Phoenix grew from 270 people in 1870 to 11,314 in 1910. Here's a gallery of our town before statehood. Most are from the Library of Congress or Brad Hall. Click on a photo for a larger image:
Phoenix in the 1870s. Lots of shade trees and not a palo verde in sight.
Twelve mule-team freight haulers at Montezuma Street (First Street) and Jefferson in 1880, before the railroads arrived. Look at all the shade trees.
Another view of how goods were delivered. This is at Maricopa Street (Second Street) and Jefferson.
The territorial capitol under construction in 1898.
And completed in 1901.
Adams Street east of Center, looking southeast circa 1890. It's near the future site of Switzers and Hanny's.
Looking northeast up Melinda's Alley near Mojave Street (First Avenue) and Monroe in the 1890s.
The catastrophic 1891 flood that washed out canals and small dams reached all the way to Washington Street.
Floodwaters were so severe that they cut off Phoenix from train service.
Busy Center and Washington in the 1890s.
The Columbus Adeline Gray mansion at Seventh Street and Mohave Street, 1890s.
An advertisement for the Ford Hotel in the 1895. It was located at Second Street and Washington.
A posed family portrait in 1896, an early advertisement for climate.
The Golden Eagle Livery Stable at Second Street and. Washington, 1890s.
Looking west on shady Monroe past Central Methodist Church.
Center and Jefferson road construction in the 1890s.
The Insane Asylum (Arizona State Hospital) in the same decade. Phoenix lobbied for it rather than the university (which went to Tucson) or normal school (to Tempe) because it brought the largest number of jobs.
The impressive Fleming Building in 1904 at First Avenue and Washington.
The Gold Hotel at Third Street and Washington, 1908, promising "meals at all hours."
Washington Street and Center Street in 1901.
Dr. James S. Winton owned the first automobile in Phoenix, 1902.
Two years later, more horseless carriages followed.
It's 1909 and President William Howard Taft is passing Melinda's Alley on a visit to Phoenix.
The Maricopa County Courthouse, where the territorial Legislature also met, in 1903. It was located at First Avenue and Washington Street.
Second Adams and Adams Street looking toward the namesake hotel in 1905. Five years later it would be totally destroyed by fire and rebuilt in "fireproof" brick and masonry.
Central Avenue looking north toward the Hotel Adams in 1909.
Most of the Salt River Valley outside Phoenix and a string of small towns was an agricultural empire. This is the Ingleside Ranch a year before statehood (Brad Hall collection).
With streetcar tracks on Washington, the City Hall gazebo is at left surrounded by shade trees.
Dwight Heard's real-estate office at Adams and Central in 1908. Heard became the town's most influential citizen before his 1929 death, including the multi-story Heard Building which still stands on Central. His widow, Maie Bartlett Heard donated their estate as the Heard Museum and land on the northeast corner of McDowell Road and Central, which became the Phoenix Civic Center.
Central and Monroe, looking southeast in 1908.
In 1912, the year of statehood, a postcard shows City Hall and the gazebo.
RELATED: Why They Came.
———————————————————————————
My book, A Brief History of Phoenix, is available to buy or order at your local independent bookstore, or from Amazon.
Read more Phoenix history in Rogue's Phoenix 101 archive.
Many of these old photos feature epic flooding in the valley, always makes me wonder when the event which can overwhelm the Salt and/or Verde dams might occur.
Great photos.
When I worked at the State Hospital it seems that one of those spires still existed?
The Old Main building still existed but was abandon, except for patient drug and sex parties.
The flood photos are my favorite.
The Christmas Photo has some interesting perspectives.
Thank you, Jon!