Ahwatukee
Encyclopedia
Ahwatukee is an affluent L-shaped neighborhood of Phoenix, Arizona
bordered on the north by South Mountain Park
and Baseline Road, on the east by Interstate 10 and the cities of Chandler
, Guadalupe
, and Tempe
, and on the south and west by the Gila River Indian Community
. It is the southernmost of the city's 15 urban villages. As of 2010, the 35.8 square-mile (92.7 km²) neighborhood has a population of 77,249.
Although annexed by the city of Phoenix between 1978 and 1987, before substantial residential growth, many of Ahwatukee's residents do not strongly associate their region with the rest of the city, due in part to its geographic isolation (South Mountain and South Mountain Park separate Ahwatukee from the other 14 urban villages of Phoenix, which lie to the north).
. They gave the area its original Spanish
name, Casa de Sueños, which in English
means "House of Dreams". Dr. Ames died within just three months of moving into the house, and after Mrs. Ames' death, in 1933, the house and most of the land was willed to St. Luke's Hospital/
In 1935, the house and land was bought by Miss Helen Brinton, who appeared to have retranslated the name of the house to the Crow
word which now serves as the name of the village. The house was demolished in 1979, and parts of it were used to build the Our Lady of Guadalupe church.
As it turns out, the Crow translation for "House of Dreams" (ashe ammeewiawe) sounds nothing like Ahwatukee. More likely, Brinton named the town after the Crow words awe chuuke, meaning "land on the other side of the hill" or "land in the next valley". This is, at first glance, a curious choice on her part because the Crow are a native northern plains tribe originally based in Wyoming, now residing in southeast Montana, and have never been associated with Arizona where the Apache, Hopi, Pima, and Navajo peoples are indigenous. Brinton, however, actually having spent much time in the Wyoming (Crow) vicinities and finally making her last home there, would have very likely been strongly influenced by her experience in Wyoming enough to use a Crow-derived name for the beloved land she left behind. This seeming inconsistency only serves to add to the lore of Ahwatukee.
In 1971, part of the land was purchased, subdivided, and developed into a HOA by the Presley Development Company.
Marty Gibson was the first to write a book on the history of Ahwatukee, entitled "The History of Ahwatukee".
Ahwatukee has grown as Phoenix acquired other land parcels to the west, including land owned by International Harvester
, which operated a proving ground
for earth-moving equipment there from 1947 to 1983. The state of Arizona
has bought, sold, or swapped land several times, including transferring state trust
land to developers in controversial auctions in which residents and conservationist
s have lobbied for the space to be converted to parkland.
.
. The Kyrene Schools in Ahwatukee include Kyrene Cerritos (K-5), Kyrene De La Colina (K-5), Kyrene de la Esperanza (K-5), Kyrene de las Lomas (K-5), Kyrene de la Estrella (K-5), Kyrene Monte Vista (K-5), Kyrene de los Lagos (K-5), Kyrene del Milenio (K-5), and Kyrene de la Sierra (K-5) elementary schools, and Centennial (6-8), Akimel A-al (6-8), Altadeña (6-8) middle schools. High school students go to one of two in the area: Desert Vista
and Mountain Pointe
. Both schools are operated by the Tempe Union High School District, the best, by test scores, school district in Arizona. There are also a number of private/charter schools, including Inspire Kids Montessori (which opened in June 2010 and serves children ages 2-6), Keystone Montessori School, Horizon Community Learning Center Charter School, Skyline Technical High School, and the Summit School of Ahwatukee.
Snow is extremely rare for the area, but on occasion can be seen on the Sierra Estrella
mountain range to the southwest.
, a Phoenix city park, has numerous outdoor activity opportunities. Cycling, hiking, baseball, and soccer are common activities.
Hiking
Hiking in the Ahwatukee area is a popular activity in and around South Mountain Park. Telegraph Pass, Pima Canyon and Beverly Canyon are all popular trail heads with dozens of other trail areas also available.
Hiking Links
Cycling
Ahwatukee is a destination for road cyclists and mountain bikers. Road cycling
clubs and community members utilize Pecos Road and the hills of Ahwatukee near 5th Avenue and Desert Foothills Parkway for training and scenic rides alike. A park and ride location is often used as a starting point for cyclists who live outside of the community.
Mountain bikers utilize the trails of South Mountain Park for riding opportunities. Various trails are available rated from easy to difficult throughout South Mountain Park.
Golf
Four golf courses are located within the community including:
, Larry Fitzgerald
, Todd McFarlane
,and Mark Calcavecchia
.
