Sunrise Shadows/Cimmarron II HOA

Apache Junction - Chamber of Commerce

Community Events

Weekends between February 3rd and March 25th
Renaissance Festival and Artisan Marketplace
Highway 60, between Gold Canyon & Florence Junction
Call (520) 463-2700 for event information

Beginning March 3, 2001
Murder at Rattlesnake Gulch, Murder Mystery Dinner Drama with audience participation. $25 per person includes cowboy dinner. Show is held at the Grand Hotel Plaza, 201 W. Apache Trail (building is west of lobby entrance), dinner catered by Buckaroo's. For reservations and tickets call (480) 288-1100

Apache Trail Jeep Tours "Steak-Out"
Join us for a fantastic evening tour under the stars! Fun filled jeep tour in to the Superstition Mountain foothills to their remote campsite where you will enjoy a delicious t-bone steak, cowboy beans, salad, potatoes, homemade rolls and hot fruit cobbler. $85 per person or $150 for two. Call (480) 982-7661 for reservations and information

2nd Sunday in March
Don's Camp
Hiking, stories, demonstrations, Native American tribes with their crafts, gold panning, fireworks display, great food and spectacular evening firefall, all at the base of the Superstition Mountains! Limited space available, buy your tickets early. (602) 258-6016

Call (480) 982-3141 for more information

Apache Junction

Apache Junction is located on the eastern rim of the Phoenix metropolitan area, near the foot of the scenic Superstition Mountains at the junction of U.S. Highways 60 and 89 and state Highway 88. Apache Junction is easily accessible by U.S. 60, the Superstition Freeway. Apache Junction lies primarily in Pinal County, adjoining Maricopa County to the west. It was incorporated in 1978.

Apache Junction attracts upwards of 35,000 winter visitors and retirees annually due to its climate and proximity to many of Arizona's outstanding recreational and historical areas. More than 800 retail and service businesses currently operate within the city. A variety of life styles are offered in Apache Junction. These range from western rural acreage to more urban single-family residential neighborhoods and include adult-only retirement clusters as well as mixed age group living areas.

PRINCIPAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

Because of Apache Junction's geographical location adjacent to the Pinal/Maricopa County line, the employment figures are not truly representative of economic activity in the community. The town's proximity to the metropolitan Phoenix area gives a far more realistic indication of the economic base of the area.

The economy of Apache Junction is based almost exclusively on recreation and retirement. Most commercial services in the area cater to tourists and recreation seekers on their way to Arizona's central lakes and forests. Extensive developments and accommodations in the area serve many retired persons as well as a large influx of winter visitors.


SCENIC ATTRACTIONS

Apache Junction's main scenic attractions are the Superstition Mountains, which are reputed to be the site of the Lost Dutchman Mine. Many people are still challenged by the thought of discovering the Lost Mine and search the mountains for its location. The name of the mountains, of which Superstition Peak at 5,057 feet is the highest, can be attributed to the legends and stories of the nearby Pima Indians.

The Apache Trail, which winds north from Apache Junction, is an exceptionally scenic mountain drive to recreation areas such as Canyon, Apache and Roosevelt Lakes, all located in Salt River Canyon. U.S. 60, to the east, leads to the active mining towns of Globe, Miami and Superior.

POPULATION 1980 1990 1995
Apache Junction* 9,935 18,100 19,525
Pinal County 90,918 116,379 139,050
Arizona 2,716,546 3,665,228 4,228,900
Sources: Arizona Department of Economic Security and U.S. Census Bureau.
* Local sources estimate the 1990 trade area population is 60,711.



APACHE JUNCTION LABOR FORCE DATA 1980 1990 1995
Civilian Labor Force 2,801 7,350 8,444
Employed 2,523 7,008 8,135
Unemployed 278 342 309
Unemployment Rate 9.9% 4.7% 3.7%
Source: Arizona Department of Economic Security.


GROWTH INDICATORS 1990 1994 1995
Taxable Sales ($) 151,611,900 177,325,000 192,200,400
Postal Receipts* 1,625,934 2,375,514 2,662,953
New Building Permits** 292 308 482
School Enrollment 3,982 5,009 4,367
Net Assessed Valuation ($) 56,979,353 51,513,897 51,966,490
* Postal receipts are for fiscal year.
** Arizona Business, Arizona State University; figures not for entire year.



