Timeline
Maricopa has a rich culture of community that goes back thousands of years. Native
Americans farmed and traded in the area long before Europeans arrived and made it a stop
on a route along the Gila River. Stage routes and train stops made a point of trade and transportation in the 1800s.
Agriculture advance in the area as water was pumped from the
abundant aquifer. Today, Maricopa is a growing community of families and friends – still
rich in historical value.
Maricopa Timeline
Maricopa Wells |
800BC-1200AD Snake Town, a large village complex 7 miles east of Maricopa Wells, is occupied by the Hohokam or Huhugam. |
1150-1450 Huhugam “Classic Period” included villages along the Gila River including what would later be named Maricopa Wells. |
1694 Father Kino visits Pima Villages and Maricopa Wells area. |
1846 General Kearny and Dragoons Rested at Maricopa Wells. |
1846 Cooke and Mormon Battalion Camped at Maricopa Wells when constructed wagon road through Southern Arizona. |
1848 Gold Discovered in California: Ignites Westward movemen.t |
1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo-Ended War with Mexico ~ Gila River Becomes Boundary Line. |
1851 Royce Oatman Family Stops at Maricopa Wells: Meets with tragedy down the road. |
1851 Matilda Jane Barrett (Moore) and family stops at Maricopa Wells in route to California. |
1853 US Army Corp of Engineers began survey of AZ seeking railroad route to connect East-Wes.t |
1854 Gadsden Purchase adds almost 30,000 square acres of land South of Gila River to USA. |
1857 Olive Oatman reunited with Brother Lorenzo. |
1857 Last major Native American vs Native American Battle fought at Maricopa Wells. |
1857 San Antonio-San Diego Overland Mail Line at Maricopa Wells. |
1858 Butterfield Overland Stage Line, first run-September 16. |
1861 Butterfield Overland Mail Line discontinued, April 12 (cause; Civil War and hostile Indians). |
1861 Wells Fargo & Co. in Operation at Maricopa Wells. |
1863 Arizona Territory created and Maricopa Wells becomes part of Pima County. |
1864 Henry Morgan builds steam flour mill at Casa Blanca. |
1864 John B. Allen’s first application for preemption of Homestead Land in Arizona at Maricopa Wells. |
1865 Federal Post Office officially established at Maricopa Wells. |
1865 Arizona National Guard established at Maricopa Wells. |
1867 Maricopa Wells sold to Hooper & Co, mail and passenger coach line established. |
1867 Mail line re-established at Maricopa Wells using old Butterfield route. |
1867 Morgan builds Morgan’s Trading Post and opens Morgan’s Ferry near Maricopa Wells. |
1870 Maricopa Wells sold to Moore and Carr. |
1870 Moore appointed Postmaster at Maricopa Wells. |
1870 First Arizona mail line from Maricopa Wells to Phoenix and Points North, most prosperous at the time. |
1871 Henry Morgan Built a Store in Phoenix called Morgan and Co: Finished August |
1872 Moore and Carr operated mail line from Tucson to Yuma. |
1873 Military telegraph system established in Arizona – Maricopa Wells, one of main branches. |
1873 US Custom Services: Provided Rep at Maricopa Wells. |
1873 C.H. Kenyon Appointed Postmaster at Maricopa Wells. |
1875 Pinal County formed from portions of Maricopa and Pima Counties: Feb 1, 1875 |
1875 E.O. Stratton, Clerk/Bookkeeper at Maricopa Wells, keeps journal. |
1878 Southern Pacific Railroad Reaches Yuma. |
1879 Southern Pacific Railroad lines laid from Yuma to Tucson, connects East with West, 1st RR built in AZ |
1879 Southern Pacific Railroad, establishes station at Maricopaville. Maricopa Wells closes 1886. |
1880 Maricopa Wells 1880 Census has 99 population. |
Maricopaville |
1879 Southern Pacific Railroad Line completed to Maricopaville on April 29. |
1879 Train Excursion advertised to Maricopaville in May. |
1879 Maricopaville heralded as “Fastest Growing Town in AZ” “Destined to be Capital”. |
1879 Maricopa Wells Post Office moved to Maricopaville. |
1880 Southern Pacific Railroad completes Southern lines across Arizona at Tucson |
Maricopa Junction / Maricopa |
1884 Perry Williams builds Williams Hotel and Adobe House Southwest of tracks (later Smith Home). |
1886 Work begins at Maricopa on building Maricopa & Phoenix Railroad |
