Just more than 40 years ago, the community of Page didn't even exist. In the late 1950s, Page emerged as one of the youngest cities in the United States. The town started out on Manson Mesa as a construction camp for workers building the nearby Glen Canyon Dam. Over the years, the population swelled - and fell - as Page sought a foothold just nine miles south of the Utah border. Survey work began in early 1957 to lay out the streets of the town of Page. The terrain was one of sand and rock, with many slopes.

It is difficult to believe that the city that stands today was carved out of barren desert. Businesses came to Page and early residents remember the temporary metal structures that turned up overnight in the frontier town. The largest building belonged to Babbitt Brothers Trading Company. Others followed - a post office, bank barber shop, gas station, drug store and more. Churches began springing up on what is now Lake Powell Boulevard, known as Seventh Avenue in the earlier days. Twelve religious denominations were granted land to build on, and that section of the boulevard is affectionately called "Church Row" by local residents.

Permanent homes were constructed. At first, only 100 were built. Later, an additional 100 were authorized by the Bureau of Reclamation. The homes were sold in 1968 and 1969, and most are still occupied today. By 1974, the bureau decided it was time to let Page stand on its own and, after a popular vote by the residents, the town of Page was formed Dec. 17. By a formal resolution of Coconino County Board of Supervisors, the town was incorporated March 1, 1975. The bureau pulled out and donated the 16.7 acres of land to the new town and handed over equipment, building and funds to run the municipality. Page was named after John C. Page, a proponent of the West and reclamation projects. He served as commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation in the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration from 1937 to 1943. John Page died in 1955, about two years before the town was even started.

Today, Page hosts more than 3 million visitors annually. The centrally located city offers services for tourists traveling to Lake Powell, Monument Valley, Zion, Bryce and Grand Canyon. The city is home to roughly 8,000 residents, whose primary sources of employment are at Lake Powell, Glen Canyon Dam, the Navajo Generating Station or in the city.

Page Facts

Page, Arizona was named after John C. Page, a Bureau of Reclamation commissioner from 1937 to 1943. He died in 1955, before the town bearing his name was started.

Incorporated in 1975, Page is now home to more than 8,000 residents.

Major employers are the Navajo Generating Station, National Park Service, Page Unified School District, City of Page and ARAMARK Leisure Services.