Laveen, Arizona
Encyclopedia
Laveen is a suburban community in Maricopa County
, Arizona
, United States
, situated eight miles (13 km) southwest of Downtown
Phoenix
near the confluence
of the Gila
and Salt
rivers. Parts of Laveen constitute an unincorporated area
in Maricopa County, while the remainder falls within the city limits of Phoenix, constituting the city's "Laveen Village". Although Laveen has been home to "pastoral alfalfa, cotton, and dairy farms" since the 1880s, housing and commercial developments have been increasingly urbanizing the area.
, which until the Roosevelt Dam was completed in 1911 carried water year-round. The only bridged crossing was at Central Avenue
, more than six miles (10 km) away. Because of its isolation, early Laveen was autonomous
of Phoenix and became relatively self-sufficient
, supporting two general store
s, a barber
shop, repair garage
, two pool hall
s, and a building for the Laveen Women's Club.
In 1915, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation noted the community was called Laveen and had a population of less than 25. In March 1918, Walter Laveen was appointed the area's first postmaster, operating the post office in the back of his store. Laveen later served as Sheriff in Pinal County, Arizona
.
, where they had owned a dairy. In 1919, the Cheathams sold their dairy and moved to Laveen along with Cheatham's brother, Shelton.
Dee and Shelton bought the general store from the Laveens, along with 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of farm land on the southeast corner of 51st Avenue and Dobbins Road. They sold the store after running it for a few years and used the proceeds to set up separate farms. Shelton's farm was on the original 40 acres (161,874.4 m²), while Dee and Lula moved south to 51st Avenue and Elliott Road, where they set up not only a new farm but also a dairy.
By 1941, the Cheathams' dairy operation had outgrown their farm, so they bought 360 acres (1.5 km²) of land south of Baseline Road, between 43rd and 51st Avenues. While constructing the dairy the Cheathams had to clear the site of mesquite
and rattlesnake
s. Once complete, it was one of the larger dairies in Arizona and used registered Holstein cattle.
The Cheathams grew their own hay on nearby land for the operation and originally used a large herd of Belgian
and Suffolk Punch
draft horses to pull the hay mowers, rakes, baler, and wagons. Although tractor
s eventually took over most of the work, the horses were still used for feeding the dairy herd until the operation was shut down in 2003 and the family sold most of the land to developers.
, onto rented land in Laveen. With the whole family's help, they put in a cotton crop. Other farmers planted cotton as well, and around harvesting time migrant workers who picked the cotton by hand would arrive, swelling the local population. Most farms provided housing for the workers. The seasonal migrant population has dropped off due to the increased use of farm machinery in harvesting cotton.
tribes, came for their drinking water. Tribe members would bring wagon loads of milk cans to fill with water and firewood to trade for groceries. During the winter, the store would sell excess wood to wood lots
in and around Phoenix.
In a landmark water right
s ruling involving several Laveen residents, Bristor v. Cheatham, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled on January 12, 1952, that percolating water was not private property. Several residents had sued Dee Cheatham for what they believed was excessive pumping of ground water, causing their wells to run dry. The court cited the principal "Rock stays, water moves". However, on February 26, 1952, the court reversed itself, ruling that ground water should be limited to "reasonable" use but still fell under the ownership of landowners.
s, through April 1939 various attempts by churches to set up a Sunday School
in Laveen had failed. However, that month members of the Central Baptist Church of Phoenix leased space in Laveen School's auditorium, and their "mission" took hold and by 1943 grew into the Laveen Baptist Church. That year the church purchased land for a permanent building on the northeast corner of 51st Avenue and Dobbins Road, across from the school. The church added a parsonage in 1948 and by the 1970s had a full-time pastor. Today Laveen supports seven churches.
, in 1938 to "cement the good will and friendship among the wives and mothers of cattle men in Cochise County." They were initially a local service organization, putting together socials and picnics, but eventually expanded their mission to include promoting the industry's beef products. Laveen women formed a chapter in 1947, and by 1949 the group was organized state-wide. In 1956 alone the Laveen Cowbelles affixed 138,000 stickers reading "Beef for Father's Day" to envelopes mailed by various banks and businesses, and in 1959, the statewide group had then-Governor Paul Fannin
proclaim "Beef for Father's Day." The Cowbelles also gave members the ability to "communicate with one another about their collective identity". Their mascot was "an ample-bosomed, blonde caricature named Lil' Dudette".
