Weedville, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Weedville, Arizona
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Rev. Ora Rush Weed and his family in front of their home in 1912.
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 Weedville, Arizona
Location in Arizona
Weedville, Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Maricopa |
| Elevation | 1,197 ft (365 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (MST) |
| ZIP codes |
85381
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| Area code(s) | 623 |
| FIPS code | 04-81410 |
| GNIS feature ID | 13436 |
Weedville is a small community located in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. It's considered a "populated place" that is not officially a city or town on its own. Today, Weedville is actually part of the larger city of Peoria.
When Weedville was first started in 1911, it was outside Peoria. Now, it's inside Peoria's city limits. This means that for counting people and other official purposes, Weedville is seen as part of Peoria.
Contents
The Story of Weedville: How It Began
Weedville was founded by a man named Ora Rush Weed. He was a minister, which is a type of religious leader, from Kansas. In 1911, he moved to Arizona with his wife, Phoebe, and their family. Some people from his church in Kansas also moved with him.
They decided to settle in an area that was then outside Peoria. This land was north of Thunderbird Road and 75th Avenue. They built their homes and started a new life there.
Building a Community: Church, School, and Jobs
By 1916, Reverend Weed had built a church. It was called the Path Church, but today it's known as the "Old Path Church." He also started a boarding school. The name "Paths" came from a Bible verse. It talks about finding a "good way" to live.
A small religious community grew around this church and school. Reverend Weed named this new community "Weedville" after himself. In 1921, the community created a cemetery. They named it the Old Paths Cemetery.
Besides leading the church, Reverend Weed also helped the community make a living. He ran a small general store. He also had a farm where he grew a special type of grass called broom grass. This grass was used to make brooms!
Reverend Weed opened a broom factory. He hired many people who had learned how to make brooms while in prison. This factory was very important. It helped support the families in Weedville by providing jobs.
Weedville Today: A Lasting Legacy
Reverend Weed was very generous. He gave land and buildings to start the Southwest Indian School. This school helped Native American children get an education. Today, the same site is home to the Southwest Indian School Ministries.
The original Old Path Church is still standing. It is located on the ministry grounds. Reverend Ora Weed passed away on May 4, 1942. He and many of his family members are buried in the Old Paths Cemetery. This cemetery is on Old Paths Cemetery Road.
There's a special bell from the Old Path Church. It is now on the cemetery grounds. Every year, on Veterans Day, this bell is rung to honor those who have served.
Images for kids
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Rev. Ora Rush Weed and his family in front of their home in 1912.
