Phoenix’s “Farm” Airport: Before Sky Harbor Took Off.
Today, Phoenix Sky Harbor is one of the busiest airports in the country. But back in the 1930s, it was surrounded by open land and looked nothing like the massive transportation hub we know today.
In 1935, the City of Phoenix purchased the airport’s 285 acres for $100,000. Because it sat in such an isolated, rural location, Sky Harbor earned the nickname “The Farm.” Imagine arriving there when the surrounding landscape was still largely undeveloped!
As Phoenix grew, so did the airport. New terminals, longer runways, and expanding passenger services reflected the city’s transformation from a smaller agricultural center into a major metropolitan area. What once felt far outside town eventually became part of the heart of the city’s transportation network.
Photo credit: Arizona Historical Society. 
