Setting the example for balanced growth, Casa Grande offers all the amenities of any large city, while managing to hang on to the hometown atmosphere that the area is known for. To its residents, this is a small, friendly town where families love to live, work and play. To newcomers, this is an exciting, bustling growth area with plenty of opportunities for work or investment, especially in agriculture, manufacturing, retail and the service industries.

Casa Grande's agricultural heritage dates back hundreds of years, to a time when Native Americans farmed the fertile banks of the nearby Gila River. Spanish Conquistadores, exploring new lands to the north of present day Mexico, noted the many small villages that dotted the landscape near the Gila River in the mid-1500's. The Akimel and Tohono O'Odham grew melons, cotton, wheat, beans, corn and other crops in an area the ancient Hohokam had suddenly abandoned. Historians are still unsure of the reasons the Hohokam left, but it is clear they flourished prior to their departure, as evidenced by the substantial ruins they left behind.

The most famous of these Hohokam ruins, 20 miles to the northeast of Casa Grande, still stand as a tribute to the success, skill and ingenuity of the ancient peoples who inhabited the area. Father Kino, the famous Jesuit missionary and first acknowledged white man to visit the area, "discovered" the impressive ruins in the late 1600's. The ruins were called "Casa Grande," the future namesake of what would some day be a thriving Arizona city. Father Kino subsequently visited the neighboring villages on a regular basis, offering friendship, trades and eventually, Christianity.

By the 1800's, American trappers had become well aware of the abundant wildlife to be found along the Gila River, making this desert oasis a popular stomping ground for rugged traders. Such famous figures as Kit Carson and Lt. Col Phillip Cooke led expeditions along the Gila, helping to establish wagon trails across the southern portion of the state that would later be used for rail lines and modern day highways. Through war, treaty and purchases, lands north and south of the Gila River became part of the United States by the mid-1800's, opening the door for legitimate settlement and a more modern style of growth.

Along with an increase in population came the need for better transportation, meaning railroads would be built to connect major cities and settlements. In 1879, the community of Casa Grande was born when Southern Pacific Railroad crews stopped work there for the summer on a line they were building across southern Arizona. Unable to work due to excessive heat, the crews settled in to this desert stopping point for 6 months, building a handful of shelters and storage buildings. By January of the following year, the community that had named itself "Terminus", which stands for "end of the line", had several permanent residents and a railroad station.

Recognizing the value of its location, railroad executives renamed the settlement Casa Grande, after the nearby prehistoric ruins, and began building a line from there to Tucson. By the end of that same year, 1880, Casa Grande had dozens of permanent residents and was well on its way to becoming a boomtown, perfectly located to serve as a railhead to area mines. Over the next 3 decades, surviving devastating fires, droughts and a national mining slump, Casa Grande and its incredible community spirit proved itself worthy of survival, as opposed to many similar communities that became ghost towns during the same stretch of time. That same indomitable spirit, passed down through generations of Casa Grande locals, is just as strong now as it was 100 years ago.

A visit to Casa Grande would not be complete without experiencing the Valley Historical Society and Museum. Tour their grounds and learn how agriculture and farm trade became important commodities for residents to turn their focus toward after the mining boom had ended, and how irrigation techniques helped turn the desert into the oasis we see today. The future success and growth of Casa Grande is guaranteed by the strong ties it still has with its past.

With the impressive influx of new residents, the city has had to make adjustments in order to accommodate the recent growth. New businesses of all types have opened up in large numbers, in and around the city. Farmers have sold land to be used for housing, and the town planners have worked hard to ensure that plenty of land would be spared for parks, open space, schools and future commercial development.

New growth, especially the type that creates jobs, tends to attract younger families and more aggressive investors, which bodes well for a city's future. The population of Casa Grande is estimated to be close to 40,000, about 25% higher than the estimated 31,000 in 2004. The median household income in Casa Grande has climbed to over $40,000 as a result of the addition of so many working families.

While the value of real estate is sure to continue growing, homebuyers will still be pleasantly surprised at how much home they can afford in Casa Grande, as opposed to some of the popular suburbs more closely connected to Phoenix. The average resale home price is less than $200,000, making this city a very affordable place for families to purchase. Those seeking new homes will find an abundance of exciting communities to choose from, as builders are rushing to meet the increased demand, offering homes from the high $180,000's in most cases.

Casa Grande, while rapidly growing into a big city, still boasts a small-town lifestyle that focuses on raising a family, enjoying leisure time and supporting a booming business economy. Community involvement is important as well, including local sporting leagues, organizations and churches, local events and a commitment to quality education. The sense of community here, self-evident to any observer, comes from a long history of its people working, playing and growing together to make Casa Grande a desirable, prosperous place to live.