Pioneers of Tempe compared the 300-foot butte towering over the Salt Valley to Mount Olympus, and therefore named their city after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. This Arizona city boasts more water than is expected of a land-locked state, due to the dams creating Tempe Town Lake. The lake and Salt River provide a cooling effect for the city and its nearly 200,000 residents.
Tempe offers a perfect blend of historic preservation and modern renovation, creating a comfortable retirement spot for residents of assisted living. Tempe’s economically and environmentally sound principles have gained this city honor as the very first recipient of the “Smart Growth Award” in 2009.