History and Fun Facts about Phoenix, Az.

The history of Phoenix began hundreds of years before eastern cities in the United States had any population other than Native Americans. The ruins of Pueblo Grande stand as a silent testimony to the fact that this area was occupied between 700-1400 A.D.

With no supply of water except the Salt River to give life to what we now call the Valley of the Sun, the Hohokams farmed the land as early as 300 B.C. They developed an irrigation system with 135 miles of canals. Their efforts brought fertility to the valley as they grew corn, beans and squash. They had a sophisticated style of art and have left us some fascinating glimpse of what their lives were like.

Sometime between their heyday and 1400 A.D., the Hohokams disappeared and we have only speculations as to their ultimate fate. The name Hohokam "The people who have gone" and it is the name they were given by the natives who discovered their abandoned civilization.

Jack Swilling was the most influential man in the founding of Phoenix. He saw the farming potential in the area. This former Confederate soldier founded the Swilling Irrigation Canal Company to bring to the rich soil the element it was missing to become a breadbasket, water.

When it came time to the name of the new city, the choice of Phoenix is credited to Darrell Duppa who pointed out that it was being built on the ashes of a former culture. This was 1868 and on June 15 the first Post Office opened with Jack Swilling as the postmaster.

In 1870, the site for the town of Phoenix was determined and it is what would now be called the downtown business district. On December 23 and 24, 1870, a great sale of lots was held to help build the downtown area. This great sale resulted in 61 lots being sold at an average of $48 per lot. 1871 saw the building of the first general store and the first church. This was Hancock's Store and the Central Methodist Church. The first Catholic Church, Sacred Heart of St Louis wasn't built until 1881.

In 1881 the city was incorporated and elections for the first mayor were held in May of that year. What was the population of Phoenix in 1881? It was 2500. As the city developed it began to attract business and one of the first major ones was the Holsum Bakery. In 1886 one of the first electric plants in the west was established in Phoenix and that same year, the Phoenix Fire Engine Company Number 1 came into existence, it was a volunteer fire department that served the city for many years.

On July 4, 1886, the Southern Pacific Railroad arrived in Phoenix and this would give the whole area a real boost. On February 14, 1912, Phoenix became the capital of the United States newest state.

In more recent times, Phoenix was visited by some strange and unusual lights. On March 13, 1997, thousands of people swear that Phoenix was visited by ufos. Who knows, maybe there is more to the Superstition Mountains than superstitions.

Did you know that if Jack Swilling had his way we would be writing interesting historical facts about "Stonewall" Arizona? How about the fact that in 1874 there were more saloons and dance halls in Phoenix than there were churches? Not so much of a surprise for a wild western town.

Phoenix is a very interesting and historic city, the facts bear that out. It is still as attractive to potential residents as it has been throughout most of its history.