PROPERTY TAX RATE
PER $100 ASSESSED VALUATION 1990 1994 1995
AZ State Tax $0.47 $0.47 $0.47
Community College 1.63 1.66 1.68
Flood 0.14 0.10 0.10
Library 0.05 0.05 0.05
Central AZ Project 0.10 0.10 0.10
County Fire District 0.08 0.09 0.09
County 4.99 4.79 4.79
County Total $7.46 $7.25 $7.28
School District 6.81 7.29 7.27
Apache Junction Fire District 1.92 2.72 2.62
Total $16.19 $17.26 $17.18
Source: Arizona Tax Research Foundation.
Note: Property tax in Arizona is based on assessed valuation which is 10 percent of market value for residential property. Average tax rate on homes in Arizona before exemptions and rebates is 1.3% of market value.



COMMUNITY FACILITIES

Apache Junction offers a range of community facilities. There is a local library, four parks totaling 298 acres, one swimming pool, athletic facilities such as baseball, football, private tennis courts, racquetball courts, horseback riding stables and other facilities provided at the local school.

Communication. In addition to the daily Arizona Republic, Phoenix Gazette and Mesa Tribune, Apache Junction has a weekly newspaper, the Apache Junction Independent. Numerous radio stations are received from the greater Phoenix area, and 12 television channels (both local channels and those via cable from Phoenix and Tucson) are available.

Educational. The city has four public elementary schools, one junior high and one high school, along with a community college.

The Superstition Mountain Campus of Central Arizona College offers a full range of pre-baccalaureate classes, two-year business degree programs, and a wide variety of special interest classes. Northern Arizona University offers undergraduate and graduate programs; for information call (602) 786-7020. Arizona State University, located in Tempe (approximately 25 miles west) is the state's largest university.

Medical. Valley Lutheran Hospital is six miles west of Apache Junction. Many other hospitals are available in the Tempe, Mesa, and Phoenix metropolitan areas.

Medical professionals include five physicians, four osteopaths, five dentists and five optometrists. There is also a clinic, Apache Junction Medical Center.

Financial. Apache Junction has five financial institutions and one credit union. Businesses are eligible for assistance in financing fixed assets through the Strategic Finance Division of the Arizona Department of Commerce. Information on private activity bonds within the city may be obtained from the City of Apache Junction; Office of Economic Development, Department of Development Services, 1001 N. Idaho Road; Apache Junction, Arizona 85219.

Governmental. The city is governed by a mayor and six-member city council and has a city manager. There is a city police department and the fire district includes both full-time and volunteer personnel.

Airport. There are many full-service airports in the Phoenix metro area including Falcon Field, 15 miles west, and Sky Harbor International, 35 miles west of Apache Junction.

Utilities Electricity: Salt River Project (602) 236-8888 Natural Gas: Southwest Gas Corporation 894-6674 Telephone: U.S. West Communications 630-6000 Water: Arizona Water Company 982-2201 Water Utility Community Facilities District 982-6030 Sewer: Superstition Mountains Community Facilities District No. 1 983-2212

Lodging and Meeting Facilities. There are 186 rooms available in five motels. Meeting facilities are available, with seating for up to 400 in the school auditorium. Apache Junction offers 93 mobile home and RV parks with 14,047 spaces.

WEATHER * Average Temperature (F) Average Total
Month Daily Maximum Daily Minimum Precipitation (Inches)
January 64.9 35.6 0.84
February 69.3 38.6 0.60
March 73.6 42.9 0.77
April 83.0 49.5 0.34
May 92.1 56.8 0.14
June 100.8 64.4 0.08
July 104.3 74.1 0.82
August 101.8 72.8 1.20
September 98.5 65.8 0.76
October 88.3 54.4 0.53
November 75.4 42.7 0.50
December 66.9 36.8 0.93
Year 84.9 52.9 7.52
Average Total Snow, Sleet and Hail Annually: Trace.
*Data for Mesa Farm (based on a 30-year average).

Arizona Department of Commerce

3800 N. Central Ave., Ste. 1400

Phoenix, AZ 85012

(602) 280-1321

FAX: (602) 280-1305

Links

City of Apache Junction - Public Information
Apache Junction Public Library
Apache Junction Film Commission
Superstition Mountain - Lost Dutchman Museum
Superstition Mountain Homepage
The Apache Trail Circle Route
Apache Junction Unified School District #43