How do you remember Phoenix? Stories from long time residents... (Scottsdale: garage door, gifts)

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by AZDesertBrat

I remember that too. And that it seemed like a LOT of the Valley was agricultural. In all directions!

Which is one of the main reasons why it was much cooler in the evenings & early mornings back then compared to now: lots of agriculture, and lack of the urban heat island effect because the area was still fairly small and semi rural.

Originally Posted by AZDesertBrat

I tried to find out the population of Phoenix in 1942, when I was born, but the closest I found was 65,000 in 1940. I didn't try to find out the population of the surrounding towns though for a Valley wide population.

The only populations available were from the 1940 Census, but they didn't change very much between 1940 and 1942. The growth didn't really start happening until the 1950s & '60s when air conditioning became more of an affordable standard feature. In any case, here are the populations of some of the Phoenix suburbs in 1940 compared to today:

Mesa: 7,224 (1940) ... 484,587 (2016)
Scottsdale: 2,100 (1940 estimate) ... 246,645 (2016)
Tempe: 2,906 (1940) ... 182,498 (2016)
Glendale: 4,855 (1940) ... 245,895 (2016)
Chandler: 1,239 (1940) ... 247,477 (2016)
Gilbert: 837 (1940) ... 237,133 (2016)

[observer53]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

Which is one of the main reasons why it was much cooler in the evenings & early mornings back then compared to now: lots of agriculture, and lack of the urban heat island effect because the area was still fairly small and semi rural.



The only populations available were from the 1940 Census, but they didn't change very much between 1940 and 1942. The growth didn't really start happening until the 1950s & '60s when air conditioning became more of an affordable standard feature. In any case, here are the populations of some of the Phoenix suburbs in 1940 compared to today:

Mesa: 7,224 (1940) ... 484,587 (2016)
Scottsdale: 2,100 (1940 estimate) ... 246,645 (2016)
Tempe: 2,906 (1940) ... 182,498 (2016)
Glendale: 4,855 (1940) ... 245,895 (2016)
Chandler: 1,239 (1940) ... 247,477 (2016)
Gilbert: 837 (1940) ... 237,133 (2016)

Those are amazing numbers, thanks!

[ramay1970]

Originally Posted by Ajoboy

Anybody go to the pediatricians in the 60s and 70s that used to be at 16th St and Missiouri I believe. Dr. Chisolm and Dr Creasman?

No, my sister and I saw Drs. Keefery and Harper...I want to say near central and Thomas. There was a very neat fountain stock with koi that I always looked forward to throwing a penny into.

[AZDesertBrat]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

Which is one of the main reasons why it was much cooler in the evenings & early mornings back then compared to now: lots of agriculture, and lack of the urban heat island effect because the area was still fairly small and semi rural.

The only populations available were from the 1940 Census, but they didn't change very much between 1940 and 1942. The growth didn't really start happening until the 1950s & '60s when air conditioning became more of an affordable standard feature. In any case, here are the populations of some of the Phoenix suburbs in 1940 compared to today:

Mesa: 7,224 (1940) ... 484,587 (2016)
Scottsdale: 2,100 (1940 estimate) ... 246,645 (2016)
Tempe: 2,906 (1940) ... 182,498 (2016)
Glendale: 4,855 (1940) ... 245,895 (2016)
Chandler: 1,239 (1940) ... 247,477 (2016)
Gilbert: 837 (1940) ... 237,133 (2016)

Interesting! Thanks for looking those up. I know Phoenix was still considered 'small town' when I was born. They all were!


Do you remember when they still had Oleanders down the median of I-17? I do. I remember riding on the back of my boyfriends motorcycle and how the temp. was so cool when we were riding alongside them and then when they ended it got warmer. Too bad they couldn't just leave them there. I remember that no matter what part of the 'burbs you were in it was either fields of veggies or orchards of citrus. And out Baseline, the flowers and more citrus. Loved it back then. My grandparents lived close to Baseline and Central, had six acres of grapefruit trees and a dozen date palms they harvested every year so even the family got in on it.

[More Rock]

What is a long time resident of Phoenix? Ten years? Twenty five years?

[1937Gal]

Originally Posted by More Rock

What is a long time resident of Phoenix? Ten years? Twenty five years?

Born here 1937. My mother and family
arrived in Phx 1909. But I pale is some of the friends on a few Vintage Phoenix pages.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by More Rock

What is a long time resident of Phoenix? Ten years? Twenty five years?

Not 10. I'd say 25 is a minimum. For me, it was 59 years last month. I qualify.

[Bird Street]

Congratulations Observer53. You have been a citizen that Arizona can be proud of. A year from next month we can celebrate anniversaries together....60 for you and 70 for me. Thanks for all the hard work you put into this website.

[desertskies]

Originally Posted by More Rock

What is a long time resident of Phoenix? Ten years? Twenty five years?

My dad was born on the Apache Trail, closest town being Miami, in 1916. Other than being stationed elsewhere in the Marines, he lived in Phoenix his whole life. The family has been here continuously since the late 40's. My son was born here as was my granddaughter.
So the answer to your question is all relative (no pun intended).

[davder]

really enjoy hearing about the folks and their families histories, its very interesting.
thank you.