By 1870, Phoenix had been named. An exact townsite needed to be selected, and the town had to be administered. Thus was the Salt River Valley Town Association formed, and an area 1 mile long and 1/2 mile wide was designated the townsite. It ran from Jackson Street north to Van Buren, and 7th Street to 7th Avenue; the intersection of Washington Street and Central Avenue (originally Center Street ) was considered the center. The townsite is mostly the present day downtown business area.
The territorial legislature created Maricopa County in 1871, by dividing Yavapai County.The first church and store were also established in that year.The first elected sheriff, Tom Barnum ran unopposed, also in 1871; his two opponents had a shootout, which killed one, and lead the other to withdraw his name.
1872 saw the first school, and 1874 the first telegraph line, which was operated by Morris Goldwater from his father's downtown store. By 1875, Phoenix was home to 16 saloons, and 4 dance halls, plus a couple of gambling establishments, mostly along " Whiskey Row" (north side of Washington Street )-not bad, for a town not yet 10 years old!