In the vast desert landscape south of Phoenix, one of Arizona’s youngest cities is making an outsized impression in the world of economic development. The City of Maricopa, officially incorporated in 2003, is not merely on a mission of growth, but of smart growth. And according to Christian Price, the city’s Economic Growth Officer, this ambition is as bold as it is practical.
At just 22 years old, Maricopa is redefining what it means to build a city from scratch. “When you are building a city from nothing but farmland in today’s modern era, that’s where the challenges exist,” Price says. “But also, the opportunities.”
To understand where Maricopa is going, it’s important to understand where it’s been. Or rather, where it has moved physically throughout history.
The roots of Maricopa trace back to the 1850s, when gold rush hopefuls heading to California stopped for water at a spot called Maricopa Wells. Situated along an ancient Hohokam canal system, Maricopa Wells was more than just a watering hole; it was one of the most significant trade and transportation hubs in the Arizona Territory. Traders, military expeditions, and mail routes all passed through, helping to lay the groundwork for future development.
Decades later, when the railroads arrived, the center of activity shifted eight miles south to become the burgeoning railroad town known as Maricopaville. That settlement boomed briefly, so much so that the Wall Street Journal at one point speculated it might become Arizona’s capital once statehood was achieved.
But fate had other plans. “The connection to Phoenix and Tempe shifted everything,” Price explains. “They built a connection to this main Union Pacific line, and that really allowed Phoenix and Tempe to boom.” Maricopaville, by contrast, faded just as quickly as it had flourished. Over time, the town’s identity and geography shifted once again, becoming known as Maricopa Junction before finally settling into the modern-day Maricopa we know today.
Though incorporated in 2003, Maricopa’s modern population growth didn’t truly take off until the early 2000s. And when it did, it was dramatic. “In the 2000 census, there were about 1,200 people that lived here,” says Price. “Today, there are nearly 80,000 and that timeframe includes a six- or seven-year great recession and a two-year pandemic.”
This kind of meteoric rise brings its own set of challenges: housing demand, infrastructure needs, schools, and of course, jobs. “Retail follows rooftops,” Price says, referring to the standard trajectory of economic development. As people move in, businesses like supermarkets, restaurants, and retail shops follow.
But for Price and the City Council, retail is only part of the puzzle. “Our biggest focus in the past four or five years has been, how do we provide a place where our highly educated residents can stay and work, instead of commuting out of the city every day?” The answer lies in industrial and commercial development and that’s where things get ambitious. With nearly 80 percent of residents commuting to Phoenix or surrounding communities for work, there’s a strong incentive to bring jobs home.
Recognizing the need to create local employment, the city began purchasing key land parcels to jump-start industrial growth. Price describes these strategic acquisitions as “priming the pump,” a way for the public sector to set the stage for private investment. In total, Maricopa has secured roughly 1,200 acres of land across three main parcels with what has been dubbed the Maricopa Business Park. The crown jewel here is the 874 acres designed to be a fully rail-served industrial hub. This development is poised to be a game changer—not just for Maricopa, but for the entire region.
From the very beginning, Maricopa’s location was chosen for its connection to the railroad—a strategic advantage that still fuels economic opportunity today. Maricopa happens to lie along one of the most critical east-west freight lines in the country, the Union Pacific main line connecting the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to the Gulf of Mexico. This corridor is vital for national logistics and supply chains. “If you can put in a short rail and have access to that main line, it really steps up the ability for Maricopa to sell itself as an industrial hub,” says Price.
The vision for the business park is clear: attract advanced manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, and other industries that provide quality jobs and don’t require long commutes to neighboring cities. The city has already invested in master planning the area to ensure the property is ready to move forward. Large acreages are being sold to developers with planned area developments (PADs) in the works to ensure the city’s long-term industrial vision is maintained.
In addition, city leaders are working with their partners on infrastructure enhancements to support these ambitions. This includes water and sewer expansion, road improvements, and a robust broadband network. With improved infrastructure, the city can accommodate the type of high-tech and light-industrial companies that require sophisticated connectivity and utilities.
