History of Casa Grande

This is a rough history of Casa Grande, Arizona

Casa Grande was founded in 1879 during the huge mining boom of Arizona, but it was originally named "Terminus" (a Latin word which can mean a train station acting as an end destination) because it is where the Southern Pacific Railroad ended its work on the railroad "it was building from Yuma across Southern Arizona" due to the heat in August of 1879. The railroad started up work again in January of 1880.

The name Casa Grande (which is Spanish for "Big House") comes from the ancient Hohokam ruins (now Casa Grande National Monument) some 20 or so miles away within Pinal County, but in the neighboring city of Coolidge.  The name was changed from Terminus to Casa Grande by railroad executives in 1880.  Casa Grande was incorporated in 1915 and charter was adopted in 1975.

Terminus initially comprised only five people and three buildings in 1879 while waiting for the railroad to start up work again when the heat subsided.  By the end of the 1880, the town had grown to 33 residents, finally reaching its peak of about 5,000 residents in 1882 due to the mining boom (consisting of many Mexicans, as well Chinese workers, Native Americans and Anglos). By 1890, the town had shrunk to 256 residents with the mining boom bust of the 1890s and by 1902 it had almost became a ghost town, but the town was eventually saved by agriculture.

Casa Grande was destroyed at least twice by fire, once in 1886 and once in 1893. Every time it was rebuilt.

The history of Casa Grande highlight's the tough survivor instinct that has always existed in the residents of this town.

One of the founders of Casa Grande was Thompson Rodney Peart, known by the name T.R. Peart.  He was born in Woods, North Dakota, and was married to Lillian Cordelia Weaver.  Peart Center, Peart Park, and Peart Road are some of the more notable city landmarks that are still named after Peart.

References for above information

BeDillon`s Restaurant & Cactus Garden

Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce

Casa Grande National Monument

City of Casa Grande Fire Department

Wikipedia - Casa Grande, AZ

Source: http://www.casagrande411.com

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