1887 First Maricopa & Phoenix train leaves Maricopa for Phoenix on July 4, 1887 |
1887 Military Telegraph moved to Maricopa. |
1887 Post Office moved to Maricopa on July 7, 1887. |
1887 Maricopa Builds Two-story Railroad Station. |
1887 Cyrus Williams Joins Brother, Perry, at Maricopa and Manages Hotel Williams. |
1890 Mary Edwards, first white woman arrives in Maricopa. |
1894 Southern Pacific Express train robbed two miles East of Maricopa by 20 yr old Cowboy, Frank Armer, was soon captured. |
1896 Cyrus Williams killed in Maricopa; buried in Tucson |
1899 First baby born in Maricopa: named Maricopa. |
1900 Maricopa Census: population 160. |
1900 Approximately 8000 cars in America: Three owned by Maricopa residents. |
1900 First Presbyterian Church at Ak-Chin opens. |
1900 Henry Morgan, Operator of Trading Post, Morgan’s Ferry, and Phoenix Merchant, passed away in Phoenix. |
1901 Almost all of Southern AZ under flood waters, bridges destroyed, great damage to railroad tracks in Aug. |
1910 Sheriff Hayden chases boy bandits in McCarthy’s Stoddard-Dayton across desert and captures them South of Tabletop Mt. |
1910 Maricopa claims to lead world in auto ownership; two cars and 18 residents. |
1911 Cal Rodgers lands biplane in Maricopa with help of moon on First Transcontinental Flight: Nov 11, 1911. |
1912 Ak-Chin Reservation created in 1912. |
1912 Melvin Drake owned farm Northwest of Maricopa. His father drilled wells for the school in Maricopa. |
1912 Long time residents Dallas and Susie Smith settle in Maricopa. |
1912 Small house North of tracks serves as first school. |
1913 Hotel Williams Destroyed by Fire. |
1914 Maricopa Deputy Sheriff, Maricopa Slim, aka John Powers, died of gunshot wound on Nov 6, 1914. |
1914 First Woman’s Club organized in Maricopa. |
1914 New Red Brick Schoolhouse built South of tracks. |
1916 Charles Cole filed legal Notice for Homestead in Maricopa: February 8th, legalized by Department of Interior 1919. |
1917 Art Deal family buys Edwards / McCarthy Hotel in Maricopa: becomes Maricopa Hotel. |
1917 Prospectors often inquired at hotel seeking location of Rock House and Old Gold Mines in Estrella Mtn. |
1918 Lena Enos born at Ak-Chin, long time teacher at Maricopa Elementary School. |
1918 Carmelita Norris Stanley moves to Maricopa / Ak-Chin. |
1919 Beginning of Arizona Edison Co and Electrical District # 3. |
1919 Melvin Drake filed legal notice for Homestead in Maricopa, May 3r, provided 3 year proof of Improvements. |
1920 Maricopa Census: population 381. |
1920 Jack Burkett and Rowland Brothers (nephew of Arthur Deal) own Hidden Valley Ranch. |
1920 Ak-Chin Catholic Church Established. |
1922 First phase of Maricopa-Casa Grande Road begins clearing of land, promoters Burkett and Deal. |
1922 First Maricopa Chamber of Commerce organized. |
1922 Salvation Army Conducts Church Services in Maricopa. |
1922 Twenty-five Maricopa residents voted in election. |
1922 Deputy Holden took prisoner to Florence, sentenced to 25 days for carrying concealed weapons. |
1922 De Haviland Airplane with Liberty motor flies over Maricopa headed for Phoenix Fairgrounds. |
1927 Monty O’Tool took young Marjorie and Paul Deal for a ride in his Monoplane. |
1929 Citrus Development Co (projected 5000 acres in citrus at Hidden Valley) moves office to Maricopa. |
1930 Electrical Dist # 3, begins work on sub station and power lines, bringing power to 200,000 acres of land. |
1930 Maricopa Census: population 143. |
1930 Ak-Chin Census: population 116. |
1930 Hidden Valley Project celebration expects 800 visitors. |
1931 Tillie Carlyle moves to Maricopa. |
1931 Railroad Station and Edwards-McCarthy-Maricopa (Deal) Hotel destroyed by fire. |
1931 Dallas and Susie Smith move to Maricopa, purchase Perry Williams’ House. |
1931 Maricopa Hotel built South of tracks. |
1934 Second Phase of Maricopa and Casa Grande Road begins with CWA Workers: Jack Burkett heads project. |
1935 Maricopa & Phoenix Railroad closes doors in Maricopa. |
1935 Several families settling in Hidden Valley. |
1935 Grand Opening of Wander Inn with Open Pavilion, socializing and dancing under the stars, owner Jack Burkett. |
