Editing Surprise, Arizona

{{Short description|City in Maricopa County, Arizona}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Surprise, Arizona
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
  | total_width              = 350
  | border                   = infobox
  | perrow                   = 1/3
  | caption_align            = center
  | image1                   = City_Hall_-_Surprise,_AZ,_USA_2250094.jpg
  | alt1                     = 
  | caption1                 = Surprise City Hall in January 2010.
  | image2                   =
  | alt2                     = 
  | caption2                 = Surprise Regional Library
  | image3                   =
  | alt3                     = 
  | caption3                 = Surprise Stadium
  | image4                   = Villanueva Rec Center; Surprise, AZ.jpg
  | alt4                     = 
  | caption4                 = Surprise Rec Center
  }}
| image_flag         = SurpriseAZflag.gif
| image_seal         = Surprise AZ seal.png
| seal_size          = 
| seal_type          = Logo
| image_map          = Maricopa County Arizona Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Surprise Highlighted 0471510.svg
| mapsize            = 250x250px
| map_caption        = Location in Maricopa County, Arizona
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| pushpin_map        = Arizona#USA
| pushpin_label      = Surprise
| pushpin_map_caption = 
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Arizona|County]]
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|Arizona}}
| subdivision_name2  = [[Maricopa County, Arizona|Maricopa]]
| government_type    = Mayor-council government
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Kevin Sartor
| leader_title1      = [[Vice Mayor]]
| leader_name1       = Nick Haney
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 1938
| established_title1 = Incorporated (town)
| established_date1  = December 12, 1960 <ref name="SurprisePop">{{cite web |title= 1,574 Found Population of Surprise|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/117837741/?match=1&terms=%22Mayor%20of%20Surprise%22 |publisher=Arizona Republic |accessdate=July 9, 2024}}</ref>
| 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 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=May 10, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 286.25
| area_total_sq_mi   = 110.52
| area_land_km2      = 285.68
| area_land_sq_mi    = 110.30
| area_water_km2     = 0.57
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.22
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 1385
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=1600000US0471510&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=Surprise city, Arizona: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=May 10, 2022}}</ref>
| population_total   = 143148
| population_rank    = US: [[List of United States cities by population|189th]]
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_km2 = 501.08
| population_density_sq_mi = 1297.78
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| timezone           = [[Mountain Time Zone|MST]] (no [[Daylight saving time|DST]])
| utc_offset         = −7
| coordinates        = {{coord|33|37|50|N|112|22|00|W|type:city_region:US-AZ|display=it}}
| timezone_DST       = 
| utc_offset_DST     = 
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code        = 85374, 85378–85379, 85387–85388
| area_code          = [[Area code 623|623]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 04-71510
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2412016<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2412016}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|www.surpriseaz.gov}}
| unit_pref          = Imperial
}}

'''Surprise''' is a city in [[Maricopa County, Arizona|Maricopa County]], in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Arizona]]. The population was 143,148 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="Census 2020"/> up from 117,517 in [[2010 United States Census|2010]] and just 30,848 in 2000.

Surprise is the spring training location of the [[Kansas City Royals]] and the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] baseball teams.

==History==
The city was founded in 1938 by Flora Mae Statler. Statler was the daughter of another Arizona pioneer, Charles Gillett who helped found [[Glendale, Arizona|Glendale]], specifically as a temperance community. Gillett owned much land in Glendale as well as the [[Verde Valley]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 23, 2005 |title=National Register of Historic Places Registration Form |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/2899cdd8-2702-40aa-97ae-8dd345a317ab |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=Nps.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Gillett |first=Charles E. |title=Pioneering |publisher=Brethren Publishing House |year=1929 |location=Elgin, Illinois}}</ref> Surprise officials previously thought the city was founded by Statler's husband, real estate developer and state legislator Homer C. Ludden, but in 2010 property records were discovered which listed Statler owning the land before she met Ludden.<ref>{{cite web |title=Historians: Flora Mae Statler, not husband, founded Surprise |url=http://www.azcentral.com/community/surprise/articles/2010/08/27/20100827surprise-flora-mae-statler-founder.html |author=Gardiner, Dustin |work=[[The Arizona Republic]] |date=August 28, 2010 |access-date=October 5, 2010}}</ref> Modern records often state that Statler named her land Surprise as she "would be surprised if the town ever amounted to much,” with her daughter backing this claim.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Surprise |url=http://www.surpriseaz.gov/index.aspx?NID=1900 |access-date=October 5, 2010 |work=SurpriseAZ.Gov}}</ref> This claim is contested, however, since it was common for pioneers to name their settlements after their hometowns and Ludden hailed from [[Surprise, Nebraska]], possibly influencing the name of the town.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Paul Hubbs |date=April 30, 2005 |title=Surprise — How town was named |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/116932078/ |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref>