In 1950, the Cowbelles organized a barbecue to give the community a chance to gather on the last Sunday of the year and to raise money for the March of Dimes
.
In 1960, the non-profits and churches in Laveen formed the Laveen Community Council (LCC), which took over the barbecue and began channeling most of the proceeds to pay for lights on the baseball fields at Laveen School, although donations to the March of Dimes continued into the 1970s. By 1984, the barbecue had raised a cumulative $71,000. The date of the event was gradually moved into early February.
Alamo Scout
(US 6th Army Special Reconnaissance Unit) Joshua Sunn was born and raised in Laveen. The endangered Maricopa language
is spoken by fewer than 100 members of the Maricopa (or Piipaash) tribe, most of whom live at the Maricopa Colony near Laveen.
Laveen became less isolated as bridges were built across the Salt River. The store, barber shop, and one of the pool houses burned down. Roger Laveen, later elected Maricopa County Recorder, tore down the other pool hall. And the Laveen Women's Club donated its building to the community, which moved it west of Laveen School. The LCC restored the building—now called "Building A"—using barbecue proceeds as well as federal funds. Although some dairies and farms have sold out to residential and commercial developers, some remain, contributing to the continued rural feel of the area.
, open spaces
, and other bucolic and rural elements in new developments. For example, when Wal-Mart
opened its Laveen location in 2007 it looked "a little different than most other Wal-Marts. The face of the building has more of a rural design and there is more dense and mature landscaping than other WalMart stores."
Although official zoning recommendations for the area of Laveen falling within the city of Phoenix come from the Laveen Planning Commission (LPC), the Phoenix City Council
has historically taken the recommendations of both the commission and the LCRD into consideration when voting on zoning matters. Zoning in both the county and city areas of Laveen is guided by a master plan called the Southwest Regional Growth Study.
In the 1980s, the Arizona Department of Transportation
(ADOT) proposed building part of the 202 Freeway
through Laveen. ADOT later shelved its plans due to funding problems. However, the freeway is back on track and will pass through most of Laveen at about 59th Avenue. As a result, there are plans for a new Laveen hospital, regional retail centers, and potential Spring Training
expansion in 2011-2012.
(for both elementary and middle school students) and the Phoenix Union High School District
. In addition to the original Laveen School, now a K-8 school named Laveen Elementary, the community supports five other K-8 schools - Cheatham Elementary, Desert Meadows, M.C. Cash Elementary, Trailside Point, and Vista del Sur (a traditional school). Rogers Ranch Elementary, a seventh school in the district, is scheduled to open in August 2012 . There are two charter schools in Laveen and a private school in nearby Maricopa Village. Laveen has two high schools (Fairfax High School
and César Chávez High School
) and South Mountain Community College
plans to build a campus at 59th Avenue and Vineyard Road.
of the Salt
and Gila River
s, southwest of downtown Phoenix
. The area of Laveen contains approximately 48 square miles (124.3 km²) of largely undeveloped, agricultural property, as well as several groups of residential housing developments. It is bounded on the north by the Salt River
, on the south by South Mountain Park
, on the west by the Gila River Indian Community
, and on the east by 27th Avenue. After several annexations from the mid-1990s to the present, a large portion of the community lies within the city limits of Phoenix and is designated by the city as Laveen Village (an urban village
).
, an arid climate. High temperatures in the Summer season can average over 105 degrees Fahrenheit
. The daily high temperature ranges from over 115 °F (46.1 °C) during the hottest days of summer to about 65 °F (18.3 °C) in winter.
There are 2 wet season
s, first in spring and then in late summer, when sometimes-powerful monsoon
thunderstorms roar through the area. Occasionally, a winter storm will leave snow on the nearby Estrella Mountains
, as happened between March 11 and 12, 2006 (see photo nearby).
Maricopa County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*73.0% White*5.0% Black*2.1% Native American*3.5% Asian*0.2% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.5% Two or more races*12.7% Other races*29.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, situated eight miles (13 km) southwest of Downtown
Downtown Phoenix
Downtown Phoenix is the central business district of Phoenix, Arizona, United States. It is located near the geographic center of the Phoenix metropolitan area or Valley of the Sun. Phoenix, being the county seat of Maricopa County and the capital of Arizona, serves as the center of politics,...
Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
near the confluence
Confluence
Confluence, in geography, describes the meeting of two or more bodies of water.Confluence may also refer to:* Confluence , a property of term rewriting systems...
of the Gila
Gila River
The Gila River is a tributary of the Colorado River, 650 miles long, in the southwestern states of New Mexico and Arizona.-Description:...
and Salt
Salt River (Arizona)
The Salt River is a stream in the U.S. state of Arizona. It is the largest tributary of the Gila River. The river is about long. Its drainage basin is about large. The longest of the Salt River's many tributaries is the Verde River...
rivers. Parts of Laveen constitute an unincorporated area
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Maricopa County, while the remainder falls within the city limits of Phoenix, constituting the city's "Laveen Village". Although Laveen has been home to "pastoral alfalfa, cotton, and dairy farms" since the 1880s, housing and commercial developments have been increasingly urbanizing the area.
History
The Laveen area was first settled by farmers and dairymen in 1884. Despite its proximity to Phoenix, the community was isolated from its larger neighbor by the Salt RiverSalt River (Arizona)
The Salt River is a stream in the U.S. state of Arizona. It is the largest tributary of the Gila River. The river is about long. Its drainage basin is about large. The longest of the Salt River's many tributaries is the Verde River...
, which until the Roosevelt Dam was completed in 1911 carried water year-round. The only bridged crossing was at Central Avenue
Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona
The Central Avenue Corridor is a significant stretch of north-south Central Avenue, in Phoenix, Arizona. Roughly bounded by Camelback Road to its north, and McDowell Road to its south, this is one of Phoenix's most vital and heavily trafficked stretches of roadway...
, more than six miles (10 km) away. Because of its isolation, early Laveen was autonomous
Autonomy
Autonomy is a concept found in moral, political and bioethical philosophy. Within these contexts, it is the capacity of a rational individual to make an informed, un-coerced decision...
of Phoenix and became relatively self-sufficient
Self-sufficiency
Self-sufficiency refers to the state of not requiring any outside aid, support, or interaction, for survival; it is therefore a type of personal or collective autonomy...
, supporting two general store
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
s, a barber
Barber
A barber is someone whose occupation is to cut any type of hair, and to shave or trim the beards of men. The place of work of a barber is generally called a barbershop....
shop, repair garage
Automobile repair shop
An automobile repair shop is a place where automobiles are repaired by auto mechanics and electricians.- Types :The automotive garage can be divided in so many category....
, two pool hall
Pool hall
A billiard/billiards, pool or snooker hall is a place where people get together for playing cue sports such as pool, snooker or carom billiards...
s, and a building for the Laveen Women's Club.
Walter Laveen
In the early 1900s, Walter E. Laveen and his family homesteaded an area encompassing all four corners of present-day 51st Avenue and Dobbins Road, where they also built the area's first general store — the Laveen Store — on the southeast corner. Members of the Laveen family donated land adjacent to their store for a school, which was built in 1913 and named Laveen School. A second general store, the Del Monte Market, was built in 1908 at 27th Avenue and Dobbins Road.In 1915, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation noted the community was called Laveen and had a population of less than 25. In March 1918, Walter Laveen was appointed the area's first postmaster, operating the post office in the back of his store. Laveen later served as Sheriff in Pinal County, Arizona
Pinal County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*72.4% White*4.6% Black*5.6% Native American*1.7% Asian*0.4% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.8% Two or more races*11.5% Other races*28.5% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
.
Dee Cheatham
Armon Deconda "Dee" Cheatham succeeded Walter Laveen as postmaster, serving in the post for the next 30 years. Cheatham and his wife, Lula, were originally from Duncan, ArizonaDuncan, Arizona
Duncan is a town in Greenlee County, Arizona, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town is 713. It is part of the Safford Micropolitan Statistical Area. Duncan is at the juncture of the Gila River and the Arizona-New Mexico state border...
, where they had owned a dairy. In 1919, the Cheathams sold their dairy and moved to Laveen along with Cheatham's brother, Shelton.