“We really wanted to partner with those in the private sector who could do the job better than government,” Price says. “Our role here at the city is to help remove roadblocks, create opportunity, and let the private sector lead.”
The goal is to assist the developer in moving the rail connection and site infrastructure forward within the next 18 to 24 months, an ambitious but necessary timeline given the region’s rapid population growth and the competitive nature of industrial site selection.
Of course, when companies and individuals consider expanding or relocating, they look at more than just infrastructure; they look at cost, workforce, lifestyle, and long-term viability. In this sense, Maricopa checks a lot of boxes. Despite being in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, Maricopa is located in Pinal County, not Maricopa County (a common misconception). That matters because costs are lower. “Land is more affordable, housing is more affordable, and taxes are lower all the way around,” Price notes.
The city itself is currently just 43 square miles incorporated, but the long-term general plan allows for expansion to include up to 233 square miles through annexation. That means there’s plenty of room to grow both for businesses and for the families who work for them. The city has already begun working with surrounding landowners who desire to be annexed to ensure that long-term growth can be managed responsibly.
Housing in Maricopa, once dominated by single-family homes, is diversifying rapidly. “We’re seeing a lot more ‘cycle of life housing’ enter the marketplace, from multi-family units to smaller homes to condominiums,” says Price. “We’re still one of the most affordable places in the Phoenix metro area to purchase a home.” That’s a major selling point for employers considering a move to the area.
The city is also investing in quality-of-life assets including parks, trails, and cultural amenities. Its Copper Sky Recreation Complex, a sprawling indoor-outdoor community center with sports fields and aquatic facilities, has become a regional draw.
Education is another important factor. Maricopa is home to Central Arizona College and collaborates with the institution to support workforce training. The city is also exploring partnerships with the University of Arizona and other major institutions to build a pipeline for talent development, particularly in engineering, technology, and skilled trades.
Unlike some cities where development is slowed by red tape or opposition from residents, Maricopa is leaning in. “We offer a City Council that is very pro-business and very, very interested in seeing and supporting businesses that want to come and locate here,” says Price. “That’s something you don’t see a lot of today.” Arizona as a whole also takes a different approach to incentives. Rather than flashy tax giveaways, the state offers structural advantages: right-to-work laws, lower overall tax burdens, and robust programs through the Arizona Commerce Authority such as quality jobs incentives, R&D tax credits, and foreign trade zones.
Locally, Maricopa complements these offerings with its own tools: expedited permitting, development agreements, and tax structures like the Government Property Lease Excise Tax (GPLET), which incentivizes certain types of development when land is leased from a municipality. But perhaps the city’s greatest advantage is its agility. The city’s staff works closely with prospective businesses to streamline approvals, coordinate utilities, and customize solutions. “We offer speed to market and we want to work jointly with businesses to move forward in parallel,” Price emphasizes.
Indeed, with access to rail, proximity to a major airport (Sky Harbor is just 30 minutes away), room for expansion, and a growing, educated population, Maricopa is emerging as a serious contender in Arizona’s economic development landscape. The city is also making waves with other development-ready areas like Murphy Park, a site with flexible zoning, strong infrastructure, and high visibility. This area is targeted for commercial, light industrial, and flex-space uses. And as growth continues, more projects like these are expected to come online.
The city has also made strides in its digital infrastructure, expanding broadband access and implementing smart city technologies. These improvements not only support businesses but also enhance services for residents.
Still, for all the big plans and strategic vision, Price remains grounded in the city’s unique story. “The truth is, we’re not trying to be the next Phoenix,” he says. “We’re trying to be the best Maricopa—a place where people can live, work, and thrive without having to leave the community they call home.”
It’s a compelling vision, one grounded in history, driven by smart planning, and fueled by a deep sense of place. With strong leadership, a strategic location, and a commitment to inclusive growth, Maricopa might just be Arizona’s most exciting city to watch.
