Chandler is a medium-sized city in central Arizona, a few miles south of Phoenix, in Mariposa County, a prominant suburb of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area, just south of Mesa. It sits at an average elevation of 1,214 feet (370 m) above sea level. Chandler was a railroad stop and Snowbird destination from early on. Many wealthy vacationers traveled to Chandler via private railroad car to enjoy the warm, dry weather during the winter months. Chandler was founded on 17 May 1912, but wasn't incorporated until 1920, first settled by Dr. Alexander john Chandler in 1891. The center of town is featured by the luxurious Hotel San Marcos, the first golf resort in Arizona.
Chandler currently has a population of about 240,595 people (2006), growing rapidly since 1980 when it had only 30,000 people. It is an excellent example of urban sprawl, with mostly modest tract homes, some owned by some of my cousins and uncle (passed in 2007) and aunt. Chandler citizens are composed of 77.2% Caucasians, 21% Hispanics, 4.2% Asian, 3.5% Black/African American, and 1.2% Native American.
Chandler has grown in the last 25 years, which used to contain many farms. Crops grown included cotton, corn, and alfalfa, now all replaced by light industry (Intel) and retail shops and the Chandler Fashion Center, and thousands of tract homes. The median household income for Chandler residents is $58,416 and the per capita income is $23,904.
Three highways pass through Chandler, I-10, and State Routes 87, 101 and 202, and a two-track Union Pacific Railroad line. The average commute time for working Chandler residents is 20 minutes, indicating that a large percentage works a short distance from town. Additional information about Chandler can be found at Chandler Info and at the Official Chandler City site.