Dee and Shelton bought the general store from the Laveens, along with 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of farm land on the southeast corner of 51st Avenue and Dobbins Road. They sold the store after running it for a few years and used the proceeds to set up separate farms. Shelton's farm was on the original 40 acres (161,874.4 m²), while Dee and Lula moved south to 51st Avenue and Elliott Road, where they set up not only a new farm but also a dairy.
By 1941, the Cheathams' dairy operation had outgrown their farm, so they bought 360 acres (1.5 km²) of land south of Baseline Road, between 43rd and 51st Avenues. While constructing the dairy the Cheathams had to clear the site of mesquite
Mesquite
Mesquite is a leguminous plant of the Prosopis genus found in northern Mexico through the Sonoran Desert and Chihuahuan Deserts, and up into the Southwestern United States as far north as southern Kansas, west to the Colorado Desert in California,and east to the eastern fifth of Texas, where...
and rattlesnake
Rattlesnake
Rattlesnakes are a group of venomous snakes of the genera Crotalus and Sistrurus of the subfamily Crotalinae . There are 32 known species of rattlesnake, with between 65-70 subspecies, all native to the Americas, ranging from southern Alberta and southern British Columbia in Canada to Central...
s. Once complete, it was one of the larger dairies in Arizona and used registered Holstein cattle.
The Cheathams grew their own hay on nearby land for the operation and originally used a large herd of Belgian
Belgian (horse)
The Belgian Draft horse or Belgian, also known as Belgian Heavy Horse, Brabançon, or Brabant, is a draft horse breed from the Brabant region of modern Belgium, where it is called the or Flemish: . It is one of the strongest of the heavy breeds...
and Suffolk Punch
Suffolk Punch
The Suffolk Punch, also historically known as the Suffolk Horse or Suffolk Sorrel, is an English breed of draught horse. The breed takes the first part of its name from the county of Suffolk in East Anglia, and the name "Punch" from its solid appearance and strength...
draft horses to pull the hay mowers, rakes, baler, and wagons. Although tractor
Tractor
A tractor is a vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a trailer or machinery used in agriculture or construction...
s eventually took over most of the work, the horses were still used for feeding the dairy herd until the operation was shut down in 2003 and the family sold most of the land to developers.
Robert Blue Coplen
He was an Alfalfa and Cotton farmer. He was one of the best farmers in Laveen. He had a 5 acre property with 40+ acres to farm on. He sold hay and raised many animals on the land. His wife's name was Marjorie Coplen. When they first met she had three children. Keith Turner, Sandra Turner and Kent Turner. Their father had died in a car incident. Once Robert and Marjorie married they had another daughter named Gail Coplen. His farm was on 46th ave, Elliot rd. The history of the land is not good. Its an Indian burial ground. A lot of spirits were seen on the land and they are still there to this day. After he died, the acres were sold and Coplen Estates replaced it. In the Coplen Estates there is a street name Coplen Farms.Cotton harvest
Several farmers in Laveen raised (and continue to raise) cotton. In 1916, Andrew Benton Clevenger moved his family from St. George, UtahSt. George, Utah
St. George is a city located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Utah, and the county seat of Washington County, Utah. It is the principal city of and is included in the St. George, Utah, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is 119 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, and 303 miles ...
, onto rented land in Laveen. With the whole family's help, they put in a cotton crop. Other farmers planted cotton as well, and around harvesting time migrant workers who picked the cotton by hand would arrive, swelling the local population. Most farms provided housing for the workers. The seasonal migrant population has dropped off due to the increased use of farm machinery in harvesting cotton.
Well water
Laveen School had the area's only deep well, which also supplied the Laveen Store. Water from residents' shallow wells was acceptable for washing and crop cultivation, but too salty for culinary use. Therefore, the community set up a public-use hydrant south of the store, where people, including members of the Maricopa and PimaPima
The Pima are a group of American Indians living in an area consisting of what is now central and southern Arizona. The long name, "Akimel O'odham", means "river people". They are closely related to the Tohono O'odham and the Hia C-ed O'odham...
tribes, came for their drinking water. Tribe members would bring wagon loads of milk cans to fill with water and firewood to trade for groceries. During the winter, the store would sell excess wood to wood lots
Firewood
Firewood is any wood-like material that is gathered and used for fuel. Generally, firewood is not highly processed and is in some sort of recognizable log or branch form....
in and around Phoenix.
