06. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company Comes to Arizona

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In 1917, when access to Egyptian cotton was cut off during World War I, the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company looked to Arizona as a source of cotton.  They used cotton as a foundation to strengthen the rubber in their tires.  The company leased land from Dr. Chandler in order to start their own cotton ranch.  This aerial photograph shows the settlement of Goodyear located on 8,000 acres four miles south of the Chandler townsite.  The ranch covered roughly twelve square miles from today’s Hunt Highway to Ocotillo Road, and from McQueen Road to Price Road.  Goodyear spent more than $1.5 million in improvements to the land, including developing a town.  This company town provided workers with everything they needed, including housing, medical care, schools, shopping, and entertainment all provided by the Goodyear company.  The cotton market crashed in 1920, forcing Goodyear to sell off its interests near Chandler and consolidate its operations in Arizona to the West Valley.