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In 1891, Dr. A.J. Chandler settled on an 18,000-acre ranch in the area
that is now called Chandler today. Dr. Chandler was the first veterinary
surgeon in Arizona| Arizona | (air-i'-ZON-u') | The State of Arizona comprises the extreme south-western portion of the United States. It is bounded on the north by Utah, on the east by New Mexico, on the south by Mexico, and on the west by California and Nevada. |
. He was an insightful individual and soon developed an irrigation
system on his ranch. Dr. Chandler helped lead the way in innovative ideas
for irrigation and canals in the valley. Unfortunately, as the valley grew
and water became more and more valuable, landowners were told that they
would be allocated only enough water for 160 acres.
It was
at this time that Dr. Chandler decided to subdivide his ranch. He hired
an architect and planner to develop plans for a town. Then in 1912, Dr.
Chandler began advertising his new town. The first individuals interested
in purchasing land headed out to the area on rail. The Eastern Railroad
had just been completed between Phoenix and Florence and it was used to
transport prospective residents. On the very first day of sales, he sold
$50,000 worth of land.
This dramatic sale boosted his optimism
in the town and encouraged Dr. Chandler to build a beautiful hotel. The
San Marcos Hotel opened one year later to host wealthy individuals, who
were making their visit to Arizona| Arizona | (air-i'-ZON-u') | The State of Arizona comprises the extreme south-western portion of the United States. It is bounded on the north by Utah, on the east by New Mexico, on the south by Mexico, and on the west by California and Nevada. |
. Fred Astaire, Errol Flynn, and Joan Crawford
were just some of the famous guests that came to the San Marcos Hotel.
In 1982, the hotel was listed on the National Register of Historical
Places due in most part to its wonderful Mission Revival architecture.
The hotel offers golf courses, a swimming pool and desert outings. Today,
visitors can still stay at the Sheraton San Marcos Conference Center and
enjoy one of Chandler's great landmarks.
Even after the successful
opening of the lots and the San Marcos Hotel, Chandler grew slowly. Ostrich
ranches also appeared. Ostrich feathers were needed for women's hats, which
were popular at that time. A pound of ostrich feathers was worth as much
as $250. The town remained an agricultural town up until, 1920 when it
was incorporated. Dr. Chandler served as the first mayor.
However, when World War II began the government chose to build Williams
Air Force Base in Chandler. This resulted in more people coming to Chandler
to live. Chandler received the status of city in 1954. In the 1980's, Chandler's
government decided to put into action a public improvement plan in order
to have the framework of roads and utilities in place for the predicted
growth. The town also annexed some land south of Chandler to prepare for
the anticipated increase in population.
Chandler has continued
to grow. Recently the town has acquired the nickname "Silicon Desert".
There are numerous high-tech businesses that have made Chandler their home.
Chandler is a town of great expanses of land filled with crops to the industrial
high tech business drawn to the futuristic town. It is a town of diversity.
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