When you hear of South Phoenix, what picture comes to mind? When you hear of Fountain Hills, how does that picture change? 

To understand why these two Arizona cities are so different, we’ll have to explore the concept of environmental racism. 

Environmental racism refers to institutional rules, regulations, policies, or government and/or corporate decisions that disproportionately target low income and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities to environmental burdens and a lack of environmental benefits. Environmental burdens include proximity to toxic facilities, noise and environmental pollution, hazardous waste, and other factors that compromise healthy lifestyles. Environmental benefits include access to green spaces, healthy food, clean air and water, and other factors that promote healthy lifestyles.

Over decades, South Phoenix residents have faced environmental racism, while Fountain Hills residents have had the privilege of a safe environment. 

First, how do the demographics of these two regions differ?

South Phoenix encompasses the area south of the Salt River, north of Roeser Road, east of 24th Street, and west of 32nd Street.              

Screenshot of a map highlighting the boundaries of South Phoenix.

Fountain Hills borders the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, and Scottsdale.                              

Screenshot of a map highlighting the boundaries of Fountain Hills.
Double bar graph titles “Race and Ethnicity” comparing the percentage of the total population of Phoenix and South Mountain. The white population in Phoenix is about 45% and 17% in South Mountain. The Hispanic population in Phoenix is about 41% and 62.5% in South Mountain. The Black population in Phoenix is about 8% and 15.1% in South Mountain. The Asian population in Phoenix is about 2.3% and 1.8% in South Mountain. The mixed, non-hispanic population in Phoenix is about 1.5% and 1.4% in South Mountain. The other, excluding Black and Asian Hispanic population in Phoenix is about 2% and 2.2% in South Mountain.
Double bar graph titled “Race and Ethnicity” comparing the percentage of the total population of Arizona and Fountain Hills. The white population in Arizona is about 55% and 91.3% in Fountain Hills. The Hispanic population in Arizona is about 30% and 3.8% in Fountain Hills. The Black population in Arizona is about 2.4% and 2.1% in Fountain Hills. The Asian population in Arizona is about 2.3% and 2.2% in Fountain Hills. The mixed, non-hispanic population in Arizona is about 2% and .4% in Fountain Hills. The other, excluding Black and Asian Hispanic population in Arizona is about 2.5% and .2% in Fountain Hills.
Double bar graph titled “Household Income Percentiles” comparing median household income in Phoenix and South Mountain. In the 95th percentile, the median household income in Phoenix is almost $200k and $137,6k in South Mountain. In the 80th percentile, the median household income in Phoenix is about $100k and $81k in South Mountain. In the 60th percentile, the median household income in Phoenix is about $60k and $51.2k in South Mountain. The median household income in Phoenix is about $50k and $42k in South Mountain. In the 40th percentile, the median household income in Phoenix is about $41k and $32k in South Mountain. In the 20th percentile, the median household income in Phoenix is about $20k and $18k in South Mountain.

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Double bar graph titled “Household Income Percentiles” comparing median household income in Arizona and Fountain Hills. In the 95th percentile, the median household income in Arizona is about $180k and over $250k in Fountain Hills. In the 80th percentile, the median household income in Arizona is about $101k and $147.8k in Fountain Hills. In the 60th percentile, the median household income in Arizona is about $60k and $91.1k in Fountain Hills. The median household income in Arizona is about $50k and $75.3k in Fountain Hills. In the 40th percentile, the median household income in Arizona is about $49k and $60.5k in Fountain Hills. In the 20th percentile, the median household income in Arizona is about $29k and $32.3k in Fountain Hills.

© OpenStreetMap contributors

South Phoenix’s demographics are not accidental. They were shaped to look this way starting in the 1890s when Mexican and Mexican American migrants became the largest minority group in Phoenix. At the time, the majority were working agricultural jobs and were excluded from other job sectors because White residents saw their value to society as one of cheap labor.  Around the same time, African American settlements began in Phoenix after efforts to escape racism in southern states. However, they continued to experience racism and were constantly targeted by the Ku Klux Klan. At the same time, they were segregated in every aspect of their lives, especially in schools by the establishment of Black-only schools and ‘colored rooms’ in White schools. (Bolin et L. 2005 p4) The segregation and racism that both of these minority communities faced ultimately kept them restricted and unable to move from South Phoenix.

A second contribution to the patterns now seen in South Phoenix was the development of transportation infrastructure. After World War II (1945-1968), rail infrastructure was established to further industrial expansion. Around 80km of railroad tracks crossed South Phoenix, and over 100 manufacturing firms were located south of the tracks, which included “stockyards, factories, rendering plants, meat packing facilities, sewage facilities, and landfills” (Bolin et al., 2005, p. 4). This was possible because the South Phoenix area was not annexed by the City of Phoenix until 1960, making land-use regulations and urban services minimal before this time, which led to low property values that continued to attract industry well into the 20th century. 