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
bordered on the north by South Mountain Park
South Mountain Park
South Mountain Park in Phoenix, Arizona, is the largest city park in the United States, one of the largest urban parks in North America and in the world. It has been designated as a Phoenix Point of Pride.-Geography and Ecology:...
and Baseline Road, on the east by Interstate 10 and the cities of Chandler
Chandler, Arizona
-Demographics:As of the Census of 2010, there were 236,123 people, 86,924 households, and 60,212 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 73.3% White, 4.8% Black or African American, 1.5% Native American, 8.2% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 21.9% Hispanic or Latino, and 8.3%...
, Guadalupe
Guadalupe, Arizona
Guadalupe is a town in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town is 5,258. The town is nestled between Phoenix and Tempe. Since its founding, it has been known as a center of Yaqui culture and it is home to many religious festivals...
, and Tempe
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
, and on the south and west by the Gila River Indian Community
Gila River Indian Community
The Gila River Indian Community is an Indian reservation in the U.S. state of Arizona, lying adjacent to the south side of the city of Phoenix, within the Phoenix Metropolitan Area in Pinal and Maricopa Counties. It was established in 1859, and formally established by Congress in 1939...
. It is the southernmost of the city's 15 urban villages. As of 2010, the 35.8 square-mile (92.7 km²) neighborhood has a population of 77,249.
Although annexed by the city of Phoenix between 1978 and 1987, before substantial residential growth, many of Ahwatukee's residents do not strongly associate their region with the rest of the city, due in part to its geographic isolation (South Mountain and South Mountain Park separate Ahwatukee from the other 14 urban villages of Phoenix, which lie to the north).
History
Legend has it that in 1921, Dr. and Mrs. W.V.B. Ames built a house on approximately 2000 acres (809.4 ha) on the southeast side of South MountainSouth Mountains (Arizona)
The South Mountains , known locally as simply South Mountain, is a mountain range in central Arizona in south Phoenix, Arizona. It is on public land managed by the city of Phoenix as South Mountain Park...
. They gave the area its original Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
name, Casa de Sueños, which in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
means "House of Dreams". Dr. Ames died within just three months of moving into the house, and after Mrs. Ames' death, in 1933, the house and most of the land was willed to St. Luke's Hospital/
In 1935, the house and land was bought by Miss Helen Brinton, who appeared to have retranslated the name of the house to the Crow
Crow language
Crow is a Missouri Valley Siouan language spoken primarily by the Crow Nation in present-day southeastern Montana...
word which now serves as the name of the village. The house was demolished in 1979, and parts of it were used to build the Our Lady of Guadalupe church.
As it turns out, the Crow translation for "House of Dreams" (ashe ammeewiawe) sounds nothing like Ahwatukee. More likely, Brinton named the town after the Crow words awe chuuke, meaning "land on the other side of the hill" or "land in the next valley". This is, at first glance, a curious choice on her part because the Crow are a native northern plains tribe originally based in Wyoming, now residing in southeast Montana, and have never been associated with Arizona where the Apache, Hopi, Pima, and Navajo peoples are indigenous. Brinton, however, actually having spent much time in the Wyoming (Crow) vicinities and finally making her last home there, would have very likely been strongly influenced by her experience in Wyoming enough to use a Crow-derived name for the beloved land she left behind. This seeming inconsistency only serves to add to the lore of Ahwatukee.
In 1971, part of the land was purchased, subdivided, and developed into a HOA by the Presley Development Company.
Marty Gibson was the first to write a book on the history of Ahwatukee, entitled "The History of Ahwatukee".
Ahwatukee has grown as Phoenix acquired other land parcels to the west, including land owned by International Harvester
International Harvester
International Harvester Company was a United States agricultural machinery, construction equipment, vehicle, commercial truck, and household and commercial products manufacturer. In 1902, J.P...
, which operated a proving ground
Proving ground
A proving ground is the US name for a military installation or reservation where weapons or other military technology are experimented or tested, or where military tactics are tested...
for earth-moving equipment there from 1947 to 1983. The state of Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
has bought, sold, or swapped land several times, including transferring state trust
Land trust
There are two distinct definitions of a land trust:* a private, nonprofit organization that, as all or part of its mission, actively works to conserve land by undertaking or assisting in land or conservation easement acquisition, or by its stewardship of such land or easements; or* an agreement...
land to developers in controversial auctions in which residents and conservationist
Conservationist
Conservationists are proponents or advocates of conservation. They advocate for the protection of all the species in an ecosystem with a strong focus on the natural environment...
s have lobbied for the space to be converted to parkland.
Neighborhood characteristics
Surrounded to the northwest by South Mountain Park, and blocked to the east by I-10 and to the south by the Gila River Indian Community, Ahwatukee Foothills is geographically isolated from the city which it is part of, Phoenix. Due to its relatively few access points (mainly through a few bridges across Interstate 10), it has been called The World's Largest Cul-de-sacCul-de-sac
A cul-de-sac is a word of French origin referring to a dead end, close, no through road or court meaning dead-end street with only one inlet/outlet...
