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Timeline of Phoenix, Arizona facts for kids

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This is a timeline showing the history of Phoenix, a major city in Arizona, United States. It highlights important events and changes that shaped the city from ancient times to today.

Early History of Phoenix

  • 1-300 AD – The Hohokam people build several villages along the Gila River.
  • 300 AD – The Hohokam start making pottery.
  • 450 AD – Pueblo Grande, an ancient settlement, is established around this time.
  • 600-1300 AD – The Hohokam create a large system of irrigation canals in the area.
  • 1300 AD – The Hohokam have the largest population in the Southwest region.
  • 1300–1450 AD – The area experiences periods of dry weather mixed with floods.
  • 1450 AD – Pueblo Grande is abandoned, likely due to a long drought.

Phoenix in the 1800s

1888 Orozco ad Phoenix Arizona
An advertisement for Orozco & Vasquez in Phoenix, 1888.
  • 1848 – After the Mexican–American War, the land that is now Phoenix becomes part of the United States. It is part of the New Mexico Territory.
  • 1863 – Nearby Wickenburg becomes the first town in what is now Maricopa County, Arizona.
  • 1865 – Camp McDowell (later Fort McDowell) is set up near the Verde River.
  • 1867
    • November: Jack Swilling, from Wickenburg, starts the Swilling Irrigating and Canal Company. He wants to develop the Phoenix area.
    • December: Swilling leads 17 miners from Wickenburg to Phoenix. They begin building a canal system.
  • 1868
    • May 4: Phoenix is officially recognized by Yavapai County.
    • June 15: The first post office opens in Swilling's home. Swilling becomes the postmaster.
    • Swilling finishes almost 3 miles of his canals.
    • Mary Adeline Gray, the first European woman settler, arrives with her husband.
    • The Salt River floods for the first of many times.
  • 1870
    • October 20: The town site is chosen in what is now downtown Phoenix.
    • The town is planned out, covering about 0.5 square miles.
    • The population of the Salt River Valley reaches 240 people.
    • About 1700 acres of land are farmed in the Salt River Valley.
    • The Maricopa Canal is completed.
  • 1871
    • February 12: Maricopa County is created from Yavapai County. Phoenix becomes the county seat (the main town for the county government).
    • July 4: The first wheat is ground into flour at Birchard's Mill.
    • The first permanent building, the Hancock residence, is built.
    • The first store (Hancock's) and the first church (Central Methodist) open.
    • The Tempe Irrigating Canal Co. is formed.
    • Tempe is founded by Charles T. Hayden.
    • Phoenix's population reaches 500.
  • 1872
    • An adobe schoolhouse is built.
    • September 5: Public school classes begin.
    • Phoenix's first wedding takes place.
    • The first Chinese settlers arrive in Phoenix.
  • 1874
    • A school is built on Center Street.
    • Hayden's mill opens and operates for over 100 years.
    • Phoenix officially receives its patent for the town site.
    • The Salt River floods.
  • 1877 – The Maricopa Library Association is started.
  • 1878
    • The Salt River Herald, the valley's first newspaper, starts publishing.
    • The first bank, a branch of the Bank of Arizona, opens.
    • The population reaches 1500.
    • A brick factory opens.
    • The Grand Canal is completed.
    • Mesa is founded.
  • 1879
  • 1880
    • The Arizona Gazette newspaper begins publishing.
    • The population is 1,800.
  • 1881
    • February 25: Phoenix officially becomes a city when Governor John C. Frémont signs "The Phoenix Charter Bill." This creates a mayor-council form of government.
    • La Guardia, the valley's first Spanish language newspaper, begins publishing.
    • May 3: John T. Alsap becomes the city's first mayor.
    • May 9: The City Council starts meeting.
    • June 24: A Catholic church is dedicated.
  • 1883
    • Cotton farming begins in the valley.
    • The city creates a Health Officer position due to health concerns.
Phoenix1885-AerialMap HiRes
An aerial view of Phoenix from 1885.
  • 1884
    • The Arizona Industrial Exposition begins.
    • Valley Bank is founded.
    • Phoenix Light & Fuel (for electricity and heat) is established.
  • 1885
    • The Arizona Canal is completed.
    • A large fire destroys parts of the town.
    • Phoenix is chosen as the location for the Arizona Insane Asylum.
  • 1886
    • Another major fire causes about $100,000 in damage.
    • The Phoenix Fire Department is established with two fire companies.
    • The first telephone company opens.
    • The Phoenix Opera House is completed.
  • 1887
    • The Maricopa-Phoenix railway and a horse-drawn Street Railway begin operating.
    • A public water system is created.
    • A Public Health Department is established.
  • 1888
    • An electric power company is created.
    • A new city hall opens.
    • November 4: The Phoenix Chamber of Commerce is established.
    • Peoria is founded.
  • 1889 – The capital of the Arizona Territory moves to Phoenix from Prescott.
    • Citrus farming begins in the valley.
  • 1890
    • The Arizona Republican newspaper begins publishing.
    • Population: 3,152.
    • The Walnut Grove dam bursts, killing 50 people.
  • 1891
    • The Phoenix Indian School opens.
    • The largest flood in the valley's history occurs.
    • Telephones come to Phoenix.
  • 1892 – The Phoenix Sewer and Drainage Department is created.
  • 1893
    • The Phoenix Street Railway switches from mule-drawn to electric streetcars.
    • Arizona Territory passes a law allowing cities like Phoenix to add nearby land with permission from residents.
  • 1894
    • Orangedale (later called Scottsdale) is founded.
    • The city's speed limit is raised to 6 mph.
    • Tempe officially becomes a city.
  • 1895
    • The Santa Fe, Prescott and Phoenix Railway begins operating.
    • The Arizona Gazette newspaper begins publishing.
    • Phoenix Union High School opens.
    • The Rosson House is built in downtown Phoenix.
    • Sisters of Mercy Hospital (now St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center) opens.
  • 1896 – The Adams Hotel opens.
  • 1898
    • The Doris Opera House opens.
    • The first public library opens.