Today, polluting and toxic industries continue to exist in close proximity to residents of South Phoenix. These are the industrial facilities located in South Phoenix that release chemicals into the air, water, and land that report their numbers to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Map of South Phoenix showing the toxic facilities located in the city and around it. There is a map legend on the bottom left corner that reads: Total releases by facility, with 6 dots that start at light purple and end at dark purple. Dot 1 is for 0 lb, dot 2 is for >0 - 100lb, dot 3 is for 101 - 10,000 lb, dot 4 is for 10,001-100,000 lb, dot 5 is for 1000,001-1,000,000 lb and dot 6 is for >1,000,000 lb. There are 15 facilities of various dot colors located within South Phoenix and 59 in the rest of the image.

One of those facilities, Goodrich Interiors, has released 128,469 pounds of the chemical toluene into the air from 2009-2020. This chemical can cause neurological, ocular, renal, and respiratory health effects. 

The facility is located right behind a street of homes. 

Satellite map screenshot of the facility Goodrich Interiors and its surrounding buildings and homes. Small pink circle highlights the location of the facility with a gray text box that reads: Goodrich Interiors (formerly Goodrich AIP) 3414 S 5th St Phoenix, AZ 85040, Industry sectors(s): plastics and rubber, last form submitted: reporting year 2020
Bar graph titled “Releases by chemical and year”. Y axis is titled releases (lb) and goes from 0 pounds to 20,000 pounds. X axis goes from the year 2009 to the year 2020. Year 2009 is about 19,500 pounds, 2010 is about 16,000 pounds, 2011 is 15,000 pounds, 2012 is about 16,500 pounds, 2013 is about 13,000 pounds, 2014 is about 7,000 pounds, 2015 is about 8,000 pounds, 2016 is about 10,000 pounds, 2017 is about 9,000 pounds, 2018 is about 9,500 pounds, 2019 is about 4,00 pounds and 2020 is about 3,000 pounds.
Front view of Goodrich facility, a brown and beige building with cars parked in front of it. The buildings and cars are behind a black wire fence.
Front view of two houses with a black truck parked in front. Behind the houses, the back side of the Goodrich facility is visible. The Goodrich facility is taller than the houses in front.

In contrast to South Phoenix's history, Fountain Hills is a master-planned community, a community designed from its inception, established in 1970. Before this time, the land was used as a cattle ranch and was purchased by McCulloch Oil Corporation in 1968. The designer of Fountain Hills was Charles Wood, Jr. (designer of Disneyland in southern California). The industrial facilities that are located in Fountain Hills today are zero. 

Map of Fountain Hills showing the toxic facilities located in the city and around it. There is a map legend on the bottom left corner that reads: Total releases by facility, with 6 dots that start at light purple and end at dark purple. Dot 1 is for 0 lb, dot 2 is for >0 - 100lb, dot 3 is for 101 - 10,000 lb, dot 4 is for 10,001-100,000 lb, dot 5 is for 1000,001-1,000,000 lb and dot 6 is for >1,000,000 lb. There is one dot outside of Fountain Hills city limits that releases 101-10,000 lb

Another source of pollution in the neighborhoods of South Phoenix comes from the commercial flights from Sky Harbor Airport that take off and land directly over this area every day. This not only creates noise pollution that residents are forced to deal with every day, but it also brings down pollutants such as Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Oxide, and ozone that are directly tied to respiratory diseases like asthma. (Grineski et al., 2007, p. 550). 

Picture taken in the middle of the road with some cars traveling both ways in the distance. There are trees on the left and right side of the road. A white airplane can be seen in the sky about to land in the nearby airport.
Bus stop with a bench and shade in the left corner of the picture near a garbage can and in front of a gray building with graffiti on its front wall. A billboard and an airplane can be seen in the distance.

Although Fountain Hills residents also see planes flying over their city, they are far more distant and less constant than those seen in South Phoenix. 

A barely visible plane flies in gray clouds over a park with green trees, and a bright yellow and green covering an orange playground set.

Another example of environmental racism that is not typically considered is the supply of liquor stores in urban neighborhoods. Liquor stores can be environmental influences that may lead to “potential adverse consequences for drinking behavior and other social ills,” compromising healthy lifestyles (Romley et al., 2007). In South Phoenix, there are over ten corner liquor stores, with Southern Avenue having three liquor stores within a 1.5-mile distance. 

Images of 3 liquor stores located between 19th Ave and Southern and Central and Southern.

In comparison, Fountain Hills has one corner liquor store.

Brown beige liquor store and a gray truck going through the drive thru on a cloudy day.