In a landmark water right
Water right
Water right in water law refers to the right of a user to use water from a water source, e.g., a river, stream, pond or source of groundwater. In areas with plentiful water and few users, such systems are generally not complicated or contentious...
s ruling involving several Laveen residents, Bristor v. Cheatham, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled on January 12, 1952, that percolating water was not private property. Several residents had sued Dee Cheatham for what they believed was excessive pumping of ground water, causing their wells to run dry. The court cited the principal "Rock stays, water moves". However, on February 26, 1952, the court reversed itself, ruling that ground water should be limited to "reasonable" use but still fell under the ownership of landowners.
Religion
Although many of the early settlers were religious, including the Clevengers who were MormonMormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
s, through April 1939 various attempts by churches to set up a Sunday School
Sunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
in Laveen had failed. However, that month members of the Central Baptist Church of Phoenix leased space in Laveen School's auditorium, and their "mission" took hold and by 1943 grew into the Laveen Baptist Church. That year the church purchased land for a permanent building on the northeast corner of 51st Avenue and Dobbins Road, across from the school. The church added a parsonage in 1948 and by the 1970s had a full-time pastor. Today Laveen supports seven churches.
Laveen Cowbelles
The Laveen Cowbelles were women from Laveen ranching and dairy families who worked to promote the beef industry. Their parent group, the Arizona Cowbelles, was formed in Douglas, ArizonaDouglas, Arizona
Douglas is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States. Douglas has a border crossing with Mexico and a history of mining.The population was 14,312 at the 2000 census...
, in 1938 to "cement the good will and friendship among the wives and mothers of cattle men in Cochise County." They were initially a local service organization, putting together socials and picnics, but eventually expanded their mission to include promoting the industry's beef products. Laveen women formed a chapter in 1947, and by 1949 the group was organized state-wide. In 1956 alone the Laveen Cowbelles affixed 138,000 stickers reading "Beef for Father's Day" to envelopes mailed by various banks and businesses, and in 1959, the statewide group had then-Governor Paul Fannin
Paul Fannin
Paul Jones Fannin was the 11th Governor of the U.S. state of Arizona from 1959 to 1965 and subsequently a U.S. Senator from Arizona. He was a Republican.- Biography :...
proclaim "Beef for Father's Day." The Cowbelles also gave members the ability to "communicate with one another about their collective identity". Their mascot was "an ample-bosomed, blonde caricature named Lil' Dudette".
Annual barbecue
March of Dimes
The March of Dimes Foundation is a United States nonprofit organization that works to improve the health of mothers and babies.-Organization:...
.
In 1960, the non-profits and churches in Laveen formed the Laveen Community Council (LCC), which took over the barbecue and began channeling most of the proceeds to pay for lights on the baseball fields at Laveen School, although donations to the March of Dimes continued into the 1970s. By 1984, the barbecue had raised a cumulative $71,000. The date of the event was gradually moved into early February.
Notable historical events
- February 4, 1923: Laveen farmer R.F. Payton used an ax to murder his wife and 9-year-old daughter and seriously injure his 5-year-old son. Payton then took his own life.
- January 14, 1930: The "Toledo Family Bandits", two men and a woman whose recent criminal activity involved gunning down a Pennsylvania state trooperPennsylvania State PoliceThe Pennsylvania State Police is the state police force of Pennsylvania, responsible for statewide law enforcement. It was founded in 1905 by order of Governor Samuel Pennypacker, in response to the private police forces used by mine and mill owners to stop worker strikes and the inability or...
and a Maricopa County sheriffMaricopa County Sheriff's OfficeThe Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is a local law enforcement agency that serves Maricopa County, Arizona. It is the largest sheriff's office in Arizona and provides general-service and specialized law enforcement to unincorporated areas of Maricopa County, serving as the primary law enforcement...
