Tempe is a city located in Maricopa County, Arizona. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 158,625. Although usually pronounced TEM-pee by outsiders (or occasionally TEM-pay), locals pronouce it as tem-PEE. Darrell Duppa is usually credited with suggesting the name, adopted in 1879, after comparing the Salt River valley near a 300-foot-tall butte to the Vale of Tempe near Mount Olympus in Greece. Duppa also had the honor of giving name to Phoenix, Arizona, 11 years earlier.

Tempe is the location of the head offices of America West Airlines, the campus of University of Advancing Technology and the main campus of Arizona State University.

The city is known in Pima as Oidbaḍ.

Geography

Tempe is located at 33°23'19" North, 111°55'44" West (33.388696, -111.928783).

Within Tempe are the Tempe Buttes . The Salt River runs west through the northern part or Tempe; part of the river is dammed on both ends to create Tempe Town Lake.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the landlocked city has a total area of 104.1 km² (40.2 mi²). This is the Phoenix Valley's only landlocked city. The city of Tempe is bordered by Mesa to the east, Scottsdale to the north, Phoenix and Guadalupe to the west, and Chandler to the south. 103.8 km² (40.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.32% water including Tempe Town Lake.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 158,625 people, 63,602 households, and 33,645 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,528.8/km² (3,959.4/mi²). There are 67,068 housing units at an average density of 646.4/km² (1,674.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 77.51% White, 3.66% Black or African American, 2.01% Native American, 4.75% Asian, 0.29% Pacific Islander, 8.49% from other races, and 3.30% from two or more races. 17.95% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 63,602 households out of which 24.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.4% are married couples living together, 9.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 47.1% are non-families. 28.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 4.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.41 and the average family size is 3.05.

In the city the population is spread out with 19.8% under the age of 18, 21.3% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 29 years. For every 100 females there are 106.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 107.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $42,361, and the median income for a family is $55,237. Males have a median income of $36,406 versus $28,605 for females. The per capita income for the city is $22,406. 14.3% of the population and 7.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 13.6% of those under the age of 18 and 5.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

See also

• Arizona State University
• Dead Hot Workshop
• Gin Blossoms
• Tempe Town Lake
• Zen Lunatics

External links