Phoenix's southeastern suburbs culminate in this city of 275,000, where Sonoran Desert landscape meets master-planned community development. Brutal summer heat pushes into 106°F from June through August, while mild winters average 65°F in January with freezing temperatures rare. The city receives only 8 inches of annual precipitation, with dramatic monsoon thunderstorms providing most rainfall July through September. Technology companies, particularly semiconductor manufacturing, drive employment in this former agricultural area transformed by air conditioning and explosive growth.
