Phoenix

HISTORY

The city and surrounding area of Phoenix, Arizona can be traced back as far as 300 BC. To the Hohokam people, who were the first to settle in the hot an arid region. The Hohokam people were the first to build canal systems, which were crafted to bring water from the Salt River to the fields in order to irrigate their crops. The name Hohokam comes from the O'Odham language and means, " The people who have gone." This title is appropriate as the Hohokam people disappeared from the land virtually without a trace. Historians theorize that a drought may have displaced them.

A pioneer named Jack Swilling founded Phoenix in 1867, when he was traveling along the Salt River. A farmer all his life, Swilling examined the rich soil, and found it was perfect for crops, but the irrigation system that the Hohokam had built so many ions ago had disappeared, making irrigation nearly impossible.

Swilling returned to the town he had come from called Wickenburg to gather help. Days later, he returned to Phoenix with a small group of men and introduced them to the site by the river that he had found. Noting the fertile soil and potential growth opportunities of having land so close to the river, the group agreed to make the land workable. Together, they dug canals and formed an irrigation system for the crops beds. Shortly afterward, Jack Swilling formed the men into a small farming colony in 1868, four miles from where the city of Phoenix is located today.

The town was called Swilling's Mill, and later it would be changed to Hellinwg Mill, then to Mill City, and then to East Phoenix. Swilling wanted to name the town Stonewall, after Stonewall Jackson, a Confederate General who Swillling had served under during the Civil War. Other members of the community had suggested Salina. Darrell Duppa is the man who finally thought of the name "Phoenix." As this town was born out of the ashes of the fallen Hohokam civilization, the name was most appropriate.

Phoenix was recognized as a town in May 1868. The first post office opened in the same year, on June 15th. Jack Swelling was asked to be the first-ever Phoenix postmaster. Maricopa County was established in 1871, and the first County elections were held to elect a Sheriff that same year. Tom Barnum was elected.

In 1874, President Grant allowed the town of Phoenix to be issued a land patent for the site where Phoenix is today. The total cost of the land patent was $550.00. This cost included all services and expenses that went with forming a new town.

From its establishment on, Phoenix was growing rapidly and in 1881 the original site of the town was already deemed to be too small. The 11th Territorial Government passed legislation incorporating Phoenix. This allowed the town to form its own town government and move the town hall. The population then was approximately 2500 persons, a substantial size for a Western town at the time.

The Salt River Valley Herald was the first newspaper in Phoenix. The name was changed to The Phoenix Herald in 1880. A year later, in May of 1881, the first town election was held and Judge John Alsap was elected as the first Mayor of Phoenix.

The railroad came to the town of Phoenix in the 1880's. With it came an influx of people who wanted to make a better life in a warm and booming Arizona hot spot. With goods being transported by rail instead of wagon, the city became a major trade point for all towns east and west of the city. The Phoenix Chamber of Commerce was established in 1888, in reorganization of rapid economic growth.

A new city hall was built, housing not only city officials, but the territorial government as well. This new city hall was built where the downtown bus terminal is today.

The national Reclamation Act was signed in 1902 by president Theodore Roosevelt. This new Act made it possible to build dams on the western streams to insure that the City of Phoenix would have enough water to sustain its booming population and industry. The Salt River Waters Users' Association was formed in 1903 to carry out the task of building the dams. The Association is still the major agency for controlled use of irrigation in Phoenix, and is possibly the oldest Association in Arizona.

The Theodore Roosevelt Dam began operation in 1911. It was the largest masonry dam in the world. When it began operations, it created Roosevelt Lake, and expanded irrigation for the farmlands that were deeper in the valley. Again, Phoenix population was exploding.

Arizona became a State in 1912; President William Howard Taft approved it on February 14. The city's form of government was mayor-council. In 1913, it was changed to council-manager. Phoenix was one of the first cities to institute this form of government in the United States.

Phoenix purchased 13,000 acres of land in South Mountain from the United States in 1924. President Calvin Coolidge approved the sale of $17,000. Phoenix created South Park, the largest metropolitan park in the world.

By 1920, the population of the city was over 29,000 people. It had grown into a verifiable metropolis and, by 1930, there were almost 50,000 residents in Phoenix.

When the World War II was declared, Phoenix was transformed from a farming community to an arms distribution center. Phoenix started mass-producing military supplies and quickly turned into an industrial city.

With the opening of Luke, Williams, and Falcon fields, thousands of men came to Phoenix to fill the jobs that were opening daily. By 1950, Phoenix had 105,000 residents. This figure did not include the residents of the surrounding communities that depended on the city for its livelihood.