The City of Buckeye traces its beginnings to the late 19th century, when a group of settlers from the Midwest ventured west in search of opportunity and a healthier climate. Among them was Thomas Newt Clanton, who played a central role in founding what would become Buckeye.
In 1877, Clanton led a party of six men, three women, and ten children from Creston, Iowa, to Arizona Territory. Born in Buchanan County, Missouri, and raised in Madison County, Iowa, Clanton came from a family with a history of settling new frontiers. His father, Isaac Clanton, helped establish communities in Iowa before Thomas made his mark in the Southwest. Clanton would remain in Arizona for 49 years, passing away at the age of 82.
A significant milestone in Buckeye’s development came in 1885 with the construction of the Buckeye Canal. The project was started by Malie M. Jackson, J.L. Spain, and Henry Mitchell, who named it after Jackson’s home state of Ohio. Later that year, M.E. Clanton, Thomas’s brother and other investors formed the Buckeye Canal Company and acquired the canal rights. Thomas Clanton built the first five miles of the canal, which was completed in 1886 and played a vital role in bringing water and agriculture to the valley.
The Clantons settled permanently in the area in 1887. The following year, the Buckeye Post Office was established, with Cora Jane Clanton-Thomas, Thomas’s daughter, serving as postmaster. Although the town was initially platted as "Sidney" in 1888, residents continued to refer to the area as Buckeye, in reference to the canal, and the post office. In 1910, the name was made official when the town was replatted.
Transportation developments in the early 20th century brought further growth. The Arizona Eastern Railroad reached Buckeye in 1910, followed by the arrival of the town’s first automobile in 1911. A steam rail connection to Phoenix was established in 1912, and by 1915, a state highway linked Buckeye to the broader region. These changes prompted the relocation of the business district and sparked a period of economic expansion.
When Buckeye was incorporated in 1929, it encompassed 440 acres. Hugh M. Watson, founder of Buckeye Valley Bank, served as the town’s first mayor. His son, Hugh Watson, Jr., would later hold the same office from 1956 to 1958.
In 1935, the Buckeye Chamber of Commerce launched Helzapoppin Days, a community celebration featuring parades, dances, a carnival and a rodeo. The event, which once attracted celebrities such as cowboy singer Gene Autry, evolved into what is now known as Buckeye Days. The festival remains a popular tradition and supports local churches, charities and scholarship funds.
Buckeye's journey from a frontier settlement to an incorporated city reflects a legacy of community-building, resourcefulness and enduring civic pride.
Source: City of Buckeye – “The Story of Buckeye”
https://www.buckeyeaz.gov/government/our-story-vision
