00:00Ah, Phoenix.
00:03This sizzling gem in the Sonoran Desert isn't just another American city.
00:07It's more like a giant oven where you can throw a party, as long as you don't forget
00:11the ice.
00:12Seriously, if you find yourself here in the summer, brace yourself for some serious heat.
00:18We're talking about temperatures that regularly pass 100 degrees.
00:23And in 2024, Phoenix hit 110 degrees 55 times during the summer, tying the record set just
00:31the year before.
00:32Now, I get it if you're not a fan of hot weather.
00:36But apparently, a lot of people love living in a sauna.
00:40Phoenix ranks as the 5th largest city in the United States, and it is the capital and most
00:45populous city in Arizona, with 1.7 million residents as of 2024.
00:51And if we're talking about the metropolitan area, also known as the Valley of the Sun,
00:56the population is almost 5 million.
00:59Yet, good luck finding someone actually born here.
01:03Out of every 4 Phoenix residents, 3 were born somewhere else.
01:08Believe it or not, Phoenix wasn't always this bustling crowded place.
01:12It became one.
01:13A few decades ago, it was just a sleepy little dot on the map.
01:18Back in the 1940s, the population was around 65,000.
01:22It wasn't even close to cracking the top 100 list of the largest U.S. cities.
01:28At that time, Phoenix was mostly an agricultural hub, and its economy revolved around what
01:34they called the 5 Cs – cotton, citrus, cattle, climate, and copper.
01:39But things really started to change in the 1950s thanks to one life-changing invention
01:45– drumroll please – the air conditioner.
01:48Actually, it was the portable version that came out in 1945, created by an American inventor
01:54named Robert Sherman.
01:56Phoenix residents owe a lot to Robert for making life bearable during scorching summers.
02:02Before A.C., people in Phoenix would literally move their beds outside and build sleeping
02:07porches.
02:08They'd protect that kind of outdoorsy space with light curtains or some kind of net to
02:13keep the dust and bugs out.
02:15Mmm, fun!
02:16Anyway, the point is that the air conditioner played a big part in making Phoenix an easier
02:21place to live.
02:23Since the 1940s, this city in Arizona has transformed from a dusty little town into
02:29a sprawling urban jungle, and it's still one of the top 10 fastest-growing metro areas
02:34in the U.S.
02:36The best part is, it looks like that won't change anytime soon, since this 519-square-mile
02:42metropolis is surrounded by rolling desert, with plenty of room to keep growing as far
02:47as the eye can see.
02:49So who's dropping everything to move to Phoenix?
02:52Well, Californians are the city's biggest fans.
02:56According to a recent survey, a third of all new renters moving to Phoenix come from Los
03:01Angeles.
03:02Okay, that survey might not be the most reliable since it only applies to the source's clients,
03:08but it does line up with U.S. Census Bureau data from 2019, which says that 70,000 Californians
03:15moved to Arizona in the previous year.
03:18The connection between Phoenix and L.A. is so strong that some people even call Phoenix
03:23the next L.A.
03:24You've got to give Phoenix credit for capitalizing on its proximity to Southern California.
03:30The city offers lower taxes, fewer regulations, and lower costs of living, which makes it
03:35a magnet for businesses, especially in high-tech and service industries.
03:40So in the 90s, Phoenix was considered a non-stop generator of jobs.
03:45In the last few years, we've seen the number of jobs only go up, and the unemployment rate
03:50has dropped by nearly half, going from 6.3 in January 2014 to 3.4 in the same month in
03:582024.
04:01When it comes to big city problems, you can't avoid talking about traffic.
04:06But here's another reason why Phoenix is a dream city.
04:09It doesn't even come close to the traffic nightmares you find in places like L.A.
04:14Estimates show that people in Los Angeles waste about 119 hours a year just sitting
04:20in traffic.
04:22But in Phoenix, it's more like 61 hours.
04:25Huge difference, huh?
04:26But let's not even start talking about the money people waste just sitting in traffic.
04:31In L.A., drivers burn through about $2,440 worth of gas per year.
04:38In Phoenix, they waste 25 gallons of fuel, which ends up costing about $952.
04:43Yeah, that's still a lot of cash, but compared to L.A., come on, that's a steal.
04:51Phoenix being okay in terms of traffic might have a lot to do with how the city was designed.
04:56Just take a look at a map of Phoenix.
04:58You'll notice it looks like someone took a ruler and drew perfectly straight lines
05:03for the roads.
05:04That's because the city was laid out in a grid system.
05:07This setup makes it so much easier to get around, especially compared to cities full
05:12of confusing twists, U-turns, and one-way streets.
05:16It just simplifies things, whether you're a local or a tourist.
05:20Plus, Phoenix has nice wide streets.
05:24Most cities have one major road and a bunch of narrow streets that just can't handle
05:28heavy traffic.
05:29But Phoenix has wide roads everywhere.
05:32So when the freeways get jammed, you can just hop onto a parallel street and still get to
05:37work without stressing out too much.
05:41When you look at all the job opportunities and the relatively smooth traffic, it's
05:45no wonder people are willing to put up with the heat and move to Phoenix.
05:49But don't get it twisted, the heat is no joke.
05:52It is really, really hot and sunny out there.
05:55We're talking about 300 days of sunshine on average, or about 85% daylight hours per
06:02year.
06:03But once again, Phoenix has made the best of it.
06:05And all that constant sunshine has turned Phoenix into one of the top solar energy cities
06:11in the country.
06:12Now you may be wondering, a city in the middle of the desert with barely any rain, do they
06:17actually have enough water?
06:20Well, they do.
06:22Phoenix has its water situation pretty well sorted out, thanks to multiple sources.
06:26I mean, they don't rely on rain alone, which is a good thing because, you know, desert
06:31life.
06:32Most of their water comes from way up north and east of the valley, where snow melts off
06:37the mountains and flows into giant reservoirs, storing it up for those dry years.
06:42But most of Phoenix's water comes from the Salt River Project, which brings water through
06:47canals and pipelines from the Salt and Verde Rivers.
06:51Then there's the Central Arizona Project, which transports water all the way from the
06:56Colorado River.
06:57They even get a bit of water from underground wells.
07:00And Phoenix doesn't want to waste a drop, so they're smart about recycling, reusing
07:05treated water to keep parks green, and even recharging their groundwater.
07:11Since Phoenix is all about sunny skies nearly every day of the year, it's normal that
07:16people can get a little moody when it actually rains.
07:19But here's the thing – Phoenix always gets a surprise up its sleeve, even when it
07:24comes to bad weather.
07:25When it rains in the deserts, locals get treated to this unique earthy smell.
07:30It's thanks to the creosote bush, a desert plant that releases an amazing fragrance when
07:36the rain hits it.
07:37People describe it as the smell of rain, and honestly, it's one of those fresh, clean
07:42scents that makes you forget you're in the desert for a second.
07:46And if you've never stopped to think about why Phoenix is called Phoenix, well, it's
07:51based on that famous legend of the bird that rises from the ashes.
07:55Now after knowing all the special things about this city and its unique ability to turn challenges
08:00into advantages, we can say the name couldn't have been better chosen.
08:08That's it for today!
08:11So hey, if you pacified your curiosity, then give the video a like and share it with your
08:16friends.
08:17Or if you want more, just click on these videos and stay on the Bright Side!
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