The Great Bend of the Gila lies within the Phoenix Metropolitan Area, one of the fastest-growing major metropolitan areas in the United States. The region gained over 650,000 residents from 2010 to 2020, and nearly 1.6 million since 2000.
Today, Metro Phoenix is home to 4.8 million residents, making it the 11th largest metropolitan area in the nation by population. The region’s population is expected to grow to over 5 million people by 2030.
The Phoenix Metropolitan Area in the year 1984 vs. 2000. Image source: Google Earth Engine