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Fascinating Historic Photos of Phoenix, Arizona in 1940

In 1940, the population of Phoenix was over 65,000, and the city was growing rapidly. As home air conditioning became more affordable following the war, the population grew substantially. In that period, hundreds of manufacturing firms relocated from other parts of the country.

Many of the men who had been trained in Arizona returned to their families after the war. Many large industries moved their operations to the area after learning of this large pool of untapped labor. The high-tech industry began to develop in Phoenix when Motorola chose Phoenix as the site for its new research and development center for military electronics in 1948. Like Motorola, other high-tech companies, such as Intel and McDonnell Douglas, moved into the valley and opened manufacturing operations.

Below are some fascinating historical photos that show what Phoenix looked like in 1940. These photos show streets, buildings, landmarks, and everyday life.

#1 Central Ave. Underpass Construction, Phoenix, 1940

Central Ave. Underpass Construction, Phoenix, 1940

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#5 Arizona Motel, Phoenix, 1940

Arizona Motel, Phoenix, 1940

This motel is located at 2625 E. Van Buren Street in Phoenix.

#6 Building and Men Standing in front of Barq Delivery Trucks, 1940

#7 Central Arizona Light and Power Co. Employee, Phoenix, 1940

#9 Bread Delivery Trucks at Safeway Pay’n Take It Bakery Loading Dock, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

Bread Delivery Trucks at Safeway Pay'n Take It Bakery Loading Dock, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

Cummin's Southwest Diesel Sales is located across the street.

#10 Central Avenue Dairy Building Exterior, Phoenix, 1940

#11 1st Avenue, Phoenix, 1940

1st Avenue, Phoenix, 1940

Visible are Bell's Sporting Goods (40 N. 1st), New Arizona Seed & Floral Co. (46 N. 1st), and Christmas decorations.

#12 Barq’s Root Beer Bottles on Bottling Machinery, Phoenix, 1940

#13 Intersection of E. Camelback Road and N. 16th Street, Phoenix, 1940

#14 Casa del Sol Auto Court from Street, Phoenix, 1940

#16 Parade in Phoenix, Phoenix, 1940

Parade in Phoenix, Phoenix, 1940

This parade is moving south past Stults' Eagle Drug Store located at 102-106 S. Central in Phoenix. The Luhrs Tower is visible in the background.

#17 Central Arizona Light & Power Co. Warehouse, Phoenix, 1940

Central Arizona Light & Power Co. Warehouse, Phoenix, 1940

This structure was built in 1928 and is located at 501 S. Third Ave. Central Arizona Light & Power Co. is now the Arizona Public Service Company.

#18 A. J. Bayless Co. Store Exterior, Phoenix, 1940

A. J. Bayless Co. Store Exterior, Phoenix, 1940

The first A. J. Bayless store, 825 N. Seventh St., Phoenix.

#19 Farmers Produce Co. Building Exterior and Car, Phoenix, 1940

#20 Grand Avenue at the corner of Lateral 4 near Thomas Rd., Phoenix, 1940

#21 Indian Sanatorium, Phoenix, 1940

Indian Sanatorium, Phoenix, 1940

This building is located on the northwest corner of Indian School Road and 16th Street.

#22 Intersection of Washington St. and Central Ave, Phoenix, 1940

Intersection of Washington St. and Central Ave, Phoenix, 1940

The Darling Shop, the Thrifty Drug Store, and the Studio (14-16 E. Washington) are visible. This photograph most likely dates from November 2 or 3, 1940 when "Road to Singapore" and "Geronimo" showed together at the Studio.

