Editing Carefree, Arizona

{{Short description|Town in Maricopa County, Arizona}}
{{About|the Arizona, US, town|other uses|Carefree (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Carefree, Arizona
| settlement_type    = [[Town]]
| motto              =
| image_skyline      = Carefree- Carefree Town Marker.JPG
| imagesize          = 250px
| image_caption      = Welcome marker
| image_seal         = Carefreeaz seal.png
| seal_size          = 66px
| image_map          = Maricopa County Arizona Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Carefree Highlighted 0410180.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location in Maricopa County, Arizona
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| pushpin_map        = Arizona#USA
| pushpin_map_caption = 
| pushpin_label      = Carefree
| pushpin_label_position = left
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Arizona|County]]
| subdivision_name   = [[United States]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Arizona]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Maricopa County, Arizona|Maricopa]]
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = John Crane
| established_date   = 
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021">{{Cite web |title=2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Arizona |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2021_Gazetteer/2021_gaz_place_04.txt |access-date=May 10, 2022 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 22.83
| area_total_sq_mi   = 8.81
| area_land_km2      = 22.82
| area_land_sq_mi    = 8.81
| area_water_km2     = 0.01
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00
| elevation_ft       = 2402
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web |title=Carefree town, Arizona: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=1600000US0410180&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1 |access-date=May 10, 2022 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref>
| population_total   = 3690
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_km2 = 161.73
| population_density_sq_mi = 418.89
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| timezone           = [[Mountain Standard Time Zone|MST]] (no [[Daylight savings time|DST]])
| utc_offset         = −7
| coordinates        = {{coord|33|49|24|N|111|54|58|W|type:city_region:US-AZ_source:GNIS|display=it}}
| timezone_DST       = 
| utc_offset_DST     = 
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 85377
| area_code          = [[Area code 480|480]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 04-10180
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2413168<ref name="gnis">{{GNIS|2413168}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|https://www.carefree.org/}}
| footnotes          = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
}}

'''Carefree''' is a town in [[Maricopa County, Arizona|Maricopa County]], [[Arizona]], United States. It is a town north of both [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]] and [[Scottsdale, Arizona|Scottsdale]], located in the far northeast area of the [[Phoenix Metropolitan Area]]. As of the [[2020 United States census]], the population of the town was 3,690.<ref name="Census 2020" />

==History==
Characterized as an upscale<ref>''Personal Real Estate Investor Magazine'', Nov/Dec 2006</ref> residential area, Carefree was conceived in the mid-1950s by business partners K.T. Palmer and Tom Darlington as a [[master-planned community]]. Land sales commenced in 1955 and homebuilding started in 1958. Carefree was incorporated in 1984 to avoid annexation by neighboring [[Scottsdale, Arizona|Scottsdale]].<ref>[http://archive.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/2009/09/10/20090910sr-gncarefree0920.html Carefree born out of a desire to live in harmony with desert]</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left|1980= 964
|1990= 1657
|2000= 2927
|2010= 3363
|2020= 3690
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{Cite web |title=Census of Population and Housing |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=June 4, 2016 |publisher=Census.gov}}</ref>
}}
[[File: Carefree-Carefree Town Hall.JPG|thumb|left|The Carefree Town Hall located at 8 East Sundial Circle]]

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census website |url=https://www.census.gov |access-date=January 31, 2008 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> of 2000, there were 2,927 people, 1,389 households, and 995 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|330.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,769 housing units at an average density of {{convert|200.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 98% [[Race (U.S. census)|White]], <1% [[Race (U.S. census)|Black]] or [[Race (U.S. census)|African American]], <1% [[Race (U.S. census)|Native American]], <1% [[Race (U.S. census)|Asian]], <1% from [[race (U.S. census)|other races]], and 1% from two or more races.  [[Race (U.S. census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (U.S. census)|Latino]] of any race were 3% of the population.

There were 1,389 households, out of which 14.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.5% were married couples, 3.2% had a single owner, and 28.3% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.44.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 12.7% under the age of 18, 2.0% from 18 to 24, 15.4% from 25 to 44, 40.5% from 45 to 64, and 29.3% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 55 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.6 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $88,702, and the median income for a family was $105,699. Males had a median income of $61,050 versus $38,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $62,433.  About 2.0% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.2% of those under the age of 18 and 3.2% of those 65 and older.

