavapai Reservation near Fountain Hills. The trail passed through the McDowell Mountains. The McDowell Mountains is a chain of extinct volcanic mountains in Fountain Hills.^[20]

References

External links

• {{Official website

• {{Cite web

• {{Cite web

• {{Cite web

• {{Cite web

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