GENERAL INFORMATION:  The Town of Paradise Valley Arizona was incorporated in May of 1961.  [History of the Town]  It encompasses an area of 16.5 square miles.  [Map of the Town]  The Town is exclusively zoned for single family residential use.  The majority of the Town is zoned for one acre lots with one house per lot.   No multiple housing units or common walls are permitted.  Any land use other than residential must be authorized by a Special Use Permit, which may only be granted after public hearings before both the Planning Commission and the Town Council.  Some authorized Special Uses are: religious facilities, resorts, medical clinics, stables, golf courses, or private schools.

Paradise Valley Arizona is actually two separate communities, located within the Phoenix city limits. The first is the Town of Paradise Valley, consisting mainly of elite, high priced homes in the Sonoran Desert Hills or tucked behind estate walls. This area, located just north of Camelback Mountain, is almost entirely residential. It encompasses several resorts, as well as exclusive shops and restaurants. The second is Greater Paradise Valley, situated around Paradise Valley Mall. This area contains retail developments, apartments, condominiums, single family homes and town homes as well as small estates with horse privileges and several golf courses. The area is known for its excellent schools and overall quality of family life.

DEMOGRAPHICS: The Town's population in 2000 was 13,664.  Demographic profile

FINANCES: The Town of Paradise Valley Arizona collects no property taxes from residents.  The Town's main sources of revenue are a share of the State of Arizona sales tax, income tax and gasoline taxes, a 1.65% Town sales tax, a 3% Town bed tax, a 1.65% Town use tax, permit fees, annual franchise fees from the utilities, and interest from investments. 

In November 1993, voters in the Town of Paradise Valley approved a Proposition allowing for an accumulation of funds to pay for specific projects.   Current projects are: undergrounding of utility lines, construction of sewer backbone systems, road improvements, and flood control projects.

The Town of Paradise Valley Municipal Property Corporation was formed in 1993 and issued $4.72 million of tax exempt bonds.  These bonds financed the construction of a new Police Department Building and other improvements to the Municipal Complex at Lincoln Drive and Invergordon.

http://www.ci.paradise-valley.az.us/townhall/Welcome.htm

There were 5,034 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 76.1% were married couples living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.3% were non-families. 13.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the town the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 18.8% from 25 to 44, 35.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $150,228, and the median income for a family was $164,811. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $52,302 for females. The per capita income for the town was $81,290. About 1.9% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.

Based on median household income, Paradise Valley is the wealthiest city in Arizona

Paradise Valley is a town in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA. The population of the city is 14,558. Despite the town's relatively small area and population compared to other cities in the Phoenix metropolitan area, Paradise Valley is home to twelve resorts, making it one of Arizona's premiere tourist destinations. It has exclusive real estate, with a median home price at $1.74 million, with many exceeding $5 million and some over $20 million.

It should not be confused with the village in northeast Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Arizona. For instance, Paradise Valley Community College, Paradise Valley High School, Paradise Valley Hospital, Paradise Valley Mall, and Paradise Valley Golf Course are all located several miles to the north, in Phoenix - a considerable distance from the town that actually bears their name.

Paradise Valley is often considered to be an extension of Scottsdale, another area with a wealthy reputation. Residents attend schools in the Scottsdale Unified School District.

There is a Paradise Valley Unified School District, and it is one of the largest in the state, though like many other institutions with Paradise Valley's name, it operates in Phoenix.

Famous Residents of Paradise Valley AZ

Former United States Senator and 1964 Republican Presidential candidate Barry Goldwater died in Paradise Valley. A statue on Tatum Boulevard in the town commemorates him. Former World Wrestling Federation champion "Superstar" Billy Graham also lived here during his professional wrestling career. Adult Entertainment Superstar, Jenna Jameson makes a home in Paradise Valley. Former Utah Jazz star Jeff Hornacek lives there. Humorist Erma Bombeck resided in the town. The 44th Vice President of the United States, Dan Quayle, is also a long time resident. In addition, singers Stevie Nicks and Alice Cooper, actor Leslie Nielsen, and former US Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor currently reside here. Former Major League Baseball player Mark Grace also lives here. Paradise Valley is also the home of Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Randy Johnson and was for a time the home of former professional boxer Mike Tyson (his home was sold in April 2007 in part due to Tyson's ongoing legal issues). Former NHL great Jeremy Roenick resides in Paradise Valley, also.

Action-adventure author Clive Cussler makes Paradise Valley his home for part of the year. He often does charity work in the Phoenix area.

The city was founded by the late supreme court justice William Rehnquist and businessman George Andrews