Buckeye, Arizona

Buckeye, Arizona
City

Entrance to Historic Buckeye

Location in Maricopa County and the state of Arizona
Buckeye

Location in the United States

Coordinates: 33°22′14″N 112°35′27″W / 33.37056°N 112.59083°W / 33.37056; -112.59083Coordinates: 33°22′14″N 112°35′27″W / 33.37056°N 112.59083°W / 33.37056; -112.59083
Country United States
State Arizona
County Maricopa
Government
 • Mayor Jackie A. Meck
 • City Council Brian McAchran
Robert Garza
Michelle Hess
Ray Strauss
Craig Heustis
Eric Orsborn
 • City Manager Stephen Cleveland
Area
 • Total 392 sq mi (1,015 km2)
Elevation 869 ft (265 m)
Population (2010)[1]
 • Total 50,876
 • Estimate (2014)[2] 59,470
 • Density 129.79/sq mi (50.12/km2)
Time zone MST (UTC-7)
ZIP codes 85326, 85396
Area code(s) 623, 928
FIPS code 04-07940
Website http://www.buckeyeaz.gov/
Private auto camp for cotton pickers in Buckeye, 1940

Buckeye is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States and is, at this time, the westernmost suburb in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The population was 6,537 at the 2000 census. From 2000 to 2010, the Buckeye population growth percentage was 678.3% as it had 50,876 people at the 2010 census.[1]

Geography

Buckeye is approximately 30 miles (48 km) west of Phoenix, Arizona, and 330 miles (530 km) east of Los Angeles, California.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 145.8 square miles (377.6 km2), all of it land.

Climate

Buckeye has a hot desert climate (Köppen BWh), with abundant sunshine due to the stable descending air of the eastern side of the subtropical anticyclone aloft and at sea level over the southwestern US. Summers, as with all of the Desert Southwest, are extremely hot, with 121.0 afternoons reaching 100 °F or 37.8 °C and 181.6 afternoons getting to 90 °F or 32.2 °C. The record hot temperature of 125 °F (51.7 °C) occurred on July 28, 1995, and temperatures above 86 °F or 30 °C may occur in any month. Less hot weather may occasionally occur during summer, but such periods are no less unpleasant as they result from monsoonal weather with its attendant higher cloudiness and humidity; however actual rainfall from the monsoon is much more infrequent than in Flagstaff, Nogales or even Tucson. The heaviest daily rainfall has been 4.90 inches (124.5 mm) on September 2, 1894, but between 1971 and 2000 no month had more rainfall than 4.52 inches or 114.8 millimetres in December 1984.

The winter season from November to March is warm to very warm during the day, with no month cooler than 68 °F or 20 °C during a typical afternoon, but 20.2 mornings typically fall to or below 32 °F or 0 °C, though no snowfall was recorded during the 1971 to 2000 period, and only twelve afternoons did not reach 50 °F or 10 °C. The coldest temeprature recorded as Buckeye has been 11 °F or −11.7 °C most recently during a major southwestern freeze on January 8, 1913.

Climate data for Buckeye, Arizona (1971-2000); extremes 1893-2001
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 100
(38)		 92
(33)		 101
(38)		 106
(41)		 115
(46)		 122
(50)		 125
(52)		 120
(49)		 119
(48)		 108
(42)		 96
(36)		 87
(31)		 125
(52)
Average high °F (°C) 68.3
(20.2)		 73.2
(22.9)		 78.7
(25.9)		 87.3
(30.7)		 95.9
(35.5)		 105.8
(41)		 108.4
(42.4)		 106.3
(41.3)		 101.0
(38.3)		 90.0
(32.2)		 76.8
(24.9)		 68.2
(20.1)		 88.3
(31.3)
Average low °F (°C) 36.7
(2.6)		 40.4
(4.7)		 44.6
(7)		 49.6
(9.8)		 57.5
(14.2)		 65.3
(18.5)		 74.2
(23.4)		 73.6
(23.1)		 66.1
(18.9)		 53.1
(11.7)		 41.3
(5.2)		 35.8
(2.1)		 53.2
(11.8)
Record low °F (°C) 11
(−12)		 18
(−8)		 20
(−7)		 29
(−2)		 32
(0)		 42
(6)		 49
(9)		 48
(9)		 41
(5)		 26
(−3)		 20
(−7)		 12
(−11)		 11
(−12)
Average rainfall inches (mm) 0.80
(20.3)		 0.80
(20.3)		 0.99
(25.1)		 0.26
(6.6)		 0.15
(3.8)		 0.07
(1.8)		 0.67
(17)		 1.22
(31)		 0.75
(19)		 0.64
(16.3)		 0.64
(16.3)		 0.92
(23.4)		 7.91
(200.9)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.01 inch) 3.4 3.1 4.0 1.5 0.8 0.4 2.0 4.1 2.4 2.3 1.9 3.1 29
Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration[3]

