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

46 2009 GREATER PHOENIX ULTIMATE GUIDE TO LIVING HERE housing R esidents of the Northeast Valley — Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, Carefree and Cave Creek — live an enviable lifestyle, with easy access to everything from innovative dining and luxury retail to sweeping desert vistas and mountain views. In Scottsdale, where glimpses of the rich and famous are almost as common as sightings of quail and coyote, fine art, high- end retail and a pulsing nightlife are the name of the game. Paradise Valley is unique among Valley communities; it is entirely residential, with a one- house-per- acre minimum. Carefree and Cave Creek offer a taste of small- town Western life. These communities offer shopping, golf and dining options galore amid breathtaking desert surroundings. To the east, Fountain Hills rests some 500 feet higher than the rest of the Valley and is comfortably nestled behind the McDowell Mountains. The town's namesake is a geyser of water that shoots 560 feet into the air, making it the world's highest fountain. — Maria Matson Population ( 2007) Carefree: 3,600 Cave Creek: 5,120 Fountain Hills: 24,000 Paradise Valley: 13,816 Scottsdale: 227,040 City Contacts City of Scottsdale: 480- 312- 3111 www. scottsdaleaz. gov Town of Carefree: 480- 488- 3686 www. carefree. org Town of Cave Creek: 480- 488- 1400 www. cavecreek. org Town of Fountain Hills: 480- 816- 5100 www. fh. az. gov Town of Paradise Valley: 480- 948- 7411 www. ci. paradise- valley. az. us Chambers of Commerce and CVBs Carefree/ Cave Creek Chamber: 480- 488- 3381 Fountain Hills Chamber: 480- 837- 1654 North Phoenix Chamber ( Paradise Valley): 602- 482- 3344 Scottsdale Area Chamber: 480- 355- 2700 Scottsdale CVB: 480- 421- 1004 Police Carefre: Carefree Town Marshall: 480- 488- 3686 Maricopa County Sheriff's Office: 602- 876- 1742 Cave Crek: Cave Creek Town Marshall: 602- 876- 1746 Maricopa County Sheriff's Office: 602- 876- 1742 Fountain Hils: Maricopa County Sheriff's Office: 602- 252- 7840 Paradise Valley: 480- 948- 7418 Scottsdale: 480- 312- 5000 Water and Sewer Carefre: Carefree Water Co.: 480- 488- 9100 Cave Crek: Cave Creek Water System: 480- 437- 3581 Desert Hills Water System: 623- 582- 0219 Cave Creek Utilities Dept.: 480- 437- 3581 Global Water Resources: 623- 518- 4000 Fountain Hils: Chaparral City Water Company: 480- 837- 9522 Town of Paradise Valey: Sewer: 480- 348- 3518 Arizona American: 800- 383- 0834 Berneil Water Co.: 480- 966- 5804 City of Phoenix Water: 602- 262- 6251 Scottsdale: 480- 312- 2461 AT A GLANCE Northeast Valley photo: The arizona republic