Phoenix in the 1900s

Early 1900s Growth

  • 1900
    • The city's area increases.
    • The first automobiles arrive in the city.
    • Population: 5,544.
  • 1901 – February 25: The State Capitol building is dedicated.
    • A drought affects the city.
  • 1903
    • February 7: The Salt River Project is founded to manage water.
    • Voters approve money to create a city waterworks.
  • 1905 – Flooding causes problems in the city again.
  • 1906 – Construction begins on the Theodore Roosevelt Dam.
  • 1908
    • The Salt River floods again.
    • The Granite Reef dam is completed.
    • The Carnegie Library is completed and opens to the public.

1910s: Statehood and Changes

  • 1910
    • The speed limit increases to 12 mph. The city has 329 licensed cars.
    • City schools establish a policy of segregation.
    • The Adams Hotel is destroyed by fire but is rebuilt.
    • Population reaches 11,134.
  • 1911
  • 1912
    • February 14: Arizona becomes the 48th state of the United States. Phoenix becomes the state capital.
    • Women in Arizona are granted the right to vote.
    • Chandler is founded.
  • 1913
    • The city adopts a council-manager form of government, becoming one of the first cities to do so.
    • The city has 646 registered automobiles.
  • 1914 – Arizona votes to ban alcohol.
  • 1915
  • 1917
    • Arizona adopts its state flag.
    • Litchfield is founded.
  • 1918 – The Rialto Theatre opens.
  • 1919 – The city votes to extend its limits before the upcoming U.S. Census.

1920s: Modernization and Growth

  • 1920
    • The Heard Building, Phoenix's first skyscraper, is built.
    • Phoenix Union High School has 2000 students.
    • The original Phoenix town site is now completely paved.
    • A big drop in cotton prices creates a financial challenge.
    • Phoenix has over 11,000 registered vehicles.
    • Chandler officially becomes a city.
    • Population reaches 29,053.
  • 1921 – "Rich, Resolute, Ready, Phoenix, Salt River Valley" becomes the city's official tourism slogan.
  • 1922
    • Water from the Verde River becomes available through a 30-mile pipeline.
    • KFAD becomes the city's first radio station (later KTAR).
  • 1923
  • 1924
    • The Luhrs Building is constructed.
    • South Mountain Park (originally Phoenix Mountain Park) is created.
  • 1925
    • Phoenix adds 12 new areas to the city.
    • The city buys the private electric streetcar system.
    • Mormon Flat Dam is completed.
    • The first municipal airport opens.
    • The city starts a zoning program to plan land use.
  • 1926 – The Phoenix Main Line of the Southern Pacific Railroad is completed.
  • 1927 – Phoenix voters approve money to improve the streetcar system.
    • Horse Mesa Dam is completed.
  • 1928
    • The Hotel San Carlos and Westward Ho hotel open.
    • Construction begins on Sky Harbor Airport.
    • The Phoenix Little Theatre is started.
    • The first paved road connecting Phoenix with Los Angeles is completed.
  • 1929

