Phoenix flood of 1891

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Phoenix flood of 1891
Phoenix flood of 1891.jpg
Damage to a railroad bridge over the Salt River in Tempe, Arizona during the flood
DateFebruary 19–26, 1891 (1891-02-19 1891-02-26)
Location Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding Salt River Valley
Deaths0
Property damage$125,000 (equivalent to $4,238,889in 2023)

The Phoenix flood of 1891 was the largest recorded flood of the Salt River, occurring from February 19 to February 26. [1] [2] It affected most of the Salt River Valley in Maricopa County, Arizona, and caused damaged to the cities of Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa. [3] [4] [5] The river swelled to over 3 miles wide and caused significant damage, including the destruction of a railroad bridge. [1] The flood was a major precursor to the formation of the Salt River Project. [6]

View of a flooded Phoenix neighborhood in February 1891 Phoenix flood 1981.png
View of a flooded Phoenix neighborhood in February 1891

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References

  1. 1 2 Burkitt, Bree (October 1, 2018). "Tropical Storm Rosa reminds Arizona of its history of jaw-dropping flash floods". Arizona Republic . Archived from the original on October 18, 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  2. Johnson, Weldon (May 14, 2015). "10 wildest Arizona weather events". Arizona Republic . Archived from the original on September 3, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  3. "With a Crash". The Arizona Republic (clipping). February 20, 1891. p. 1. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020 via Newspapers.com.
  4. "A Deluge of Rain". The Scranton Times-Tribune (clipping). February 23, 1891. p. 1. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020 via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Flood Damages". The Richmond Item (clipping). February 23, 1891. p. 2. Archived from the original on September 3, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2020 via Newspapers.com.
  6. Honker, Andrew (2002). "A Terrible Calamity Fallen Upon Phoenix": The 1891 Flood and Salt River Valley Reclamation". The Journal of Arizona History. 43 (2). Arizona Historical Society: 109–132. JSTOR   41696696. Archived from the original on February 4, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2022.