What city comes to mind first in Arizona? (Phoenix, Tucson: house, college)

[LinaJo76]

I knew about Prescott since I was in the Army (when my parents first moved here and lived here for only 3 years before going back to Texas).

I just didn't know that I would hate it until I moved here, 5 years ago!!

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by JetSet

Colorado?

Wrong. It's Sonora.

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Having lived in Germany for several years, I can tell you that Tombstone and Tucson are better recognized there than Phoenix. Many Germans image of Arizona has been shaped by Hollywood - horses, gunslingers, cowboys, desperadoes, wide open spaces, and such. Tombstone and Tucson often appear in western movies and novels and embody the western culture (to outsiders) far more than Phoenix does. I think this may be the case not only for Germany, but for most of the world and even the United States.

I often wonder whether Europeans are disappointed when they get to AZ only to find repetitive sprawl, freeways, and a very modern way of life.

I work with Germans, lived there for many years and still go quite often. What you say if completely wrong. I know hundreds of Germans and each one knows about Phoenix. I've met thousands of Germans, I think LOL, and each one knows about Phoenix and that it is in Arizona. Basketball and the NBA ARE HUGE in Germany and The Suns are WELL known and respected by Germans who have fallen in love with the game. That and the fact that a ton of German companies are in Arizona, including some of the largest Solar energy firms in the World that are relocating to our city.

Germans and Europeans are smart enough to know the OK Corral and cowboys are images of yesteryear and not the reality of Arizona in 2009, LOL! That is pretty laughable actually. I think more Americans are actually geographically, historically, and culturally unaware of their own country more so than many Western Europeans and citizens of other nations around the world. Pretty sad. But wherever I have gone, everyone I've run into knows Phoenix and Arizona and can link the two without me hinting or helping them figure it out.

[LordBalfor]

Originally Posted by fcorrales80

I work with Germans, lived there for many years and still go quite often. What you say if completely wrong. I know hundreds of Germans and each one knows about Phoenix. I've met thousands of Germans, I think LOL, and each one knows about Phoenix and that it is in Arizona. Basketball and the NBA ARE HUGE in Germany and The Suns are WELL known and respected by Germans who have fallen in love with the game. That and the fact that a ton of German companies are in Arizona, including some of the largest Solar energy firms in the World that are relocating to our city.

Germans and Europeans are smart enough to know the OK Corral and cowboys are images of yesteryear and not the reality of Arizona in 2009, LOL! That is pretty laughable actually. I think more Americans are actually geographically, historically, and culturally unaware of their own country more so than many Western Europeans and citizens of other nations around the world. Pretty sad. But wherever I have gone, everyone I've run into knows Phoenix and Arizona and can link the two without me hinting or helping them figure it out.

The question is not whether or not foreigners know Phoenix is in Arizona. The question is what place comes first to mind when they think of Arizona. Those are 2 VERY DIFFERENT questions.

Ken

[Boompa]

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by LordBalfor

The question is not whether or not foreigners know Phoenix is in Arizona. The question is what place comes first to mind when they think of Arizona. Those are 2 VERY DIFFERENT questions.

Ken

Um really, wouldn't they have to know Phoenix is in Arizona for the city to come to mind. And the OP's question wasn't which "place" comes to mind but: "What city comes to mind first in Arizona?" So no, they are not very different questions.

[Havasu]

Havasu my screen name and my Home
You better love the heat to live here

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by Havasu

Havasu my screen name and my Home
You better love the heat to live here

I love that the real and original London Bridge was shipped and rebuilt over the water in Lake Havasu City! What a feat and to think that this historic bridge is actually in place in Arizona. AND Yes, most Londoners know the bridge is still inuse and rebuilt in Arizona...go figure. Spring Break was made famous at Havasu by MTV, so this place is a freakin riot during that time.

And TRUE about the heat it can be 100° or 105° in Phoenix but 111° or 118° in Lake Havasu/Bullhead City. Different and lower desert though. I think those two cities and Vegas are in the Mojave desert, the hottest and driest desert in North America whereas Phoenix and Tucson are in the Sonoran desert which is the wettest in the world. It is strange how they are next to each other but this is the case. Well, that is how the deserts are separate. Different vegetation and a different level of precipitation. Plus the Mojave is closer to the rain shadow of the coastal mountains of California.

[LordBalfor]

Originally Posted by fcorrales80

Um really, wouldn't they have to know Phoenix is in Arizona for the city to come to mind. And the OP's question wasn't which "place" comes to mind but: "What city comes to mind first in Arizona?" So no, they are not very different questions.

Sure they are. You can know Phoenix is in Arizona but not have it be the FIRST place you think of when you hear "Arizona". For example, I know that Prescott's in Arizona - but it's not the FIRST place I think of - 2nd, 3rd, or 4th maybe - but not first. Again, Tombstone is VERY well known - way out of proportion for either it's size or it's importance - and as I said, I think that (thanks to Hollywood) Tombstone (and Yuma for that matter) are VERY well known overseas - maybe even more so than Phoenix.
Can I prove that?
Of course not.
But then again you can't prove that's not the case (keep in mind too that we are NOT just talking about Germans - but foreigners in general).

In any event, I'm done.
Further debate is pointless.

Ken

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by LordBalfor

Sure they are. You can know Phoenix is in Arizona but not have it be the FIRST place you think of when you hear "Arizona". For example, I know that Prescott's in Arizona - but it's not the FIRST place I think of - 2nd, 3rd, or 4th maybe - but not first. Again, Tombstone is VERY well known - way out of proportion for either it's size or it's importance - and as I said, I think that (thanks to Hollywood) Tombstone (and Yuma for that matter) are VERY well known overseas - maybe even more so than Phoenix.
Can I prove that?
Of course not.
But then again you can't prove that's not the case (keep in mind too that we are NOT just talking about Germans - but foreigners in general).

In any event, I'm done.
Further debate is pointless.

Ken

Very true as I have no idea what your point is in the first place. If you believe most foreigners think Arizona and equate Tombstone and shootouts instead of Phoenix/Tucson/Scottsdale/Tempe/Glendale,etc. in 2009, then someone help us, LOL! Tombstone isn't a "city" as it is really a somewhat "living" ghost-town. I worry about some of you people.

Besides the shootouts and the lawmen vs rebel action now occur in places like Detroit, Chicago, D.C., etc. Hey if they want some of that "Western" flavor with a little bit of southern "hospitality" in the mix they can catch some of the action on the streets in Houston and Dallas!