Phoenix, Arizona, is smack in the middle of the desert, yet over 5 million people call it home! Why? It’s all about clever planning and modern tech. First, there’s air conditioning—without it, those blazing 100+ degree days would be unbearable. Next, they’ve got a system of canals that bring water from rivers to the city, making life possible in such a dry place. People also love Phoenix for its sunny weather, wide-open spaces, and cool desert vibe. Sure, it’s hot, but it’s a dry heat—and for many, that beats freezing winters elsewhere! Would you love to live in such conditions? Animation is created by Bright Side. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Music from TheSoul Sound: https://thesoul-sound.com/ Check our Bright Side podcast on Spotify and leave a positive review! https://open.spotify.com/show/0hUkPxD34jRLrMrJux4VxV Subscribe to Bright Side: https://goo.gl/rQTJZz ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Our Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brightside Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightside.official TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brightside.official?lang=en Telegram: https://t.me/bright_side_official Stock materials (photos, footages and other): https://www.depositphotos.com https://www.shutterstock.com https://www.eastnews.ru ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For more videos and articles visit: http://www.brightside.me ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This video is made for entertainment purposes. We do not make any warranties about the completeness, safety and reliability. Any action you take upon the information in this video is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any damages or losses. It is the viewer's responsibility to use judgement, care and precaution if you plan to replicate.
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00:00Ah, Phoenix.
00:03This sizzling gem in the Sonoran Desert isn't just another American city.
00:07It's more like a giant oven where you can throw a party, as long as you don't forget
00:11the ice.
00:12Seriously, if you find yourself here in the summer, brace yourself for some serious heat.
00:18We're talking about temperatures that regularly pass 100 degrees.
00:23And in 2024, Phoenix hit 110 degrees 55 times during the summer, tying the record set just
00:31the year before.
00:32Now, I get it if you're not a fan of hot weather.
00:36But apparently, a lot of people love living in a sauna.
00:40Phoenix ranks as the 5th largest city in the United States, and it is the capital and most
00:45populous city in Arizona, with 1.7 million residents as of 2024.
00:51And if we're talking about the metropolitan area, also known as the Valley of the Sun,
00:56the population is almost 5 million.
00:59Yet, good luck finding someone actually born here.
01:03Out of every 4 Phoenix residents, 3 were born somewhere else.
01:08Believe it or not, Phoenix wasn't always this bustling crowded place.
01:12It became one.
01:13A few decades ago, it was just a sleepy little dot on the map.
01:18Back in the 1940s, the population was around 65,000.
01:22It wasn't even close to cracking the top 100 list of the largest U.S. cities.
01:28At that time, Phoenix was mostly an agricultural hub, and its economy revolved around what
01:34they called the 5 Cs – cotton, citrus, cattle, climate, and copper.
01:39But things really started to change in the 1950s thanks to one life-changing invention
01:45– drumroll please – the air conditioner.
01:48Actually, it was the portable version that came out in 1945, created by an American inventor
01:54named Robert Sherman.
01:56Phoenix residents owe a lot to Robert for making life bearable during scorching summers.
02:02Before A.C., people in Phoenix would literally move their beds outside and build sleeping
02:07porches.
02:08They'd protect that kind of outdoorsy space with light curtains or some kind of net to
02:13keep the dust and bugs out.
02:15Mmm, fun!
02:16Anyway, the point is that the air conditioner played a big part in making Phoenix an easier
02:21place to live.
02:23Since the 1940s, this city in Arizona has transformed from a dusty little town into
02:29a sprawling urban jungle, and it's still one of the top 10 fastest-growing metro areas
02:34in the U.S.
02:36The best part is, it looks like that won't change anytime soon, since this 519-square-mile
02:42metropolis is surrounded by rolling desert, with plenty of room to keep growing as far
02:47as the eye can see.
02:49So who's dropping everything to move to Phoenix?
02:52Well, Californians are the city's biggest fans.
02:56According to a recent survey, a third of all new renters moving to Phoenix come from Los
03:01Angeles.
03:02Okay, that survey might not be the most reliable since it only applies to the source's clients,
03:08but it does line up with U.S. Census Bureau data from 2019, which says that 70,000 Californians
03:15moved to Arizona in the previous year.
03:18The connection between Phoenix and L.A. is so strong that some people even call Phoenix
03:23the next L.A.
