Historical Markers in
Maricopa County, Arizona

1897 Smurthwaite House 1912 Parker Carousel 1921 - Farmers State Bank 1921 - Sterling Drug Store 1929 - U.S. Post Office 1st Lieutenant Ralph Ambrose O’Neill 3-Inch Mark 33 Deck Gun 59th Avenue Residential Historic District A Tribute to the B-29 Super Fortress "FIFI" Adobe House Alchesay Anderson Building Anthem Veterans Memorial Apache Lake Arizona Confederate Veterans Arizona Copper Company's Locomotive #2 Arizona Cotton Land Arizona World War II Memorial Arizona's First Zoo Arizona's Honeymoon Trail Arizona's Pioneer Women Arizona's U.S.S. Arizona Memorial - In Memory of the Gallant Men Arizona's War Heroes Arizonan Tuskegee Airmen Arizonan Women Airforce Service Pilots – WASP Arizona’s Liberty Bell Monument Arthur E. Price Bank of Chandler Barrett Tillman BGen. Joseph J. Foss Blacksmith and Machine Shop Boras Headframe C. H. Tinker House C. L. Gillett Block/Glendale State Bank Building Camp Reno Canyon Lake Captain Ted Elvans Lines (AAF) Catlin Court Historic District Chambers Transfer & Storage Company Building Charles Miller Chief Washakie City of Glendale Veterans Memorial Clement's Garage Colonel Bruce Perry Crandall U.S. Army (Ret.) Corrals and Tack House Coury Building Creed Building Dairy Barn Dance Pavilion Double Butte Cemetery Dougherty Building Dr. A. J. Chandler Dr. S. Harry Robertson III Duppa Homestead Eastlake Park Engine 1673 Eusebio Francisco Kino Everett Bowman F.Q. Story Addition Falcon Field Farmer - Goodwin Mansion Father Albert Braun O.F.M. Father Edouard Gerard First Latter-day Saint Chapel in Phoenix First National Bank of Glendale Building First National Bank, 1918 First Presbyterian Church of Peoria Floralcroft Historic District Foreman's House Fort McDowell Frank Lloyd Wright and Arizona Fruit Packing Shed Garcia School General Seth Jefferson McKee, USAF (Ret.) George W. P. Hunt / Arizona's First Governor GFWC Peoria Woman's Club Gilbert Elementary School Gilbert Town Hall Glendale Business District Glendale High School Auditorium Glendale Townsite Glendale Woman's Club Clubhouse Glendale's Towering Flagstaff Goodyear – Ocotillo Cemetery Grave of Dr. Carlos Montezuma Hayden House Henry Wickenburg Herbert "Herb" R. Drinkwater Hine Building Historic A. J. Chandler Park / The Chandler District Honor Roll Historic Gillespie Dam Bridge Hotel Chandler Hotel San Carlos Humphrey and Davidson Building Hunt Bass Hatchery In Memory of the Students of this School who Enlisted in the Army and Navy during the World War Irrigation J. W. Walker/Central Arizona Light & Power Building Jacob Waltz Jewish War Veterans Memorial Landmark Restaurant / Mesa Community College Liberty Market Lt. Frank Luke, Jr. Lt. Frank Luke, Jr. Main House and Guest House Major Frederick E. Ferguson Major Gen Carl G. Schneider, USAF (Ret) Manistee Ranch Maricopa County Courthouse Memorial to Arizona Confederate Troops Merci Train Boxcar Mesa Mesa Grande Mesa Pioneer Monument Mesa Woman's Club House Methodist Episcopal Church of Glendale Sanctuary MGen Barry Morris Goldwater, USAFR Monroe Building Morcomb's Service Station and House Morrison Grocery Murphy Park National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona Navajo Code Talkers Oatman Massacre Site Orchards Original 1927 Bridge Roller Bearing Orpheum Theatre Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church Papago Park Prisoner Of War Camp Papago Park's Military History Passing the Legacy Peoria Central School Peoria Train Depot Per Ardua Ad Astra Permanent Home of the "Beavers" Phoenix Newspapers, Inc. Phoenix Union High School World War I Memorial Pope John Paul II Prehistoric Irrigation in the Salt River Valley Price Building Pump House Rear Admiral Hugh Dennis Wisely (USN, ret) Rear Admiral Walter Lewis Chatham, USN (Ret) Rehabilitation of the Carnegie Library Rittenhouse Elementary School Robert W. Cole Building Robson's Mining World Roosevelt Dam Rosson House S. (Frenchy) Sawyer Sahuaro Ranch Sahuaro Ranch Residence Saint Mary's Basilica Santa Fe Freight Depot Scottsdale Grammar School / The Little Red Schoolhouse Sergei I. Sikorsky Sine Brothers Hardware Building Sine Building Sirrine House Site of Goodwin Stadium 1936-1978 Site of Hayden's Ferry Site of Krause Hall Site of Old Fort Utah St. Paul's M.E. Church Stable / Granary Suhwaro Hotel Sun City, Arizona Taliesin West Tempe Bakery/Hackett House Tempe Hardware Building The Alhambra Hotel The Arizona Korean War Veterans Memorial The Bank of Gilbert The Barnyard The Capitol The Carriage House The Chaplain The Dutchman’s Inn The Evans House The Jail Tree The McCormick Building The Niels Petersen House The Oatman Family The Old Brick Post Office "The Old Church" The Old Verde River Sheep Bridge The Original Site of the Desert Mission The People Who Made It Happen The Spire Tone Building Tribute to Navajo Code Talkers U.S.S. Arizona Signal Mast Unidentified Veterans United States Indian Vocational Training School Veterans Memorial Carillon Vietnam Veterans Memorial Vulture Gold Mine Vulture Mine Water & Power Water Tower Welcome to Sahuaro Ranch Welcome to the Apache Trail Historic Road Well House Wickenburg Massacre William J. Murphy Williams Field Honor Roll, Chandler, Arizona Winfield Scott Memorial
The Navajo Code Talkers played a crucial role in World War II: During World War II, the Navajo Code Talkers used their native language to transmit coded messages that the Japanese were unable to decipher. The code was never broken, and the Code Talkers are credited with playing a crucial role in helping the US win the war.
Arizona random facts
Maricopa County, located in the south-central part of Arizona, has a rich history dating back thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by indigenous peoples, including the Hohokam and Pima tribes, who cultivated the land and built complex irrigation systems. Evidence suggests that these ancient civilizations thrived in the region for several centuries, before mysteriously disappearing around the 15th century.

