Glendale

Early History....   This part of the valley did not benefit from the works of the ancient 'Ho Ho Kam' people.  Instead, it was the construction of the Arizona Canal in 1885 that changed this empty desert into a thriving community.  William J. Murphy, along with three other Arizona builders, M.W. Kales, William A. Hancock and Clark Churchill, spearheaded the construction of this canal which led to the founding of several communities.  Soon after the water was brought in, an early settler by the name of William H. Bartlett homesteaded his land in 1886 and started a 640 acre fruit farm. Complete with a main house and 13 other buildings, it was known as Sahuaro Ranch.  Two years later in 1888, William J. Murphy with the help of others constructed Grand Avenue.  It was not until February 27, 1892 that the first residential area took shape and started the birthday celebrations of Glendale....   Please read further  thank you!

Glendale City Information:

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      City Hall
      Chamber of Commerce
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      Official Tourism
      Community Profile 
      Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)

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Peoria

Early History....   After completing the forty one mile long 'Arizona Canal' in 1885; William J. Murphy returned to Illinois to recruit settlers and transform the land into a sustainable farming community.  His efforts in persuading others to come and grow a community near the Grand Avenue canal paid off.  The description he gave of the climate and agricultural potential soon caused others from Peoria, Illinois to purchase 5,000 acres.  Of the many who purchased land, only four farming families moved to Arizona.  Once settled, they quickly moved from canvas tents to adobe homes.   In 1890, four sections of land were acquired from the government, through the desert lands act, by two men named Joseph B. Greenhut and Deloss S. Brown.  The area they purchased, which later recorded as a plot map in 1897 with Maricopa County, was that of the town site of Peoria....   Please read further at Peoria or Wikipedia  thank you!

Sun City

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El Mirage

Surprise

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Avondale

Goodyear

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Buckeye