Tempe has become internationally recognized as a premiere and posh tourist destination, while maintaining its own identity and culture as "The West's Most Western Town." However,is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with a population of 169,712 according to 2006 Census Bureau estimates. Darrell Duppa is usually credited with suggesting the name, adopted in 1879, after comparing the Salt River valley near a 300-foot-tall butte, to the Vale of Tempe near Mount Olympus in Greece. Duppa also had the honor of giving name to Phoenix, 11 years earlier. Tempe is a major suburb of Phoenix and is located immediately southeast. The upscale suburb of Scottsdale is immediately to the north of Tempe.

Tempe is the headquarters and executive office of US Airways (formerly America West Airlines) and the main campus of Arizona State University. It was the longtime host of the Fiesta Bowl, although the BCS game moved to University of Phoenix Stadium, located in Glendale, in 2007. On New Year's Eve, the city hosts the Insight Fiesta Bowl Block Party, one of the nation's largest New Year's Eve parties. The event typically has a national band heading a concert, along with several other local and national bands. It was also the site of one of the three Presidential debates in 2004 and Super Bowl XXX. Additionally, it is the spring training host city of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Most of Tempe is served by the Tempe Elementary School District and the Tempe Union High School District.

Other portions are served by:

• Kyrene School District (K-8)
• Scottsdale Unified School District (K-12)
• Mesa Public Schools (K-12)

Tempe is also home to one of the state's three major universities, Arizona State University

Links

• City of Tempe Information – www.tempe.gov
• Tempe Convention and Visitors Bureau – www.tempecvb.com