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Hot Jobs in the Top 10 Micro-Cities in North America - Surprise! Arizona

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By Patty Inglish, MS

Desert 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 vommunities) 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 Suprise 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 Warsby 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.


Top 10 Job Listers and Largest Employers

  1. Banner Thunderbird Medical Center - Health
  2. Banner Boswell Medical Center - Sun Health System - Health 
  3. Blockbuster - Retail sales & rental - videos, games
  4. Critical Connection - Health - Placement service.
  5. Medical Connections - Health - Placement service.
  6. Banner Del Webb Medical Center - Health
  7. Arrowhead Hospital - Health
  8. Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center - Second site, Health
  9. Best Buy - Retail, electronics.
  10. Kindred Hospital - Health

Largest Employers, by size of Employee Pool

  1. Phoenix Sky Harbor Int'l Airport
  2. St. Joseph's Hospital
  3. Mercy Healthcare AZ
  4. Banner Good Samaritan Medical
  5. Honeywell Aerospace
  6. Banner Estrella Medical Center
  7. John C. Lincoln Health
  8. National Comupter System - Government
  9. Banner Thunderbird Medical Center
  10. Sun Health Boswell Hospital

 

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)

  1. Physical Therapists
  2. Registered Nurses (RNs)
  3. Mortage Loan Closers
  4. Customer Service Reps
  5. Seasonal Customer Service Reps
  6. Assistant Managers
  7. Sales Managers
  8. Medical Technologists
  9. Occupational Therapists
  10. 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

Higher Education

This state university is well known and located just outside of Surprise.

This community college operates inside Surprse city limits, convenient to its residents and those from surrounding cities.

 

Sports in Surprise AZ


Cougars, Sonoran Desert Museum

Sun City Stories

Cahokia: City of the Sun : Prehistoric Urban Center in the American Bottom Cahokia: City of the Sun : Prehistoric Urban Center in the American Bottom
Price: $9.95
List Price: $9.95
The Sun City Cannabis Club The Sun City Cannabis Club
Price: $15.61
List Price: $17.00
Sunshine Estates: Rx For Rosedale Sunshine Estates: Rx For Rosedale
A planned retirement in community and mystery attached.
Price: $9.98
List Price: $14.95

Arizona in the News

  • Starting Arizona State CB arrested, suspendedSports Illustrated1 second ago

    TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- Arizona State senior cornerback Terell Carr has been arrested on suspicion of three misdemeanors and booked into a Maricopa County jail.

  • Arizona State signs G Keala KingSportingNews1 second ago

    TEMPE, Ariz. — Keala King has signed with Arizona State and will join the Sun Devils next season. The 6-foot-5, 185-pound guard is among the top prospects in California.

  • Arizona signs Daniel BejaranoSportingNews1 second ago

    TUCSON, Ariz. — Guard Daniel Bejarano has signed with the University of Arizona and will report to the school in next fall. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound Bejarano is ranked among the top shooting guards in the nation by recruiting analysts.

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Comments

RSS for comments on this Hub

RVDaniels profile image

RVDaniels  says:
5 months ago

Surprisingly good hub!

Patty Inglish, MS profile image

Patty Inglish, MS  says:
5 months ago

And a startling good comment!

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