When Surprise was subdivided to build inexpensive houses for agricultural workers, there were only a few houses and a gas station on the {{convert|1|sqmi}} parcel of land. Since then, the town has experienced tremendous growth.<ref>[http://www.surpriseaz.com/index.asp?NID=2 Official Website – Surprise, Arizona<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040814231820/http://www.surpriseaz.com/index.asp?NID=2 |date=August 14, 2004 }}</ref> It incorporated as a city in 1960. The original townsite is bounded by Greenway Road on the south, El Mirage Road on the east, Bell Road on the north, and Dysart Road on the west.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |url=https://www.tripsavvy.com/deciding-where-to-live-phoenix-2677611 |title=Moving to Phoenix: Where Should You Live? |website=TripSavvy}}</ref>

Surprise's City Hall is located on the site of [[Luke Air Force Base]]'s former auxiliary airfield No. 3.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Map of Phoenix, AZ in 1954 {{!}} Pastmaps |url=https://pastmaps.com/map/phoenix-maricopa-county-az-usgs-topo-1954-p1964 |access-date=September 30, 2023 |website=pastmaps.com |language=en}}</ref> The outline of the former runways can still be seen from aerial photos today.<ref name="About City Hall">[https://www.surpriseaz.gov/2338/Visit-City-Hall]></ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cranmer |first=Hal |date=November 5, 2019 |title=The History of Surprise AZ |url=https://aparadiseforparents.com/history-of-surprise/ |access-date=September 23, 2023 |website=A Paradise for Parents |language=en-US}}</ref>

Thousands of [[Retirement|retirees]] moved to the city in the 1990s and early 2000s to live in Sun City Grand, an age-restricted resort-like community with homes built by the property development firm [[Del Webb]]. Surprise is about {{convert|5|mi|0}} northwest of Del Webb's original [[Sun City, Arizona|Sun City]] development and adjacent to [[Sun City West, Arizona|Sun City West]].

==Geography==
Surprise is between {{convert|20|and|30|mi}} northwest of [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]]. It is bordered to the north by unincorporated Maricopa County, the northeast by [[Peoria, Arizona|Peoria]], to the east by unincorporated Sun City West and Sun City, to the southeast by [[El Mirage, Arizona|El Mirage]], to the south by [[Glendale, Arizona|Glendale]], and to the west by [[Buckeye, Arizona|Buckeye]] and unincorporated [[Wittmann, Arizona|Wittmann]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|110.5|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|0.2|sqmi|1}}, or 0.20%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021"/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1970 = 2427
| 1980 = 3723
| 1990 = 7122
| 2000 = 30848
| 2010 = 117517
| 2020 = 143148
| estyear = 2022
| estimate = 154198
| estref = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022 |accessdate=April 14, 2024}}</ref>
| align-fn = center
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2016}}</ref>
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Surprise, Arizona – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Surprise city, Arizona|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?g=160XX00US0471510|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Surprise city, Arizona|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0471510&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Surprise city, Arizona|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0471510&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|22,136
|83,677
|style='background: #ffffe6; |94,856
|71.76%
|71.20%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |66.26%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|744
|5,648
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7,404
|2.41%
|4.81%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.17%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|95
|543
|style='background: #ffffe6; |786
|0.31%
|0.46%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.55%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|321
|2,884
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3,771
|1.04%
|2.45%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.63%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|15
|211
|style='background: #ffffe6; |310
|0.05%
|0.18%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.22%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Some Other Race]] alone (NH)
|18
|156
|style='background: #ffffe6; |591
|0.06%
|0.13%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.41%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race or Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|335
|2,674
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7,057
|1.09%
|2.28%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.93%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|7,184
|21,724
|style='background: #ffffe6; |28,373
|23.29%
|18.49%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |19.82%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''30,848'''
|'''117,517'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''143,148'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 30,848 people, 12,484 households, and 9,725 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|443.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 16,260 housing units at an average density of {{convert|234.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 86.0% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 2.6% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.4% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 1.1% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 7.9% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.0% from two or more races. 23.3% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. In recent years, the racial makeup has varied due to the rapid expansion of the city.

