Tempe, home to world famous Arizona State University, is more than a college town.
It is a vibrant, energetic, active community for both students and families alike.
Tempe has everything from sailing, fishing, picnicking, to great shopping and exciting night life. Throughout most of its history, Tempe was a small farming community. Tempe was the site of Hayden’s Ferry which carried people and goods across the Salt River, located on the north end of the city. One of the oldest cities in the Valley, Tempe was incorporated as a town in 1894. Nine years earlier, The Arizona Legislature selected Tempe as the site for the Territorial Normal School; a school to train Arizona teachers. That school ultimately became the Arizona State University we know today.
Tempe was officially named in 1879 after Vale De Tempe in Greece. In 1884 The Maricopa and Phoenix railroad linked Tempe to the nation’s growing transportation system.
Tempe’s rapid growth came after World War II when veterans and others flocked to the city with blue skies and a great climate. By 1974 Tempe had grown into a modern city.
The Hohokam People were the first to arrive in the area that is known as Mesa, Arizona over 2000 years ago. They built the original canals that moved the water through the valley. A variation of these canals provides the water to valley residents today.
In July 1878, Mesa was registered as a town site. The next year, the first school was built, Mesa was incorporated in 1878 with a population of 300. With the widening of the canals in 1885, there was enough water flow to build a power plant. In 1917 the city of Mesa purchased the power plant from its founders. The revenue from this plant has financed capital expenditures for the city of Mesa until the 1960’s.
In the 1940’s with the growth of Falcon Field, and Williams Field, there was tremendous growth with military personnel relocating to Mesa.
Population: 166,000
Location: Borders Scottsdale on the North Side, Mesa and Chandler on the East side and Phoenix on the West side
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