Paradise Valley is a small, affluent town in Maricopa County, Arizona. Paradise Valley is the home of the show's titular character Alex Mack, and her parents (George, and Barbara), her sister Annie, and best friend/next door neighbor - Ray Alvarado. According to the 1990 census, the population of the town was 11,773. The town's main industry is chemical production, and the main employer is the Paradise Valley Chemical Plant, under the leadership of corrupt CEO Danielle Atron, and her chief of security Vince Carter.
Other locations of note outside of PV Chemical include Danielle Atron Junior High School, Paradise University, Paradise High School, Greenfields Junior High School, Paradise Valley Hospital, Paradise Valley Mall, Paradise Valley Golf Course, and Paradise Valley Community Center. Neighboring towns also affiliated with PV Chemical include the Towns of Pittsville Gardens and Peaceful View. Paradise Valley is a small town not too far outside of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. Paradise Valley has far fewer options for work than neighboring Phoenix, and as such, most of the town's residents either work for PV Chemical, or for industries that contract with PV Chemical.
The town's name along with all the other various entities bearing the same name comes from the expansive area known as Paradise Valley, that spreads from north of the Phoenix Mountains to Cave Creek and Carefree on the north and the McDowell Mountains to the east. The town began as a silver mining camp in the 19th Century. The Old Atron House (located on Dearborn Way) was the first house built in Paradise Valley.
Overview and history[]
Paradise Valley is a small, yet relatively wealthy town located just outside of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area in the U.S. State of Arizona. It is known primarily as the home of the Paradise Valley Chemical Plant. However, its history dates back to early cattle ranching operations in Arizona, followed by a brief silver mining boom.
After the initial European settlement, Paradise Valley was first used for cattle grazing. In the 1890's the area already was well into a silver mining boom.
Geography[]
Paradise Valley is located at 33°32′41″N 111°57′23″W (33.544596, −111.956451).
The central terrain of Paradise Valley is dominated by Mummy Mountain. Other landmarks include Camelback Mountain on the southern border and the Piestewa Peak mountainous area on the western border. The old abandoned silver mine where George Mack used to go study the local area's geology as a child is located somewhere in this region.
Demographics[]
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | ||
| 1970 | 6,637 | ||
| 1980 | 11,085 | ||
| 1990 | 11,773 | ||
| Est. 1994 (year of the accident) | 12,000 | ||
| UNITED STATES CENSUS | |||
Paradise Valley's motto, coined by the town's main employer, Paradise Valley Chemical Plant, is "PROGRESS AT ANY COST". The town is also frequently called "The Land of Sun and Science" by local radio disc jockeys.
The estimated population of Paradise Valley as of the start of the 1994-95 school year (Alex's first year of junior high) was somewhere around 12,000 people, the majority of whom work for PV Chemical, work for a company that is contracting with PV Chemical, or are related to someone who is either working for, or contracting with PV Chemical.
Education []
Paradise Valley is home of the the Paradise Valley School District. Schools in the district include Danielle Atron Junior High School, Greenfields Junior High School and Paradise High School.
Several private schools also exist in the area, catering to members of the town's elite families. Annie Mack's archnemisis/rival, Carlton Hendy (Danielle Atron's nephew) attends one of these private schools.
The town has a local 4 year college - Paradise University.
The town has at least one known library.
Economy[]
The Economy is mostly driven by the Paradise Valley Chemical Plant, and those businesses that contract with them. Those businesses that contract with them include Barbara Mack's initial employer (a public relations and advertising firm), and Louis Driscoll's father's personal computer and high tech business - Driscoll Digital Industries.
Other minor players that also have influence on the economy include PV Chemical's rival - Sedgwick Chemical Company, and retailers in the Paradise Valley Mall such as Wayne's Wigwam Donut Shop ("Serving Up Coffee, Donuts and Smiles Since 1985!"), and a local VHS rental store that Alex, Annie, and Robyn Russo all have worked at.
Notable residents[]
This list is not complete. It is however, a list of some of the major residents of Paradise Valley:
- Alexandra Louise Mack
- Annie Mack
- George Herbert Walker Mack
- Barbara Mack
- Raymond Filbert Alvarado
- Louis Driscoll
- Robyn Russo
- Nicole Wilson
- Hunter Reeves
- Eddie Einstein
- Big Lou Driscoll
- Caroline Driscoll
- Ray's Dad
- Danielle Atron
- Vince Carter
- Dave Watt
- Oscar Watt (Dave's pet chimp)
- Lars Fredrickson
- Coach Rooney
- Jessica
- Kelly Phillips
- Scott Greene
- Bryce
- Mr. Sperry
- Ms. Clark
- Mr. Krantz
- Libby Flanders
- The Ghost of Paradise Valley
- Carlton Hendy
- Professor Ivan McKee
- Fred Pratt
- Monica Pratt
- Paulina Rubka
- Professor Andrew Armstrong
- Gordon Flack
- Mr. Reynolds/The Mystery Man
- Mrs. Ward
- Toby Ward
- Gino Lawless
- Jerry
- Nathan (a.k.a. "Creeper")
- Mrs. Nechita
- Mr. Dabersky
- Charles "Chappy" Furnell
- Gordon "Scooter" Kramer
- Lieutenant Pruitt, Paradise Valley Fire Dept.
- Ms. Hamilton
- Dave's Mother
- Hannah Mercury
- Eric Brooks
- Gloria from Wayne's Wigwam
- Wayne from Wayne's Wigwam
- Ms. Thorpe
- Señora Garcia
- Jimmy T and the Wanderers
See also[]
- Paradise Valley Chemical Plant
- Danielle Atron Junior High School
- Paradise High School
- Paradise Valley Community Center
- Danielle Atron Park
- Paradise University
- Paradise Valley Mall
- Paradise Valley Golf Course
- Pittsville Gardens
- Peaceful View
- Phillipsburg Academy