Casa Grande is a city in South Central Arizona that is largely a commuter town for people working in Tuscon or Phoenix. It was the site of an interment camp for Japanese-Americans during World War II, and has played a prominent role in baseball in the United States.
Understand
Casa Grande is approximately halfway between Phoenix and Tucson of over 57,000 people (2018). It is named after the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, which is located in Coolidge. "Casa Grande" is Spanish for "big house".
The economy of Casa Grande used to be based on rural, agricultural industries such as cotton and dairy farms. Over time, the city has become home to many Phoenix or Tucson urbanites who own homes in Casa Grande. Most residents either commute north to work in the Phoenix metropolitan area, or to the south, to work in Tucson.
Ehrmann Commonwealth Dairy operates a major dairy processing facility in the town that opened in 2013 and employs about 110 people.
History
Casa Grande was founded in 1879 by the Carter Family during the Arizona mining boom due to the presence of the Southern Pacific Railroad. Casa Grande grew slowly, and suffered several setbacks both in 1886 and 1893, when fires ravaged the town, destroying all wooden housing structures within it. When the mining boom slowed in the 1890s, the town was nearly abandoned, but with the advent of agriculture, the town remained alive and well. Casa Grande was home to a collective farm society which was part of the New Deal.
During World War II, from 1942 to 1945, a Japanese-American relocation camp was set up outside of Casa Grande, known as the Gila River War Relocation Center. Two notable people that were interned there were future actor Pat Morita and baseball player Kenichi Zenimura, who constructed a baseball field and set up a league in the relocation camp.
Casa Grande has played a prominent role in semi-pro and collegiate baseball. The Casa Grande Cotton Kings, who were founded in 1948, qualified to play in the National Baseball Congress World Series ten straight times by winning Arizona state championships in the 1940s and 1950s, and were reactivated in the 2000s. They are now members of the Pacific Southwest Baseball League.
Climate
Casa Grande has a hot desert climate, typical for the Sonoran Desert. The city experiences long, extremely hot summers and brief winters consisting of mild afternoons and chilly evenings. The area averages only 9.07 inches (230 millimeters) of rain per year. The coolest month on average is December, with highs averaging 68 °F (20 °C), and lows typically averaging around 37 °F (3 °C). TAlong with the rest of southern Arizona, the community is prone to dust storms and in the summer months is affected by the North American Monsoon, which brings high winds and heavy rain.
Get in
Casa Grande is located about halfway between Phoenix and Tucson and is accessible by automobile.
- 1 Greyhound Bus, 320 W Florence Blvd, ☏ 1 520-836-5766, toll-free: 1-800-231-2222.
Get around
There is no public transportation, so a car is essential.
See
- Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, in nearby Coolidge
- 1 Casa Grande Art Museum, 319 W 3 St, ☏ 1 520-836-0237. Oct-May: W Th Sa 1PM-4PM.
- 2 Casa Grande Main Street District, 110 W 2nd St, ☏ 1 520-836-8744, fax: 1 520-421-0676, ✉[email protected]. Downtown Casa Grande has a number of buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A helpful map of the most interesting buildings can be downloaded here.
- 3 Casa Grande Valley Historical Society, 110 W Florence Blvd, ☏ 1 520-836-2223, fax: 1 520-836-5065, ✉[email protected]. Sep-May: Th-Su noon-4PM. Exhibits historic artifacts and photographs from the region. $5 adults, $4 seniors, free for kids.
Do
- 1 Pinal County Fair, 512 S Eleven Mile Corner (7 miles east of I-10), ☏ 1 520-723-7881, ✉[email protected]. Annually in late March. $8 adults, $4 children 6-12 yr, free children 0-5 yr.
- 2 Agri-Country Bluegrass Festival, 512 S Eleven Mile Corner (Pinal County Fairgrounds), ☏ 1 520-723-7881. late January. This annual three-day festival hosts musical bluegrass acts from across the US. There is also a classic car show, food, and other entertainment. $8 adults, free for kids 12 and under.
- 3 [dead link]Shamrock Farms Tour, 40034 W Clayton Rd, Stanfield, ☏ 1 602-477-2462 (reservations). Oct-May: Tu Th Sa. Tour a working dairy farm. Reservations required prior to visit. $9 (adults), $7.50 (seniors and military), $6 (children 2-12 yrs).
- 4 Skydive Arizona, 4900 N Taylor St, Eloy, ☏ 1 520-466-3753, toll-free: 1-877-313-JUMP (5867), fax: 1 520-466-4720, ✉[email protected].
- 5 SkyVenture Arizona, 4900 N Taylor St, Eloy, ☏ 1 520-466-2666, toll-free: 1-888-BODY-FLY (2639-359), fax: 1 520-466-4388. Indoor skydiving.
- Arizona City Golf Club, 13939 S Cleator Rd, Arizona City, ☏ 1 520-466-4640.
Buy
- 1 Outlets at Casa Grande, 2300 E Tanger Dr, ☏ 1 520-836-9663, toll-free: 1-800-405-5016. 22 brand-name stores, including Liz Claiborne, PacSun, Sears, Guess, Izod, OshKosh, and GNC.
Eat
- 1 Bedillon's Restaurant, 800 N Park Ave, ☏ 1 520-836-2045, ✉[email protected]. Tu-F 11AM-2:30PM, 5PM-9PM; Sa 5PM-9:30PM; closed Su-M. American food for special occasions.
- 2 Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, 2281 E Florence Blvd, ☏ 1 520-421-2101.
- 3 Johnstones Family Restaurant, 2300 E Tanger Dr, ☏ 1 520-836-2457.
- 4 McMashers Sports Bar & Grill, 1355 E Florence Blvd #139, ☏ 1 520-426-1472, ✉[email protected]. 11AM-2AM daily.
- 5 Robson Ranch Bar & Grill, 5750 N Robson Blvd, Eloy, ☏ 1 520-426-3331 (reservations).
Grocery stores
- 6 Food City, 300 N Florence St, ☏ 1 480-963-0518. Daily 6AM-11PM.
- 7 Fry's Food, 1385 E Florence Blvd, ☏ 1 520-836-1701. Daily 6AM-midnight. Has a full-service deli and on-site pharmacy.
- 8 Safeway, N Trekell Rd, ☏ 1 520-421-7447. Daily 5AM-midnight. Has a full-service deli and on-site pharmacy.
Drink
- 1 Corks Wine Bar, 108 W 2nd St, ☏ 1 520-518-1928.
Sleep
- 1 Best Western Plus, 665 N Via Del Cielo Rd, ☏ 1 520-836-1600, toll-free: 1-800-780-7234. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Free wi-fi and breakfast.
- 2 [dead link]Francisco Grande Hotel & Golf Resort, 26000 W Gila Bend Hwy, toll-free: 1-800-237-4238. The resort's restaurants and watering holes provide a variety of casual and upscale dining and entertainment options. From $79.
- 3 Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, 805 Cacheris Ct, ☏ 1 520-509-6333. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Free wi-fi and breakfast; pets accepted.
- 4 MainStay Suites ([email protected]), 851 County Rd (I-10), ☏ 1 520-426-1177. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Extended-stay hotel.
Connect
- 1 Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce, 575 N Marshall St, ☏ 1 520-836-2125, toll-free: 1-800-916-1515, fax: 1 520-836-6233, ✉[email protected]. M-F 9AM-5PM.
Go next
| Routes through Casa Grande |
Yuma ← Dateland ← Jct N S ← | W  E | → Merges into  |
| Phoenix ← Chandler ← | W E | → Eloy → Tucson |