Chandler Arizona: Community Overview and Historical Insights

History of Chandler

Chandler, Arizona was named after a veterinarian, Dr. A. J. Chandler, who settled in the area in 1891. The town of Chandler began in 1912, with the opening of the Hotel San Marcos in 1913. In 1920, the Town of Chandler incorporated, with Dr. Chandler serving as its first Mayor.

The San Marcos Resort and Spa is the oldest golf resort in Arizona, located in historic downtown Chandler, adjacent to Dr. A. J. Chandler Park, where many of Chandler’s special events take place. In that park, you’ll find a statue of Frank Lloyd Wright, who was a business associate of Dr. Chandler.

The City of Chandler provides a unique historical overview of major streets in Chandler, including the history surrounding the area and how the streets were named. Most of the north and south streets in the original town site were named after states, while most of the east and west streets were named after American cities. Notable street names like Boston Street, California Street, and Arizona Avenue persist today. You can learn more about the history of Chandler from the City of Chandler website.

Chandler is located in the East Valley, in the southeast section of the Greater Phoenix area, approximately 20 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Generally, Tempe and Mesa are to the north, Gilbert is to the east, and Phoenix (Ahwatukee) lies to the west.

Covering about 70 square miles, Chandler has an elevation of approximately 1,215 feet.

• County: Maricopa
• Area Code: 480
• Zip Codes: 85224, 85225, 85226, 85244, 85246, 85248, 85249, 85286

A resident of Chandler is known as a Chandlerite.

Chandler Population Statistics

The estimated population of Chandler is 249,146 (2013), making it the 4th largest city in Arizona.

Demographic breakdown includes:

• Percentage White: 79%
• Percentage African American: 5.3%
• Percentage Asian: 7.9%
• Percentage Latino/a or Hispanic (of any race): 23.1%
• Percentage of individuals under 5 years old: 7.9%
• Percentage of individuals over 65 years old: 7.8%
• Median age: 33.9
• Percentage of individuals 25 years and older that graduated from a 4-year college: 25.2%
• Median household income: $71,171
• Percentage of individuals below the poverty level: 8.6%

_{All statistics mentioned here were obtained from the 2008-2012 American Community Survey, U.S. Census estimates, unless otherwise noted.}

Chandler Attractions, Special Events, Malls

Chandler is known for being a family-oriented city with numerous parks, festivals, and events ideal for families.

1. Chandler Center for the Arts
2. Rawhide
3. Ostrich Festival
4. Chandler ArtWalk
5. Chandler Skate Park
6. Chandler Fashion Center (Chandler Mall)
7. Phoenix Premium Outlets
8. 4th of July in Chandler
9. Winter/Christmas Festival in Chandler

Largest Employers in Chandler

The largest non-government employers in Chandler include:

• Intel Corporation
• Bank of America
• Wells Fargo
• Verizon
• Freescale Semiconductor
• Chandler Regional Medical Center
• Orbital Sciences
• Microchip Technology
• Nationstar Mortgage
• Bashas
• Education Management Corp.
• Avnet
• General Motors

In terms of government employment, the Chandler School District and the City of Chandler are the two largest employers. Additionally, Chandler-Gilbert Community College and Western International University both have campuses in the area.

What’s Special About Chandler

In the 1980s, Chandler transitioned its economic base from agriculture to high-tech industries, with Intel establishing operations in Chandler in 1980. The Intel® Pentium® processor products are manufactured in Arizona, leading Chandler to earn the nickname ‘Silicon Desert’, as many companies preferred this location over Silicon Valley.

Notably, you could still find dairy farms while driving through master-planned communities and corporate centers until recently; however, they are rapidly disappearing, making way for further commercial and residential growth.

Overall, Chandler is considered a safe city, although parts of downtown contain lower-income neighborhoods. If a home’s price or apartment rent seems too good to be true, it likely is. The City of Chandler has made significant efforts to transform its downtown area into a vibrant dining and entertainment hub, and those initiatives are evident as boutique shops, art spaces, and diverse cafes continue to gain traction. Wealthier residents tend to live in golf course communities like Ocotillo and Fulton Ranch. Additionally, new residential development has surged in the southeast part of Chandler around Riggs Road and east of McQueen.

Aside from the Chandler Fashion Center, west Chandler features shops, gourmet food options, and over 50 restaurants in the vicinity of Ray Road and I-10. The area also hosts movie theaters and dog parks.

As of now, light rail is not scheduled to extend into Chandler, thus residents will still access the Light Rail line via park and rides located in Tempe and Mesa.