==Geography and climate==
Carefree is in northeastern Maricopa County, bordered by the city of [[Scottsdale, Arizona|Scottsdale]] to the south and east and by the town of [[Cave Creek, Arizona|Cave Creek]] to the west. Carefree and Cave Creek are sometimes thought of as a single community.<ref>[http://carefreecavecreek.org/ Carefree-Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce]</ref> The two towns share the local landmark [[Black Mountain (Maricopa County, Arizona)|Black Mountain]], which rises more than {{convert|1000|ft}} above them, to an elevation of {{convert|3398|ft}}.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|8.8|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|0.004|sqmi|3}}, or 0.05%, are listed as water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021" />

Carefree has a [[semi-arid climate#Hot semi-arid climate|hot semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''BSh'') with hot summers and mild winters, avoiding a designation of arid by being located closer to the rain-catching central mountains of Arizona, so that it receives about 70 percent (around {{convert|5.3|in|mm|0|disp=or}}) more rainfall annually than does Phoenix. There are 141 afternoons annually with highs of at least {{convert|90|°F|1|disp=or}}, 63.4 afternoons of at least {{convert|100|°F|1|disp=or}}, and three afternoons that exceed {{convert|110|F|C|1|disp=or}}. During the winter, 8.3 mornings will fall below freezing; the coldest temperature reported in Carefree is {{convert|15|F|C|1|disp=or}}, which occurred on January 13, 1963, and January 7, 1971. Snowfall, although infrequent, can occur. The last measurable snow was February 22, 2019, accumulating 3–6" depending upon the elevation.
Rainfall is sometimes heavy during winter fronts or monsoonal storms; the wettest month on record is January 1993 with {{convert|9.37|in|mm|1}}, which helped produce a record “rain year” total of {{convert|26.20|in|mm|1}} between July 1992 and June 1993; in contrast between July 1962 and June 1963, only {{convert|6.98|in|mm|1}} was recorded.
{{Weather box
|location = Carefree, Arizona, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1961&ndash;present
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 84
|Feb record high F = 86
|Mar record high F = 97
|Apr record high F = 102
|May record high F = 109
|Jun record high F = 118
|Jul record high F = 118
|Aug record high F = 113
|Sep record high F = 111
|Oct record high F = 104
|Nov record high F = 92
|Dec record high F = 82
|year record high F = 118

|Jan avg record high F = 74.5
|Feb avg record high F = 78.0
|Mar avg record high F = 85.6
|Apr avg record high F = 94.0
|May avg record high F = 101.5
|Jun avg record high F = 108.5
|Jul avg record high F = 110.6
|Aug avg record high F = 109.4
|Sep avg record high F = 105.1
|Oct avg record high F = 96.5
|Nov avg record high F = 85.0
|Dec avg record high F = 74.7
|year avg record high F = 111.8

|Jan high F = 64.6
|Feb high F = 67.5
|Mar high F = 74.1
|Apr high F = 81.6
|May high F = 91.0
|Jun high F = 100.6
|Jul high F = 103.4
|Aug high F = 102.3
|Sep high F = 97.0
|Oct high F = 85.5
|Nov high F = 73.5
|Dec high F = 63.6
|year high F = 83.7
|Jan mean F = 53.1
|Feb mean F = 55.6
|Mar mean F = 61.0
|Apr mean F = 67.2
|May mean F = 76.1
|Jun mean F = 85.4
|Jul mean F = 89.7
|Aug mean F = 89.1
|Sep mean F = 83.7
|Oct mean F = 72.8
|Nov mean F = 61.5
|Dec mean F = 52.5
|year mean F = 70.6
|Jan low F = 41.6
|Feb low F = 43.8
|Mar low F = 47.9
|Apr low F = 52.8
|May low F = 61.2
|Jun low F = 70.1
|Jul low F = 75.9
|Aug low F = 75.9
|Sep low F = 70.4
|Oct low F = 60.1
|Nov low F = 49.4
|Dec low F = 41.3
|year low F = 57.5

