Our Stories: King Cotton

300 South Chandler Village Drive,Chandler AZ 85226

29 April, 2023

Description

In the 1910s, city of Chandler founder, Dr. Chandler was a major proponent for the expansion of canals extending off the Salt River to increase production of cotton as well as other crops in the region. Historically, there have been settlements along the Salt and Gila Rivers since c. 1200 A.D. when the Hohokam grew and harvested cotton. It was not until the late 1920s and 1930s that towns like Eloy, Randolph, La Palma, and Coolidge became key producers in Arizona’s cotton industry. This presentation will cover the history and development of these towns and their impact on Pinal County as well as provide an overview of the cotton industry in Pinal County. This talk complements Picturing Home: Dust Bowl Migrants in Chandler, on view at Chandler Museum through August 13. Our Stories presents diverse speakers who share unique Arizona and local history topics to a general audience throughout the year. This series is produced by the Chandler Museum and the Chandler Public Library, with support from the Friends of the Chandler Public Library.