History

Early settler Malin M. Jackson developed 10 miles (16 km) of the Buckeye Canal from 1884 to 1886, which he named after his home state of Ohio's moniker, "The Buckeye State". The town was founded in 1888 and originally named "Sidney," after Jackson's home town in Ohio. However, because of the significance of the canal, the town became known as Buckeye. The name was legally changed to Buckeye in 1910. The town was incorporated in 1929, at which time it included 440 acres (180 ha). The town's first mayor was Hugh M. Watson (1956-1958), who founded the Buckeye Valley Bank. Today, Watson Road is the site of the city's commercial center.[4]

In 2008, Buckeye was featured on The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer as part of a week-long series entitled "Blueprint America."[5]

In 2013, a video featuring a Verrado High School student who overcame Down's Syndrome to join the school's cheerleading squad, and using the Katy Perry song "Roar", was selected as a finalist in a Good Morning America contest.[6]

A vote to change the town into the City of Buckeye, which now encompasses over 600 square miles (1,600 km2) in the master plan, became effective January 1, 2014.[7]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1900200—
1910684242.0%
19207266.1%
19301,07748.3%
19401,30521.2%
19501,93248.0%
19602,28618.3%
19702,59913.7%
19803,43432.1%
19904,43629.2%
20006,53747.4%
201050,876678.3%
Est. 201562,138[8]22.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
2014 Estimate[2]

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,537 people, 2,158 households, and 1,624 families residing in the town. The population density was 44.8 people per square mile (17.3/km²). There were 2,344 housing units at an average density of 16.1/sq mi (6.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 72.54% White, 3.37% Black or African American, 1.71% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 19.34% from other races, and 2.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 36.65% of the population.

There were 2,158 households out of which 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.47.

In the town the population was spread out with 33.8% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 101.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,383, and the median income for a family was $39,194. Males had a median income of $32,357 versus $24,901 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,627. About 16.2% of families and 18.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.6% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over.

Neighborhoods

The original Buckeye was built around downtown's main street, Monroe Avenue. There are currently nearly 30 master planned communities planned for Buckeye. Such master planned communities under development in which homes are occupied include Sundance, Verrado, Westpark, Tartesso and Festival Ranch.

Other unbuilt planned communities within Buckeye include Douglas Ranch (planned for nearly 300,000 inhabitants), Sun Valley Villages, Spurlock Ranch, Trillium, Elianto, Westwind, Silver Rock, Sienna Hills, Henry Park, Southwest Ranch and Montierre.

Sundance Towne Center, a shopping center developed by Vestar Development in the Sundance community, opened in 2007.

Recreation

A popular recreation destination in Buckeye is the Buckeye Hills Recreation Area. It is located 7 miles (11 km) south of downtown Buckeye on State Route 85 (at mile marker 144). A 900-acre (3.6 km2) Buckeye Lake is planned. The City of Buckeye's Skyline Regional Park is an 8,700 acre mountain preserve located in the southern White Tank Mountains. The park features 8 miles of trails for hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians, picnic areas and camping. Entry to the park is free. By the end of September 2016, 9 additional miles of trails will be constructed for a total of 17 miles of trails.

Education

The City of Buckeye is served by the following school districts:

Estrella Mountain Community College recently renovated the original historic Buckeye Union High School building on Eason Avenue near 9th Street, also known as the "A" Wing, and started holding classes in this new satellite facility in the Fall of 2011. Named the Buckeye Educational Center, this facility provides academic courses, job training programs and community education classes.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Buckeye is served by five highways, a municipal airport and several nearby airports, and the railroad.[10]

Roads

Major roadways serving the city include:

Bus

Buckeye is served by Valley Metro via a rural bus line connecting Phoenix-Goodyear-Gila Bend-Ajo.[11]

Rail

In 1910, the Arizona Eastern Railroad came to Buckeye; the first car in 1911; a steam rail line connected it to Phoenix by 1912; and a state highway by 1915. The coming of the railroad was so significant that the business district was moved to accommodate the location of the railroad station. As a result, Buckeye was booming. By 1912, major buildings were constructed, along with expansion of the business community.[4]

Union Pacific operates a rail line running east-west generally through the center of the city.

