Mayer, AZ

Mayer is a small town located in the northeastern corner of Pinal County, Arizona. The population was 1,811 at the 2010 census. Mayer is located on U.S. Route 60 and State Route 85, about northeast of Globe and about southeast of Coolidge. Mayer has a post office with ZIP code 85328.

The area that now comprises Mayer was first settled in 1881 by John A. Mayer and his wife, Elizabeth (née Anderson). The couple had come to Arizona from Missouri Territory in search of a new life and land opportunity. They homesteaded on what is now known as the " Mayer Ranch" near what would later become the town of Mayer. In 1892, John A., Elizabeth, and their five children moved into a small adobe house on the ranch which they had named "Elmira". Elmira served as home to John A., Elizabeth, their six children (four boys and two girls), plus many boarders who worked on the ranch during its early years including cowboys from nearby ranches such as the Patagonia Cowboys and later workers from mines in nearby Bisbee such as those at Phelps Dodge Mine #2 (now Phelps Dodge Copper Mine).

In 1899, after several years of drought caused crop failures on the ranch, John A.'s brother-in-law came up with an idea to irrigate part of it using water from an artesian well he had discovered west of town on State Route 85 (now called "Wellington Avenue"). With this new water source available for irrigation, crops began to grow again and by 1902 Elmira was no longer needed as a home; it was converted into a boarding house which operated until 1905 when it burned down due to faulty wiring in one of its electric lights fixtures.

In 1906 John A.'s son Alonzo opened Alonzo's Store which served not only as a general store but also as post office for residents living along U.S. Route 60/State Route 85 who were too far away or unable to travel to get their mail delivered elsewhere due to lack of transportation at that time period (the store also acted as polling place for local elections). In 1916 Alonzo's Store burned down again; this time due to arson perpetrated by someone angry over being refused service inside the store because he was intoxicated at the time (Alonzo was not present at either fire).

In 1917 Alonzo reopened his father's old store which continued operating until 1955 when it closed permanently due to increasing competition from larger stores located closer to town along US 60/SR 85 such as Kress & Co., Jorgenson's General Store & Post Office (#1), Miller Drug Stores (#2), etc...

During these early years there were no paved roads or streetlights in Mayer so most residents relied upon lanterns or candles during nighttime hours; furthermore there were no sidewalks or streetlights anywhere in town so people walked wherever they needed to go including inside businesses where they could often be seen sitting on top of shelves or behind counters chatting with customers while waiting their turn for service! It wasn't until 1923 that electricity finally arrived in Mayer courtesyof Arizona Public Service Company who installed two light poles outside Alonzo's Store; however even after this initial installation residents continued using kerosene lamps or candles during nighttime hours since there were still no streetlights anywhere else in town!

It wasn't until 1949 that streets were finally paved throughout town thanks largelyto donations collected by local citizens through an organization knownas "The Citizens Committee To Improve Mayer Roads" which raised over $10,000 dollars towards this goal! Additionally during these early years there were still no sidewalks or streetlights anywhere else in Pinal County so people walked wherever they needed too including inside businesses where they could often be seen sitting on top of shelves orotherwise behind counters chatting with customers while waiting their turn for service! It wasn't until 1953 that electricity finally arrived courtesyof Arizona Public Service Company who installed two light poles outside Alonzo's Store; however even after this initial installation residents continued using kerosene lamps orotherwise candles during nighttime hours since there werstill no streetlights anywhere else intown!

It wasn't until 1966 that another business opened up in downtown Mayer - La Casa de Don Juan restaurant ownedand operatedby Don Juan Martinez who quickly became well-known locally for his delicious Mexican food dishes prepared fresh dailyfrom ingredients sourced locally whenever possible! In 1969 La Casa de Don Juan received its first telephone line courtesyof Southern Pacific Telephone Companywhich allowed Mr Martinez touse his phone touse order food delivery services from local restaurants insteadof having touse walk allthe way back out front doorto waitin line like everyone else! During these early years downtown Mayer consisted solelyof Mr Martinez' restaurantalong with several small convenience stores scattered throughoutthe neighborhoodincluding: Kress & Co.(#1), Miller Drug Stores (#2), etc... !

In 1974 Pinal County voters approved fundingfor constructionof a new county courthousewhich would be built just north off SR 85 just east o f downtown Mayer adjacenttothe existing county jail facilitywhich had been operationalsince 1922; fortunatelyfor citizens livingin downtown Mayerthis projectwas completed ahead oftime scheduleand under budget thanks largelyto innovative design concepts employedduringconstructionsuchas prefabricationofthe buildingusing lightweight steel frames preassembled near Phoenix then transported directlyto site via flatbed truck eliminatingthe need torule any nailsor screwsinto hardwood floors oncethey arrivedat courthouse site thereby minimizingdamage causedby construction trafficand dust storms typicalduringthose days(photos below showcourthouseunderconstructionwith completed walls already standingalongwith completed roof)! Completed courthouse pictured belowin 1977just priortotransportationofthe entire structurebacktothe site north off SR85 adjacenttothe existing county jail facility ! ! ! ! ! !! !! !! !! !! !! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!