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When the United States entered World War I in 1917, many of Chandler’s sons joined the military. On April 6, 1917, the Chandler Arizonan reported that men could enlist at the post office, and the yearly salary for those in the armed forces was $1,100 to $1,700. Due to high demand, many farmers abandoned their previous crops and turned to cotton. Cotton became a main crop among Chandler farmers, as it was perfectly suited to the climate. Contractors began bringing workers to the Chandler area, where they were growing long–staple cotton. In 1917, the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company leased 8,000 acres south of Chandler to grow Pima cotton for tire manufacturing. The Goodyear farming operation included cotton fields from Price and Queen Creek roads to the Southern Pacific Railroad and Hunt Highway. The town of Goodyear included small houses, a mess hall and offices. Two years later, a church, school, hospital and other civic buildings would be added to the town.
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