|Jan avg record low F = 30.5
|Feb avg record low F = 33.2
|Mar avg record low F = 36.2
|Apr avg record low F = 41.9
|May avg record low F = 49.9
|Jun avg record low F = 60.7
|Jul avg record low F = 68.4
|Aug avg record low F = 67.4
|Sep avg record low F = 61.8
|Oct avg record low F = 47.4
|Nov avg record low F = 35.7
|Dec avg record low F = 29.8
|year avg record low F = 27.6

|Jan record low F = 15
|Feb record low F = 19
|Mar record low F = 24
|Apr record low F = 32
|May record low F = 37
|Jun record low F = 49
|Jul record low F = 56
|Aug record low F = 59
|Sep record low F = 44
|Oct record low F = 32
|Nov record low F = 28
|Dec record low F = 20
|year record low F = 15
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.80
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.60
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.64
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.50
|May precipitation inch = 0.15
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.12
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.27
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.30
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.15
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.97
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.77
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.31
|year precipitation inch = 12.58
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 4.5
|Feb precipitation days = 4.7
|Mar precipitation days = 3.8
|Apr precipitation days = 1.9
|May precipitation days = 1.5
|Jun precipitation days = 0.6
|Jul precipitation days = 3.8
|Aug precipitation days = 4.9
|Sep precipitation days = 3.3
|Oct precipitation days = 2.7
|Nov precipitation days = 2.7
|Dec precipitation days = 3.9
|year precipitation days= 38.3
|source 1 = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data |url=https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=psr |access-date=November 19, 2022 |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Summary of Monthly Normals 1991&ndash;2020 |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00021282&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |access-date=November 19, 2022 |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration}}</ref>
}}

==Sites of interest==
[[File: Carefree-Carefree Sundial-1959.JPG|thumb|The Carefree Sundial]]
The [[Carefree sundial]], designed by [[architect]] Joe Wong and solar engineer [[John I. Yellott]],<ref>[http://www.bigwaste.com/photos/az/sundial/ bigwatse.com] see ''Solar Today, Jan./Feb. 1987 p. 4'', for Yellott's biography.</ref> was erected in the Sundial Circle plaza in 1959 and claims to be the "third largest [[sundial]] in the [[Western Hemisphere]]". The sundial, which points to the [[North Star]], is made from a steel frame and covered in anodized copper. It measures {{convert|90|ft|m}} in diameter. The metal [[gnomon]], the shadow-casting portion of the dial, stands {{convert|35|ft|m}} above the plaza and extends {{convert|72|ft|m}}.<ref>[http://sundials.org/registry/dials_al_la.htm#ARIZONA N. America Sundials Society] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218054250/http://sundials.org/registry/dials_al_la.htm#ARIZONA |date=December 18, 2007 }}</ref>

Carefree was the long-time home of Southwestern Studios, originally built in 1968 as Fred Graham Studios by actor, stunt man, and Arizona Film Commissioner [[Fred Graham (actor)|Fred Graham]]. The sprawling {{convert|160|acre|km2|adj=on}} desert property adjacent to North Scottsdale featured three state-of-the-art soundstages, edit bays, 35mm screening room, make-up, production facilities, western street and [[backlot]]. In the early 1970s, Stage 1 of the studio was used for ''[[The New Dick Van Dyke Show]]'' starring [[Dick Van Dyke]], [[Hope Lange]], [[Fannie Flagg]], and [[Marty Brill (comedian)|Marty Brill]]. Stage 1 also was used for the filming of one of [[Orson Welles]]' last films, ''[[The Other Side of the Wind]]'', with [[John Huston]], [[Oja Kodar]], [[Susan Strasberg]], [[Bob Random]] and [[Peter Bogdanovich]].<ref>Brechner, K.C. (1986) Welles' Farewell, ''[[The Other Side of the Wind]]'', American Cinematographer, 67 (7), 34–38.</ref>

