Tempe

Images of America: Arizona

by Shirley R. Blanton

Home to 165,000 residents (within a 40 square mile radius), the city of Tempe is surrounded by the booming cities of Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Chandler. But the Salt River Valley area was once populated with just a few small farms, when Charles Trumbull Hayden, owner of a mercantile and freighting business in Tucson, homesteaded here in 1870. The community he establishedHaydens Ferrysoon became the trade center for the south side of the valley. Haydens Ferry became Tempe in 1879 at the suggestion of Englishman Darrell Duppa, who commented that the area reminded him of the Vale of Tempe in Greece, and it was not long before other developments promoted the growth of this new town. In 1885, the Arizona legislature selected Tempe as the site for the Territorial Normal School, the predecessor of Arizona State University. The Maricopa and Phoenix Railroad, which crossed the Salt River at Tempe, was built in 1887, and in 1911, the Roosevelt Dam was completed. World War II, the creation of Tempe Town Lake, and other 20th-century events also influenced the growth and character of Tempe, now Arizonas seventh largest city.

Genres: History

128 pages, Paperback

First published August 27, 2007

Reviews

[Dave Case · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting background on the history of Tempe. Lots of fascinating photos throughout this book!

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this entire book in one sitting last night. I am not into history but I love my little city and I learned a ton. A woman from Missouri named Anne Bacon was one of the original caucasion settlers! All of my relitives come from Missouri....will have to check in to that one. It's a great book with great historical facts and many old photos. I do know one predominate Tempe family that was not mentioned however....The Cochren's.

[Katherine]

Update: Having read it, I see a couple things I would have liked to photograph were torn down since my last visit. Oh well...

My brother lives in Phoenix, and lived in Tempe for a while; I was glad to find this title because on my next trip I want to find whatever "historic" stuff I can (everything seems to have built in the last few decades out there).