In the 1950s (below), the intersection of Maricopa Road and what later became the Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway, was the business district north of the tracks. At left are the Texaco Station, Woods Apartments and Headquarters. At right are Valley Auto (soon-to-be Napa Auto Parts), Jessie Estep’s Diner, Black Diamond Bar and Maricopa Mercantile. In 1956, Maricopa Road was paved between Maricopa and Phoenix and then restructured into a divided road (State Route 347) in 1995. Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway was completed in 1956 and paved in 1959.

Today (above), the intersection has turned into a curve and goes under the overpass, which finished construction in 2019.

The only surviving business is the Headquarters bar and restaurant, now called The New HQ. Napa was demolished in 2020 after the overpass was completed.

The intersection in the 1950s. [Maricopa Historical Society]
The intersection in the 1950s. [Maricopa Historical Society]
This story was first published in the August edition of InMaricopa Magazine.

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