PHOENIX, ARIZONA: THE HISTORY (by Marie & Mélisande) The earliest inhabitants of the Valley of the Sun (Valley of the Sun) are the Hohokam Indians, who lived in the region from 300 BC Their civilization flourished through the mastery of a sophisticated system irrigation. The water drawn from the Salt River was brought into the fields through a network of canals. We can find their traces in many sites in Arizona, including Pueblo Grande (700-1400). Their disappearance in the 15th century remains a mystery to historians. Several hypotheses have been advanced (drought, war, emigration) and some experts consider the Pima and Tohono O'odham peoples as their descendants. In 1867, Jack Swilling of Wickenburg is the first to realize the advantages of the site of the future Phoenix, at the foot of the White Tank Mountains. He built a canal from the Salt River to power a first settlement of farmers. The area would become part of Phoenix was named in his honor Swilling's Mill. Darrell Duppa suggested the name "Phoenix" in conjunction with the rebirth of irrigated agriculture in this region. The city was officially recognized by the board of Yavapai County, May 4, 1868. It is then a small village of farmers and miners. The post office opened June 15 of that year, under the leadership of Jack Swilling. On 12 February 1871, the authorities decided to create the Maricopa County (Maricopa County) and Tom Barnum was elected as the first sheriff. The first public school operated from September 5, 1872, in the building of the county, before entering a building with adobe in 1873..