The Valley had seven cities with less than a million, but more than 100,000 residents in the year 2000. These cities were: Chandler, Peoria, Tempe, Mesa, Scottsdale, Glendale and Gilbert. That same year, Phoenix boasted a population of over a million people.

Tourism pours millions of dollars into our economy as local residents navigate around more people and traffic. Fortunately, residents of gated communities can leave the noise and stress behind, as their neighborhoods aren’t accessible to lost drivers or visiting sightseers.