Surprise is located in the northwest valley of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. The suburb City of Surprise is just 45 minutes from Downtown Phoenix and Sky Harbor International Airport.
Surprise was incorporated in 1960 with less than 2,000 residents within the one-mile square original townsite and has grown to over 110 incorporated square miles with room for additional growth since the planning area is about 302 square miles.
In the 50 years from 1970 to 2020, Surprise grew from 2,427 to 143,148 in population and continues to grow with a 2022 Population Estimate of 153,505 which makes Surprise the 10th largest city in Arizona and the 176th largest city in the United States.
Surprise still has a small town feel as it has a relatively low population density among the top 200 US Cities with a population estimate of 153,505 people and over 110 incorporated square miles for a density of 1,391 people per square mile
Compared to New York City with a population of over 8.1 million and about 300 square miles which has a population density of 27,222 people per square mile.
Surprise has a small-town feel with big-city amenities
The City of Surprise and Surprise Stadium are hosts of the MLB Cactus League Spring Training Games with TWO Major League Baseball Home Teams allowing for a Home Team Game in Surprise Stadium nearly every day each year during the Month of March.
Surprise Stadium also hosts the MLB Arizona Fall League Surprise Saguaros.
About the AFL
“There are six teams in the Arizona Fall League: the Scottsdale Scorpions, Mesa Solar Sox, Salt River Rafters, Glendale Desert Dogs, Peoria Javelinas and Surprise Saguaros. These club names were picked by Major League Baseball as reflective of the Southwestern desert traditions in the state.
Each Major League Baseball team sends six top prospects to the Arizona Fall League, 180 players in all. The games are played in the Spring Training stadiums used by the Mariners, Padres, Cubs, A’s, D-backs and Rockies.
How good are the players in the Arizona Fall League? The 2019 All-Star Game in Cleveland featured 43 AFL alums. Nearly 60 percent of all AFL players make a Major League roster, with an incredible 321 All-Stars, 19 MVPs, six Cy Young Award Winners, seven World Series MVPs, 99 Silver Sluggers, 88 Gold Gloves, and 30 Rookies of the Year.
Each August, Major League clubs hold a position draft to determine the players who will go to Arizona. Most are Double-A and Triple-A Minor League players.” – MLB Arizona Fall League
Surprise Stadium is also the Home Stadium of our local Ottawa University – Arizona (OUAZ) Spirit Baseball Team as well as many College Baseball Tournaments.
Surprise Stadium is utilized for activities year-round. To help make all of these events a success, we also have a large volunteer group called the Surprise Sundancers.
Surprise Sundancers Website: www.surprisesundancers.org
“The Surprise Sundancers, founded in 2002, are the official Spring Training volunteer organization of the Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers and the City of Surprise.
The Sundancers are a registered 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that currently consists of over 750 members!
The Sundancers also provide volunteer services at the Surprise Recreation Campus and other City Special Events.
As a non-profit volunteer organization, the Surprise Sundancers raise charitable donations and receive contributions to support greater Surprise/Northwest Valley youth-related programs and projects, including the award winning Dream Catcher Park.”
Prasada Village in Surprise
One of the largest outdoor malls to be built in a couple decades is currently under construction in Surprise along Loop 303 at the Waddell Road exit. According to the developer, it will be “Bringing more than 700,000 square feet of shops, a restaurant row, and an entertainment district, Village at Prasada will represent a new era of exciting possibilities in the West Valley for all ages and stages in life.”
A FatCats Full of Fun Entertainment Center is currently under construction.
The NFL Cardinals along with the Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium are our neighbors located in Glendale Arizona
Glendale shares a City Border with Surprise and they host the NFL Cardinals in State Farm Stadium which is also nearby to a TOP GOLF Facility, Tangier Outlet Mall, Westgate Entertainment Center, a major $1Billion VAI Resort (short Video) under construction with a planned late 2023 opening that is adjacent to the Mattel Adventure Park (Video) also under construction, and The Desert Diamond Casino, which is owned and operated by the Tohono O’odham Nation.
“The Wildlife Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park has Arizona’s largest collection of exotic and endangered animals, with more than 600 separate species, rides, a petting zoo, and daily events” – wildlifeworld.com and is just two miles south of Surprise at Loop 303 and Northern Avenue.
The Recreation Campus includes the Tennis and Raquet Complex – one of the largest Facilities like it in the Southwest
The Surprise Tennis and Raquet Complex has 25 lighted courts for Tennis, Raquetball, and Pickleball. At the Surprise Tennis and Raquet Complex Website: Tennis and Raquet Complex you can sign up for lessons and memberships. Surprise has also been a regular host of USTA events and has hosted professional tennis exhibitions as well.
2009 YouTube Video
See More about Surprise Arizona on That Surprise “LIST”
Recent Posts
Top 10 Restaurants in Surprise, Arizona - Survey 5,361 Responses
The City of Surprise and its Economic Development Department conducts annual Surveys of its residents regarding their choice for the Top 10 Favorite Restaurants with the most recent survey in...
Here is a COMPLETE LIST of all 215 Restaurants Licensed in Surprise, Arizona. The fast-growing City of Surprise has many new restaurants starting up regularly and we will add them to...