Chandler, Arizona History
Dr. Alexander “A.J.” Chandler founded
the city of Chandler in 1912. This
Canadian veterinarian came to Arizona in
1887, and soon amassed 18,000 acres of
land that became his Chandler Ranch.
Homesteaders bought parcels of his
ranch, and Dr. Chandler established a
canal company to bring irrigation to the
area. He soon envisioned a town formed
under the “City Beautiful” movement,
which emphasized the placement of parks
surrounded by monumental public
buildings. For his new town, Dr.
Chandler turned to architects from
Southern California. They designed a
town with a park in the midst of a
business plaza, accented by fountains,
landscaped boulevards, footbridges
across the Commonwealth Canal, and
imported exotic trees.
The town site opened on May 17, 1912,
three months after Arizona became a
state. Dr. Chandler sold $50,000 worth
of property to investors on the first
day! The showpiece of Dr. Chandler’s
“City Beautiful” was the magnificent
Hotel San Marcos. Chandler envisioned a
great desert winter resort, and he hired
California architect Arthur Burnett
Benton to design the Mission Revival
hotel. The San Marcos opened in 1913.
Between 1912 and 1924, new businesses
sprang up along today’s downtown square.
Each business used white-glazed bricks
from the local brick factory, some of
which you can still see today along west
Boston Street. By the mid 1920s, stores
selling goods such as clothing,
groceries, hardware, pharmaceuticals,
and other items were flourishing. In
fact, the well-known Bashas’ grocery
company had their start here along east
Boston Street in 1920. More essential
services sprang up, like banks and a
theatre.
The families who pioneered this area
have left behind their legacy in the
structures they built and maintained,
which continue to be treasured by
residents of Chandler today. The
enterprising spirit that built and grew
the City of Chandler is very much alive
around the old city square and A.J.
Chandler Park. Though the occupants have
changed many times over the decades and
the buildings themselves have undergone
renovation and change, downtown Chandler
will always be the heart of the town, as
it was in the early 20th century when it
was founded.
Courtesy of
the Chandler Public History Program
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