44 2009 GREATER PHOENIX ULTIMATE GUIDE TO LIVING HERE housingPopulation ( 2007) Avondale: 76,000 Buckeye: 20,780 Glendale: 252,378 Goodyear: 58,654 Litchfield Park: 4,890 Peoria: 153,592 Sun City: 45,000 Sun City West: 31,000 Surprise: 100,000 Tolleson: 6,498 City Contacts Avondale: 623- 333- 1601 www. ci. avondale. az. us Buckeye: 623- 386- 4691 www. buckeyeaz. gov Glendale: 623- 930- 2000 www. glendaleaz. com Goodyear: 623- 932- 3910 www. goodyearaz. gov Litchfield Park: 623- 935- 5033 www. litchfield- park. org Peoria: 623- 773- 7300 www. peoriaaz. com Surprise: 623- 222- 1000 www. surpriseaz. com Tolleson: 623- 936- 7111 www. tollesonaz. org Chambers of Commerce and Visitor Centers Buckeye Valley Chamber: 623- 386- 2727 Glendale Chamber: 623- 937- 4754 Glendale Office of Tourism and Visitor Center: 623- 930- 4500 Surprise Regional Chamber: ( Sun City/ Sun City West, Surprise, Youngtown, El Mirage): 623- 583- 0692 Peoria Chamber: 623- 979- 3601 Sun City Visitors Center: 623- 977- 5000 Southwest Valley Chamber ( Avondale, Litchfield Park, Goodyear, Tolleson: 623- 932- 2260 Police Avondale Police: 623- 333- 7000 Buckeye Police: 623- 349- 6400 Glendale Police: 623- 930- 3000 Goodyear Police: 623- 932- 1220 Litchfield Park-- Maricopa County Sheriff's Office: 602- 876- 1865 Peoria Police: 623- 773- 8311 Sun City Sheriff: 623- 972- 2555 Surprise Police: 623- 222- 4000 Tolleson Police: 623- 936- 7186 Water and Sewer Avondale: 623- 333- 2005 Buckeye: 623- 349- 6100 Glendale: 623- 930- 2700 Goodyear: 623- 932- 3010 Litchfield Park: 623- 935- 9367 Peoria: 623- 773- 7160 Surprise: 623- 222- 7000 Tolleson Water: 623- 936- 7111 I n the West Valley — comprised of Glendale, Peoria, Avondale, Surprise, Buckeye, Tolleson, Litchfield Park, Goodyear, Sun City and Sun City West — diversions of all kinds are just a short drive away. For the spectators among us, professional football, ice hockey, baseball and NASCAR abound. For those who prefer more hands- on pursuits, there are ever- growing options for power shopping and dining out. When it's time to commune with nature, White Tanks Regional Park and Estrella Mountain Regional Park offer breathtaking vistas and challenging hiking trails. Peoria boasts an oasis in the desert, Lake Pleasant, with 50 miles of shoreline and 10,000 acres of water. Sun City, the mother of all master- planned communities, helps its mature residents usher in the golden years with active style at its seven recreation centers, eight golf courses and three country clubs. Its baby sister, Sun City West, has four recreation centers and two golf courses. — Maria MatsonAT A GLANCE West Valley photo: The Arizona republic

2009 GREATER PHOENIX ULTIMATE GUIDE TO LIVING HERE 45 housing H ome to Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Mesa, Chandler and Apache Junction, the Southeast Valley is by and large a laid- back kind of place. Arizona State University brings both youthful exuberance and a casual vibe to Tempe's lively arts, sports and shopping scene. Gilbert embraces its rural roots, offering both horse property and carefully planned neighborhoods. Queen Creek is a true family community that prides itself on a small- town lifestyle. Close to the cultural goings- on in other parts of the Valley, Mesa also has its fair share of attractions and is a favorite with winter visitors. Chandler, once little more than a train stop in the desert, is a thriving community offering both historic charm and big- city amenities. Apache Junction is a favorite of those seeking a quieter lifestyle. With the Superstition Mountains as a backdrop, the city is a scenic delight, with wide, open spaces, rich history and small- town ambiance. — Maria Matson Population ( 2007) Apache Junction: 42,000 Chandler: 242,889 Gilbert: 171,000 Mesa: 460,155 Tempe: 166,171 Queen Creek: 22,264 City Contacts City of Apache Junction: 480- 982- 8002, www. ajcity. net City of Chandler: 480- 782- 2000 www. chandleraz. gov Town of Gilbert: 480- 503- 6871 www. ci. gilbert. az. us City of Mesa: 480- 644- 2011 www. mesaaz. gov City of Tempe: 480- 967- 2001 www. tempe. gov Town of Queen Creek: 480- 358- 3000 www. queencreek. org Chambers of Commerce, CVBs andTourism Centers Apache Junction Chamber: 480- 982- 3141 Chandler Chamber: 480- 963- 4571 Chandler Office of Tourism: 480- 782- 2876 Gilbert Chamber: 480- 892- 0056 Mesa CVB: 480- 827- 4700 Mesa Chamber: 480- 969- 1307 Tempe Chamber: 480- 967- 7891 Tempe CVB: 480- 894- 8158 Queen Creek Chamber: 480- 888- 1709 Police Apache Junction: 480- 982- 8260 Chandler: 480- 782- 4100 Gilbert: 480- 503- 6500 Mesa: 480- 644- 2211 Tempe: 480- 350- 8311 Queen Creek Maricopa County Sheriff's Office: 602- 876- 1865 Water and Sewer Apache Junction, Arizona Water Co.: 480- 982- 2201 Apache Junction Water Company: 480- 982- 6030 Superstition Mountain Community Facilities District: 480- 983- 2212 Chandler Water: 480- 782- 2280 City of Tempe Water Utilities Department: 480- 350- 8361 City of Mesa Utilities Department: 480- 644- 4444 Town of Gilbert Utilities Department: 480- 503- 6800 Queen Creek Water Company: 480- 987- 3240 Diversified Water: 602- 840- 9400 H20 Inc.: 480- 491- 6971 Johnson Utilities: 480- 987- 9870 AT A GLANCE Southeast Valley photo: THe arizona republic