Phoenix Relocation Guide

H O U S I N G & N E I G H B O R H O O D S

settlement in the state of Arizona, Florence is located in central Arizona at the junction of US Highway 79 and Arizona 287, just 60 miles southeast of Phoenix and 70 miles north of Tucson. An Indian agent, Colonel Levi Ruggles, staked and platted the area in 1866. The town was incorporated in 1908 and today is the Pinal County seat. The Territorial Prison was moved from Yuma to Florence in 1909, and is presently a large employer for the surrounding town. Irri- gation from the nearby Gila River, and the completion of the Coolidge Dam allowed this area to become the agricultural center of the county throughout the 1900’s. Today, with some improvements, Main Street is much as it was in the late 1800’s, and Florence is a town of historical land- marks for both visitors and residents. It is said that Florence has more buildings listed on the National Register than any other town or city in Arizona. The population in 2000 was 17,054, shot up to just over 30,000 and is projected to be an estimated 50,000 by 2020. Florence offers the convenience and lifestyle available in a small western community, yet is less than an hour away from the larger cities of Phoenix and Tucson. The public school district offers an elementary, a junior

Railroad, the city’s name was changed in 1919 to Cotton City due to the influx of the large cotton Industry, but was changed back to Eloy in 1919 and later became incorporated in 1949. Agriculture and cattle ranching have replaced the cotton crops that once covered the land as the economic staples for the area today. The area offers a variety of housing options. Along with the older adobe homes, there are new homes and condos being built and there are rentals available. The City of Maricopa: This city became Arizona’s 88th incorporated city in 2003 and is located 20 miles south of Phoenix and 20 miles northwest of Casa Grande. In the mid 1800’s, then known as Maricopa Wells, the town became a stage stop for the Butterfield Overland Mail Line that stretched from San Antonio to San Diego. In the late 1870’s a spur line was built from Maricopa to a small village on the Salt River called Phoenix. Maricopa settled into a slower paced agri- cultural area and created a hearty farm economy after rail use was halted in the 1930’s. Today, the City of Maricopa is one of the most productive farming areas in the state, with cotton, grains, vegetables, and beef contributing to its continued economic growth.

high and high school. The Central Arizona College District, located 18 miles west of Florence serves all of Pinal County, and is also a large employer in the area. GROWTH COMMUNITIES Coolidge: As with Florence, the opening of the Coolidge Dam transformed this desert area into rich farmland, and it is the commercial center of Arizona’s cotton industry. Located halfway between Phoenix and Tucson, Coolidge is a regional trade and service center providing agricultural producers, cattle ranchers and farm fami- lies with equipment, supplies and services. Many jobs are created by the Municipal Airport, city services and Central Arizona College. Large numbers of visitors each year are drawn to the many historical attractions nearby in both Florence and Coolidge. The Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, The Coolidge Historical Society, McFarland State Park, The Pinal County Historical Society Museum and the 1891 Pinal County Courthouse are among many historical sites. Eloy: Located in the heart of Pinal County, along old Arizona Highway 84, just off Interstate 10, about 15 miles southeast of Casa Grande is the town of Eloy. Founded in 1902, and named by the Southern Pacific

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