The studio was used for the filming of [[Bob Hope]]'s last feature film, ''[[Cancel My Reservation]]'',<ref>[https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/70164/cancel-my-reservation#notes ''Cancel My Reservation'' (1972) Notes], [[Turner Classic Movies|TCM]] website</ref> with [[Eva Marie Saint]], [[Ralph Bellamy]], and [[Forrest Tucker]].  Scenes were also shot in Carefree and at the studio for [[Michaelangelo Antonioni]]'s ''[[Zabriskie Point (film)|Zabriskie Point]]'', on the back lot, where a mock-up of the Carefree mansion was built and then exploded. The studio was also used for [[Paul Newman]]'s scenes in ''[[Pocket Money]]'', for [[Bill Cosby]]'s feature debut, ''[[Man and Boy (1971 film)|Man and Boy]]'', for which the western street was built, and for ''[[Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure]]'', again the western street. The [[Short film|short]], [[Silent film|silent]] feature ''Time River''<ref>[https://vimeo.com/114515884 ''Time River'', [[Vimeo]] website</ref> was shot on Stages 2 and 3 and extensively on the back lot and western street sets.

Southwestern Studios was also used in television productions. In 1973–74, local resident [[Hugh Downs]] produced and hosted two pilot episodes for a unique show, ''Foursome'', that was both a game show and talk show, where four celebrities came together to play various games and interact with each other. In one episode, actors [[Janet Leigh]] and [[Robert Culp]] and comedians [[Jo Anne Worley]] and [[Alan Sues]] played a game of tennis. In the other episode, shot on Stage 3, dancer-singer-actor [[Ann Miller]], Robert Culp, Jo Anne Worley, and Alan Sues played a popular board game. In 1974, Southwestern Studios was the location on Stage 2 and the back lot for the filming of the TV movie, ''McMasters of Sweetwater'',<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 2, 1974 |title=McMasters of Sweetwater |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2498578/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_14 |website=[[IMDb]]}}</ref> starring [[Jack Cassidy]] and Loretta Ball and directed by [[Robert Butler (director)|Robert Butler]].

Later renamed Carefree Studios, the studio was razed in 1999. The studio, western street, and pristine desert back lot property was developed into retail space and [[residential development]].

[[Gordon Lightfoot]] wrote and sang a song named "[[Carefree Highway (song)|Carefree Highway]]". He took the name from a section of [[Arizona State Route 74]] in north Phoenix, to explain his mood at that time. The highway runs from the foot of (North) Tom Darlington Drive at the South-West corner of Carefree about 30 miles westward to Lake Pleasant Parkway in Peoria, AZ.

==Education==
The town is served by [[Cave Creek Unified School District]].

==Transportation==
[[Arizona State Route 74]] runs along the south border of Carefree. [[Cave Creek Road]] runs along the east edge of Carefree, then curves and becomes an east-west road through Carefree. 

Cave Creek is not a member of [[Valley Metro]] and does not have local bus service.

SkyRanch is a private airport located in Carefree.<ref>https://skyranchcarefree.com/</ref>

==Notable residents==
* [[Eric Bischoff]], entrepreneur and [[professional wrestling]] producer
* [[Frederick J. Brown]], visual artist
* [[Howell Conant]], fashion photographer, associated with [[Grace Kelly]]
* [[Hugh Downs]], broadcaster, television host, news anchor<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Bernard |first=Bina |date=March 3, 1975 |title=Hugh Downs Is an Uneasy Rider in Retirement |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0%2C%2C20065007%2C00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610070855/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0%2C%2C20065007%2C00.html |archive-date=June 10, 2013 |access-date=September 23, 2014 |magazine=People Magazine}}</ref>
* [[Michael Haugen Jr.]], professional [[Ten-pin bowling|ten-pin bowler]] and winner of five [[PBA Tour]] titles
* [[Kathleen Hite]], scriptwriter for television and radio
* [[Wilhelm Kuhweide]], German Olympic gold medalist, 1964; four-time world sailing champion
* [[David Lapham]], comic book artist<ref>Cf. the biographies of Lapham from various ''[[Stray Bullets (comic book)|Stray Bullets]]'' [[Trade paperback (comics)|trade paperbacks]]</ref>
* [[Dick Stockton]], sportscaster

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Carefree, Arizona}}
{{wikivoyage}}
* {{Official|www.carefree.org}}

{{Maricopa County, Arizona}}
{{Phoenix Metropolitan Area}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Maricopa County, Arizona]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1958]]
[[Category:1958 establishments in Arizona]]
[[Category:Phoenix metropolitan area]]