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Laveen is an historically rural community situated in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. It lies eight miles southwest of downtown Phoenix. Laveen consists mainly of agricultural land and residential housing. After several annexations from the mid-1990s to the present, much of the community now lies within the city limits of Phoenix.
Agriculture is a major industry in Laveen, where farmers raise cotton and corn. Laveen is also famous in Arizona for its dairies. A popular bumper sticker among the locals reads: "Come to Laveen and smell our 'Dairy-Air".
According to the 2000 census report, the population was 9,049. The area is bounded on the north by the Salt River, on the south by South Mountain Park and the Gila River Indian Community and on the East by 27th Ave. Much of Laveen is part of the city of Phoenix.
The Laveen area was settled by farmers and dairymen in the 1870s. Despite its proximity to Phoenix, Laveen was isolated by the continuously-running Salt River. Up until 1911, when the Salt River Project built the Roosevelt Dam upstream, Central Avenue was the only bridged crossing of the Salt. Because of its isolation, early Laveen became relatively self-sufficient, boasting a country store, barber shop, repair garage, pool hall, and even a women's club building.
The area was formally given the name Laveen after the first postmaster, Walter E. Laveen, around 1918. The first school was built in 1913 on land donated by the Laveen family.
In the 1980s, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) proposed building part of the Loop 202 freeway through a portion of Laveen. ADOT later shelved these plans due to funding problems. However, plans for this freeway are back on track and the freeway is planned to pass through most of Laveen at about 59th Avenue.
In 2000, Trend Homes broke ground on a massive residential development in what, at the time, was a rural Laveen. Since that time, Laveen has experienced explosive residential growth. That growth has been tempered, however, by the determined participation of more-established residents in community activist groups. These groups have put pressure on developers to include equestrian trails, open spaces, and other bucolic elements in new developments.
Although some dairies and farms have sold out to developers, many remain. These contribute to the continued rural feel of the area.
Laveen
Telephone: 602-237-0719
Laveen Website
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