Communities that experience environmental racism are not only exposed to environmental burdens but also experience a lack of environmental benefits. A clear environmental benefit that can help offset things such as air pollution and excessive heat are green spaces and tree coverage. South Phoenix has sparse landscaping, which results in hotter temperatures, making its residents vulnerable to heat related illnesses and heat-related death. The Arizona Republic found that a South Phoenix neighborhood was 10 degrees hotter than one in Central Phoenix due to tree coverage differences. 

One beige and one white warehouse with a flatbed trailer and various stacked with metal palettes and other working materials underneath an ombre bright blue sky.
A road divided with bright orange construction barricades and a sign prompting to keep left, there is one store one left side of the road and on the right side. There are mountains in the far distance and a bright blue sky above. Only 3 palm trees are seen in the distance.

In contrast, Fountain Hills has a greater tree coverage and a wide variety of native species. A 2007 study found that “in Phoenix, for every $10,000 increase in a neighborhood’s median income, vegetation also typically increased and the temperature dropped one-half degree, ” which is significant as temperatures increase due to climate change. (Devoid, 2017) 

A neighborhood road with a median full of cacti. Spread out Palo Verde trees are in front of brown two story houses.
A long road with a median covered in rocks, Palo Verde trees and bushes with mountains in the background and a blocky orange house on the right.

A final environmental racism factor is inequities in urban parks' quality in low-income, BIPOC neighborhoods vs high income, White neighborhoods. El Prado Park in South Phoenix, and Fountain Park in Fountain Hills are parks that provide benefits to its residents. They are well-covered green spaces with different amenities for different age groups to enjoy. However, Fountain Park sets itself apart from El Prado park because of its extensive greenery, maintenance, fountain, golf courses, and art. 

El Prado Park        

A park with multiple trees and bright green leaves.
A cement walkway dividing a yellow-brown park with trees, covered ramadas, and light posts in the background.
A large patch of brown grass with large trees in the distance and a bright blue sky.
A childrens blue, yellow, and brown playground with a sun cover on wood chips with large trees and bright blue sky in the background.
A blue and yellow swing set over wood chips with large trees, grass, and a walkway in the background.
A partial view of a tattered basketball net with a bathroom and large trees in the distance.
A baseball dirt field with two large light posts and a park and trees in the distance.
A pool with a looping water slide and bleachers on the left with large trees and houses in the background.
Tarnished brown metal drinking fountain with illegible graffiti.
Green trash can sitting on dirt next to a sidewalk.
Gray concrete bench in close proximity to playground swings.

    Fountain Park               

    Desert landscape next to dirt walkway.
    Desert plants with playground remadas in the background.
    Park lake surrounded by green grass, trees, people and ducks.
    Kids playground set with blue slides covered by yellow remadas.
    Kids playground area with interactive musical instruments.
    Splash Pad coming soon advertisement placed over a metal fence.
    New Kompan playground coming soon advertisement placed over a metal fence in front of a kids playground set.
    Stainless steel drinking fountain next to a water bottle refill station.
    Recycling bin and trash can placed next to each other next to a park sidewalk.
    Clean wooden bench sitting on concrete slab in front of green grass. Metal plaque on bench reads, “in loving memory of Robert A. Carpiano”.
    Brown metal bike racks sitting on concrete. Surrounded by desert plants.
    Electric vehicle charging station placed in one of the parking lots.
    Bronze statue of a little boy and dog. Placed along the park sidewalk in front of a lake.

      Regardless of race, ethnicity, language, income, or other factors, all communities have the right to live, work, and play in a clean, safe, and healthy environment. Everyone, especially communities with the privilege of not experiencing environmental racism, must fight towards a future that protects people and the planet. 

      Works Cited

      Bolin, Bob, Sara Grineski, and Timothy Collins. "The Geography of Despair: Environmental Racism and the Making of South Phoenix, Arizona, USA." Human Ecology Review 12.2 (2005): 156-68. Web.

      Devoid, A. (2018). Here's how heat discriminates, and what Phoenix is doing to help those at Risk.https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2017/10/19/heres-how-heat-discriminates-what-phoenix-doing-help-those-risk/561116001/

      Grineski, Sara, Bolin Robet, and Christopher Boone. “Criteria air pollution and marginalized populations: Environmental inequity in metropolitan phoenix, Arizona.” Arizona Social Science Quarterly. 88(2), 535-554, 2007. Web. 

      Romley, John & Cohen, Deborah & Ringel, Jeanne & Sturm, Roland. (2007). Alcohol and Environmental Justice: The Density of Liquor Stores and Bars in Urban Neighborhoods in the United States. Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs. 68. 48-55. 10.15288/jsad.2007.68.48.