03:24You've got to give Phoenix credit for capitalizing on its proximity to Southern California.
03:30The city offers lower taxes, fewer regulations, and lower costs of living, which makes it
03:35a magnet for businesses, especially in high-tech and service industries.
03:40So in the 90s, Phoenix was considered a non-stop generator of jobs.
03:45In the last few years, we've seen the number of jobs only go up, and the unemployment rate
03:50has dropped by nearly half, going from 6.3 in January 2014 to 3.4 in the same month in
03:582024.
04:01When it comes to big city problems, you can't avoid talking about traffic.
04:06But here's another reason why Phoenix is a dream city.
04:09It doesn't even come close to the traffic nightmares you find in places like L.A.
04:14Estimates show that people in Los Angeles waste about 119 hours a year just sitting
04:20in traffic.
04:22But in Phoenix, it's more like 61 hours.
04:25Huge difference, huh?
04:26But let's not even start talking about the money people waste just sitting in traffic.
04:31In L.A., drivers burn through about $2,440 worth of gas per year.
04:38In Phoenix, they waste 25 gallons of fuel, which ends up costing about $952.
04:43Yeah, that's still a lot of cash, but compared to L.A., come on, that's a steal.
04:51Phoenix being okay in terms of traffic might have a lot to do with how the city was designed.
04:56Just take a look at a map of Phoenix.
04:58You'll notice it looks like someone took a ruler and drew perfectly straight lines
05:03for the roads.
05:04That's because the city was laid out in a grid system.
05:07This setup makes it so much easier to get around, especially compared to cities full
05:12of confusing twists, U-turns, and one-way streets.
05:16It just simplifies things, whether you're a local or a tourist.
05:20Plus, Phoenix has nice wide streets.
05:24Most cities have one major road and a bunch of narrow streets that just can't handle
05:28heavy traffic.
05:29But Phoenix has wide roads everywhere.
05:32So when the freeways get jammed, you can just hop onto a parallel street and still get to
05:37work without stressing out too much.
05:41When you look at all the job opportunities and the relatively smooth traffic, it's
05:45no wonder people are willing to put up with the heat and move to Phoenix.
05:49But don't get it twisted, the heat is no joke.
05:52It is really, really hot and sunny out there.
05:55We're talking about 300 days of sunshine on average, or about 85% daylight hours per
06:02year.
06:03But once again, Phoenix has made the best of it.
06:05And all that constant sunshine has turned Phoenix into one of the top solar energy cities
06:11in the country.
06:12Now you may be wondering, a city in the middle of the desert with barely any rain, do they
06:17actually have enough water?
06:20Well, they do.
06:22Phoenix has its water situation pretty well sorted out, thanks to multiple sources.
06:26I mean, they don't rely on rain alone, which is a good thing because, you know, desert
06:31life.
06:32Most of their water comes from way up north and east of the valley, where snow melts off
06:37the mountains and flows into giant reservoirs, storing it up for those dry years.
06:42But most of Phoenix's water comes from the Salt River Project, which brings water through
06:47canals and pipelines from the Salt and Verde Rivers.
06:51Then there's the Central Arizona Project, which transports water all the way from the
06:56Colorado River.
06:57They even get a bit of water from underground wells.
07:00And Phoenix doesn't want to waste a drop, so they're smart about recycling, reusing
07:05treated water to keep parks green, and even recharging their groundwater.
07:11Since Phoenix is all about sunny skies nearly every day of the year, it's normal that
07:16people can get a little moody when it actually rains.
07:19But here's the thing – Phoenix always gets a surprise up its sleeve, even when it
07:24comes to bad weather.
07:25When it rains in the deserts, locals get treated to this unique earthy smell.
07:30It's thanks to the creosote bush, a desert plant that releases an amazing fragrance when
07:36the rain hits it.
07:37People describe it as the smell of rain, and honestly, it's one of those fresh, clean
07:42scents that makes you forget you're in the desert for a second.
07:46And if you've never stopped to think about why Phoenix is called Phoenix, well, it's
07:51based on that famous legend of the bird that rises from the ashes.
07:55Now after knowing all the special things about this city and its unique ability to turn challenges
08:00into advantages, we can say the name couldn't have been better chosen.
08:08That's it for today!
08:11So hey, if you pacified your curiosity, then give the video a like and share it with your
08:16friends.
08:17Or if you want more, just click on these videos and stay on the Bright Side!