Buckeye is a town in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town was 29,615. In July 2007, Forbes ranked Buckeye as the 2nd-fastest growing municipality in the United States, having had its population grow by nearly 192% between 2000 and 2006.

Geography

Buckeye is located at (33.370520, -112.590899) .

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 145.8 square miles (377.5 km²), all of it land.

At its widest points, the town's planning area extends 48 miles from north to south and 24 miles east to west. It borders the planning areas of Wickenburg to the north; Surprise, Glendale, and Goodyear to the east; and Gila Bend to the south. To the west is the unincorporated area known as Tonopah.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,537 people, 2,158 households, and 1,624 families residing in the town. The population density was 44.8 people per square mile (17.3/km²). There were 2,344 housing units at an average density of 16.1/sq mi (6.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 72.54% White, 3.37% Black or African American, 1.71% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 19.34% from other races, and 2.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 36.65% of the population.

There were 2,158 households out of which 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.47.

In the town the population was spread out with 33.8% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 101.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,383, and the median income for a family was $39,194. Males had a median income of $32,357 versus $24,901 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,627. About 16.2% of families and 18.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.6% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over.

Neighborhoods

The original Buckeye was built around downtown's main street, Monroe Avenue. The first neighborhoods spread out from Monroe Avenue along First through Tenth streets and other cross streets.

In the mid-twentieth century, the Valencia neighborhood was built just north of downtown, centering upon Baseline Road and Fourth Street.

The biggest waves of development began in the early twenty-first century, with the Town's first master-planned community, Sundance. This neighborhood is located in general vicinity of the intersection of Yuma and Watson roads near Interstate 10. Sundance Towne Center is located here and is the first of several large shopping centers to be built in Buckeye.

Second came Verrado, a master-planned community located along Verrado Way north of Interstate 10. This new urbanist style development is highly regarded around the Phoenix area and across the United States. Nearby is the planned Buckeye Parkway Center retail development.

Buckeye developers are laying seed for 22 approved master planned communities that are planne Buckeye. Two other projects are in the works would be even larger than Tartesso in Buckeye, The first one Douglass Ranch, 25 miles north of downtown Buckeye. Developers predict it will take 25 to 50 years to complete Douglass Ranch, which will encompass nearly 40,000 acres. The community could have 100,000 homes and between 250,000 and 300,000 residents. The second project, Sun Valley Communities, in the northern section of Sun Valley Parkway, will have up to four villages across about 13,000 acres.

A few of the many other master-planned communities currently under development are Tartesso, Sun Valley, Sun City Festival, and Spurlock Ranch, all located along the Sun Valley Parkway north of Interstate 10. The community of WestPark is another growing development northwest of downtown Buckeye, where WestPark Elementary is located.

Many other smaller subdivisions are part of the town as well.

Due to the amount of land that the town has annexed or plans to annex (up to 600 square miles), the population may increase to over that of the current population of Phoenix itself. Buckeye is projected to expand to over 380,000 residents by 2030, with some projections giving the city some two million inhabitants by 2050, which would make it the largest suburb in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area and possibly the United States, surpassing Mesa which, by that time, will have been built out completely.

Recreation

A popular recreation destination in Buckeye is the Buckeye Hills Recreation Area. It is located 7 miles south of downtown Buckeye on State Route 85 (at mile marker 144). It contains camping, picnic areas, hiking trails, and a shooting range. The recreation area is part of the Maricopa County Regional Park program, while the shooting range is managed by the Buckeye Sportsman Club.

Education

Buckeye Schools serve K-12 students as part of the Saddle Mountain Unified School District.

The town is actively working with higher education institutions to determine suitable locations for future campuses. Currently, Estrella Mountain Community College owns land in Buckeye and will look to add a campus in the future.

Douglass Ranch master plan community will have a university.

Transport

Although the town covers a large area, Buckeye has no mass transit system. The town is actively involved in the discussions and planning of future transportation for the community. The discussions includes a broad range of items from new freeways to possible light rail corridors and expanded bus service. Traditionally, Arizona has been slow to focus on mass transit systems, but this is definitely a priority for all communities and especially the west valley.

The town's local aviation needs are served by Buckeye Municipal Airport (ICAO identifier KBXK), which is owned and operated by the town government. The uncontrolled airport has one asphalt runway measuring 5000 x 75 feet, although an expansion program (adding another runway, several hangars, and associated facilities) is in place.

Local media

Buckeye is served by all major Phoenix media in radio, television, and print. There are several more-localized newspapers including the Buckeye Sun, West Valley View, Arizona Republic's Southwest Valley edition, and the Buckeye Valley News.

In 2007, the book Buckeye was published by author Verlyne Meck, a lifelong resident of the Buckeye Valley. Featuring over 230 photographs and utilizing the testimonies and memories of other longtime residents and the archives of Buckeye Union High School and Buckeye Valley Museum, Buckeye tells the story of this desert town as it strives to retain its past amid the changes emerging around it as Arizona's Biggest Small Town.

National media coverage

In 2008, Buckeye was featured on The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer as part of a weeklong series entitled "Blueprint America." The piece sought to highlight the challenges posed by urban sprawl.

Notable residents

• Upton Sinclair (author, 1878-1968)

References

1. Woolsey, Matt. - "America's Fastest-Growing Suburbs". - Forbes. - July 16, 2007.
2. America in Gridlock: Nowhere to Grow, PBS

External links

• Town of Buckeye