There were 12,484 households, out of which 21.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.1% were non-families. 17.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.75 people.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 19.9% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 25.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $44,156, and the median income for a family was $47,899. Males had a median income of $33,079 versus $26,347 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $21,451. About 5.6% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

In 2010, Surprise had a population of 117,517. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 71.2% non-Hispanic white, 5.1% black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 2.6% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 0.1% non-Hispanic reporting some other race, 3.8% two or more races, and 18.5% Hispanic or Latino.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}

==Economy==
===Largest employers===
According to the state of Arizona's 2023 [[Council of governments|COG]] employer database,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Business, Jobs, and Industry Explorer |url=https://azmag.gov/Programs/Maps-and-Data/Employment/Business-Jobs-and-Industry-Explorer |access-date=January 5, 2024 |website=azmag.gov}}</ref> the top employers in the city are:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
|1
|[[Dysart Unified School District]]
|1,760
|-
|2
|City of Surprise
|1,170
|-
|3
|[[Wal-Mart]]
|890
|-
|4
|Sun Health Foundation
|570
|-
|5
|[[Fry's Food and Drug]]
|550
|-
|6
|[[Costco]]
|370
|-
|7
|[[The Home Depot]]
|300
|-
|8
|[[McDonald's]] 
|270
|-
|9
|[[Safeway]]
|240
|-
|10
|[[Maricopa County, Arizona|Maricopa County]]
|230
|}

==Arts and culture==
Surprise Regional Library, a $5.5 million, {{convert|20000|sqft|m2|adj=mid}} library, is located in Surprise’s Recreation Campus. Surprise has two other city library branches, one in the original townsite (Hollyhock branch) and one in north Surprise (Asante branch).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Surprise Public Library |url=https://www.surprisepubliclibrary.gov/locations |access-date=January 5, 2024 |website=www.surprisepubliclibrary.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Republic |first=Nancy Alcock; Special for The |title=History: What was Surprise's 1st library? |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/surprise/2014/07/18/hollyhock-branch-surprises-st-library/12843227/ |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=The Arizona Republic |language=en-US}}</ref> On July 1, 2023, the city of Surprise created the Surprise Public Library systems, taking ownership of the three [[Maricopa County Library District|Maricopa County libraries]] within its borders.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zarate |first=Isabella |date=July 21, 2023 |title=Surprise enters new chapter with city-owned libraries |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/surprise/2023/07/21/surprise-enters-new-chapter-with-city-owned-libraries/70440914007/ |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=subscribe.azcentral.com}}</ref>

Surprise has a variety of public art installations across the city. Many public installations have been in collaboration with WHAM community art center which is also in Surprise.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Art in Public Places |url=https://surpriseaz.gov/1344/Art-in-Public-Places |access-date=January 5, 2024 |website=Surpriseaz.gov}}</ref>

