About Us

The Town of Cave Creek (Arizona) is located in northern Maricopa County and is bounded by Maricopa County to the north, Phoenix to the west and south, Carefree to the last and Scottsdale to the southeast. The Town encompasses approximately 31 square miles.

The Town is well situated for access to regional transportation. Interstate Highway 17 (I-17) is located approximately 8 miles to the west, via the Carefree Highway. This north/south route connects Phoenix and Flagstaff. The recently completed 101 Loop is accessible 12 miles to the south, from Cave Creek Road. This road provides connections to the commercial and shopping areas in the East Valley. Air transportation is available at Scottsdale Municipal Airport, Deer Valley Airport and Sky Harbor International Airport.

Recreation opportunities are available at nearby Lake Pleasant, Bartlett Lake, as well as the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area, Cave Creek Recreation Area, and Gateway Desert Awareness Park. The 2000 population of Cave Creek is 3,728 persons.Between 1990 and 2000 the population increased 27.5% or by 803 people. Cave Creek's population growth is less than neighboring jurisdictions of Phoenix (31.3%), Scottsdale
(35.8%) during the same period.

The Town of Cave Creek is named for Cave Creek, the small stream that originates in the hills to the northeast and flows southwesterly for 25 miles before reaching the vicinity of Paradise Valley. The stream derives its name from a high, overhanging bluff along its west bank that forms a wide open-mouthed cavern about two miles north of the present day Town.

Cave Creek can trace its history back 100 years, but Native Americans were living in these. hills long before any Europeans came. Various tribes of prehistoric Indians came into the area periodically to hunt game and gather wild foods. The Hohokam settled permanently in small villages along Cave Creek to grow crops. These villages used the waters of Cave Creek and nearby springs to irrigate their fields. These original inhabitants occupied the land from about 800 A.D. until 1400 A.D. and then disappeared. They left behind the crumbling remains of their irrigation ditches and the foundations of their small houses.