Coolidge, AZ, located in the Sonoran Desert about 50 miles southeast of Phoenix, is a small city with a rich history dating back over 1,000 years to its original Hohokam inhabitants. Today, Coolidge is home to approximately 16,000 residents and is driven by agriculture and manufacturing industries. The city offers a mix of new master-planned communities and older neighborhoods, with home styles ranging from late 20th-century bungalows and ranch-style homes to 21st-century desert-hued New Traditional and Spanish-style houses. Central Coolidge features older subdivisions without sidewalks or homeowners associations, while newer areas like Heartland Ranch include sidewalks, walking trails, and small playgrounds. The Coolidge Unified School District serves around 2,500 students, with Coolidge High offering career and technical education programs.
Coolidge hosts several annual events, such as Coolidge Days in October and Cotton Days in March, which celebrate the city’s heritage and community spirit. The main thoroughfare, South Arizona Boulevard, connects residents to nearby cities and Phoenix, with Cotton Express and Central Arizona Regional Transit buses providing local and regional transportation. Dining options along South Arizona Boulevard include a mix of national chains and local favorites like Tag’s Cafe and Casa Palomino Mexican Restaurant.
For recreation, residents enjoy San Carlos Park, Kenilworth Sports Complex, and the Coolidge Aquatic Center. The Casa Grande Ruins National Monument is a notable attraction, offering insights into Hohokam culture. Crime rates in Coolidge have decreased significantly over the past decade, with the majority of incidents being property-related. However, residents must contend with extreme summer heat and the potential for wildfires, though no significant fires have occurred recently.