.
Education
The area's K-8 students are served by the Kyrene School DistrictKyrene School District
Kyrene School District is a K-8 school district that serves parts of Tempe, Chandler, Guadalupe, and Phoenix, Arizona, as well as portions of the Gila River Indian Community within Maricopa County. It has nineteen elementary schools and six middle schools. The district office, the Ben Furlong...
. The Kyrene Schools in Ahwatukee include Kyrene Cerritos (K-5), Kyrene De La Colina (K-5), Kyrene de la Esperanza (K-5), Kyrene de las Lomas (K-5), Kyrene de la Estrella (K-5), Kyrene Monte Vista (K-5), Kyrene de los Lagos (K-5), Kyrene del Milenio (K-5), and Kyrene de la Sierra (K-5) elementary schools, and Centennial (6-8), Akimel A-al (6-8), Altadeña (6-8) middle schools. High school students go to one of two in the area: Desert Vista
Desert Vista High School
Desert Vista High School is located in the Ahwatukee neighborhood of Phoenix, Arizona, was established in 1996, and is a part of the Tempe Union High School District.-Academics:...
and Mountain Pointe
Mountain Pointe High School
Mountain Pointe High School is a secondary school located in the community of Ahwatukee, which is in the southern part of Phoenix, Arizona. Mountain Pointe is a part of the Tempe Union High School District....
. Both schools are operated by the Tempe Union High School District, the best, by test scores, school district in Arizona. There are also a number of private/charter schools, including Inspire Kids Montessori (which opened in June 2010 and serves children ages 2-6), Keystone Montessori School, Horizon Community Learning Center Charter School, Skyline Technical High School, and the Summit School of Ahwatukee.
Climate
Ahwatukee receives approximately 12 inch of rainfall yearly. Temperatures are mild during the winter months and daily highs average around 67 °F (19.4 °C). In the summer, daily high temperatures average around 110 °F (43.3 °C).Snow is extremely rare for the area, but on occasion can be seen on the Sierra Estrella
Sierra Estrella
The Sierra Estrella is a mountain range located southwest of Phoenix, Arizona. Much of the range falls within the Gila River Indian Reservation, but of BLM land is protected as the Sierra Estrella Wilderness.-Description:...
mountain range to the southwest.
Recreation
Ahwatukee with its proximity to the South Mountain ParkSouth Mountain Park
South Mountain Park in Phoenix, Arizona, is the largest city park in the United States, one of the largest urban parks in North America and in the world. It has been designated as a Phoenix Point of Pride.-Geography and Ecology:...
, a Phoenix city park, has numerous outdoor activity opportunities. Cycling, hiking, baseball, and soccer are common activities.
Hiking
Hiking in the Ahwatukee area is a popular activity in and around South Mountain Park. Telegraph Pass, Pima Canyon and Beverly Canyon are all popular trail heads with dozens of other trail areas also available.
Hiking Links
Cycling
Ahwatukee is a destination for road cyclists and mountain bikers. Road cycling
Road cycling
Road cycling is the most widespread form of cycling. It includes recreational, racing, and utility cycling. Road cyclists are generally expected to obey the same rules and laws as other vehicle drivers or riders and may also be vehicular cyclists....
clubs and community members utilize Pecos Road and the hills of Ahwatukee near 5th Avenue and Desert Foothills Parkway for training and scenic rides alike. A park and ride location is often used as a starting point for cyclists who live outside of the community.
Mountain bikers utilize the trails of South Mountain Park for riding opportunities. Various trails are available rated from easy to difficult throughout South Mountain Park.
Golf
Four golf courses are located within the community including:
Miscellaneous
Famous residents include Dave KriegDave Krieg
David Michael Krieg is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. He attended Milton College and made the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent...
, Larry Fitzgerald
Larry Fitzgerald
Larry Darnell Fitzgerald, Jr. is an American football wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League, and currently ranks fourth all-time in league history in receiving yards per game for a career , behind Andre Johnson, Torry Holt, and Marvin Harrison...
, Todd McFarlane
Todd McFarlane
Todd McFarlane is a Canadian cartoonist, writer, toy designer and entrepreneur, best known for his work in comic books, such as the fantasy series Spawn....
,and Mark Calcavecchia
Mark Calcavecchia
Mark John Calcavecchia is an American professional golfer and a former PGA Tour member. During his professional career, he has won thirteen PGA Tour events, including the 1989 Open Championship. Calcavecchia currently plays on the Champions Tour.-Early years:Calcavecchia was born in Laurel,...
.