The Colorful History of Chandler AZ

Around 1900, an enterprising farmer realized the climate was good for ostriches, and their feathers were highly prized for ladies’ hats. When fashions changed, the ostrich farm went out of business. The city has embraced this funny fact from its past. The Chandler Ostrich Festival just celebrated its 32nd year.

The city itself began when the first Veterinarian in Arizona purchased 18,000 acres. Eventually he began to divide up his ranch to create a community. When the city was finally incorporated in 1920, it took his name.

In 1913, the first golf course in Arizona was created here as part of Dr. Chandler’s efforts to build a community. The golf course served the Hotel San Marcos.

In its early days, the hotel was buzzing with big movie stars. If you could sit by its pool in the 1930s and 1940s, you might see the leading actors and actresses of Hollywood. After some decline, this historic and beautiful inn has been fully restored.

The Arizona Railway Museum reminds visitors of how important the railroad was to area transportation. Chandler had paved roads as early as the 1920s. The “fast cars” of the 1930s were jumping curbs because they didn’t see that Arizona Avenue ended in a park.

Chandler was a small town of about 4,000 when our founder started his first dealership in 1951. Starting with just one car for sale in Chandler, Tex Earnhardt made history as the youngest man ever to become a Ford franchise dealer.

Fast Facts About Chandler AZ

Today the city has a population of over 240,000. It has a reputation as a good place to live, and that seems to be backed up by some solid statistics.

Chandler is ranked second Most Prosperous City by the Economic Innovation Group. Smart Asset has placed it at number 6 on its Most Livable Cities list.

The list of big employers here includes traditional companies such as the Bank of America and Wells Fargo. It also includes various innovators such as PayPal and NXP Semiconductors. A Northrup Grumman division, formerly Orbital, is one of many aerospace and aviation companies in the region.

One aspect of community living is the availability of 60 Chandler parks across the area. Like the numerous public and private golf courses, these parks encourage people to enjoy the area’s mild fall, winter and spring. Our dealership is near the Riparian Preserve, known for world-class bird watching opportunities.

The downtown has been revitalized with a turn-of-the-century look. Visitors can find entertainment in various ways around town, including the Center for the Arts. When it gets too hot, Chandler families can head indoors to the Crayola Experience.