In the 16th century, Spanish explorers led by Estevanico, also known as Esteban the Moor, ventured into the present-day Maricopa County area. This encounter marked the beginning of European exploration and influence in the region. However, it wasn't until the mid-19th century that significant American settlement began. The establishment of Fort McDowell in 1865 and the subsequent discovery of gold in nearby areas attracted settlers to the county.

With the completion of the Southern Pacific Railroad in the 1880s, Maricopa County experienced a surge in population growth and economic development. Agriculture, particularly cotton farming, became a major industry. The county's fertile land and reliable water supply made it a favorable location for agricultural ventures.

Following World War II, Maricopa County experienced tremendous growth due to factors such as the availability of affordable land, a warm climate, and a booming economy. The county's largest city, Phoenix, became a thriving metropolis, attracting businesses and new residents. The establishment of Arizona State University in Tempe and the expansion of Luke Air Force Base further contributed to the county's growth.

Today, Maricopa County is home to more than four million residents, making it the most populous county in Arizona. It is known for its diverse economy, which includes industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, technology, and tourism. The county is also famous for its expansive outdoor recreation opportunities, with numerous parks, hiking trails, and beautiful desert landscapes.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Maricopa County, Arizona.

  • 1871 - Maricopa County is created from parts of Yavapai County and Pima County.
  • 1878 - Phoenix becomes the official county seat of Maricopa County.
  • 1881 - The first train arrives in Phoenix, connecting the city to the rest of the country.
  • 1889 - Maricopa County Courthouse is built in Phoenix.
  • 1911 - Roosevelt Dam is completed, providing a reliable water source for agriculture and growth in the county.
  • 1941 - Luke Air Force Base is established, playing a significant role during World War II and beyond.
  • 1960 - Maricopa County population surpasses half a million.
  • 1980 - Maricopa County becomes the most populous county in Arizona.
  • 1993 - Sheriff Joe Arpaio takes office, gaining national attention for his hardline stance on immigration and controversial practices.