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Surprise, Arizona

Located in Maricopa County, Arizona, Surprise was established in 1938. Surprise grew from under 1,000 in 1960 to nearly 180,000—over 17,000% growth. Named by its founder who doubted it would ever amount to anything.
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Founded 1938 | Population 179,149 | Peak 179,149 (2024) | County Maricopa County

Top 10 Most Important Events for Surprise, Arizona

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1938 Flora Mae Statler Founds Town: Founder said she'd be 'surprised' if it ever amounted to much.
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1990 Sun City Grand Begins: Del Webb retirement community triggers explosive growth.
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2002 Surprise Stadium Opens: Rangers and Royals make it their Cactus League spring training home.
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2003 Fastest-Growing City: Population explodes from 30,000 to 80,000 in five years.
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2008 Housing Crisis Hits Hard: Great Recession devastates Phoenix suburbs.
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Latest News in Surprise

Mar 18, 2026
Shattering the Myth: Cesar Chavez’s Dark Secrets Exposed
The recent surge of abuse allegations against Cesar Chavez has ignited a firestorm of criticism from prominent Latino leaders, who…
Mar 15, 2016
Arizona Lawmakers Make Food Stamp Fraud Felony
PHOENIX — On March 15, 2016, Arizona lawmakers pushed through a bill that turned food stamp fraud into a felony, aiming to crack…
Feb 17, 2016
Arizona Republicans Push Bill Fight Obamas Executive Action Guns
PHOENIX — In the midst of a heated national debate over gun rights, Arizona Republicans in the state legislature pushed forward …
Feb 1, 2016
Barry Coates Face Va Wait Time Scandal Dies 46
PHOENIX — Barry Coates, the Arizona veteran who became a reluctant symbol of the VA’s troubled wait-time scandal, died las…

Complete Historical Timeline

1938 Culture
Flora Mae Statler Founds Town
1990 Business
Sun City Grand Begins
2002 Sports
Surprise Stadium Opens
2003 Business
Fastest-Growing City
2008 Business
Housing Crisis Hits Hard

Did You Know?

1
Surprise grew from under 1,000 in 1960 to nearly 180,000—over 17,000% growth.
2
Named by its founder who doubted it would ever amount to anything.
3
Like all of Arizona, Surprise doesn't observe daylight saving time.
4
Surprise is located in Maricopa County, Arizona.
5
Surprise was founded in 1938.

Other Cities in Arizona

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P
Phoenix
Pop. 1,608,139
T
Tucson
Pop. 542,629
M
Mesa
Pop. 504,258
G
Gilbert
Pop. 298,470
C
Chandler
Pop. 283,132
G
Glendale
Pop. 262,745
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