, as well as kidnapping a Florence, ArizonaFlorence, Arizona-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 17,054 people, 2,226 households, and 1,540 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,056.2 people per square mile . There were 3,216 housing units at an average density of 387.7 per square mile...
deputy sheriff, were captured alive by a possePosse comitatus (common law)Posse comitatus or sheriff's posse is the common-law or statute law authority of a county sheriff or other law officer to conscript any able-bodied males to assist him in keeping the peace or to pursue and arrest a felon, similar to the concept of the "hue and cry"...
in the Estrella MountainsSierra EstrellaThe Sierra Estrella is a mountain range located southwest of Phoenix, Arizona. Much of the range falls within the Gila River Indian Reservation, but of BLM land is protected as the Sierra Estrella Wilderness.-Description:...
above Laveen after a "sharp gun fight". Walter E. Laveen, by then serving as Pinal County Sheriff, "enlisted almost every able-bodied man" in the area to capture the trio, which had been the subject of a nationwide manhunt. After their capture the woman, Irene SchroederIrene SchroederIrene Schroeder was an American criminal who became the first woman to be electrocuted in Pennsylvania, and the fourth woman to be executed by electrocution in the whole of the United States...
, became the first woman executed by electrocutionElectric chairExecution by electrocution, usually performed using an electric chair, is an execution method originating in the United States in which the condemned person is strapped to a specially built wooden chair and electrocuted through electrodes placed on the body...
in Pennsylvania, and the fourth woman electrocuted in the United States.
- July 3, 1983: Miami DolphinsMiami DolphinsThe Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
linebacker Larry GordonLarry GordonLarry Gordon was a former American football linebacker who played seven seasons in the National Football League for the Miami Dolphins...
collapsed while jogging in Laveen during his off-season training program. He died about an hour later at a Phoenix hospital.
- December 25, 1998: A fire destroyed the Laveen home of former Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia EaglesThe Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
linebacker Byron EvansByron EvansByron Nelson Evans is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles defense of the late 1980s and early 1990s...
. Evans and his family made it out safely.
- June 2002: The City of PhoenixPhoenix, ArizonaPhoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
took over the Laveen Fire Department, a step in the slow annexation of Laveen by the city.
- May 25, 2003: A developer clearing land for a housing development razed two stoneMasonryMasonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...
siloSiloA silo is a structure for storing bulk materials.Silo may also refer to:* Silo , a 3D modeling software* Silo , a defunct chain of retail electronics stores* SILO , used in Linux...
s standing near the northeast corner of 43rd Avenue and Dobbins Road. The silos dated from around 1900 and were visible landmarks throughout Laveen. They were torn down "at four in the morning on a weekend when everybody was sleeping". A Richmond-American HomesMDC HoldingsM.D.C. Holdings, Inc. , whose subsidiaries build homes under the name "Richmond American Homes," is one of the top ten homebuilders in the United States, based on 2006 revenue. The Company also provides mortgage financing, primarily for MDC's homebuyers, through its wholly owned subsidiary...
subdivision was later built on the land.
- 2006: Former NFL running back Emmitt SmithEmmitt SmithEmmitt James Smith, III is a retired American football player who was a running back in the National Football League for fifteen seasons during the 1990s and 2000s. Smith played college football for the University of Florida, where he was an All-American; thereafter, he played professionally for...
spearheaded a large, 25 acres (101,171.5 m²) office and retail development at the intersection of 35th Avenue and Southern.
Other
World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Alamo Scout
Alamo scouts
The Alamo Scouts was a reconnaissance unit of the Sixth United States Army in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II...
(US 6th Army Special Reconnaissance Unit) Joshua Sunn was born and raised in Laveen. The endangered Maricopa language
Maricopa language
The Maricopa language is spoken by the Native American Maricopa tribe, on two reservations in Arizona: the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and the Gila River Indian Community.-Grammar:...
is spoken by fewer than 100 members of the Maricopa (or Piipaash) tribe, most of whom live at the Maricopa Colony near Laveen.
Community
Urban development
In 2000, a commercial home builder broke ground on "Arlington Estates", a large residential development in what, at the time, was a rural Laveen. Since that time, the community has experienced explosive residential growth. That growth has been tempered, however, by community activist groups, such as the LCC and two newer groups, "Laveen Citizens for Responsible Development" (LCRD) and "South Laveen Against High Density" (SLAHD). These groups put pressure on developers to include equestrian trailsEquestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
, open spaces
Greenway (landscape)
A greenway is a long, narrow piece of land, often used for recreation and pedestrian and bicycle user traffic, and sometimes for streetcar, light rail or retail uses.- Terminology :...
