Finding the Best Places to Retire Since 2006!
Gold Canyon, Arizona
In the Foothills of the Rugged Superstition Mountains Outside of Phoenix, Gold Canyon is Known for its Five 18-Hole Golf Courses, Renowned Renaissance Festival and Beautiful Views
Nestled in the foothills of the rugged Superstition Mountains about 45 miles to the east of downtown Phoenix, Gold Canyon is best known for its five 18-hole golf courses and beautiful views. It began as a cattle ranch in the 1800s and hosted Hollywood cowboys, including John Wayne and Gene Autry, during the 1940s when numerous Westerns were filmed in the area.
Neighborhoods meander and have a lot of cul de sacs. Homes are mostly ranch ramblers and raised ranch ramblers with stucco exteriors. Street names such as Louie Lamour Drive, Yucca Blossom Drive and Desert Dawn Drive reflect the area's landscape and character. Arts associations include the Gold Canyon Arts Council, which produces a music series and a visual arts festival, and Artists of the Superstitions, which hosts a studio tour. The Smiling Dog Learning Center and the Boyce Thompson Arboretum offer nature and gardening classes. Residents enjoy some very good restaurants, including the Gold Canyon Cafe. The Renaissance Festival, one of the world's largest, is headquartered east of town.
Several trails into the Superstitions have their roots near Gold Canyon. The Peralta Trail traverses the Freemont Saddle and affords some of the area's best vistas. Canyon Lake has a marina and is a popular swimming spot.
Population: 12,000 (city proper)
Age 45 or Better: 65%
Cost of Living: 15% above the national average
Median Home Price: $495,000
Climate: Summer temperatures are in the 90s and low-100s, and winter temperatures are in the 60s and 70s. On average, the area receives 12 inches of rain per year.
At Least One Hospital Accepts Medicare Patients? No, but Banner Baywood Medical Center is about nine miles away in Mesa and accepts Medicare patients.Yes. It also has a discount program for people age 55 and better.
At Least One Hospital Accredited by Joint Commission? No, but Banner Baywood Medical Center is about 9 miles away in Mesa and is accredited.
Public Transit: No
Crime Rate: Below the national average
Public Library: No, but Apache Junction, eight miles away, has one.
Political Leanings: Conservative
College Educated: 39%
Is Arizona Considered Tax Friendly for Retirement? Yes
Cons: Dust storms occasionally occur.
Notes: The population has grown 20% during the last 10 years. Home prices have increased 1% since last year.
Recommended as a Retirement Spot? Yes
Arizona:
The Grand Canyon State was originally part of New Mexico. After the land was ceded to the U.S. in 1848, it became a separate territory. It did not enter the union until February 14, 1912. Copper was discovered in the area in 1848, and metals mining continues to be an important part of the economy. Cattle and tourism are two of the states other vital industries.
Although Arizona can be one of the hottest states in the union, air conditioning continues to bring more and more people to the urban areas. The Colorado Plateau spreads through Arizona from the north and is interspersed with remnants of the Rocky Mountains. The land flattens into desert near Phoenix. The Colorado River forms the state's western borders and snakes through the Grand Canyon.
Arizona is home to places with names like Nothing, a ghost town in western Arizona, and the Horspitality Resort.
The state is stubborn when it comes to time. It observes Mountain Standard Time on a year round basis.
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