Tempe today is known for its rambunctious college crowds and bustling nightlife, but its roots lie in the ranching industry, as the city was formerly known as a hub for cattle, their owners and interested buyers.
Visitors and new residents may be unaware when they first visit that Tempe was once home to a booming cattle industry, characterized as one of Arizona’s major cattle shipping points of the early 20th century.
Today, traces of Tempe’s agricultural and ranching background are seen with the Hayden Flour Mill and even Mill Avenue, which would at times be used as a path for ranchers and their cattle.
