Phoenix is the capital of the state of Arizona in the United States, and is the fifth largest city in the country, with an estimated population of more than 1.5 million people in 2006. An incredibly vibrant city with a diverse mix of cultures from all around the world, Phoenix is at once a highly sophisticated urban metropolis and a breath taking natural wonder gifted with many impressive landmarks, both man made and natural. Many of Phoenix’s best features are meant to be enjoyed in the great outdoors, and some of the best resorts in the world can be found here.

Residential Places in Phoenix

Property prices in Phoenix were considerably lower in 2007 than they were in the previous year, and real estate observers are predicting that prices may come down even further in 2008. Not so good news for property owners who wish to sell, this is however a much welcome development for those who are looking to buy a house or an apartment in the city over the next few months.

In fact, it would probably be best to act fast as this downtrend in prices is not expected to last. The city’s growth and expansion is after all far from slowing down, and greater things are expected in the next few years.

A look at the median prices of houses in Phoenix from 2006 and 2007 will clearly show the dip in property prices. A brand new single family home in the Glendale area, which in 2006 would typically cost almost $400,000, could go for as low as $300,000 this year. This downward trend is being experienced throughout many parts of the city as well.

Hospitals and Universities of Phoenix

A recent listing of hospitals and health care facilities in Phoenix placed the number at a very impressive one hundred and twenty-two, and there are probably a lot more than that. One of the most famous of these is the Phoenix Children’s Hospital and the Arizona State Hospital. Arizona State is located at 2500 E Van Buren St, Phoenix, AZ 85008, and can be reached at telephone number (602) 244-1331. The Phoenix Children’s Hospital can be found at 1919 E Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85016, and you can call them at (602) 546-1000.

Some other hospitals in the city are Phoenix Eye Surgical Center at North Central Avenue, and the Phoenix Memorial Hospital, of which there are three branches located throughout the city.

Learning Institutions 

There are more than 30 school districts in Phoenix, with the Phoenix Union High School District overseeing the operations of almost all of the public high schools in the city.

Phoenix is home to the well-renowned Arizona State University, which has a main campus in Tempe, in addition to a few other campuses throughout the city. One of the largest public universities in the country, Arizona State University registered more than 64,000 students in 2007.
Grand Canyon University is a private Christian University that was taken over by private investors in 2004 after previously having filed for bankruptcy. The university has since enjoyed a consistent growth every year, with over 10,000 enrolled students at last count. More than 80% of this population is enrolled in the school’s distance education programs.

Some other universities in the city are Western Governors University, University of Phoenix, University of Advancing Technology, DeVry University, and Argosy University.

Commercial Places in Phoenix

Whether you are looking to grab a quick bite on the go or want to enjoy a leisurely fine dining experience under the stars, Phoenix has a great many options to offer you. You wouldn’t expect the desert to be a place where you can find one of the best seafood restaurants in the country, but this is Phoenix after all, where they specialize in the pleasant surprising. In this case, it is the San Carlos Bay Seafood Restaurant that delivers, with its outstanding selection of fresh catches served in a charming Mexican-themed setting.

Another type of restaurant that you probably would not expect to find in Arizona is a good Italian one and again Phoenix has something for you: Brunello Italian Cuisine. Definitely on the more elegant end of the scale, Brunello’s is the perfect place to have a hearty Italian meal or a quiet drink with your significant other.

Service Establishments of Phoenix

The main provider of electricity in Phoenix is Arizona Public Service or APS. The company currently services millions of homes and businesses in the Southwestern United States. They offer a wide range of residential and business services, and for convenience, you can apply for many of these services, such as connection or disconnection of your power, paying your bill, transferring electric service and many more, through an online process on the company website.

You can find them on the Internet at www.aps.com. You can also reach them at PO Box 53933 Sta. 3200, Phoenix, AZ 85072-3933, or–if you want to pay your bill through the mail–at PO Box 2906, Phoenix, AZ 85062-2906. The number to call for general inquiries, connection or disconnection service, or billing related inquiries is (602) 371-7171. You can fax them at (602) 944-8208.

Gas supply services are provided by Southwest Gas Corporation, and they provide a number of services for residential and business customers. Bill payments can be sent to P.O. Box 98890, Las Vegas NV 89150-0101, and customer assistance is available at (602) 861-1999 and through a toll free number at (800) 873-2440.

This service is open from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on holidays. You can also visit their customer assistance centers at North Phoenix, 10851 N Black Canyon Hwy, Phoenix, AZ and Central Phoenix, 2200 N Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ.

Embassies in Phoenix

For diplomatic concerns or consular assistance while you are in Phoenix, you can contact the office of the British Honorary Consulate right in the city at Camelback Esplanade, 2425 East Camelback Road, Suite 1020, Phoenix AZ 85016. Their telephone number is (1) (602) 515 1029, and you can fax them at (1) (602) 387 5001. You can also check out their website for more information at www.britainusa.com.