Avondale

Welcome to Avondale

Community Summary

An incorporated City in Maricopa County, in the Phoenix West Valley, roughly 15 miles west of downtown Phoenix via Interstate 10, which crosses the northern part of the city. William "Billy" G. Moore settled near the Agua Fria River in 1880 and initially called the settlement "Coldwater," operating the Coldwater Stage Station to supply travelers between Tucson and northern Arizona/California.

The name "Avondale" comes from the Avondale Ranch, where a post office bearing that name was established in 1896 near the ranch. Western Avenue, today's Old Town/downtown corridor, was the commercial spine that spurred growth toward incorporation.

Avondale incorporated as a Town on December 16, 1946, and attained City status in 1959. It is a legally incorporated City with a council-manager form of government (a mayor plus council).

Population figures by date (Avondale has grown rapidly):

• 1980 Census: 8,168
• 2000 Census: 35,883
• 2010 Census: 76,238
• 2020 Census: 89,334
• July 2025 Census Bureau estimate: 100,983

Land area is approximately 47.28 square miles (2020 Census figure; a 2010 Census figure of 45.60 sq mi and a secondary-source figure of 47.87 sq mi also exist, with a minor discrepancy).

Avondale borders Goodyear to the west, Litchfield Park to the north, and Phoenix and Tolleson to the east.

Sub-Communities & Neighborhoods

Verified as real, located within Avondale:

• Alamar — a master-planned community developed by Brookfield Residential, with builders including Shea Homes and William Ryan Homes
• Rancho Santa Fe — a residential neighborhood
• Crystal Gardens — a residential neighborhood
• Coldwater Springs — an apartment community named for the city's original "Coldwater" settlement name
• Wigwam Country Estates / Wigwam Mobile Home Park — a residential area near N Dysart Rd (note: this is unrelated to The Wigwam golf resort, which is located in Litchfield Park — see Parks and Recreation)
• Gateway Pavilions — a large retail/commercial center (not a residential neighborhood), anchored by Harkins Theatres
• Downtown Avondale Historic Corridor (Western Avenue/"Old Town") — the historic commercial core, home to several historic structures including the Old Commercial Building, the Burger Building, and the Avon Theater

Excluded/unverified: "Garrett Park" could not be verified as an Avondale neighborhood name. "Friendship Village" is a senior-living community located in Tempe, AZ — not to be confused with Avondale's actual Friendship Park (see Parks and Recreation).

Market Stats (Annual)

Full calendar-year data, refreshed once a year. Source link

Avondale | Altos report: Avondale, AZ (citywide)

Schools

• Avondale Elementary School District — established 1894; serves the cities of Goodyear and Avondale
• Littleton Elementary School District — headquartered in Avondale; serves Avondale, Tolleson, and Phoenix; schools include Littleton Elementary, Collier Business Academy, Estrella Vista STEM Academy, Fine Arts Academy, Lakin Prep Academy, Quentin Elementary, and Tres Rios Service Academy
• Pendergast Elementary School District — covers a portion of Avondale, along with Phoenix and Glendale
• Agua Fria Union High School District — headquartered in Avondale; operates Agua Fria High School and West Point High School, among others
• Tolleson Union High School District — also serves part of Avondale; operates Westview High School (10850 W. Garden Lakes Parkway) and La Joya Community High School, both located in Avondale

Dining

• Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant — 10525 W. McDowell Rd. (Arizona's fifth location, opened March 2026)
• Luna Grill — near 99th Ave. and Indian School Rd. (the chain's first West Valley location)
• El Pollo Loco — confirmed new location in Avondale
• Gateway Pavilions dining corridor — anchored by Harkins Theatres Gateway Pavilions 18, with Red Robin among confirmed tenants

Annual Community Events

Spring

• Avondale Fiesta — early May, a music and culture community festival
• Mercados & Melodies (Country Night installment) — March, at Avondale Civic Center Amphitheater

Summer

• "Light Up the Sky" Independence Day Celebration — around July 4th, at Phoenix Raceway

Fall

• Mercados & Melodies: Hispanic Heritage Celebration — late September, at Avondale Civic Center Amphitheater

Winter

• WinterFest — early December, at Avondale Civic Center, with a Santa visit, holiday light show, and tree lighting

Recurring

• NASCAR race weekends at Phoenix Raceway — a spring Cup/Xfinity/Truck series weekend (historically around March) and a fall Cup race, both physically at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale
• Avondale Run Series — confirmed as an official recurring City of Avondale event series; specific dates could not be independently confirmed in this research pass

Churches and Community Centers

Churches

• Christ's Church of the Valley (CCV), Avondale Campus — 1565 N 113th Ave
• Avondale Baptist Church — 1001 N Central Ave
• Lighthouse Baptist Church — 965 E Van Buren St, Suite 112
• St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church (Parish) — 13720 W Thomas Rd

Community Centers

• Avondale Civic Center — 11465 W. Civic Center Drive, host site for WinterFest and the Mercados & Melodies series

Parks and Recreation

Community Parks: Alamar Park, Festival Fields Park, Friendship Park (12325 W McDowell Rd)

Neighborhood Parks: Dennis DeConcini Park, Donnie Hale Park, Las Ligas Park, Fred Campbell Park, Mountain View Park, Civic Center Park

Plazas: Park Avenue Plaza, Dessie Lorenz Plaza, Doc Rhodes Plaza, A.B. Sernas Plaza

Other: Goodyear Farms Historic Cemetery (1917)

Sun Circle Trail — a regional multi-use hiking/biking trail with a segment running through Avondale; part of a shared West Valley trail system, not exclusive to the city.

Important correction — The Wigwam golf resort and golf club is located in Litchfield Park, not Avondale, despite occasional confusion with the unrelated Wigwam Country Estates/Wigwam Mobile Home Park residential area that is genuinely within Avondale.

Amenities

• Phoenix Raceway — renamed from Phoenix International Raceway in 2018; confirmed physically located in Avondale (7602 Jimmie Johnson Dr.); hosts NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and Craftsman Truck Series races. Though commonly referred to simply as "Phoenix," it is a genuine Avondale asset.
• Gateway Pavilions — retail/entertainment corridor at 10250 W. McDowell Rd., anchored by Harkins Theatres

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Phoenix Raceway actually located in Avondale? Yes. Despite being commonly called simply "Phoenix," Phoenix Raceway's physical address (7602 Jimmie Johnson Dr.) confirms it is within Avondale city limits.

Is The Wigwam golf resort located in Avondale? No. The Wigwam golf resort and club is located in Litchfield Park, not Avondale.

What school districts serve Avondale? Avondale is served by multiple districts depending on location, including Avondale Elementary School District, Littleton Elementary School District, Pendergast Elementary School District, Agua Fria Union High School District, and Tolleson Union High School District.

Is any part of Avondale age-restricted (55+)? No verified age-restricted community was found within Avondale city limits. Well-known nearby 55+ communities, such as PebbleCreek, are located in neighboring Goodyear rather than Avondale.