In the 1980s Chandler saw a shift in its economic base from agricultural to high tech companies. Intel began operations in Chandler in 1980; the Intel® Pentium® processor set of products is manufactured in Arizona. Chandler was nicknamed the Silicon Desert, as companies opted to locate here instead of Silicon Valley.
Until recently, you could still drive around master-planned communities and corporate centers and find dairy farms in Chandler. They are rapidly disappearing, paving the way for more commercial and residential development.
Generally, Chandler is a safe city. Parts of downtown Chandler are lower income areas. Remember--if the price of the home or the rent for the apartment seems too good to be true, it probably is. The City of Chandler has worked diligently to make the downtown area a dining and entertainment destination, and their efforts are paying off as boutique shops, art spaces and eclectic cafes have steadily increased their presence. Where do the wealthier folks in Chandler live? You'll find a concentration of large homes in a golf course community called Ocotillo, in the southern part of Chandler, as well as at Fulton Ranch. A recent growth area for homes is in the southeast part of Chandler, near Riggs Road and east of McQueen.
Aside from the Chandler Fashion Center (mall), you'll find shops, gourmet foods and at least 50 restaurants in west Chandler in and around the area of Ray Road and I-10.
Light rail is not scheduled to extend to Chandler at this time, so residents will access the Light Rail line from park and rides in Tempe and Mesa.
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Places to Stay in Chandler
Chandler Movie Theaters
Chandler Dog Parks
4th of July in Chandler
Winter/Christmas Festival in Chandler
City of Chandler Official Web Site
Chandler Chamber of Commerce Official Web Site