1930s: Depression and Recovery

  • 1930
    • March 4: Coolidge Dam is dedicated.
    • American Airlines brings passenger and air postal service to Phoenix.
    • Population reaches 48,118.
  • 1931 – Construction on Tovrea Castle is completed.
  • 1932
    • The Wrigley Mansion is completed.
    • The first Phoenix Open golf tournament is held.
  • 1933 – The Pueblo Grande Museum Archaeological Park opens.
  • 1934
    • Encanto Park opens in central Phoenix.
    • The term "Valley of the Sun" is created by a local advertising agency.
  • 1935 – July 16: The city of Phoenix buys Sky Harbor Airport and has run it ever since.
  • 1937 – The Federal Art Center is established, which later becomes the Phoenix Art Museum.
  • 1938 – The Phoenix Thunderbirds are created by the Chamber of Commerce.
  • 1939
    • The Desert Botanical Garden opens.
    • Bartlett Dam is completed.
    • The city's second high school, North High School, opens.

1940s: World War II and Post-War Changes

  • 1940 – Population reaches 65,414.
  • 1941
    • January 2: Construction begins on Thunderbird Field No. 1 in Glendale, a flight training school.
    • Luke Air Force Base opens.
    • Williams Air Force Base opens.
    • Falcon Field opens in Mesa for training British pilots.
  • 1942
  • 1943
    • Camp Papago Park (a prisoner of war camp) opens.
    • Litchfield Naval Air Facility opens.
  • 1944 – St. Monica's Hospital, the first integrated hospital in Phoenix, opens.
  • 1945 – Mystery Castle is built.
  • 1947
    • October: A fire destroys most of Phoenix's electric streetcars. The city starts moving to a public bus system.
    • The Phoenix Symphony Orchestra is founded.
    • The New York Giants baseball team starts spring training in Phoenix.
  • 1948
    • Motorola opens a research and development center.
    • KPHO-TV becomes the city's first television station.
    • Barry Goldwater is elected to the city council.

1950s: Air Conditioning Boom

  • 1950 – Population reaches 106,818, making it the largest city in the Southwest.
  • 1950s – The widespread use of air conditioning leads to a big increase in construction and population.
  • 1952
    • The Wright House is built.
    • Republican Barry Goldwater is elected United States Senator.
    • Racial segregation is banned at Sky Harbor Airport.
    • Adam Diaz becomes the first Hispanic person on the city council.
  • 1953 – State courts declare school segregation illegal. Phoenix begins desegregating its schools.
  • 1954 – The city finishes desegregating its public schools.
  • 1955
    • Terminal 1 opens at Sky Harbor Airport.
    • Phoenix and Scottsdale begin a competition over adding nearby areas to their cities.
    • The city bans segregation in public housing.
  • 1957 – Park Central Mall opens.
    • Phoenix Towers are built.
  • 1958
    • Phoenix doubles in size by adding more land.
    • Smog becomes a bigger problem.
    • Arizona State College becomes Arizona State University.
  • 1959

1960s: Continued Expansion

  • 1960
    • The Ben Avery Shooting Facility opens.
    • Phoenix adds 94.86 square miles of land during the 1950s.
    • Phoenix adds Maryvale and South Phoenix.
    • Population reaches 439,170.
  • 1961
    • Deer Valley is added to the city.
    • Chris-Town Mall, the first air-conditioned indoor mall in Phoenix, opens.
  • 1962
    • The Phoenix Zoo opens.
    • Terminal 2 opens at Sky Harbor Airport. The number of passengers reaches over 1 million.
  • 1963
    • March 13: The Phoenix Police arrest Ernesto Miranda. This leads to the important U.S. Supreme Court case Miranda v. Arizona.
    • A municipal golf course is built in Papago Park.
    • The U.S. Supreme Court confirms Arizona's rights to water from the Colorado River.
  • 1964 – Phoenix Municipal Stadium opens.
  • 1965
    • The Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum opens.
    • Morrison Warren becomes the first Black person on the city council.
  • 1966 – August 9: The city council approves the "Plan for the Phoenix Mountains," creating the Phoenix Mountains Preserve.
  • 1967 – The Maricopa Association of Governments and St. Mary's Food Bank are established.
  • 1968
    • The Phoenix Suns basketball team is formed.
    • President Lyndon B. Johnson approves the Central Arizona Project to bring water from the Colorado River to central Arizona.
  • 1969 – The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix is established.

