Anthem
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Source: www.wikipedia.org, for more information please visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthem,_Arizona
Anthem, Arizona
Anthem is a census-designated place in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a population of 21,700 people. The result of a Del Webb development on a large parcel of land adjacent to the town of New River, it is a planned suburb 34 miles north of downtown Phoenix that opened in 1998. Although Anthem is currently unincorporated, Phoenix is slated to annex the community by 2020 as documented in the City of Phoenix General Plan. Most of the community sits at the foot of the Daisy Mountains
Featuring sweeping mountain vistas, golf, hiking and other recreational opportunities, Anthem has been described as one of the best places to live in Arizona by Phoenix Magazine and the best place to raise a family by Parenting Magazine in November 2003. Anthem’s Outlet Mall is a source of jobs for many of Anthem’s adolescents as well as a local gathering place for events both local and non-local. December 2010 the mall was home to the one of the nation’s largest Christmas trees, bringing crowds from the nearby metropolitan area.
The community now has a high school, Boulder Creek High School, serving the area. Interstate 17 is the primary connection to the area from the rest of the Phoenix metropolitan area. In 2010, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) completed a project that widened I-17 from Loop 101 to Anthem Way. the project widened I-17 from 2 lanes to 3 General Purpose lanes and a HOV lane from Loop 101 to Carefree Highway and 3 lanes in each direction from Carefree Highway to Anthem Way. This project has greatly relieved the traffic congestion for commuters between Anthem and the Phoenix metro area.
Demographics
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 798 people residing in the CDP. The population density was 2717.8 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the CDP was 89.69% White, 1.89% Black or African American, 0.65% Native American, 2.61% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 2.05% from other races, and 2.96% from two or more races. 9.20% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Transportation
Anthem is nearly inaccessible other than by automobile. Valley Metro does not provide bus service to Anthem, nor is there a circulator bus. Taxis from metro Phoenix are very expensive. Bicycles are not permitted on I-17 (on the shoulder, adjacent to cars and trucks typically traveling 75 mph or faster). Furthermore, until July 2009 there were only four ways into and out of the community: two freeway exits on I-17 , a frontage road to the New River area, and a connection to the Maricopa County street grid at Desert Hills Drive. The latter connection, however, is normally open only to emergency vehicles.
In October 2009, a two-way frontage road connecting Carefree Highway to Gavilan Peak Parkway in Anthem was opened on the East side of I-17. This frontage road, combined with North Valley Parkway and Norterra Parkway provide a surface street route to the rest of the Phoenix metro area.
Homeowners are required to utilize native and near-native plants in landscaping in order to conserve water and balance preservation of the Sonoran Desert with suburban development. Anthem also has many miles of bike/running trails and greenscape areas. Most major roads in Anthem offer bike lanes and many residents utilize electric golf carts for travel within the community. Some residents have noted the HOA does not comply with A.R.S. 33-1803 and issues fines without allowing owners access to the board under due process of law.
Utilities
In December, 2010, Arizona American Water received permission to impose a 57% rate increase effective January 1, 2011, followed by additional increases January 1, 2012, and January 1, 2013 for a total of almost a 70% increase. This follows on the heels of a lawsuit by several residents against Del Webb/Pulte Homes for failing to disclose infrastructure funding that was not included in the costs of the homes, meaning the water company had a balloon payment due which would cause a rate increase.
Recreation
One of Anthem’s strong benefits is its recreation center, play park, water park, and proximity to Daisy Mountain and the Anthem Trailhead. Access to the recreation center and water park is tightly controlled. Access to the play park is reserved for residents, but there is no enforcement and residents from surrounding communities take advantage of – and use – the park.
There are two trails leading from Anthem to Daisy Mountain – a good hike for all skill levels. A few miles away, on New River Road, is the former “Black Canyon Trailhead”, renamed “Anthem Trailhead” in 2007, a 62 mile trail used by mountain bikers and hikers, as well as horse-riders, use of motorized vehicals is prohibited except for flater segments accessed only in New River.
Anthem also sits just north of Ben Avery Shooting Facility, a 1600 acre shooting and archery facility managed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
Arroyo Grande
Arroyo Grande, also known as New Village is a small exclave of Anthem West separated by the New River, a seasonal river flowing from the community of New River to the Agua Fria River in Peoria. Arroyo Grande is both the newest expansion as well as the only part of Anthem accessed by New River Road instead of Anthem Way or Daisy Mountain Drive. Arroyo Grande differs from the rest of Anthem as it is isolated from the Outlet Mall, grocery stores, Daisy Mountain and Anthem’s Town Park and suburban community life style. Instead Arroyo Grande is a quiet isolated community, designed for both nature lovers and lovers of larger backyards, surrounded by Trust Land to the north, south and west, the land is great for walking, and even biking, due to its relative flatness. Most of all, this neighborhood offers a simpler more tranquil life style, away from the noise and the fast pace metropolitan world, it offers the chance to live away from the city without having to miss out on neighbors, nor ever be bothered by door to door soliciters.
Source: Wikipedia.org
