Hot Jobs in the Top 10 Micro-Cities in North America - Surprise! Arizona
77Desert Scenery in Surprise! AZ.
Hometown Surprise Nebraska
According to the US Census of 2000, 22 males and 22 females lived in the original Surprise. Five were preschoolers and the remainder comprised adults under 65 years of age. By July of 2007, the population count was down to 42! The biggest attraction there is the Big Blue River Bridge that was built in 1898 and is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
Big Blue River Bridge NE, 1898
Out of Nowhere, a Young City
Surprise!
This city was created by real estate developer after the fashion of a "planned city" that he provided for agricultural workers. It's location is the Salt River Valley in Maricopa County. Teh city offers a self proclaimed top-of-the-line K-12 educational system and well-kept neighborhoods that are always improving. The local mall uses the Surprise! logo.
The founder of Surprise in 1938 was Homer Ludden, a former state legislator. Reports have it that he named it after his hometown in Nebraska, but very little information is available about that village (see block to right).
Not incorporated as a city until 1960, Surprise AZ celebrates its 50th birthday in 2010 -- and Good News for job seekers: Money Magazine has declared Surprise AZ a Top American City for new jobs every year since 2000.
Sun City and Sun City West are retirement communities (planned communities) in Surprise AZ that were built by the real estate developer Delbert E. Webb, after whom hospitals and other facilities in the area are named.
Upscale communities, these two add to the success and attractiveness of Surprise as a chief retirement center as well as a business hub. Recreation is a large contributor to this business sector development in the form of numerous local golf courses (see SPORTS below). Mid-Careerists are drawn to this area as both a place of employment and a ready retirement venue in the future, without moving cross country.
Prasada Mall, on a scale with Mall of America is under construction near Surprise AZ at this time and will bring jobs and revenue to the city. See the master plan HERE.
The Sun City Wars
The Sun City Wars by Kevin McHugh; Patricia Gober, Daniel Borough [University of Arizona; California State University, LA]
Some researchers feel that planned communities or common interest developments (CIDs), are a hallmark of the fragmentation of American society– the isolationism of age groups, ethnic groups, professional groups or whoever can afford to contruct a special interest community.
Sun City and Sun City West are two of these communities, for retirees that enjoy an above-average income in retirement. These communities are described as having restrictive covenants and deed clauses, powerful community associations, and strong citizens groups that press their political influence. At least one of these two is home also to highly politically influential older migrants.
The seniors in these two communities wield power by defeating school funding issues at the polls, controlling the Dysart Schools board, and seeking to de-annex themselves out of the district to avoid paying school taxes. While this may be the case, it is likely not unique to Arizona. However, some sociologists feel that CIDs of this sort are placing neighboring communities at risk for substandard education by defeating al the school levees.
Nearby Sonoran Desert & Museum
- Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a world-renowned zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden, all in one place. Exhibits re-create the natural landscape of the Sonoran Desert Region with more than 300 animal species and 1,200 kinds of plants
Top 10 Jobs Listed for Surprise AZ
With a total population 104,000 (including children), Surprise AZ had approximately 20,000 job openings within 25 miles of city center in June 2009, frequently in Phoenix, just 24 miles away. 12,000 of these jobs pay over $40,000 per year in salary and 6,500 hundred pay over $60,000.
In addition, over 3,000 jobs within 15 miles of the center were listed. Glendale AZ is within 9 miles of Surprise as well.
Top 10 Hot Job Listings
Within 15 miles of Surprise, the leading job openings are listed below, most in Healthcare (bold)
- Physical Therapists
- Registered Nurses (RNs)
- Mortage Loan Closers
- Customer Service Reps
- Seasonal Customer Service Reps
- Assistant Managers
- Sales Managers
- Medical Technologists
- Occupational Therapists
- Case Managers
Within 25 miles of Surprise, additional top job openings include the following:
- Business Analysts
- Salespersons & Sales Associates
- Outside Sales Reps
Within 25 miles, the llocations offering the most openings include:
- Phoenix
- Goodyear
- Glendale & Luke Air Force Base (LAFB)
- Peoria
- Sun City, Sun City West - Upscale retirement communities associated with Surprise AZ and just west of Phoenix.
- City of Surprise
Top 10 Job Listers and Largest Employers
- Banner Thunderbird Medical Center - Health
- Banner Boswell Medical Center - Sun Health System - Health
- Blockbuster - Retail sales & rental - videos, games
- Critical Connection - Health - Placement service.
- Medical Connections - Health - Placement service.
- Banner Del Webb Medical Center - Health
- Arrowhead Hospital - Health
- Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center - Second site, Health
- Best Buy - Retail, electronics.
- Kindred Hospital - Health
Largest Employers, by size of Employee Pool
- Phoenix Sky Harbor Int'l Airport
- St. Joseph's Hospital
- Mercy Healthcare AZ
- Banner Good Samaritan Medical
- Honeywell Aerospace
- Banner Estrella Medical Center
- John C. Lincoln Health
- National Comupter System - Government
- Banner Thunderbird Medical Center
- Sun Health Boswell Hospital
Higher Education
This state university is well known and located just outside of Surprise.
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Luke AFB in Glendale AZ.
- Estrella Mountan Community College
- Glendale Community College - Main and North Campuses.
- Marsyl Barber & Styling College
- Missouri Medical College - Museum of a 19th Century medical school located just north of Surprise.
- Park University
This community college operates inside Surprse city limits, convenient to its residents and those from surrounding cities.
- University of Arizona
- Park University
- Webster University - Luke AFB in Glendale AZ
Sports in Surprise AZ
GOLF Clubs and Resorts
- Arizona Traditions Golf Course
- Corte Bella Golf Club
- Del Webb's Sun City Grand Desert Springs Golf Club
- Great Eagle Golf Club & Course
Recreational Sports for Adults, Youth and ADA accomodations: SportsLink for Surprise.
GolfLink for Maricopa County
- Del Webb Father Son Golf
These fairways are like those of historic Scotland. This is a trophy that conjures up golf legends and celebities: Goldwater, Howard Hughes, Bob Hope and others. - Surprise, Arizona's Golf Courses
View additional golf courses around Surprise and Sun City.
Cougars, Sonoran Desert Museum
Job Hunting and Relocation to Surprise
- Jobs in Surprise, AZ - BusinessWeek
Search 6 million jobs online. Find Surprise, AZ job listings & career opportunities. Browse career opportunities by job title, industry, company or location. - Temporary stays help retirement living decisions - Del Webb
Developers of senior housing attract buyers and renters by offering trail stays for a fee comparable to a hotel. These "test-drives" began wuth Del Webb in the 1960s but are gaining traction more than 75,000,000 Boomers begin to retire... - Things to Do in Surprise - Surprise Arizona Attractions
Top ten things to do in Surprise, Arizona--and many of them are free! - Marley Park - A Celebration of Home - Surprise, Arizona
Marley Park is a Celebration of Home. Learn more about our distinctive and diverse family-friendly community, located in Surprise, Arizona. - Surprise, Arizona AZ - Motels, Hotels, Inns, Lodging
Find Surprise, Arizona hotels and motels -- reserve online for your next trip. - Surprise Schools - Education.com
Surprise, Arizona school information. Browse Surprise public and private elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and parent-rated schools.
City in the Sun: The Japanese Concentration Camp
- City of the Sun
City of the Sun was about 50 miles west of Surprise AZ and a Japanese Internment Camp during World War II.
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RVDaniels Level 3 Commenter 2 years ago
Surprisingly good hub!