1936 Women’s Neighborhood Club organized. |
1946 Ed Green appointed Postmaster. |
1948 Two rooms added to Maricopa Elementary School. |
1949 Homemaker’s Club organized. |
1949 First movie theater with Sanchez Family in Maricopa on East Honeycutt Road. |
1949 Maricopa Cash Market Built (Market and Maricopa Mercantile). |
1949 Ed Green sells Maricopa Hotel (South of tracks) and Tortilla Flats Café. |
1949 School-Community Halloween Parade, Movie and Party at Maricopa Elementary School: Nov 3rd. |
1949 Chuck and Millie Parker buy Maricopa Café and Maricopa Hotel from Ed Green, December |
1950 First Annual Maricopa School Carnival (Feb 23, 1950). |
1951 Four room wing of school building constructed. |
1952 School buys land to complete 14 square acres. |
1952 Hubert Brown Sells Maricopa Cash Market to Jay Baldock (Maricopa Mercantile-Mayfair Market). |
1953 1914 Maricopa Elementary School destroyed by Fire (Sep 3, 1953) 400 students without rooms. |
1953 Maricopa Elementary School builds four-room wing in December. |
1953 Rotary Club Organized with Meetings at Maricopa Hotel, south of tracks. |
1954 First Baptist Church Holds Services at Maricopa Elementary School. |
1954 Fire destroys Maricopa Hotel south of tracks. |
1954 Rotary Club Meetings held at Honeycutt Shopping Center south of tracks. |
1954 Second Classroom Wing with four rooms and cafetorium added to Maricopa Elementary School. |
1954 Honeycutt Shopping Center opens with Crossroads Café. Later called Honey Cup Restaurant. |
1954 Naylor Grocery Store opens, later D & H Market in Honeycutt Shopping Center. |
1954 Rotary Club Sponsors First Cub Scout Pack and Boy Scout Troup, meetings at Maricopa Elementary School. |
1955 Third Classroom Wing with four rooms added to Maricopa Elementary School. |
1955 Stapley Building constructed south of tracks and east of Maricopa Elementary School. |
1955 Incorporation of Maricopa Water Works on March 24th, water previously provided by South Pacific RR. |
1956 Headquarters Restaurant destroyed by fire in 1956. Owner Calhoun estimates $25,000 in damages. |
1956 Monday Niters Club Meetings at First Baptist Church. |
1956 Maricopa Founders’ Day Celebration with Candlelight Ceremony at Maricopa Elementary School: Feb 14, 1956. |
1956 Fire destroys 1912 schoolhouse north of tracks: later location of Headquarters Restaurant and Bar. |
1956 Third Phase of Maricopa-Casa Grande Road completed. |
1956 Maricopa Elementary School expands: One Principal and 15 Teachers. |
1956 Newly Constructed Headquarters opens in March with Rotary Club Mtgs. and Ed Farrell as owner. |
1956 Bonds passed to build Maricopa High School. |
1958 Influx of migrant cotton workers increased First Grade enrollment to 130, new teacher needed. |
1958 Church of Christ organized. |
1958 Maricopa Community Library organized. |
1959 Maricopa-Casa Grande Hwy paved. |
1958 First Maricopa Stagecoach Days Celebration. |
1958 Rotary Club builds and opens Community Swimming Pool. |
1959 First Class to graduate at Maricopa High School. |
1960 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints begin services. |
1960 Fire destroys 1884 Perry Williams / Dallas Smith Home. |
1961 Ak-Chin Community Council-Government established. |
1963 Maricopa Community Church established. |
1964 Maricopa BPW Club organized. |
1967 Catholic Church begins services. |
1971 Ak-Chin Industrial Park constructed. |
1972 Assembly of God Church is organized. |
1972 Honeycutt Shopping Center south of tracks destroyed by fire. |
1974 Bible Church Services at Ak-Chin begins. |
1980 Volunteer Fire Department Built. |
1983 Banks of the Santa Cruz River break and flood most of Maricopa. |
1986 Dedicated Postmaster and Maricopa Pioneer, Fred Cole, dies. |
1987 Mike Ingram begins plans for Rancho El Dorado. |
1990 Operation Desert Storm: Over 50 young Maricopa Men & Women serve in military. |
1990 New Post Office built on Hathaway Street. |
1991 Smith Wash, south of Maricopa, breaks and floods southside of Maricopa. |
1991 Maricopa Waver (Grandpa Brock) bids farewell to Maricopa people. |
1994 Harrah’s enters into agreement with Promus/Harrah’s for a 72,000 square foot casino. |