, and other bucolic and rural elements in new developments. For example, when Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
opened its Laveen location in 2007 it looked "a little different than most other Wal-Marts. The face of the building has more of a rural design and there is more dense and mature landscaping than other WalMart stores."
Although official zoning recommendations for the area of Laveen falling within the city of Phoenix come from the Laveen Planning Commission (LPC), the Phoenix City Council
Phoenix City Council
The Phoenix City Council includes the mayor and 8 councilmembers. Each councilmember is elected from a different district of the city of Phoenix. The councilmembers are elected to 4 year terms in a nonpartisan election.The Council:-External links:*...
has historically taken the recommendations of both the commission and the LCRD into consideration when voting on zoning matters. Zoning in both the county and city areas of Laveen is guided by a master plan called the Southwest Regional Growth Study.
In the 1980s, the Arizona Department of Transportation
Arizona Department of Transportation
The Arizona Department of Transportation is an Arizona state government agency charged with facilitating mobility within the state. In addition to managing the state's highway system, the agency is also involved with public transportation and municipal airports...
(ADOT) proposed building part of the 202 Freeway
Arizona State Route 202
State Route 202, or Loop 202, is the beltway encompassing the eastern Phoenix, Arizona, United States Metropolitan area. It navigates and surrounds the cities of Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, and Gilbert, making it very vital to the area freeway system...
through Laveen. ADOT later shelved its plans due to funding problems. However, the freeway is back on track and will pass through most of Laveen at about 59th Avenue. As a result, there are plans for a new Laveen hospital, regional retail centers, and potential Spring Training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
expansion in 2011-2012.
Golf courses
Laveen supports two golf courses: the Bougainvillea Golf Club (private) and the Aguila Golf Course (public). Bougainvillea, located at 59th Avenue and Baseline Road, is an 18-hole, par-72 course with 6 par 5's, 4's and 3's as well as a driving range. Aguila is an 18-hole public course located at 35th Avenue and Dobbins Road. In addition to its main course, Aguila has a 9-hole par-3 executive course as well.Education
The community is served by the Laveen Elementary School DistrictLaveen Elementary School District
The Laveen Elementary School District is the K-8 school district for Laveen, an area of southwest Phoenix, Arizona. It operates six schools. The superintendent is Dr. Bill Johnson.-Schools:*Cheatham Elementary *Desert Meadows...
(for both elementary and middle school students) and the Phoenix Union High School District
Phoenix Union High School District
The Phoenix Union High School District is a school district based in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. It is one of the state's oldest school districts and its largest high school-only district, serving 26,000 students in 17 schools and employing more than 2,800 people...
. In addition to the original Laveen School, now a K-8 school named Laveen Elementary, the community supports five other K-8 schools - Cheatham Elementary, Desert Meadows, M.C. Cash Elementary, Trailside Point, and Vista del Sur (a traditional school). Rogers Ranch Elementary, a seventh school in the district, is scheduled to open in August 2012 . There are two charter schools in Laveen and a private school in nearby Maricopa Village. Laveen has two high schools (Fairfax High School
Betty H. Fairfax High School
Betty H. Fairfax is a high school in the Phoenix Union High School District, Laveen, Arizona, USA.The campus is located at 8225 South 59th Avenue in Laveen, Arizona. Fairfax’s enrollment is 1,833 students...
and César Chávez High School
César Chávez High School (Laveen, Arizona)
Cesar Chavez High School is a high school in Laveen, Arizona. It is operated by the Phoenix Union High School District. The school predominantly serves students from partner elementary districts Laveen, and Roosevelt, however students from across the district come to Cesar Chavez for its magnet...
) and South Mountain Community College
South Mountain Community College
South Mountain Community College is a community college in Phoenix, Arizona. It is part of the Maricopa County Community College District and was established by the governing board of the District on April 18, 1978. The college takes its name from South Mountain, which is a few kilometers to the...
plans to build a campus at 59th Avenue and Vineyard Road.
