The Phoenix metropolitan area, locally known as the Valley of the Sun (or just The Valley), is a metropolitan area that includes Phoenix, Arizona, and all of the rest of Maricopa County, Pinal County, and parts of southern Yavapai County.

The population of the Phoenix metropolitan area increased by 45% from 1990 through 2000, compared to the average United States rate of 15%, helping to make Arizona the second fastest growing state in the nation in the 1990s (the fastest was Nevada)."Ranking Tables for Metropolitan Areas: 1990 and 2000." United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved on July 8, 2006. The 2000 Census reports the population of the metro area to be 3,251,876. The Phoenix metro area had an estimated total population of 3,907,429 at the beginning of 2006."World Gazetteer Listing for Phoenix, Arizona." World Gazetteer. Retrieved on July 8, 2006.

Cities and towns in the Phoenix metropolitan area

• Aguila
• Ahwatukee Foothills
• Ak-Chin Village
• Alhambra
• Anthem
• Apache Junction
• Arizona City
• Arlington
• Avondale
• Bapchule
• Black Canyon City
• Buckeye
• Bumble Bee
• Carefree
• Casa Grande
• Cashion
• Cave Creek
• Chandler
• Chandler Heights
• Chuichu
• Circle City
• Coolidge
• Deer Valley
• El Mirage
• Florence
• Fountain Hills
• Gila Bend
• Gilbert
• Glendale
• Gold Canyon
• Goodyear
• Guadalupe
• Higley
• Komatke
• La Palma
• Laveen
• Liberty
• Litchfield Park
• Maricopa
• Mesa
• Morristown
• New River
• Ocotillo
• Octave
• Olberg
• Palo Verde
• Paradise Valley
• Peoria
• Phoenix
• Rio Verde
• Rock Springs
• Roosevelt
• Queen Creek
• Queen Valley
• Sacaton
• San Tan
• Scottsdale
• South Mountain Village
• Stanfield
• Sun City
• Sun City West
• Sun Lakes
• Superior
• Surprise
• Tempe
• Tolleson
• Tonopah
• Tortilla Flat
• Valley Farms
• Waddell
• Wickenburg
• Wittmann
• Yarnell
• Youngtown

References