1970s: Major Developments

  • 1970
    • The Phoenix Mountains Preservation Council is founded to buy land for the preserve.
    • Remnants of Tropical Storm Norma cause flooding and 23 deaths.
    • Phoenix adds 134.55 square miles of land during the 1960s, totaling 245.5 square miles.
    • Population reaches 581,562, making Phoenix the nation's 20th most populated city.
  • 1971
    • The Wells Fargo Plaza is built.
    • The city buys the Phoenix Transit System.
    • The first Fiesta Bowl is played.
  • 1972
  • 1973 – Voters approve money to fund the Phoenix Mountain Preserve.
  • 1975 – Phoenix elects its first female mayor, Margaret Hance.
  • 1976
    • Margaret Hance becomes mayor.
    • Construction begins on Terminal 3 at Sky Harbor Airport.
    • Tourism becomes the second largest economic sector, after manufacturing.
  • 1978 – The Arizona Street Railway Museum opens.
  • 1979
    • Terminal 3 at Sky Harbor Airport opens.
    • The city adopts the Phoenix Concept 2000 plan, dividing the city into urban villages.

1980s: Modern City Planning

  • 1980
    • February: The Salt River floods, washing away most of its bridges.
    • Phoenix adds 75.53 square miles of land during the 1970s, totaling 321.03 square miles.
    • Population reaches 789,704.
  • 1981 – President Ronald Reagan appoints Sandra Day O'Connor to the U.S. Supreme Court.
  • 1982 – Voters expand the city council from 6 members to 8, each representing a specific area.
  • 1983 – America West Airlines is formed by local investors.
    • Terry Goddard is elected mayor.
  • 1984
  • 1985
    • The Valley Metro Regional Public Transportation Authority is formed to create a regional transit plan.
    • The first water from the Central Arizona Project reaches Maricopa County.
  • 1986
  • 1987 – The city receives visits from both Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa.
  • 1988
    • The Cardinals football team moves to Phoenix.
    • Telephone Pioneers of America Park, the first barrier-free park for disabled Americans, opens.
  • 1989

1990s: New Millennium Approaches

  • 1990
    • The Barry Goldwater Terminal (Terminal 4) opens at Sky Harbor airport.
    • November 10: The Desert Sky Pavilion (now Ak-Chin Pavilion) opens.
    • The Papago Freeway Tunnel opens.
    • Phoenix adds 99.33 square miles of land during the 1980s, totaling 420.36 square miles.
    • Population reaches 983,403.
  • 1991 – Viad Tower is built.
  • 1992
    • America West Arena opens.
    • Bike racks become available on almost all city buses.
  • 1993
    • September 30: Williams Air Force Base closes after 52 years.
    • The regional transit system adopts the name Valley Metro.
    • The city wins the Carl Bertelsmann Prize for best-run city government.
  • 1994
    • The 20-story Phoenix City Hall opens.
    • Williams Gateway Airport begins operation.
  • 1995
  • 1996
    • Amtrak stops passenger train service to Phoenix.
    • The Phoenix Coyotes hockey team begins playing in the Western Conference.
  • 1997 – Hayden Flour Mill closes after 123 years.
    • The Phoenix Lights, an alleged UFO sighting, are seen over the city.
  • 1998
    • A sixth concourse is added to the Barry Goldwater Terminal at Sky Harbor airport.
    • The Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team begins playing.
    • Bank One Ballpark, now Chase Field, opens.
  • 1999 – Tempe Town Lake is completed.

Phoenix in the 21st Century

2000s: New Landmarks and Sports

  • 2001
    • The Arizona Diamondbacks win the World Series.
  • 2002 – Comerica Theatre opens.
  • 2003
  • 2004
    • Phil Gordon becomes mayor.
    • Voters approve a 20-year extension of a sales tax to fund transportation improvements.
    • The Translational Genomics Research Institute opens in downtown Phoenix.
  • 2005 – America West and US Airlines merge, creating a large airline.
  • 2006
    • The Phoenix Metropolitan Opera is founded.
    • The Phoenix Art Museum expands with a modern art wing and sculpture garden.
    • State Farm Stadium opens.
    • Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport begins operations at the former Williams AFB site.
  • 2007 – The Phoenix Mercury win the WNBA championship.
  • 2008
    • Valley Metro Rail begins operation.
    • Super Bowl XLII is played at University of Phoenix Stadium.
    • Squaw Peak is renamed Piestewa Peak, honoring Lori Piestewa.
  • 2009

2010s: Continued Growth

  • 2010
  • 2011 – July 5: A large sandstorm hits the city.
  • 2012 – Greg Stanton becomes mayor.
  • 2013 – Population: 1,513,367.
  • 2015
    • Renovations begin on Terminal 3 at Sky Harbor airport.
    • Super Bowl XLIX is played at University of Phoenix Stadium.

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