History

In 1885, a group of investors from Ohio led by Malie Monroe Jackson, an Ohioan transplanted to Arizona, built a canal in the desert west of Phoenix. The canal was named the Buckeye Canal after the home state of the investors.

In 1886, shortly after the canal was in operation Thomas Newton Clanton, a homesteader near the center of the canal, applied to the United States Postal Service for a post office. The Postal Service granted the request and named the new post office Buckeye after the canal next to Clanton’s homestead.

Clanton had big plans for the area. Once he had the post office established he teamed with Phoenix surgeon Oscar L. Mahoney to subdivide 120 acres of Mahoney’s land. Clanton named the new town named Sidney. Since the local post office was named Buckeye most people took to calling the new town by that name. Finally, in 1910 the local residents gave up the name Sidney, and the town was formally renamed Buckeye.

With the warm desert climate and the canal water, cotton, alfalfa, vegetables, and many other crops have flourished over the years. Today, Buckeye continues to hold on to its farming roots and small-town charm. Buckeye has developed recreational facilities that promote a family oriented life enjoyed by all.

In 1899, Tom Clanton gave a section of land by the canal to the town. This piece of land is where the town was built. In the beginning, the town was called Sydney. However, when it was time for the town to be incorporated in 1931, it was renamed Buckeye.

Throughout the years, the inhabitants have endured floods and droughts. Over three generations have struggled through whatever nature dealt them. These people were able to transform the land from a barren desert into a fertile valley for farming. Cotton, feed grains, vegetables and many other crops flourish in Buckeye's warm climate and irrigation water supplied by canals and pumps make farming prosperous.

Today, Buckeye continues to hold on to its farming roots and small town charm. In recent times, Buckeye has developed recreational facilities that promote the family oriented life enjoyed by all.

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