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Maricopa County Homes
During the mid 1880’s, Prescott held the Territorial Capital and was the site of the Territorial Legislature. This did not sit well with the residents in the Salt River Valley and the Gila River area. They wanted a more local seat of government and in their eyes Prescott was too far north. They eventually petitioned the Territorial Legislature.
Then in February 1871, Maricopa County was established. The new county was created by the removal of parts of Pinal and Yavapai Counties. However, it wasn’t until 1889 before Phoenix was named the Territorial Capital of Arizona . The town was later named the capital of Arizona .
In 1885, the Territorial Normal School was established in Maricopa County. The school continued to grow and change its name. Finally, in 1958 it became Arizona State University.
Today, the county covers 9,200 square miles. More than half of the state’s population resides in Maricopa County. The county is a metropolitan area, which is the center of political and economic activities. It is crisscrossed with paved roadways and canals.
There are so many attractions in Maricopa County that it is impossible to name them all. The county includes numerous parks, such as Estrella Mountain, McDowell Mountain, White Tank Mountains, Payson, Squaw Peak Mountain, Camelback Mountain, South Mountain, McCormick Railroad, Papago, Encanto and North Mountain. the county has many lakes edging its northeastern border. Lake Pleasant is situated in the northern part of the county. Boat ramps, a marina, fishing and camping are available at the lake. It is a magnet to many living in the city because of its close proximity. Bartlett Lake is an irrigation reservoir along the Verde River. The lake offers primitive boating and camping facilities. Bass, catfish and bluegill swim in these waters. Saguaro Lake is popular spot throughout the year. The scenery is a draw along with fishing, camping and boating. Many enjoy taking a tour of the lake with a boat rental or boat excursion. The lake is in the eastern section of Maricopa County.
Canyon Lake is a gorgeous lake with fishing, camping and picnicking. There are boat tours available to help visitors take in the beauty of the lake. Horse Mesa Dam in the eastern part of Maricopa County. The dam created Apache Lake. It offers fishing, boat rentals, camping and marina.
Many are surprised to learn that a county that is mainly comprised of metropolitan areas is also the location of many outdoor sights. Maricopa County has it all.
Maricopa County, named after the Maricopa Tribe, was created from portions of Pima and Yavapai counties in1871. It was the fifth county formed in Arizona, and eventually portions were used to create Gila and Pinal counties. In the late 19th century, citizens living far south of Prescott, the territorial capital and site of the Territorial Legislature, petitioned for a more local seat of government. Residents of the Salt River Valley and the Gila River area wanted anew county in their respective locations. After weighing both proposals, the Legislature agreed with the Salt River Valley group and created Maricopa County. In 1889, Phoenix became the final site of the territorial capital and retains its status as Arizona’s capital city. More than half of the state’s population resides in Maricopa County, which includes the cities of Phoenix, Mesa, Glendale, Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler, Peoria, and Gilbert. This metropolitan area is the state’s major center of political and economic activity. In addition to housing the state capital, the county is home to a growing high-tech industry; manufacturing and agricultural industries; 15 institutions of higher learning, including Arizona State University; various cultural attractions; major league professional basketball (Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury),
football (Arizona Cardinals), hockey (Phoenix Coyotes) and baseball (Arizona Diamondbacks); and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Today Maricopa County measures 9,222 square miles, 98 square miles of which is water. Twenty-nine percent of this area is owned individually or by corporation, and 28 percent is owned by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The U.S. Forest Service and the state of Arizona each control 11 percent of the county; an additional 16 percent is owned publicly. Almost 5 percent is Indian reservation land. Maricopa County has five designated Enterprise Zones.
