A Brief History of Phoenix

by Jon Talton

Though the new metropolis is one of America's largest, many are unaware of Phoenix's rich and compelling history. Built on land once occupied by the most advanced pre-Columbian irrigation society, Phoenix overcame its hostile desert surroundings to become a thriving agricultural center. After World War II, its population exploded with the mid-century mass migration to the Sun Belt. In times of rapid expansion or decline, Phoenicians proved themselves to be adaptable and optimistic. Phoenix's past is an engaging and surprising story of audacity, vision, greed and a never-ending fight to secure its future. Chronicling the challenges of growth and change, fourth-generation Arizonan Jon Talton tells the story of the city that remains one of American civilization's great accomplishments.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

209 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 9, 2015

About the author

Jon Talton is the author of the David Mapstone novels, which follow the adventures of a historian-turned-deputy, working the mean streets of the urban West.

Jon's first novel, "Concrete Desert," was hailed by Kirkus as "an impressive debut." The Washington Post said it "is more intelligent and rewarding than most contemporary mysteries." The series has continued with "Camelback Falls," "Dry Heat," "Arizona Dreams" and "Cactus Heart." "Dry Heat" received Arizona Highways magazine's best fiction award in 2005.

Reviews

[Gilda Felt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though brief, this book packs a lot of information into its 144 pages. Born and raised in Phoenix, I remember many of the stories that Talton tells. Some happy, many sad, because, as is so apparent in this book, Phoenix has changed a lot. Phoenix has a history. Unfortunately, most of it has been torn down.

One small complaint is that the book may have been too brief. As when Talton writes about the Riverside ballroom burning down in 1957. Reading the book, one would come away with the impression that that’s where its story ended. It wasn’t. I remember going to dances there well into the 1970s, so it was obviously rebuilt. Are their other examples? I’m not sure. But it makes me think that if I were to have my mother read the book, who was born in Phoenix in 1925, there might be.

[Cathy Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this information-packed little volume, Jon Talton proves that those who say Phoenix has no history don't know what they're talking about. The land Phoenix is built on was once occupied by the most advanced pre-Columbian irrigation society. In 1950, it ranked 99th on the list of the largest cities in the United States. Today it is number six. It takes some history for a hot little desert town to shoot up the charts like that, and fourth-generation Arizonan Talton knows where the tastiest bones are buried.

From how its first white settlers turned Phoenix into an agricultural mecca to visits from such "luminaries" as Al Capone to when the bubble burst in 2007, this is a balanced account of Phoenix's history. Talton tells it in such a manner that I wish the book was ten times longer, but at least his bibliography has plenty of sources so that I can learn more.

In many ways, this is the perfect accompaniment to the author's David Mapstone mysteries. In those Talton shares tantalizing bits of Phoenix history, so reading this was definitely a pleasurable learning experience.

[Catherine Mustread · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the title suggests this is a good overview of the history of Phoenix, Arizona, from the early native Americans who built irrigation canals to the modern day city. I also like the mysteries Talton has written about Phoenix in the 1930s

[Kay Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting history of my city and the powers that were.