#23 J. J. Newberry’s Store, Phoenix, 1940

J. J. Newberry's Store, Phoenix, 1940

This store was located on Washington Street in Phoenix

#24 Dental Equipment Display in the Professional Building, Phoenix, 1940

#25 Nurses in Front of St. Joseph’s Hospital, Phoenix, 1940

#29 American Standard Radiator and Sanitary Supply Building

#30 Arizona Tractor and Equipment Company, Phoenix, 1940

#31 Barrett’s Super Service Building Exterior, Phoenix, 1940

#33 Delivery Trucks and Drivers Outside the Kraft Cheese Products Company Distribution Building, Phoenix, 1940

#35 Porter’s Store Exterior, Phoenix, 1940

Porter's Store Exterior, Phoenix, 1940

This store was located at First St. and Adams in Phoenix, Phoenix, 1940

#40 W. P. Fuller Company Building Exterior and Railroad Tracks, Phoenix, 1940

#42 Woman and Young Boy Standing next to a Santa Fe Train, Phoenix, 1940

#43 1900-2000 Block of W. Van Buren St., Phoenix, 1940

1900-2000 Block of W. Van Buren St., Phoenix, 1940

Canary Court (2041 W. Van Buren) and McCoy Motor Court (1930 W. Van Buren) are visible.

#46 Ranch House Exterior, Phoenix, 1940

Ranch House Exterior, Phoenix, 1940

This ranch was located at Chicago Ave. and Indian School Rd. in Phoenix.

#48 Rancho Ko-Mat-Ke Guests on Golf Course, Phoenix, 1940

#49 Studer Residence Exterior, Phoenix, 1940

Studer Residence Exterior, Phoenix, 1940

In 1941, William T. and Pauline K. (Newman) Studer lived at 3007 W. Manor Drive in Phoenix. This image depicts their later residence, 2925 W. Manor Drive.

#50 Tovrea Meat Company Packing Plant Building Exterior, Phoenix, 1940

Tovrea Meat Company Packing Plant Building Exterior, Phoenix, 1940

The date assigned to this photograph is approximate, Phoenix, 1940

#52 Window Display of A. B. C. Washers and Ironers, Phoenix, 1940

#54 Fiesta Parade Heading South on Central Avenue near Filmore Street, Phoenix, 1940

#56 Lightning Moving Company Movers and Truck Moving Furniture into Residence, Phoenix, 1940

#57 Man Standing Next to Alabam Freight Lines Truck, Phoenix, 1940

#58 E. W. Duhame Construction Co. Lake Project Site, Phoenix, 1940

#59 Salt River Project Diesel Plant Exterior, Phoenix, 1940

#60 One of the main streets of Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#62 View of large packing plant and adjacent pens, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#65 Central Arizona Light and Power Co. Facility Under Construction, Phoenix, 1940

#66 City Ice Delivery Company Loading Dock, Phoenix, 1940

City Ice Delivery Company Loading Dock, Phoenix, 1940

This building was located at 21 N. 4th Street.

#67 Country Club Market Building Exterior, Phoenix, 1940

#69 Arizona Oil Company Event, Phoenix, 1940

Arizona Oil Company Event, Phoenix, 1940

Sign in background reads "Welcome Seasiders Arizona Oil Company" and appears to be an awards luncheon or dinner.

#70 Firemen and Unidentified Persons in Residential Area, Phoenix, 1940

#73 Hanson Pump and Machine Works Building Exterior, Phoenix, 1940

#75 Kelly-Springfield Tire Co. Building and Lot, Phoenix, 1940

#76 Joe Kerby Real Estate Office Exterior, Phoenix, 1940

#77 Kelly-Springfield Tire Co. Building Exterior, Phoenix, 1940

#78 Mayfair Auto Court from Street, Phoenix, 1940

Mayfair Auto Court from Street, Phoenix, 1940

Mayfair Auto Court was located at 1537 W. Van Buren.

#80 N. 1st Avenue, Phoenix, 1940

N. 1st Avenue, Phoenix, 1940

Depicts the 40 block of N. 1st Ave. Visible are Bell's Sporting Goods (40 N. 1st) and New Arizona Seed & Floral Co. (46 N. 1st).

#81 Nelson Electric Co. Building Exterior, Phoenix, 1940

#82 Ditch and Exposed Piping at the End of a Residential Property, Phoenix, 1940

Ditch and Exposed Piping at the End of a Residential Property, Phoenix, 1940

Phillips, Holzworth and Phillips are listed as attorneys in Phoenix City Directories.

