Arizona Canal

One of Maricopa County Arizona's major canals is the Arizona Canal that a number of communities were established as a result of it during the late 1800's. The canal is almost fifty miles long and is the Salt River Project's northern most canal beginning at the Granite Reef dam and ending close to the Arrowhead Towne Center.

In 1883 William J. Murphy was hired to oversee the construction of the Arizona Canal which was finished during May of 1885. Murphy founded Glendale and Murphy Park was named for him. Before the end of the 1880's Peoria was founded; Major Winfield Scott previously a chaplain of the Civil War purchased six hundred and forty acres of land during 1888 to establish the area that became Scottsdale, Arizona.

The Ingleside Club hotel was built in current day Arcadia giving the tourist economy of the area its foundation. There were several resorts built near the Arizona Canal from 1929 until 1988 in addition to five malls of various sizes that add to the tourist economy of the area. The banks of the canal are popular with joggers.

Those that wish to experience the beauty of the Arizona Canal should make it a point to take a walk around it if they are ever in the Scottsdale, Arizona area.