Goodyear was Arizona’s 3rd fastest growing city among all cities and towns in Arizona of any size from 1990 to 2000.  This growing city with a  rural, small town feel was home to 3,137 residents in 1980, and is projected to have approximately 54,000 residents by 2010.  With easy access to Downtown Phoenix and all of the exciting sports, retail and entertainment venues in the West Valley, Goodyear’s population has been growing by about 18% annually. Located 17 miles west of the center of Phoenix, Goodyear is actually named after the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.  In 1916, the Goodyear Co. was farming cotton on a 20,000 acre plot for its tire manufacturing, and later, an offshoot called Goodyear Aircraft built a plant and housing for its workers building flight decks for Navy seaplanes in the area.  Today, Goodyear has a strong economic base of a diverse group of industries including aerospace and food processing. Today, this former company town encompasses 116 square miles, sits at the base of the breathtaking Estrella Mountains, and is home to the 19,000 acre Estrella Mountain Regional Park.  There are almost 100 miles of bike paths and 33 miles of mountain trails in this park with great walking and biking opportunities and an active outdoor lifestyle for everyone.  Goodyear is home to many master planned communities that offer scenic mountain views, pastoral open spaces, lakes, parks, golf courses and more for everyone from retirees to young families and empty nesters.