More than 100 years of rich history.
Section 31, Township 3 North, Range 3 East described the Royal Palm Neighborhood in 1891-92 when patents were filed on this section of land by Thomas Boyle and David Turner. Now, more than 100 years later, the Royal Palm Neighborhood is also defined as bounded by 7th and 19th Avenues, from Northern to Dunlap Avenues.
With the completion of the Arizona Canal in 1885 agriculture became the major occupation in the area. Water rights were granted to two hundred acres in Section 31 as early as the late 1880's. The first ownership map available, dated 1914, indicates Section 31 had been divided into sixteen parcels. (See Map 3). The map places the Diller family name in the northeast quadrant of the Section. The Diller family developed the Diller orange, an early maturing orange which is now know as one of the Arizona Sweets. This was planted in the area now east of 11th Avenue, north of Butler. By 1920 Northern Avenue was a paved concrete farm to market road. The 1929 Ownership Map shows 28 parcels within the area. Ide R. Miller, located at the southeast corner of 11th Avenue and Dunlap, was the manager of the Arizona Citrus Growers Association during this period. In the early 1940's Roy Wayland raised Palominos on 80 acres which fronted Northern, from 11th to 15th Avenues. His prize stallion, Cream of Wheat, is buried on the property.
The Lighting Z Ranch house stands at 7th Avenue, north of Why Worry Lane, where it was constructed in the early 1900's. In the early 1920's D. W. Waddell moved into the area to oversee the Pleasant Dam project (renamed Waddell Dam in 1965). The Territorial architecture of the Good Shepard Home for Girls, which opened in 1929, can still be seen at the Albertson shopping center at 19th Avenue and Northern. Residential development was beginning in earnest by the end of the 1940's. Today, 47 subdivisions have been developed in the Royal Palm Neighborhood.
Source: Ed Dobbins. History of Phoenix, AZ: Early Homesteaders and Citrus Growers Royal Palm Neighborhood 1884 to 1930.
In response to the Neighborhood's early elementary education needs, Rancho Solano opened on Dunlap, west of 15th Avenue, in September 1962 and Montessori Center School on 19th Avenue opened in 1989. The Montessori operates on the original farmstead of John Walsh, inventor of the electronic poker machine. Citrus, dates, grapes and 400 rose bushes were once grown on the site.
Royal Palm Park was created from 29 acres purchased from Joe and Lorraine McCrary. In the tradition of high community involvement, the Neighborhood conducted many meetings and interviews to determine the residents' vision for the Park. In 1976, the land was contoured, the sprinkler system installed and trees planted. The Thunderbird Fitness Course was dedicated in 1980, and the low lighting, children's playground and speed humps at the entrance were in place by 1982.
Even though Royal Palm Neighborhood is a community of more than 1,400 households, it retains an open rural atmosphere.
Source: City of Phoenix, Arizona, January 6, 1999.
