History
To fully understand our Vision and Mission, one must first understand our past.
1920's
Randolph Founded
Randolph was founded in the early 1920’s and named after Epes Randolph a Vice President and general manager of the Southern Pacific Railroad, with the hope of being a successful and prosperous community.
1920's
1920's
Migration from the South
Cotton being one of the greatest producing crops in the area and Arizona, many African Americans migrated from the South to get a piece of the American dream and to escape the Jim Crow Laws of the South, realizing that those laws ran deep throughout the country.
1920's
Cotton Jobs
With those hopes and dreams came success and heartaches, because of their skin color they were not allowed to buy land in the nearby city of Coolidge. Job opportunities were limited to African Americans, but many found employment picking cotton, which was plentiful in Arizona. It gave them the opportunity to support their families, and to buy land in the small Township of Randolph Arizona which is four miles south of Coolidge.
1920's
1925
Post Office Opens
Although Randolph was a segregated Township our Ancestors made it a thriving community, with its Black owned businesses such as stores, churches, gas stations, night clubs, education center and even its own United States Post Office which opened in 1925. Though it was segregated, everyone got alone and supported the community, but like many African American communities Randolph faced its share of hardships and struggles.
1950's - 1970's
Thriving Community
From the stories that were told, the fifties through the seventies Randolph was at its peak. With businesses thriving and supporting the community and cotton still a major producing crop in the area, Randolph was doing well, but with the advancement of technology in the agricultural industry, picking cotton by hand was being replaced by machines, which many of the residents lost their jobs due to the machines.
1950's - 1970's
1983
Post Office Closes
With the advancement of technology in the agricultural industry many of the residents began to leave Randolph to search for other employment opportunities in other States and Cities. The businesses started to close and with that the population of Randolph dropped drastically leaving the community with deteriorating properties, buildings, and no real identity. In 1983 the Post Office closed.
1980 - 2020
No Help
Being an Unincorporated Community in Pinal County, Randolph had little to no help. Randolph has no fire protection, little law enforcement and no infrastructure, it lacks basic community needs to survive, and exist leaving the community in a poor and distress state without a future like many African American communities across the country, and from this change Randolph has never fully recovered.
1980 - 2020
2020 - 2023
Industrial Takeover
Today, Randolph is faced with the takeover of big Industrial businesses which threaten the community with air pollution, environmental injustice, and noise pollution. Our community has and is vanishing right before our eyes. With the dangers that some of these big industrial businesses impose on our community comes, increased level of poverty, increased levels of homelessness, unemployment, health and mental health illnesses, social and community disengagement with no real future in sight, a lack of leadership, and without a clear plan for the future of Randolph..
Voice of the Community
Randolph United Council will continue to be the voice of the community of Randolph and seek the resources we need to take Randolph into the future, making it a thriving community once again.
By seeking resources to help get infrastructure, fire and law enforcement protection, general clean-up efforts from residents and volunteers.
Programs to treat health and mental health issues, drug addiction, homelessness, and unemployment, plus youth mentoring programs to help our youth pursue higher education.
We will also seek grants and donations to build low-income housing to improve community social relationships and community engagement, as well as business networking opportunities.
Randolph United Council believes that as an organization we can help eradicate years of negative impact and neglect to address our community needs, one resource at a time.
By seeking resources to help get infrastructure, fire and law enforcement protection, general clean-up efforts from residents and volunteers.
Programs to treat health and mental health issues, drug addiction, homelessness, and unemployment, plus youth mentoring programs to help our youth pursue higher education.
We will also seek grants and donations to build low-income housing to improve community social relationships and community engagement, as well as business networking opportunities.
Randolph United Council believes that as an organization we can help eradicate years of negative impact and neglect to address our community needs, one resource at a time.