1995 Maricopa Road, State Route 347 completed. |
2000 Maricopa History: “Reflections of a Desert Town” published. |
2003 City of Maricopa Incorporated October 15, 2003. |
2003 City of Maricopa’s First Parade. |
2004 First Elected Maricopa City Council takes office on June 1, 2004. |
2004 Parks, Recreation and Library Department opens. |
2004 Auction/Benefit for Cancer Victim Andrew Cole, March 6, 2004. |
2004 Santa Rosa Elementary School built. |
2004 Bashas’ Maricopa Marketplace Fiesta Plaza opens. |
2004 Website 85239.com opens for Maricopa News and Community Events. |
2005 PRL: First annual Salsa Festival (last Saturday in April). |
2005 Pima Butte Elementary School opens. |
2005 Fry’s Supermarket opens. |
2005 First MOMS Club organized in January. |
2005 First Red Hat Society formed in Maricopa. |
2005 Friends of the Library Advisory Committee for PRL formed in April. |
2005 PRL: First annual July 4th Fishing Derby & BBQ. |
2005 Groundbreaking for new Fire Department, October. |
2005 First PRL Basketball Program; Punt, Pass & Kick; Karate; Dance Programs. |
2005 Governor Napolitano visits Maricopa. |
2005 Groundbreaking for new Pacana Park, November. |
2005 PRL: First Founder’s Day Celebration & Chili Cook-Off, October 16. |
2005 First annual “Seeds of Change Gala”. |
2005 PRL: First Annual Holiday Homes on Display, November and December. |
2006 Friends of the Maricopa Cultural Activity Center and Library formed in March. |
2006 City Manager’s Task Force on Education organized. |
2006 PRL Director McDonald Receives NRPA award: Outstanding Service & Leadership. |
2006 Opening of Maricopa Wells Middle School. |
2007 Second Edition of “Reflections of a Desert Town” published. |
2007 First, City of Maricopa Great American BBQ at Pacana Park. |
2007 Opening of Santa Cruz Elementary School, August 2007. |
2008 Opening of Butterfield Elementary School, August 2008. |
2008 Opening of Saddleback Elementary School, August 2008. |
2008 Opening of Desert Winds Middle School, August 2008. |
2009 Heritage District Advisory Committee Organized, October 2009. |
2010 Maricopa Historical Society incorporated with Non-profit status achieved. |
2011 Maricopa Historical Society first semi-annual opening of the Silver Horizon Train Car, May 7, 2011. |
2011 First Maricopa Historical Society Golf Tournament, October 16, 2011. |
2011 Maricopa: Images of a Desert Town published. |
2011 Maricopa History Educational Series launched by Pat Brock and Denny Hoeh. |
2012 Centennial of the State of Arizona, February 14, 2012. |
2012 Groundbreaking of City Hall Complex, April 21, 2012. |
2012 Grand Opening of Banner Health, May 12, 2012. |
2012 Opening of UltraStar Multi-tainment Center, November 13, 2012. |
2012 Vernon Barlow Maricopa Historical Ink Drawings distributed through Maricopa Historical Society. |
2013 Opening of Central Arizona College, Maricopa Campus, January 2, 2013. |
2013 Groundbreaking for Copper Sky Multigenerational/Aquatics Center and Regional Park, January 12, 2013. |
2013 Dedication of the City Hall Complex, October 15, 2013. |
2013 First City of Maricopa “Shutter Shots” Digital Photo Contest, October 15, 2013. |
2013 First City of Maricopa Mud Run, October 26, 2013. |
2014 Opening of Dignity Health Urgent Care Center , April 20, 2013. |
2014 Opening of Copper Sky Recreation Complex, March 15, 2014. |
2014 First, Maricopa’s Great American Fourth Celebration held at Copper Sky Regional Park. |
2014 City of Maricopa wins Mix96.9 “Battle of the Burbs” contest and named “Best Community in the Valley”. |
2014 First, City of Maricopa “Second Saturday Market”, October 11, 2014. |
2014 City of Maricopa 2040 Vision Steering Committee formed, October 2014. |
2014 First, City of Maricopa Merry Copa Holiday Festival, December 6, 2014. |
2015 First, City of Maricopa 5k Color Run, March 14, 2015. |
2015 City of Maricopa Wins Mix96.9 “Battle of the Burbs” Contest for the 2nd year, March 30, 2015. |
2015 City of Maricopa first, Spring Egg Dive at Copper Sky Aquatic Center, April 4, 2015. |
Please note that the Maricopa Historical Society is in the City of Maricopa in Pinal county, not to be confused with the County of Maricopa.
