The history of Tolleson, Arizona is rooted in community and it has been fortunate enough to retain those values throughout the decades. Despite the dramatic growth, the people of Tolleson still appreciate diversity, family, and leadership and have them as the root of their community. So if you’re considering moving to a new home, you couldn’t pick a better place than Tolleson.
Founding of Tolleson, Arizona
Before new homes in tolleson az were even considered, it was founded by Walter G. and Alethea H. Holleson around 1912. It wasn’t fully incorporated until 1929 after Walter reopened the “Ten Mile Store.” To increase the community as a whole, Tolleson charted a train, provided free lunches to potential buyers, and even gave away five-dollar gold pieces to anyone who held lucky numbers. Eventually, he started selling the lots for $50.00 per lot.
The Effect Of The Depression
During the 1930s, Tolleson struggled financially, as all other communities did. However, it was in the 1940s that agriculture started to pick up and helped with the recovery process by providing an economic boost to the city. In fact, it flourished so much that by the 1950s, Tolleson was known as the “Vegetable Center of the World.” It was the place to go if you need your fill of vegetables and fruit for the home.
The Decline of Agriculture
Unfortunately, by the 1960s, there was a rapid decline in the agriculture business since there was the development of machinery to do the jobs of the farmers. There were no more sheds and all employment associated with agriculture started to decline quickly, since there were better shipping methods and less acreage was needed to grow the crops.
Turning Their Eyes In A New Direction
Instead of lingering on the past, the people of Tolleson started to look to the future growth of their town. They developed a master plan that focused on beautification projects, new housing developments, and a sewage treatment plant that would be needed for both industrial and residential growth.
By the 1980s, there was the development of Fry’s Food and Drug and Albertson’s Distribution Centers that led to the development of other industrial businesses. Because the town was so close to the major shipping routes, it was easy for them to fill a niche that maintained the economic flow.
Tolleson Today
The modern Tolleson is now the main industrial employment center that hosts more than 20 Fortune 500 companies, employing thousands of residents in the area in order to minimize any outsourcing. Even though Tolleson is quite small, it’s definitely in the middle of a lot of business and metropolitan areas that sort of rely on it. It’s only six miles across but is capable of competing with other communities throughout the country.
This is why more and more people are considering moving to Tolleson, Arizona. It’s family-oriented, friendly, and has a strong foundation rooted in community and pulling through the hard times together. You can’t go wrong moving into a community like this, where you know that you can rely on people to have your back.
