"Alexander John Chandler (b. Near Coaticock, Canada, July 15, 1859; d. May 8, 1950) came to Arizona in August 1887. He was appointed the first veterinary surgeon for the Territory of Arizona. Meanwhile, severe drought had set in and Arizona catttle were perishing rapidly. After only thirty days as state veterinarian in Prescott, Chandler resigned, intending to go to California. On his wagon trip down the Black Canyon Road, Chandler became convinced he was doing the right thing. However, the night he arrived in Phoenix it began to rain and Chandler changed his mind. He reconsidered his resignation as veterinary surgeon and took up the job again, keeping it until 1892.

Chandler became one of the largest landholders in the Salt River Valley, having nearly eighteen thousand acres which formed the Chandler Ranch in the early 1890s. While Roosevelt Dam was being constructed, Chandler was becoming an expert in irrigation.He surveyed his acreage into agricultural plots of from ten to one hundred sixty acres, and in 1911 advertised his land for sale. The response was immediate. A year later the town of Chandler was established to provide a community for the newcomers."

Post Office Established April 11, 1912. Incorporated February 16, 1920.

Barnes, Will C.; Granger, Byrd (ed.) Arizona Place Names University of Arizona Press. 1960
P. 179

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Websites

City Profile--Arizona Department of Commerce
http://www.commerce.state.az.us/pdf/commasst/comm/chandler.pdf

Local Government Website
http://www.chandleraz.org

Chandler Chamber of Commerce
http://www.chandlerchamber.com/

The Arizonan
http://www.arizonan.com/Chandler/

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Sites to See

Chandler Public Library
Downtown Branch
22 S. Delaware St.
Chandler AZ 85225
480-782-2803
http://chandlerlibrary.org/

Chandler Museum
178 E. Commonwealth Ave.,
Chandler 85225--5522
Open Mon-Sat 11-4; Closed Sun and holidays.
(480) 786-2842/Free

Arizona Railway Museum
399 N. Delaware St., Chandler, AZ.
Open 12:00 to 4:00pm Saturdays and Sundays from
Labor Day to Memorial Day
(480) 821-1108
http://www.azrymuseum.org

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Newspapers

East Valley Tribune
http://www.aztrib.com/

Arizona Republic: Chandler Edition
http://www.arizonarepublic.com/chandler/

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Books/Manuscripts found in the ASU Library Catalog

Chandler, Arizona : landscape as a product of land speculation/ by Sylvia Lee Bender-Lamb
LD179.15 1983 .B46

The Story of Chandler, Arizona in pictures
F819.C5 S76x

Chandler : pioneer city of the New West/ by Scott Solliday.
F819.C5 S64x 1996

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Items on the Arizona and Southwest Index

The Development of Chandler, 1920
FM MSM-60

Economic Analysis of the Ostrich Industry in Arizona's Salt River Valley, 1978
FM MSM-48

Chandler, Arizona: A Historical Geography, 1976
FM MSM-73

The Development of Chandler and Vicinity
FM MSM-61

Historic Buildings Chandler, Arizona, N.D.
FE EPH FA-29

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Articles

Arizona Republican Jan 5, 1912
California people settle at Chandler. Many prospective settlers visited the place yesterday and some land sales were reported

Tucson Daily Citizen April 11, 1913
new town of chandler experience a boom. Announces that it has 500 inhabitants.

Arizona The New State Magazine June 1913
Chandler, Arizona. A wonder town that has sprung up in a land of magic

Sunset Magazine v. 51 Jan-June 1915 p. 1099-1109

Arizona Highways April 1939
Dr. A.J. Chandler: empire builder

Roadrunner Feb. 1962
Safflower, a new Arizona corporation Scraps Cotton Oil Company at Chandler will be the first in the state to process it.

Arizona Rev business and public administration Sept 1964
Two new plants in Arizona benefit from a novel industrial financing technique.

Roadrunner June 1967
Sugar Beers in Arizona. Spreckles plant at Chandler paves way for new cash crop in state.

The Arizonan March 13, 1969
Modern day boomtown still possible in Arizona.

Roadrunner June 1971
Mobile home factory opens in Chandler

Farmer-Ranchman Feb 1974
Chandler is site of major fertilizer lant

Arizona Business and Industry July 1976
HTL Insutries INc. of Pasadena, CA will build a plant in Chandler.

Arizona Business and Industry Nov 1976
Chandler plant being built by Midland Ross Corp. Capitol Caastings Division they will produce grinding balls for mining use.

Arizona Business and Industry April 1977
General Instruments coporation has announced plans to double the size of itsplant at 2355 W. Williams Field Road, in Chandler.

Todays Business Dec 1979
Chandler: the Great Transformation

Arizona republic 7/9/80
Chandler to get Industrial park, electronics firm may move here

Phoenix Magazine october 1981
Chandler: from cattle and sheep to silicon chips and semiconductors

Tempe Daily news 3/16/1986
Cities battle to revive downtown

Phoenix magazine November 1986
Chandler: late bloomer hopes development standards will make it 'jewel of the valley'

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Photographs

Photograph: Polo Players and Unidentified People on Horseback. Chandler, Arizona, C.1910
CP RD 21:85-86

Photograph: Panorama of townsite. Chandler, Arizona, 1911
CP MCL 25864.C47

Photograph: Opening day for the town. Chandler, Arizona, C.1911
CP MCL 25865.C47

Photograph: John Witherspoon, Golfer Putting on the Green at the San Marcos Resort. Chandler, Arizona, C.1915
CP RD 21:11

Photograph: Portrait of Harry Collis, Golf Pro at Ingleside and Chandler. Chandler, Arizona, C.1915
CP RD 21:250

Photograph: Golf Pro John Witherspoon Putting on Oiled-Sand, Greens at San-Marcos-Hotel; Chandler, Arizona, 1915
CP RD21 P. 5

Photograph: Southwestern Golf Tournament at the San Marcos and the First Golf Course in Chandler Laid Out by Harry Colles and Will H. Robinson, Chandler, Arizona, C.1916
CP RD 21:122-123

Photograph: First Golf-Course in Chandler; Chandler, Arizona, C.1916
CP RD 21 P. 36

Photograph: Aerial. Chandler, Arizona, C.1920
CP MCL 99177.C47

Photograph: Group Portrait of Bird Wranglers. Chandler, Arizona, C.1920
CP RD 21:259

Photograph: Railroad Depot. Chandler, Arizona, 1926
CP AE 262

Photograph Collection: Two Clerks in front of Chandler Market, Arizona.
FP HAN:5

San Marcos Hotel showing the world famous orange vista couryard outside the resort and country club.
T-14

Chandler. Color postcard of a residential street in Chandler Arizona
PC-246

View of Dr. Chandler's residence near Mesa c. 1900
DPX-303

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Last Updated: 3/12/04