Coolidge Cleanup and Restoration

Coolidge, Arizona is a city located in Pinal County with a population of approximately 19,984. It was founded in 1925 when R. J. Jones laid out 80 acres of land. This was during the construction of the Coolidge Dam on the Gila River. The project was completed in 1930. The townsite and dam were named after the 30th President of the United States, Calvin Coolidge. The native sandy soil became rich farmland. Large areas of desert were soon plowed, and cotton was planted. Coolidge became known as the hub of the Arizona cotton industry and was incorporated as a city in 1945. It is 58 miles Southeast of Phoenix, 69 miles Northwest of Tucson, and just 11 miles Southwest of Florence.

The area of Coolidge was long ago inhabited by the Hohokam. They built a massive compound structure, which is known today as the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. Casa Grande translates to Big House. It was given this name by Father Eusebio Kino in the late 1600s. This site is the only remaining, preserved structure from the compound.

Coolidge is nearly entirely flat but has views of the surrounding mountains. Sacaton Mountains to the West and Picacho Peak to the Southeast.

Typical of the Sonoran Desert, the area possesses a hot climate. Winters are mild with lows ranging from 35-45 degrees and highs ranging from 65-75 degrees. Summers are long and hot with temperatures sometimes soaring to 115 degrees. During the months of May-September, the city can experience Monsoon activity. Monsoons can bring about flash flooding and/or Haboobs (intense dust storms). These types of storms can bring about water damage to structures.

The Coolidge Historical Museum is in the old jail and courthouse built in 1934. Some other historical buildings include the Coolidge Women’s Club, built in 1925, and Coolidge High School, built in 1939.

Annual events include Cotton Days, Calvin Coolidge Days, and Coolidge Airport Fly-In Breakfast.

Some places of importance are CAC (Central Arizona College),and CAVIT (Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology).

Notable people:

Country Music Legend, Waylon Jennings, guitar hero Duane Eddy, and Country singer and songwriter Sammi Smith