Just 30 miles west of Phoenix, this town could overtake Phoenix in population sometime in the next century! In 1884 the Buckeye Canal (10 miles) was built, named after the builders native state of Ohio. In 1887 the first permanent anglo resident moved into the area, and it 1888 the town site was laid out. The town was originally named "Sidney", after a town in Ohio, but because of the significance of the canal to the area the name was legally changed to Buckeye in 1910.
By 1912 a railway connected Buckeye to Phoenix, and the business district was moved to accommodate the location of the railroad station. By 1926 Buckeye incorporated at a size of 440 acres. Buckeye also has a public airport with one runway (5,500 Ft), with 46 aircraft based at the airport. Buckeye has remained mostly agricultural thru the 1990's, however with the growth of Phoenix, Buckeye is now in a housing building boom that will continue for some time. The population estimates put Buckeye at 100,000 residents by 2010, and 400,000 by 2030. There are over 15 Master Planned Communities in the building or planning stages, with more in the process.
Some examples are as follows:
- Douglas Ranch
- At 36 square miles, it will be Arizona's largest Master Planned Community.
- There will be 83,000 homes with 250,000 residents at build out.
- 12 High Schools and 25 Elementary Schools will need to be built to accommodate the growth.
- Look for 22 additional Golf Courses as well.
- The community is in the planning stage in mid 2005.
- Verrado
- Buckeye's first major Master Planned Development opened in early 2004. This unique community features a "Main Street" Concept, 325 acres of parks, and Custom Home Lots (3/4 acre to over 3 acres) along with an assortment of builders that are in the process of building the communities 14,000 homes.
- Tartesso
- The name is derived from an ancient Phoenician cultural center. This community at build out will occupy 12,000 acres, have 40,000 new homes, 26 parks, 3 new High Schools, and 17 new Elementary Schools.
- Festival Ranch
- This new Community will consist of 24,000 new homes (7,000 of which will be Sun City Festival, the Active Adult portion). Fourteen new golf courses and 7 million square feet of schools/commercial are also planned.
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