Tempe (/tɛmˈpiː/ tem-PEE;[4] Oidbaḍ in O'odham) is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2020 population of 180,587.

US military service members and Hispanic workers were hired to grow food and animal feed to supply the fort, and less than a year later, had set up small camps near the river that were the first permanent communities in the Valley after the fall of the Hohokam.

The Tempe Irrigating Canal Company was soon established by William Kirkland and James McKinney to provide water for alfalfa, wheat, barley, oats, and cotton.

[5] From its founding in 1871 until 90 years later, Tempe was a sundown town where African Americans were permitted to work but forced to live elsewhere.

The Maricopa and Phoenix Railroad, built in 1887, crossed the Salt River at Tempe, linking the town to the nation's growing transportation system.

On his way to dedicate the dam, former President Theodore Roosevelt applauded the accomplishments of the people of central Arizona and predicted that their towns would be prosperous cities in the future.

Due to this as well as being the home of the main campus of Arizona State University, Tempe has a fairly dense, urbanized development pattern in the northern part of the city especially in relation to the Valley Metro Line.

Going south, development becomes less dense, consisting of single-family homes, strip malls and lower-density office parks.

The city of Tempe is bordered by Mesa to the east, Scottsdale and the Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community to the north, Phoenix and Guadalupe to the west, and Chandler to the south.

Tempe experiences a desert climate with a higher degree of diurnal temperature variation than neighboring Phoenix.

Benchmark Electronics, Carvana, GoDaddy, NortonLifeLock,[19] First Solar,[20][21] the Salt River Project, Circle K, and Fulton Homes are also headquartered in Tempe.

Tempe Town Lake is home to many national and international events, such as Ironman Arizona and Rock n Roll Marathon.

Gammage Auditorium was also the site of one of the three Presidential debates in 2004, and Super Bowl XXX was played at Sun Devil Stadium.

Mill Avenue, located just west of Hayden Butte, is a shopping and entertainment area in the city popular with pedestrians and students.

According to Tempe's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the financial year ending June 2020,[23] the top employers in the city are: Opened in September 2007, Tempe Center for the Arts (TCA) is a community crown jewel for performing and visual arts.

[26] Tempe enjoyed a thriving alternative music scene throughout the 1980s and '90s, producing acts including as the Gin Blossoms, Meat Puppets, Dead Hot Workshop, The Refreshments, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, Hans Olson, The Maine, and Injury Reserve.

Historic dive-bar Yucca Tap Room, one of the last remaining 'small stage' venues that defined this era, continues to host nightly local live music.

[30][31] The Tempe Tourism Office, located on Mill Avenue's downtown district, provides maps and additional information about hotels and upcoming city events.

The Cardinals have since moved to State Farm Stadium in Glendale for games, but maintain their headquarters and training facility in Tempe.

Currently as a Division I Independent program, the men's ice hockey team plays at 5,000-seat Mullett Arena.

The lake provides recreation activities to residents and tourists, but also helps protect the surrounding area from flooding.

[37] Papago Park and Tempe Butte Desert Preserves offer hiking, mountain and road biking, rock climbing, disc golf, and equestrian activities.

Tempe is one of the most densely populated cities in the state and serves as a crossroads for the area's largest communities.

Tempe residents and commuters make extensive use of public transit and service is offered on a more frequent basis than elsewhere in the greater Phoenix valley, or in the entire state.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, located 2 miles (3.2 km) northwest of Tempe, provides extensive air service to points throughout North America and to London, England, and various cities in Hawaii.

Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport is located in Mesa, and offers air service to many additional destinations.

The incident caused Uber to suspend its self-driving car program nationwide, and its permit to operate in Arizona was revoked.

[47][48]  In this community, residents are contractually forbidden from parking a vehicle within a quarter mile radius of the area.