Anthem, Arizona

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Anthem is a planned community and census-designated place in Maricopa County, Arizona, about 30 miles north of downtown Phoenix. It sits at the base of Daisy Mountain and Gavilan Peak and ranges from about 1,760 to 2,428 feet in elevation. The area covers about 7.9 square miles, mostly land with a little water. As of 2020, about 23,190 people live in Anthem.

Anthem was developed in 1998 by Del Webb as a master-planned community and is known as a family-friendly place with year‑round activities. It has three main subdivisions—Parkside, Country Club, and the Village—each with its own homeowners association. The Anthem Community Council coordinates across the three associations.

Open space is a key feature, with about 36% preserved as open hillside. The community includes a large 63-acre park with an amphitheater, sports fields, a train, lakes, pavilions, and more. The Anthem Community Center offers facilities for youth sports and other activities, and there are 14 outdoor pickleball courts that members can use.

Services vary by area. The eastern part of Anthem is served by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office for police and the Daisy Mountain Fire Department for fire protection. The western part lies within the City of Phoenix and uses Phoenix police, fire services, and utilities. Water on the east side comes from EPCOR.

Anthem is part of the Deer Valley Unified School District and also has private and charter schools. Nearby colleges include Glendale Community College, Paradise Valley Community College, and ASU West.

Interstate 17 is the main road to downtown Phoenix, and a frontage road opened in 2009 to improve access to Anthem. Valley Metro bus service does not stop in Anthem, but vanpool options may be available.

The Anthem Veterans Memorial honors U.S. service members with five white pillars representing the military branches. On Veterans Day, the sun’s rays align to spotlight the Great Seal at 11:11 a.m.

In 2012, Anthem experienced a severe flood after a storm dropped about 5 inches of rain in 90 minutes, causing damage and evacuations. The event was described as a one‑in‑1,000‑year rainfall.