Laveen ( ) is a community in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, situated southwest of Downtown Phoenix, between South Mountain and the confluence of the Gila and Salt rivers. Parts of Laveen constitute an unincorporated community in Maricopa County, while the remainder falls within the city limits of Phoenix, constituting the city's "Laveen Village" an urban village within the city of Phoenix. Laveen Village is split between District 7 and District 8, both notable as minority-majority districts for the city. Although Laveen has been home to "pastoral alfalfa, cotton, and dairy farms" since the 1880s, housing and commercial developments have been increasingly urbanizing the area.
History
The Laveen area was first settled by farmers and dairymen in 1884. Despite its proximity to Phoenix, the community was isolated from its larger neighbor by the Salt River, which carried water year-round until the Roosevelt Dam was completed in 1911. The only bridged crossing was at Central Avenue, more than away. Because of its isolation, like the rest of south Phoenix, early Laveen was autonomous of Phoenix, and became relatively self-sufficient, supporting two general stores, a barbershop, repair garage, two pool halls, and a building for the Laveen Women's Club. These businesses served as important gathering places for the greater Laveen community, which includes: modern south Phoenix, and the neighboring Gila River Indian Community (GRIC).
Walter Laveen
In the early 1900s, Walter E. Laveen and his family homesteaded an area encompassing all four corners of present-day 51st Avenue and Dobbins Road, where they also built the area's first general store on the southeast corner. Members of the Laveen family donated land adjacent to their store for a school built in 1913, and named "Laveen School." A second general store, the Del Monte Market, was built in 1908 at 27th Avenue and Dobbins Road, and is considered the oldest still-standing building in Laveen.
In 1915, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation noted the community was called Laveen and had a population of less than 25. In March 1918, Walter Laveen was appointed the area's first postmaster, and operated the post office in the back of his store. Laveen later served as Sheriff in Pinal County.
Dee Cheatham
Armon Deconda "Dee" Cheatham succeeded Walter Laveen as postmaster, and served in the post for the next 30 years. Cheatham and his wife, Lula, were from Duncan, Arizona, where they had owned a dairy. In 1919, the Cheathams sold their dairy, and moved to Laveen along with Cheatham's brother, Shelton.
Dee and Shelton bought the general store from the Laveens, along with of farmland on the southeast corner of 51st Avenue and Dobbins Road. They sold the store after running it for a few years, and used the proceeds to set up separate farms. Shelton's farm was on the original , while Dee and Lula moved south to 51st Avenue and Elliott Road, where they set up not only a new farm, but also a dairy.
By 1941, the Cheathams' dairy operation had outgrown their farm, so they bought of land south of Baseline Road, between 43rd and 51st Avenues. While constructing the dairy, the Cheathams had to clear the site of mesquite and rattlesnakes. Once complete, it was one of the larger dairies in Arizona and used registered Holstein cattle.
The Cheathams grew their own hay on nearby land for the operation, and originally used a large herd of Belgian and Suffolk Punch draft horses to pull the hay mowers, rakes, baler, and wagons. Although tractors eventually took over most of the work, the horses were still used for feeding the dairy herd until the operation was shut down in 2003, and the family sold most of the land to developers.
Cotton harvest
Several farmers in Laveen raised (and continue to raise) cotton. In 1916, Andrew Benton Clevenger moved his family from St. George, Utah, onto rented land in Laveen. With the whole family's help, they put in a cotton crop. Other farmers planted cotton as well, and around harvesting time, migrant workers who picked the cotton by hand would arrive, swelling the local population. Most farms provided housing for the workers. The seasonal migrant population has dropped off due to the increased use of farm machinery in harvesting cotton.
