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Eloy is an agricultural/travel/commercial center located along the growth corridor between Phoenix and Tucson. In 1902, the Southern Pacific Railroad built a switch about six miles west of Picacho, which they named Eloy.
In 1918, W.L. Bernard, J.E. Meyer and John Alsdorf purchased the east half of the Eloy section and drilled a well. They subdivided the land and called it Cotton City. They also bought land west of Eloy and divided it into tracts for raising cotton. In 1919 an application was made for a post office, but the name Cotton City was rejected in favor of Eloy. The Pinal County community incorporated in 1949.
Principal Economic Activities
Eloy, at an elevation of 1,565 feet, lies in the Santa Cruz Basin, one of the state's most fertile agricultural areas. More than 100,000 acres in the valley are irrigable, producing cotton, grains, vegetables and citrus. Cattle ranching is also important.
Eloy, which is midway between Phoenix and Tucson on Interstate 10, is a stopping place for travelers on the highway which stretches from Florida to California. Its location on the main line of the Southern Pacific Railroad, and on I-10 near the junction with I-8, makes it attractively situated for industries where transportation is a key factor. Skydive Arizona, one of the largest skydiving centers in the nation, is at Eloy Municipal Airport. All of Pinal County is a designated Enterprise Zone.
Scenic Attractions
Picacho Peak is the site of the only Civil War battle in Arizona. The battle is re-enacted each spring. Mt. Newman and the rest of the Picacho Mountains offer a beautiful panorama to the east of Eloy. The Sawtooth Mountains have a very distinctive profile to the south and west. There are abundant facilities for tourists and residents alike at Picacho Peak State Park and the the surrounding area. Another point of historic interest is the Casa Grande National Monument, 15 miles north of Eloy. Picacho Reservoir offers fine fishing with abundant dove and quail hunting in season, as well as bird watching for many rare species.
Water enthusiasts enjoy several man-made lakes to the northeast, where they can fish, swim and water ski nearly all year. The metropolitan areas of Tucson and Phoenix offer a wide variety of attractions. Sunland Visitors Center is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Toltec Rd. & Highway 84).
Community Facilities
The city of Eloy offers a range of community facilities, including a library, a recreation center, seven parks, two volleyball courts, an 18-hole Grande Valley Golf Club and a visitors' center. There is also a Little League field, high school football and track fields, three baseball and softball fields, nine outdoor basketball courts and an elementary school gymnasium.
Educational
Eloy has two elementary/junior high school districts and one high school. Also, Central Arizona College, located 22 miles north of Eloy, is a two-year college offering a wide range of vocational and college preparatory courses. NAU also offers four year courses on the campus of Central Arizona College.
Financial
There is a local branch office of National Bank of Arizona. Further, Eloy businesses are eligible for assistance in financing fixed assets through the Finance and Administration Division of the Arizona Department of Commerce. Information of private activity bonds within the City may be obtained from the same source or from the Industrial development Authority of the City of Eloy, c/o City Manager, 628 North Main St., Eloy, AZ 85231.
Governmental
The City of Eloy is governed by a mayor, six council members and a city manager. There also is a police department, a sheriff's department and a fire department.
Airport
Residents of Eloy have access to the Eloy Municipal Airport with a lighted, paved 3,900-foot runway.
Industrial Properties
There are several industrial parks with over 800 acres available. All sites have access to transportation facilities and most have full utilities.
Lodging and Meeting Facilities
Five motels offer 391 rooms and five meeting facilities, with the largest seating 150 persons. Also, there are five RV parks in the Eloy area.
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