Maricopa, Arizona
| Maricopa, Arizona | |
|---|---|
| City | |
Residential developments dominate the landscape of Maricopa.
|
|
 Location in Pinal County and the state of Arizona |
|
 Maricopa, Arizona
|
|
| Coordinates: 33°3′24″N 112°2′48″W / 33.05667°N 112.04667°WCoordinates: 33°3′24″N 112°2′48″W / 33.05667°N 112.04667°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Pinal |
| Incorporated | 2003 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Christian Price |
| • Vice Mayor | Marvin L. Brown |
| • City Council | Peg Chapados, Bridger Kimball, Vincent Manfredi, Nancy Smith, Henry Wade |
| • City Manager | Gregory Rose |
| • City Clerk | Vanessa Bueras |
| Area | |
| • Total | 47.57 sq mi (76.56 km2) |
| • Land | 47.47 sq mi (76.4 km2) |
| • Water | 0.10 sq mi (0.16 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,190 ft (358 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 43,482 |
| • Estimate (2015) | 48,602 |
| • Density | 1,023.8/sq mi (636.2/km2) |
| Time zone | MST (no DST) (UTC-7) |
| ZIP code | 85139, 85138 |
| Area code(s) | 520 |
| FIPS code | 04-44410 |
| Website | http://www.maricopa-az.gov/web/ |
Maricopa is a city in the Gila River Valley in the State of Arizona. With an estimated 48,602 residents as of 2015[update], Maricopa is the second most populous incorporated city in Pinal County and eighteenth most populous in Arizona. Maricopa forms part of the Phoenix metropolitan area.
Maricopa has had three locations over the years: Maricopa Wells, Maricopaville and Maricopa Junction; the latter gradually became known as Maricopa. It started as an oasis around a series of watering holes eight miles north of present-day Maricopa, and about a mile west of Pima Butte. European-American traders and travelers called it Maricopa Wells. Several of Arizona’s rivers, the Gila, Santa Cruz, Vekol and Santa Rosa provided this oasis in the desert with an ample supply of water during this period of time.
During the late 1800s, Maricopa Wells was one of the most important relay stations along the San Antonio-San Diego Mail Line and the later more famous Butterfield Overland Mail Route. Although little remains of this once bustling community, it played an important part in the progress and development of the Southwest. It was one of the best-known spots in Arizona during this period of time because it had a reliable source of water, and offered an abundant supply of food. The peaceful Pima and Maricopa farmers who lived and farmed nearby sold supplies to travelers and migrants.
The most prosperous period of time for Maricopa Wells was in the 1870s. During this time the trading center at the Wells provided water and food for not only the east-west travelers, but those who traveled to the north to Phoenix. Fairly good roads had been built by James A. Moore, the proprietor at Maricopa Wells, to all points north, and the Wells was a constant hubbub of activity.
Maricopaville developed south and west of the Wells, following construction of a railroad line from this terminus to Phoenix. In 1879, the Southern Pacific Railroad was in the process of building a railroad line from Yuma to Tucson, and a second railroad line was to be built from Maricopaville, wrapping around the western edge of South Mountain into Phoenix. With the railroad, Maricopaville took on the appearance of a gold rush California boom town, as men worked day and night building hotels, saloons, warehouses, restaurants, theaters, etc. One newspaper of the time reckoned that with its thousands of people and good location, Maricopaville would be an ideal choice for the location of the state capital.
...
Wikipedia