Geography
Laveen is located near the confluenceConfluence
Confluence, in geography, describes the meeting of two or more bodies of water.Confluence may also refer to:* Confluence , a property of term rewriting systems...
of the Salt
Salt River (Arizona)
The Salt River is a stream in the U.S. state of Arizona. It is the largest tributary of the Gila River. The river is about long. Its drainage basin is about large. The longest of the Salt River's many tributaries is the Verde River...
and Gila River
Gila River
The Gila River is a tributary of the Colorado River, 650 miles long, in the southwestern states of New Mexico and Arizona.-Description:...
s, southwest of downtown Phoenix
Downtown Phoenix
Downtown Phoenix is the central business district of Phoenix, Arizona, United States. It is located near the geographic center of the Phoenix metropolitan area or Valley of the Sun. Phoenix, being the county seat of Maricopa County and the capital of Arizona, serves as the center of politics,...
. The area of Laveen contains approximately 48 square miles (124.3 km²) of largely undeveloped, agricultural property, as well as several groups of residential housing developments. It is bounded on the north by the Salt River
Salt River (Arizona)
The Salt River is a stream in the U.S. state of Arizona. It is the largest tributary of the Gila River. The river is about long. Its drainage basin is about large. The longest of the Salt River's many tributaries is the Verde River...
, on the south by South Mountain Park
South Mountain Park
South Mountain Park in Phoenix, Arizona, is the largest city park in the United States, one of the largest urban parks in North America and in the world. It has been designated as a Phoenix Point of Pride.-Geography and Ecology:...
, on the west by the Gila River Indian Community
Gila River Indian Community
The Gila River Indian Community is an Indian reservation in the U.S. state of Arizona, lying adjacent to the south side of the city of Phoenix, within the Phoenix Metropolitan Area in Pinal and Maricopa Counties. It was established in 1859, and formally established by Congress in 1939...
, and on the east by 27th Avenue. After several annexations from the mid-1990s to the present, a large portion of the community lies within the city limits of Phoenix and is designated by the city as Laveen Village (an urban village
Urban village
An urban village is an urban planning and urban design concept. It refers to an urban form typically characterized by:* Medium density development* Mixed use zoning* The provision of good public transit...
).
Climate
Laveen is entirely located within the Sonoran DesertSonoran Desert
The Sonoran Desert is a North American desert which straddles part of the United States-Mexico border and covers large parts of the U.S. states of Arizona and California and the northwest Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California, and Baja California Sur. It is one of the largest and hottest...
, an arid climate. High temperatures in the Summer season can average over 105 degrees Fahrenheit
Fahrenheit
Fahrenheit is the temperature scale proposed in 1724 by, and named after, the German physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit . Within this scale, the freezing of water into ice is defined at 32 degrees, while the boiling point of water is defined to be 212 degrees...
. The daily high temperature ranges from over 115 °F (46.1 °C) during the hottest days of summer to about 65 °F (18.3 °C) in winter.
There are 2 wet season
Wet season
The the wet season, or rainy season, is the time of year, covering one or more months, when most of the average annual rainfall in a region occurs. The term green season is also sometimes used as a euphemism by tourist authorities. Areas with wet seasons are dispersed across portions of the...
s, first in spring and then in late summer, when sometimes-powerful monsoon
North American Monsoon
The North American monsoon, variously known as the Southwest United States monsoon, the Mexican monsoon, or the Arizona monsoon, is experienced as a pronounced increase in rainfall from an extremely dry June to a rainy July over large areas of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico...
thunderstorms roar through the area. Occasionally, a winter storm will leave snow on the nearby Estrella Mountains
Sierra Estrella
The Sierra Estrella is a mountain range located southwest of Phoenix, Arizona. Much of the range falls within the Gila River Indian Reservation, but of BLM land is protected as the Sierra Estrella Wilderness.-Description:...
, as happened between March 11 and 12, 2006 (see photo nearby).
See also
- Gila River Indian CommunityGila River Indian CommunityThe Gila River Indian Community is an Indian reservation in the U.S. state of Arizona, lying adjacent to the south side of the city of Phoenix, within the Phoenix Metropolitan Area in Pinal and Maricopa Counties. It was established in 1859, and formally established by Congress in 1939...
- Akimel O’odham (Pima)PimaThe Pima are a group of American Indians living in an area consisting of what is now central and southern Arizona. The long name, "Akimel O'odham", means "river people". They are closely related to the Tohono O'odham and the Hia C-ed O'odham...
- Pee-Posh (Maricopa)