Air

The Buckeye Municipal Airport (ICAO identifier KBXK), is owned and operated by the city government.[12]

Media

There are several local newspapers including the West Valley View, Arizona Republic's Southwest Valley edition and the Buckeye Valley News.[13]

Notable people

Historic properties and structures in Buckeye: [14][15][16][17][18][19]

Historic Buckeye
Historic Buckeye Downtown as seen from Monroe Ave.
The Buckeye Union High School A-Wing was built in 1925. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. 
The Hotel/Payless Market Building' was built in 1909. Part of the building once served as a hotel while the rest served as a Pay Less Market Groceries and Meats. Listed as historical by the Buckeye Valley Historical and Archaeological Society. 
The Old Courthouse and Jail was built in 1912. It was later used as a hospital, grade school auxiliary building, library, and food bank. The Buckeye Valley Food Bank was founded by Hugh M. Watson, Buckeye's first mayor. Listed as historical by the Buckeye Valley Historical and Archaeological Society. 
The Buckeye Women's Club was built in 1935. It is listed as historical by the Buckeye Valley Historical and Archaeological Society. 
The West Valley Academy Building was built in 1930 and was first used as a church. Listed as historical by the Buckeye Valley Historical and Archaeological Society. 
The marker of the historic Gillespie Dam Bridge. The historic Gillespie Dam Bridge was built in 1927 over the Gila River and is located on Old Highway 80 north of Gila Bend and south of Arlington between the Buckeye Hills and the Gila Bend Mountains in Maricopa County. The bridge was at the time the longest highway bridge in the state of Arizona. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. 
The historic Gillespie Dam Bridge. 
Front view of the Gillespie Dam Bridge. 
The Gillespie Dam was constructed in 1921, and ia a concrete gravity dam located on the Gila River between the towns of Buckeye and Gila Bend, Arizona. On the morning of January 9, 1993, the dam failed when a 120 ft (37 m) segment collapsed into the Gila River. 
The historic Hassayampa Bridge. The bridge was built in 1929 and was modified and repaired in 1993. The bridge, which is described as a Concrete slab and girder, is located in the Old U.S. Highway Route 80 over the Hassayampa River between Salome Highway and 309 Ave. in the areas of Hassayampa and Arlington within the boundaries of the town of Buckeye, Az. The bridge was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in September 30, 1988, reference #88001658. 
A different view of the historic Hassayampa Bridge. 
This is what remains of some of the sections which were removed from the historic Hassayampa Bridge. 
"Hobo Joe" was made in 1965 and is located in front of Gillums Meat & Locker Co. at 1015 East Monroe Avenue. There is a dispute as to if the sculptor is a person called Jim Casey or Marvin Ransdell. Both men are no longer living and therefore the true identity of the sculptor is unknown and remains a mystery. The 25 foot tall statue is a landmark in Buckeye[20][21] 

References

  1. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  2. 1 2 "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Climatography of the United States No. 20: 1971-2000 – Buckeye, AZ" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2004. Retrieved on November 21, 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-07-08.
  5. ↑ America in Gridlock: Nowhere to Grow, PBS
  6. ↑ "Katy Perry 'Roar' Contest: Girl With Down Syndrome Stars in Finalist Video". ABC News. Oct 7, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Buckeye officially changes name from 'town' to 'city'", cbs5az.com
  8. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-12-12. Retrieved 2014-07-09.
  11. ↑ http://www.valleymetro.org/pressreleases/detail/route_685_makes_new_stops_in_buckeye
  12. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-07-02. Retrieved 2014-07-08.
  13. ↑ Buckeye Valley News
  14. ↑ http://www.azcentral.com/community/swvalley/articles/2011/09/16/20110916buckeye-union-high-school-district-celebrates-90-years.html
  15. ↑ "Buckeye Union High School". naturalpowerandenergy.com. Natural Power and Energy LLC. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  16. ↑ Buckeye ?Main Street
  17. ↑ GILLESPIE DAM: THE PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT THAT'S NOW HOME TO WILDLIFE
  18. ↑ Gillespie Dam Bridge
  19. ↑ State of Arizona Historic Bridge Inventory
  20. ↑ Buckeye
  21. ↑ Roadside America
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