History

During the 1930's, Tolleson, like other communities across the nation struggle wearily through the Great Depression. Beginning with the '40s, agriculture in the surrounding area began a dramatic recovery providing an economic boost to the city. By the 1950's, Tolleson had become known as the "Vegetable Center of the World."

The 1970's, in preparation for future growth, city planners developed a master plan, stated street beautification projects, encouraged new housing development and built a two million dollar sewage treatment plant essential for industrial and residential growth.

The 1980's marked the entry of Fry's Food and Drug and Albertson's Distribution Centers that generated spinoff industrial development to Tolleson by showcasing the community's advantageous proximity to major shipping thoroughfares- a prerequisite for industrial businesses. Interstate 10, Union Pacific Railroad and State Route 85 (Buckeye Road) trisect Tolleson within a one mile radius creating a synergistic environment for such significant companies as PepsiCo, Bose, Nabisco, Weyerhauser, McKelvey Trucking.

Today, Tolleson is the west valley's industrial employment center hosting over 20 Fortune 500 companies employing more than 20,000, compared to just over 7,000 residents resulting in one of the most impressive jobs-to-residents ratios in the nation.