The History of Sun City, Arizona
Sun City, Arizona, opened in 1960. The planned community focused on housing and recreation for active adults. The first of its kind, Sun City offered a senior community with residential neighborhoods near shopping, recreation and other activities. The successful development was patterned on an earlier age-limited community, Youngtown, with small homes and few amenities.
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Founder
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Developer Delbert Eugene Webb designed Sun City. His goal was to establish a master-planned community with recreation, amenities and affordable housing.
Groundbreaking
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Webb Co. purchased 20,000 acres of Arizona land. In 1959, work began on a shopping center, followed by construction of a golf course and community building. Homes were built around these centers.
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Name
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The new unnamed town in the Valley of the Sun gained its moniker from a national contest. Del Webb reportedly chose Sun City as the winning entry.
Opening
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The grand opening on Jan. 1, 1960, drew more than 100,000 visitors to the new model homes. Buyers signed up for 237 homes during the opening.
Demand
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The company, expecting to sell 1,700 homes in three years, expanded to meet sales demand. Within the first year, 2,000 homes sold.
Patter
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Sun City, with more than 23,000 households by 2000, proved planned retirement communities were practical and profitable. More Sun City developments followed in California, Florida and other states.
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