Here is a look at Surprise history through the years on this week, compiled from archives of Independent Newsmedia, Newspapers.com and the city of Surprise historical records.
You must be a member to read this story.
Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.
Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here
Otherwise, follow the link below to join.
To Our Valued Readers –
Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.
For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.
Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.
Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.
Need to set up your free e-Newspaper all-access account? click here.
Non-subscribers
Click here to see your options for becoming a subscriber.
Register to comment
Click here create a free account for posting comments.
Note that free accounts do not include access to premium content on this site.
I am anchor
Almanac
A look back at Surprise's history on this week
Posted
By Independent Newsmedia
Here is a look at Surprise history through the years on this week, compiled from archives of Independent Newsmedia, Newspapers.com and the city of Surprise historical records:
1959
About three inches of snow falls on a half-mile strip around Dysart School. The rare storm began falling as a mixture of rain and hail around 4:15 p.m.
1962
The town buys four acres on Santa Fe Drive for a new municipal building for $5,000.
1980
The $280,000 Community Center opens its doors in the Original Town Square.
1990
Mayor Roy Villanueva and a councilman kept their seats, but three others were ousted in a recall election. Additionally, Joan Shafer became the first woman on the council in the city’s history. Almost 900 of the city’s 2,400 registered voters cast a vote.
1998
Construction begins on a new recreation center in the Original Town Site. The Roy Villanueva Recreation Center is named after the longtime city councilman, who has served more than 20 years. It’s expected to be ready by February 1999.
2000
Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers sign letters of intent to leave their spring training homes in Florida and move into the new Surprise Stadium, which is expected to be completed by January 2002.
