In 1891,Dr. Alexander John Chandler, a Canadian and the first veterinary surgeon in theArizona Territory, settled on a ranch south ofMesa and studiedirrigation engineering. By 1900, he had acquired 18,000 acres (73 km2) of land and began drawing up plans for a town-site on what was then known as the Chandler Ranch. The town-site office opened on May 16, 1912.
The original town-site was bounded by Galveston Street to the north, Frye Road to the south, Hartford Street to the west, and Hamilton Street to the east.[5] By 1913, a town center was established, featuring the Hotel San Marcos, which also had the first grass golf course in the state.Chandler High School was established in 1914. Chandler was officially incorporated on February 16, 1920, after 186 residents petitioned theMaricopa County Board of Supervisors to approveincorporation.[citation needed]
Most of Chandler's economy was sustained during theGreat Depression (though the Depression was to blame for the cancellation of a second San Marcos hotel), but the cotton crash a few years later had a much deeper impact on the city's residents. A. J. Chandler lost his San Marcos hotel to creditors as a result.[6] Later, the founding ofWilliams Air Force Base in 1941 led to a small surge in population, but Chandler still only held 3,800 people by 1950.[citation needed]
By 1980, the population had grown to 30,000, and it has since paced the Phoenix metropolitan area's high rate of growth, with suburban residential areas and commercial use areas swallowing former agricultural plots. The population has nearly doubled in the last twenty years. Some of this growth was fueled by the establishment of manufacturing plants for communications and computing firms such asMicrochip,Motorola andIntel.
According to the2020 census, Chandler has a total area of 65.55 square miles (169.8 km2), of which 0.07 square miles (0.18 km2), or 0.11%, are listed as water.[2] The center of the city, alongArizona State Route 87, is 22 miles (35 km) southeast ofDowntown Phoenix.
Chandler is in proximity to/borders the San-Tan mountain range. The San-Tan mountains are in the jurisdiction of theGila River Indian Community.
Chandler is divided into three parts: North Chandler, West Chandler and South Chandler, each being divided by theLoop 202 (Santan Freeway) andLoop 101 (Price Freeway).
Chandler, Arizona – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
As of the 2022[update]American Community Survey estimates, there were 280,684 people and 106,712 households.[13][14] Thepopulation density was 4,276.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,651.1/km2). There were 113,092 housing units at an average density of 1,722.9 per square mile (665.2/km2).[15][16][14] The racial makeup of the city was 56.0% White, 13.4% Asian, 7.6% Black or African American, 4.4% some other race, 1.0% Native American or Alaskan Native, and 0.1% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, with 17.5% from two or more races.[14]Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 21.2% of the population.[14]
Of the 106,712 households, 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 24.2% had seniors 65 years or older living with them, 50.7% were married couples living together, 7.4% were couples cohabitating, 18.3% had a male householder with no partner present, and 23.6% had a female householder with no partner present.[13] The median household size was 2.61 and the median family size was 3.12.[13]
The age distribution was 23.8% under 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 or older. The median age was 37.0 years.[17] For every 100 females, there were 105.8 males.[14]
The median income for a household was $98,664, with family households having a median income of $116,362 and non-family households $66,304. Theper capita income was $50,247.[18][19] Out of the 279,322 people with a determined poverty status, 7.6% were below thepoverty line. Further, 9.3% of minors and 7.6% of seniors were below the poverty line.[20]
Computer chip manufacturerIntel has two locations in Chandler. Other high-technology manufacturing firms have partnerships with Chandler,[21] their operations employing approximately 25% of non-government workers in 2007.[22]
Since 2003, more than 2,900 jobs and investments totalling$3 billion have been created along thePrice andSantanfreeways,[23] in the Price Road Corridor. The 1,300,000-square-foot (120,000 m2)Chandler Fashion Center, opened in 2001.
A.J. Chandler Park in downtown Chandler contains atumbleweed Christmas tree during the holidays.
Chandler holds an annual Ostrich Festival at Tumbleweed Park[25] to commemorate when ostrich farms in the area produced plumes for women's hats during the 1910s.[citation needed]
Chandler also holds an annual ceremony to lighta tree made fromtumbleweeds; a ceremony founded in 1957 when Chandler sought an alternative way to decorate the city during the Christmas holidays.[26]
The Chandler Public Library serves Chandler and the greaterEast Valley. The main library is in Downtown Chandler, with two branches elsewhere in the city: Sunset, Basha (shared withBasha High School), and Hamilton (shared withHamilton High School).
Lake at Village of Gila Springs subdivision, Chandler
Tumbleweed Park hosts the annual Ostrich Festival, the Fourth of July Fireworks Festival and the annual Day of Play. It features a recreational center with equipment suited for fitness.[30]
Hamilton Aquatic Center is a shared-use aquatic facility, located withinHamilton High School's campus.[31]
Nozomi Aquatic Center is a shared-use aquatic facility which includes a 25 yard, 8-lane competition pool.[32]
Veterans Oasis Park is located at the city's highest point, at 1,311 feet (400 m).[33] It includes a wildlife preservation and designated horse and walking trails.[34]
Chandler is represented by amayor, a vice mayor and five city council members. The vice mayor is elected by the city council from among its members. The mayor, vice mayor and council membersrepresent the entire city and are not elected from districts or wards.[35]
Kevin Hartke, a Republican, was elected to his second term as mayor in 2023.[35]
Post-secondary educational institutions located in Chandler include: The University of Arizona Chandler,[36] International Baptist College, and the two-yearChandler-Gilbert Community College, which serves 13,000 students.[citation needed]
