b'Hoover Dam, the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest, LondonThe base, likewise, contributes significantly to the local Bridge at Lake Havasu City, the Sonoran Desert, the red rockscommunity. In addition to adding more than $2 billion each of Sedona, Old Tucson and hundreds of Western mining townsyear to the Arizona economy, base members volunteer about with fascinating histories. 100,000 hours annually to community service.Luke Air Force Base is in Maricopa County, about 20 miles northwest of central Phoenix. Though several communitiesMEDICAL SERVICESsurround the base, it was Glendale that annexed Luke AFB asThe Phoenix area is rich in major medical resources, with part of its municipality. The base is about 5 miles from Glendale. specialized services for heart, kidney, head injury and mental Glendale is a dynamic city in the rapidly growing northwesthealth care equal to any other major medical community in part of the Phoenix metropolitan area (known as the Valley ofthe country.the Sun). With a population of over 240,000 residents, onlyIn addition to modern hospital care, Maricopa Integrated Health five Arizona citiesPhoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Gilbert andSystems Arizona Burn Center has a comprehensive researcher Chandlerhave more residents. team and the second-largest patient capacity in the nation.CLIMATE SCHOOLSMore than 300 days of sunshine and low humidity make forArizonas education system is composed of 230 school a comfortable and active lifestyle for Phoenix-area residentsdistricts, with more than 2,000 public schools, including more and visitors. The average annual temperature is about 74than 1,500 district schools and 500 charter schools. The state degrees. The average high temperature in July is 106 degrees,serves more than 1 million students. The public school system with an average low of 84 degrees. In December, the averageis divided into elementary, high school and unified districts. high is 66 degrees, with an average low of 45 degrees. AverageFor more information on school districts in Arizona, visit the annual rainfall is about 7 inches. Arizona Department of Education at www.azed.gov.TIME ZONE Within a 15- to 20-mile radius of Luke Air Force Base, there are more than 15 schools with start dates for each varying As with most of Arizona, Phoenix remains on Mountain Stan- from mid-August to the first week of September. Some districts dard Time year-round with no changes for daylight saving time. operate on a year-round schedule. Base housing is divided by Glendale Avenue, which separates base housing residents LOCAL SUPPORT into two school districts. Those north of Glendale Avenue in The local community provides outstanding support to theSaguaro Manor are in the Dysart School District. Those south base. For example, the Fighter Country Partnership and Fighterof Glendale Avenue in Ocotillo Manor are in the Litchfield Country Foundation were established to provide a high levelElementary School District.of support for the men, women, families and mission of LukeMilitary and family members assigned to Luke Air Force Air Force Base. Base also have many opportunities to pursue higher education Its members are business professionals, elected officials andnearby. There are numerous educational and training facilities military retirees as well as a diverse group of citizens whosuch as the Thunderbird School of Global Management,support the base and want to ensure its future in Arizona. ItsGlendale Community College and Estrella Mountain Community board of directors and committees consist of prominent businessCollege. Arizona State University (ASU) is recognized as one and civic leaders from all over the Valley. of the finest educational institutions in the United States. Its Annually, this organizations volunteers support events andenrollment exceeds 80,000. ASU has several campuses; ASU programs that have been identified as crucial to Luke AFBWest Campus, in Glendale, is the closest to Luke Air Force personnel. For instance, it supplies comfort items to Luke Base. The Maricopa Community College system has 10 colleges Airmen deployed overseas, conducts events for families of de- and two skill centers around Phoenix. Other colleges andployed Airmen and established the Luke Airmen Memorial Fund. universities in the area serve a variety of educational needs.Maricopa County Population 4,412,779 Arizona TrivaAge Population Age Population Arizona became the 48th state Feb. 14, 1912, which is how it received one of its nicknames, the Valentine State. Its also known as the Grand Canyon State. 5 .277,315 45-49 .282,264 State Bird Cactus Wren5-9 .285,526 50-54 .270,075 State Flower .Saguaro Cactus BlossomState Mammal .Ringtail 10-14 .308,049 55-59 .265,441 State Amphibian .Arizona Tree Frog15-19 .296,440 60-64 .243,005 State Fish .Apache Trout20-24 .293,079 65-69 .213,895 State Reptile Arizona Ridge-Nosed RattlesnakeState Tree Palo Verde25-29 .334,251 70-74 .175,224 State Neckwear Bola Tie30-34 .311,442 75-79 .122,535 State Colors Blue and GoldState Gemstone.Turquoise35-39 .292,285 80-84 .79,702State Fossil Petrified Wood40-44 .282,511 85+ 79,740 State Motto Ditat Deus (Meaning God Enriches)SOURCE: US Census Bureau 2020 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates Subject Tables State Songs .Arizona March Song and ArizonaTHE EPICENTER OF AIRPOWER LUKE AIR FORCE BASE 59'