Phoenix purchased the original 13,000 acres of South Mountain Park from the federal government in 1924 for 17,000. A large number of the structures and trails were built in the park throughout the ‘30s. Today, visitors enjoy more than 50 miles of trails suitable for hiking, as well as riding bikes and horses.

Many of the Valley’s gated master planned communities are built where cotton once grew. Subdivisions have sprouted up on farmland in all directions. Areas that were once rural are now home to a more diverse population, who enjoy amenities that were previously out of their budget.