The city has several holiday events throughout the year, such as their Easter Eggstavaganza<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spring Eggstravaganza |url=https://surpriseaz.gov/1165/Special-Events |access-date=January 5, 2024 |website=Surpriseaz.gov}}</ref> and Sparkling Surprise Christmas event, which are both hosted at the city's [[Surprise Recreation Campus|recreation campus]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sparking Surprise |url=https://surpriseaz.gov/1285/Sparkling-Surprise |access-date=January 1, 2024 |website=Surpriseaz.gov}}</ref> They also host several smaller community engagement events throughout the year such as Sundays in the Park and Lunchtime Theater.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Events and Programs |url=https://surpriseaz.gov/1335/Events-Programs |access-date=January 5, 2024 |website=Surpriseaz.gov}}</ref>

==Sports==
The city is the [[spring training]] home of the [[Kansas City Royals]] and the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] baseball teams. These [[Major League Baseball]] teams use [[Surprise Stadium]] for their activities. The city also hosted a [[Golden Baseball League]] team in 2005, the [[Surprise Fightin' Falcons]] and the Recreation Campus ballpark and is the home city for a team in the [[Arizona Fall League]], the [[Surprise Saguaros]]. It also hosted [[ESPN SportsCenter]]'s 50 States in 50 Days segment on August 11, 2005.

As part of the city's Recreation Campus, Surprise is also home to the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.surpriseaz.gov/1430/Tennis-Racquet-Complex|title=Tennis & Racquet Complex – Official Website – Surprise, Arizona|website=www.surpriseaz.gov}}</ref> The complex hosts various professional events throughout the year, including the Outback Champion Series tour, a USTA Pro Circuit event, and many USTA regional and sectional events. In 2009 the complex was chosen as the site for the [[Fed Cup]] Quarter Final between the U.S. and Argentina, and also that year it was chosen as the location for the first United States National [[Pickleball]] championships.

{{wide image|SurpriseStadiumPanorama.jpg|600px|alt=Panorama of Surprise Stadium|Panorama of Surprise Stadium}}

==Parks and recreation==
The city has a {{convert|10562|sqft|m2|adj=mid}} Aquatics Center as well as the smaller Hollyhock community pool.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Municipal Pools |url=https://surpriseaz.gov/606/Municipal-Pools |access-date=January 5, 2024 |website=Surpriseaz.gov}}</ref> Surprise’s Oasis Swim center is set to open in May 24, 2025. It will include six waterslides, an [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] sized pool, and a diving pool.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aquatics {{!}} Surprise, AZ - Official Website |url=https://surpriseaz.gov/567/Aquatics |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250316012658/https://surpriseaz.gov/567/Aquatics |archive-date=2025-03-16 |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=surpriseaz.gov |language=en}}</ref>

The city of Surprise has 17 city-owned parks across the city. Most notably Surprise Community Park on the recreation campus at city center. The {{Convert|25|acre|adj=on}} park hosts a playground, pickleball courts, basketball courts, a fishing lake, and dog parks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Surprise City Parks |url=https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/az-surprise/e38bbeec-ed2e-4ec4-ae93-af8b635c67f9 |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Surpriseaz.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Parks & Facilities |url=https://www.surpriseaz.gov/599/Parks-Facilities |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Surpriseaz.gov}}</ref>

==Government==
{{see also|List of mayors of Surprise, Arizona}}
Surprise is governed on the local level by a mayor and a six-member city council.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.surpriseaz.gov/1904/City-Council|title=Surprise City Council – Official Website – Surprise, Arizona|website=www.surpriseaz.gov}}</ref> The mayor is elected at large, while the council members are elected from the six districts which they represent. All city council elections are officially nonpartisan. All representatives serve staggered four-year terms as of 1981.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 16, 1979 |title=Veteran mayor wins seventh term in Surprise |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/119913908/ |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=Arizona Republic |language=en}}</ref> The current mayor is Kevin Sartor.