#83 O’Connell Brothers Automobile Repair Shop Exterior, Phoenix, 1940

#86 Panoramic View Looking Toward the Campus of Arizona State Teacher’s College, Phoenix, 1940

Panoramic View Looking Toward the Campus of Arizona State Teacher's College, Phoenix, 1940

See "Phoenix, 1870-1970," p. 127., Phoenix, 1940

#88 Phoenix Auto Supply Store Building Exterior, Phoenix, 1940

#90 Phoenix Junior College Basketball Team, Phoenix, 1940

#95 Salt River Project Diesel Plant Exterior, Phoenix, 1940

#97 Zion Lutheran Church Choir in Front of Church Building, Phoenix, 1940

#98 Municipal band shell seen from the golf course, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#99 Avenue of palms line the residential streets of Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#101 Tents used for dwellings near the railroad tracks in Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#102 House at Camelback Farms, FSA (Farm Security Administration) project at Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#103 High school students crossing the street, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#105 High school students watching fellow classmates being photographed in their graduation play costumes, 1940

#106 Warehouse of the cooperative citrus growers association, Phoenix, 1940

#107 Untitled photo, possibly related to: Farmer with his truck loaded with goods which he has bought from the United Producers and Consumers Cooperative, Phoenix, 1940

#108 Member of the United Producers and Consumers Cooperative of Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#110 Auditorium of the Phoenix, Arizona, high school, 1940

#111 Small lunchroom where students gather near Phoenix Union High School, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#112 A complete line of cut lumber is carried by the United Producers and Consumers Cooperative at Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#113 Gasoline is bought in tank car lots for sale to the members of the United Producers and Consumers Cooperative, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#114 The United Producers and Consumers Cooperative maintains its own automobile service department, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#115 Member of the United Producers and Consumers Cooperative looking at a lantern in the store of the organization, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#116 One of the oldest residential buildings in Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#118 Member of the United Producers and Consumers Cooperative loading lumber into his car, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#119 Farmers waiting at the lumber yard office of the United Producers and Consumers Cooperative, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#120 Lumber being loaded onto truck at the Producers and Consumers Cooperative, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#121 Lumber is sawed to size and order at the United Producers and Consumer Cooperative at Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#122 Untitled photo, possibly related to: Lumber being loaded onto truck at the Producers and Consumers Cooperative, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#123 Untitled photo, possibly related to: Member of the United Producers and Consumers Cooperative having a drum filled with gasoline at the warehouse, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#124 Farmers’ cars in front of store and warehouse of the United Producers and Consumers Cooperative, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#125 Changing a tire at the United Producers and Consumers Cooperative service station, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#126 Lumber being loaded onto truck at the Producers and Consumers Cooperative, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#127 Cactus light standard in front of hotel in Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#128 Tile fence posts and brick are standard part of stock of the United Producers and Consumers Cooperative, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#129 Tower where firemen practice, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#130 Farmer with his truck loaded with goods which he has bought from the United Producers and Consumers Cooperative, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#131 High school students crossing the street, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#132 Noon hour at the Phoenix Union High School, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#134 Audience listening to orchestra playing outside grocery store on Saturday afternoon, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#135 Audience listening to orchestra playing outside grocery store on Saturday afternoon, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#136 Sun bather swatting fly, tourist court at Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#137 Orchestra playing outside a grocery store on Saturday afternoon which is designed to attract customers to the store, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#138 Trailer space and tourist cabins for rent in the tourist section of Phoenix, Arizona which is becoming a popular winter resort

#140 Pens and cattle of large meatpacking plant in Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#141 Farmer loading cut lumber from warehouse of the United Producers and Consumers Cooperative, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#142 Members of the United Producers and Consumers Cooperative in one of the offices of the association, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#143 Young high school girls being photographed in their graduation play costumes, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#144 Corner of one of the main buildings of the Phoenix Union High School, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#145 Row of bicycles belonging to students of Phoenix Union High School, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

#146 Photographer instructs high school girl in graduation play costume how to pose, Phoenix, Arizona, 1940

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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