Waddell, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Waddell, Arizona
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Location in Maricopa County and the state of Arizona
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Maricopa |
| Elevation | 1,200 ft (400 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| ZIP code |
85355
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| Area code(s) | 623 |
Waddell is a small place in Maricopa County, Arizona, in the United States. It is not an official city or town, but rather an unincorporated community. This means it is a settlement that does not have its own local government. Waddell is located northwest of the big city of Phoenix.
Waddell got its name from a person named Donald Ware Waddell. He was from Ohio and worked for a company in New York City that helped invest money. His company played a big part in getting the money needed to build a dam. This dam helped create Lake Pleasant, which is a popular spot for water activities today.
History of Waddell
Donald W. Waddell moved to the area to keep an eye on his company's investments in the dam project. In 1935, he planned out where a town called Waddell would be built. This planned town was on land he owned near Waddell Road and Cotton Lane. He also helped the local water district and invested in land through his companies.
The Post Office
In 1937, the first Waddell Post Office opened inside a local store. Later, it moved across the street and shared space with a cotton gin office. A new Waddell Post Office building was constructed in 1992. It is now located about four miles south of the original spot. Even though a full town never really grew there, Waddell remained a name for the area and kept its post office.
Renaming the Dam
The dam that created Lake Pleasant was originally called Frog Tanks Dam, and then Pleasant Dam. In 1963, it was renamed the Waddell Dam. This happened shortly after Donald W. Waddell passed away. The dam was renamed to honor his important contributions to the Maricopa Water District. A famous politician named Barry M. Goldwater spoke at the ceremony when the dam was renamed.
Waddell Today
Today, the nearby city of Surprise is growing quickly. Because of this, people are using the name Waddell less often to describe the area. However, you can still see the name Waddell in a few places. There is Waddell Road, which is a main street that goes through Surprise. Also, the newer dam at Lake Pleasant is called the New Waddell Dam. In November 2010, a new library called the White Tank Regional Library opened in the area.
Local Landmarks
The community of Waddell is home to the Wat Promkunaram Buddhist Temple. This temple is a place of worship for people who follow the Buddhist faith. In 1991, a very sad event happened at the temple. It was a difficult time for the community.