==Education==
The [[Dysart Unified School District]] serves the majority of the city, with [[Nadaburg Unified School District]] servicing a small section of northern Surprise.<ref>"[https://www.peoriaud.k12.az.us/Maps/Pages/Municipalities.aspx Municipalities and Schools within the PUSD]." ([https://web.archive.org/web/20120730184032/https://www.peoriaud.k12.az.us/Maps/Pages/Municipalities.aspx Archive]) [[Peoria Unified School District]]. Retrieved on October 18, 2012.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=District Map |url=https://www.nadaburgsd.org/districtmap |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Nadaburg Unified School District}}</ref> Charter schools such as [[Arizona Charter Academy]], Paradise Education Center, and Legacy Traditional School are also located in the area.

[[Rio Salado College]], a part of the [[Maricopa County Community College District]], has a satellite building in Surprise.

[[Ottawa University]], a private, non-profit, Christian four-year university, opened in Surprise in 2017.  It enrolled over 1000 students in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IPEDS DATA FEEDBACK REPORT — Ottawa University-Surprise |url=https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/dfr/2023/ReportHTML.aspx?unitId=464226 |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=nces.ed.gov}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==
===Roads===
[[File:Surprise-Home_Mission_Cemetery_-2.jpg|right|thumb|Mission Home Cemetery]]
{{See also|Roads and freeways in metropolitan Phoenix}}

Surprise is served by [[Arizona State Route 303|Loop 303]] and [[U.S. Route 60 in Arizona|U.S. Route 60]]. U.S. Route 60 leads southeast to Phoenix and northwest to [[Wickenburg, Arizona|Wickenburg]] and [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]] (via [[U.S. Route 93 in Arizona|U.S. Route 93]]). Surprise is also served by many major arterial roads.

===Transportation===
Surprise is a member of [[Valley Metro]]. [[Valley Metro Bus]] operates an route 571, an express bus between Surprise and Glendale. Surprise is also a member of WeRIDE, which operates [[demand-responsive transport]] in [[Peoria, Arizona|Peoria]], [[Goodyear, Arizona|Goodyear]], [[Avondale, Arizona|Avondale]], and Surprise.<ref>https://www.westvalleyview.com/news/weride-reaches-250-000-passengers-served/article_103bd9ec-dea0-11ef-ba1f-cf55d776554d.html</ref>

===Police===
The Surprise Police Department consists of a field operations division, administrative services division, criminal investigations division, and technical services division. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.surpriseaz.gov/882/Police-Department|title=Surprise Police Department – Official Website – Surprise, Arizona|website=www.surpriseaz.gov}}</ref>

=== Sun City Grand ===
Sun City Grand (The Grand) is a 45+ active adult retirement community in the city of Surprise founded in 1996. The communities final homes were completed in 2005. Unlike other Del Webb communities in Arizona ([[Sun City, Arizona|Sun City]] and [[Sun City West, Arizona|Sun City West]]), the Grand is not an unincorporated community led by community associations. The community boasts four golf courses and a variety of other amenities like pools and recreation centers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Sun City Grand |url=https://www.suncitygrand-realestate.com/about-sun-city-grand |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=www.suncitygrand-realestate.com}}</ref>

===Mission Home Cemetery===
The Mission Home Cemetery, also known as the Sleeping Bride Cemetery, is a historic cemetery located in Surprise.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 8, 2014 |title=Who's buried in Surprise |url=https://www.azcentral.com/picture-gallery/news/local/surprise/2014/05/08/whos-buried-in-surprise/8851643/ |website=AZCentral}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=December 26, 2011 |title=Mission Home Cemetery |url=http://apcrp.org/MISSION_HOME/Mission_Home_Mast_Txt.htm |website=American Pioneer & Cemetery Research Project |publisher=Neal Du Shane}}</ref>
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Surprise, Arizona}}
* {{Official website|www.surpriseaz.gov}}

{{Navboxes
| title = Articles relating to Surprise and [[Maricopa County, Arizona|Maricopa County]]
| list =
{{Maricopa County, Arizona}}
{{Phoenix Metropolitan Area}}
{{Arizona}}
}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Surprise, Arizona| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Arizona]]
[[Category:Cities in Maricopa County, Arizona]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1938]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Sonoran Desert]]
[[Category:Phoenix metropolitan area]]