The History of Tempe
When Fort McDowell was established on the upper Salt River in 1865, it became necessary to procure steady supplies of food and animal feed. Two small encampments were set up by enterprising farmers near Tempe Butte to grow crops; one was Hayden’s Ferry, named for the river crossing service at that location, and the other was San Pablo, slightly east of the Butte, and established by Mexican settlers from southern Arizona.
The ancient Hohokam canals were quickly dug out and expanded to allow for the irrigation of crops. In short order, area farms were feeding the military outposts and mining camps in Arizona. The two settlements grew quickly, and soon became one. The combined community was renamed Tempe in 1879, at the suggestion of Darrell Duppa, a Cambridge educated Englishman who thought the location was reminiscent of the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Mr. Duppa also came up with the name “Phoenix”
In 1885, Tempe was designated as the site of the Territorial Normal School by the legislature; this was a training institution for teachers at Arizona’s schools, and the forerunner of ASU. In 1887, the Maricopa and Phoenix Railroad was established, crossing the Salt River at Tempe, and linking the area with the national railway system, thus making the town a major commercial and shipping center for the surrounding areas.
The farms are gone now, but Tempe thrives; home to one of the largest universities in the country, and to many commercial and industrial enterprises, including US Airways. It is a popular tourist destination, and an entertainment center for the metro Phoenix area. It is also the city T.E.A.M. proudly calls “home”.