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The Arizona Canal is a major canal in central
Maricopa County Maricopa County is in the south-central part of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,420,568, making it the state's most populous county, and the fourth-most populous in the United States. It contains about ...
that led to the founding of several communities, now among the wealthier neighborhoods of suburban Phoenix, constructed in the late 1880s. Flood irrigation of residential yards is still common in these neighborhoods, using a system of lateral waterways connected via gates to the canal itself. Like most
Valley A valley is an elongated low area often running between hills or mountains, which will typically contain a river or stream running from one end to the other. Most valleys are formed by erosion of the land surface by rivers or streams ove ...
canals, its banks are popular with joggers and bicyclists. The canal, nearly long, is the northernmost canal in the
Salt River Project The Salt River Project (SRP) is the umbrella name for two separate entities: the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District, an agency of the state of Arizona that serves as an electrical utility for the Phoenix metropolitan a ...
's water distribution system. Beginning at
Granite Reef Diversion Dam The Granite Reef Diversion Dam is a concrete diversion dam located Northeast of Phoenix, Arizona. It impounds the Salt River for irrigation purposes. The dam diverts nearly all water from the Salt River into the Arizona and South Canals, wh ...
, northeast of
Mesa A mesa is an isolated, flat-topped elevation, ridge or hill, which is bounded from all sides by steep escarpments and stands distinctly above a surrounding plain. Mesas characteristically consist of flat-lying soft sedimentary rocks capped by a ...
, it flows west across the
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl), a chemical compound belonging to the larger class of salts; salt in the form of a natural crystalline mineral is known as rock salt or halite. Salt is present in vast quantitie ...
, downtown Scottsdale, Phoenix's Arcadia and Sunnyslope neighborhoods,
Glendale Glendale is the anglicised version of the Gaelic Gleann Dail, which means ''valley of fertile, low-lying arable land''. It may refer to: Places Australia *Glendale, New South Wales ** Stockland Glendale, a shopping centre * Glendale, Queensland, ...
, and Peoria before ending at New River near
Arrowhead Towne Center Arrowhead Towne Center, often referred to by locals as Arrowhead Mall, is a super-regional shopping mall located in Glendale, Arizona (west suburban Phoenix). The mall is owned by Macerich & GIC Private Limited. It is anchored by Macy's, Dillar ...
.


History

William John Murphy was hired in 1883 to spearhead its construction, which was completed in May 1885. He then founded
Glendale Glendale is the anglicised version of the Gaelic Gleann Dail, which means ''valley of fertile, low-lying arable land''. It may refer to: Places Australia *Glendale, New South Wales ** Stockland Glendale, a shopping centre * Glendale, Queensland, ...
; its downtown Murphy Park is named for him. Nearby Peoria was also founded within the decade. Several miles upstream (east), on the canal's south side were purchased in 1888 by a former Civil War chaplain, Major
Winfield Scott Winfield Scott (June 13, 1786May 29, 1866) was an American military commander and political candidate. He served as a general in the United States Army from 1814 to 1861, taking part in the War of 1812, the Mexican–American War, the early s ...
, establishing what is now Scottsdale. Murphy later built the Ingleside Club hotel near Scottsdale (in what is now Arcadia), laying the foundation for the area's vital
tourism Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring (disambiguation), touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tour (disambiguation), tours. Th ...
economy. Several resorts – The Phoenician, Biltmore, Royal Palms, a Pointe Hilton and a Ritz-Carlton – were all built close to the canal between 1929 and 1988. Also, five shopping malls of varying size and affluence – Borgata,
Scottsdale Fashion Square Scottsdale Fashion Square is an upscale luxury shopping mall located in the downtown area of Scottsdale, Arizona. It is the largest shopping mall in Arizona with approximately of retail space, and is among the top 30 largest malls in the country ...
, Biltmore Fashion Park, Metrocenter Mall and Arrowhead Towne Center – now reside along the canal's route. Five miles were added to the canal's western end in 1894, completing its length. A 750-kilowatt restored hydroelectric plant and art display opened in June 2003 in Arcadia, at a natural drop called
Arizona Falls Arizona Falls is a waterfall in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. It was formed when the man-made Arizona Canal crossed a natural, drop in the area of present-day 56th Street in the Arcadia neighborhood of Phoenix. The site became a popular location for so ...
.Arizona Falls
/ref> Scottsdale's Waterfront Project is aimed at revitalizing an area along the Arizona Canal just west of Scottsdale Road. The City of Scottsdale and the Scottsdale Public Art board engaged the architect
Paolo Soleri Paolo Soleri (21 June 1919 – 9 April 2013) was an Italian-born American architect. He established the educational Cosanti Foundation and Arcosanti. Soleri was a lecturer in the College of Architecture at Arizona State University and a National ...
who designed a bridge over the Arizona Canal in Downtown Scottsdale. The suspension bridge has two steel-clad, 64-foot pylons create a light beam on the walking surface to mark solar events. The bridge will direct pedestrians, bicyclists, and horse riders moving north and south along the Arizona Canal system.


See also

* List of rivers of Arizona


References


External links

*
History of the Arizona Canal
and other canals in the system, on the site of the
Salt River Project The Salt River Project (SRP) is the umbrella name for two separate entities: the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District, an agency of the state of Arizona that serves as an electrical utility for the Phoenix metropolitan a ...

The Waterfront Project
along the Arizona Canal in Scottsdale, on the site o
Scottsdale Public Art
{{Coord, 33, 30, 23, N, 111, 59, 23, W, display=title Buildings and structures in Maricopa County, Arizona Canals in Arizona Canals opened in 1885 Historic American Engineering Record in Arizona Transportation in Maricopa County, Arizona 1885 establishments in Arizona Territory