Mill Avenue is perhaps the most historic cultural hub and landmark in Tempe, AZ. It is located in a 1.2-mile strip between Gammage Auditorium and the Hayden Flour Mill. While it may look like an ordinary place littered with restaurants, bars, boutiques, and other shops, Mill Avenue has a rich history.

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Early Development

Farming moved to the area shortly after the Civil War. To provide water to their fields across the valley, they dug up the Hohokam canals left behind and built new ones. To the west of Tempe Butte, small farms were started by a group of Hispanic families. A mercantile and freighting business owner named Charles Trumbell Hayden settled here in 1870.

Tempe was named in 1879 after some of the earlier settlement names following the merging of these communities. Lord Darrell Duppa, who helped establish Phoenix, is credited with suggesting the name. Seeing the butte and the river, as well as the vast expanse of green fields, brought to mind the Vale of Tempe in ancient Greece.

Tempe Irrigating Canal Company

The Tempe Irrigating Canal Company supplied the necessary water as more farmers settled in the Valley to raise alfalfa and grains for livestock. Hayden Mill benefited from crops of wheat, barley, and oats. Flour was hauled to forts and other settlements throughout the territory. In the 1890s, some farmers began growing new cash crops, such as dates and citrus fruits.

Tempe was selected by the Arizona legislature in 1885 as the site of the Territorial Normal School, which trained teachers for Arizona’s schools. In 1887, the Maricopa and Phoenix Railroad crossed the Salt River at Tempe, connecting Tempe to the nation’s growing transportation network. Tempe became an important business and shipping center for the surrounding agricultural area.

Roosevelt Dam

In 1911, Roosevelt Dam provided enough water to meet the growing needs of Valley farmers. From the steps of what is now Arizona State University, former President Theodore Roosevelt praised the accomplishments of the people of central Arizona on his way to dedicate the dam. He predicted their towns would become prosperous cities. In less than a year, Arizona became the 48th state and the Salt River Valley was well on its way to becoming the new population center of the Southwest.

Tempe’s centennial in 1971 prompted the revitalization of Mill Avenue into an entertainment and shopping district that draws people from all over the valley.

In 1981, after more than a century of operation, the Hayden milling industry was sold to Bay State Milling in Massachusetts and the Hayden Flour Mill closed under the same family name.

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Historical Legacy

Today, Hayden Mill is creating controversy among Tempe residents. While some argue that it is the biggest eyesore on Mill, others are putting forward ideas on how to make the most of the mill and restore it to its almost original condition. There is also a proposal to make Hayden Mill a historical site or historical museum and perhaps move the headquarters of the Tempe History Museum down there.

Tempe residents hope that the Hayden Mill site becomes a place of pride for their city and the rich history is preserved and passed on to future generations.

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