History of Buckeye and the Chamber
A timeline of Buckeye, Arizona from 1884 through today, with key Chamber milestones.
1884
The canal that started it all
Malin Monroe Jackson, Joshua L. Spain, and Henry Mitchell begin building the canal that would water Buckeye Valley.
1886
Canal completed
Thomas Clanton contributes ten miles of construction. The Valley becomes farmable.
1887 - 1888
From Sidney to Buckeye
A post office is established in 1887. The town, originally platted as Sidney by Thomas Clanton, becomes officially known as Buckeye in 1888. William "Bucky" O'Neil organizes the Buckeye Irrigation Company that same year - he later joins Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders.
1910 - 1912
The railroad arrives
Arizona Eastern Railroad reaches Buckeye in 1910 and is officially renamed Buckeye that same year. A steam line connects to Phoenix in 1912.
1915
State highway in
A state highway formalizes Buckeye as a stop on the Phoenix-Yuma corridor.
1929
Buckeye incorporated
440 acres become the City of Buckeye. The first mayor, Hugh M. Watson, is the founder of Buckeye Valley Bank.
1935
Helzapoppin' Days begin
The Buckeye Chamber of Commerce, now the Buckeye Valley Chamber, starts Helzapoppin' Days. The Chamber has organized the event every year since.
Today
The Chamber today
Nearly 91 years on, the Chamber represents hundreds of member businesses across the Buckeye Valley. The job is the same as it was in 1935: help local businesses and the people around them find each other.