MARANA, Ariz. (KGUN) — Marana is one of the fastest-growing communities in Southern Arizona, but it’s important to the town to honor its heritage and longstanding agricultural history.
Town of Marana Cultural Heritage Specialist Jill McCleary researches and shares Marana’s story.
“We are a town that has been really true to our agricultural, small-town roots, but is also growing and expanding,” she said.
McCleary says the first farmers were here about 4,000 years ago.
“The indigenous people who lived in Marana, we know that they were growing corn by 2100 BC, so we have a very long history of agriculture here in Marana.”
She says modern Marana can be attributed to Edwin Post, who came to the area in 1919. Because of Post, the area was even called ‘Postvale’ for a short time.
“He came to Tucson at the end of World War One and he imagined Marana could be …