Glendale has become one of the fastest growing cities in an already booming metropolitan area. Since the 1950s, the Glendale area has exploded in population, housing, education, arts and culture, as well as industry and commerce. Employment opportunities in construction, health care and manufacturing are abundant. Luke Air Force Base is Glendale’s largest employer, contributing more than $1.5 billion to the Arizona economy. Glendale hosts numerous major festivals to create interest in its downtown district and residents and visitors alike enjoy the many special events. More than 400,000 people attend the annual Glendale Glitters Spectacular, Glendale Chocolate Affaire and the Glendale Jazz and Blues Festival. The Glendale library system is the center of culture and art for the city. The Main Library houses a $1 million public art collection and hosts several musical and ethnic performances and plays each year.

Sports enthusiasts don’t have to go very far to enjoy a great sporting event. Residents and visitors can easily watch the Arizona Cardinals football team play in their home field at the University of Phoenix Stadium. Formerly known as the Cardinals Stadium, the University of Phoenix Stadium is known for its amazing retractable field and roof. Other than hosting football games, the Stadium hosts a wide variety of events, concerts, trade shows, and most recently, Super Bowl XLII. Hockey enthusiasts can catch a Phoenix Coyotes game across the street at the Jobing.com Arena, also located in Glendale.

Glendale offers numerous parks providing many facilities. In addition to the many neighborhood parks, there are eight larger community parks and three regional parks, including Grand Canal Linear Park and Sahuaro Ranch Park. Thunderbird Park is a conservation project that protects the diverse vegetation and wildlife indigenous to the area. The city also has two nine-hole executive golf courses, Glen Lakes and Desert Mirage.