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September 8, 2010  |  Email This Page

 

Mohave County
Kingman is the County Seat
Formed: 1864

Mohave County is the 4th most populace of Arizona's 15 counties, and the 5th largest geographically in the United States at a behemoth 13,470 square miles. The term "Mohave Valley" has several different meanings. The Mohave Valley is that portion of the lower Colorado River Valley extending from Katherine's Landing, just above Davis Dam, south to Topock Gorge including the towns of Laughlin, Nevada, and Needles, California and the Arizona communities of Bullhead City, Fort Mojave, Mohave Valley, Oatman, and Golden Shores. County Map Launcher

Mohave County History: Edward Beale and Lewis Kingman were early explorers and surveyors of the region. Beale laid out a wagon route through northern Arizona to the Colorado River. Kingman then surveyed the same route for the railroad. U.S. Highway 66 was later built along the wagon route, becoming a major factor in the settlement and development of the area. It has now been replaced by Interstate 40, but the original route can be followed through most of its length across the county. Gold and silver were discovered in the mountains around Kingman, and the remnants of many mines and mining camps can be seen today. The county was named after the Mohave Indians, who had lived along the Colorado River for many years. In addition to Interstate 40, U.S. Highway 93 traverses the county from northwest to southeast connecting it to Las Vegas. Interstate 15 cuts through the remote northwest corner, through the Virgin River Gorge, connecting Utah with Nevada.

Lake Havasu City combines the charm and friendliness of a small community with easy access to the metropolitan areas of Phoenix, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. A growing community, the city is home to 50,000 full-time residents, with winter visitors adding another 15-20,000 seasonal residents between October and April.

Located on beautiful Lake Havasu and the Colorado River, we are truly a “vacation destination community” that is growing, with compelling prospects for future growth given how traditional retirement areas and states are now dealing with overpopulation and extreme weather problems – making them less desirable, as “Baby Boomers” continue a large demographic trend into the need for an affordable, problem-free retirement.

Our desert climate features low humidity, with over 300 days of sunshine per year. For water enthusiasts, Lake Havasu is a recreation paradise. The 45-mile long, deep water lake provides ideal fishing conditions for black and striped bass, crappie, bluegill, catfish and trout. Boating, water skiing and jet skiing are also favorite pastimes. The great weather is also a plus for golfers, who can choose from a variety of playing venues, including two 18-hole championship courses.

Economy: Lake Havasu boasts more than 4,300 businesses and/or professional offices. The economy is roughly divided into three segments: 40% tourism, 40% services, and 20% light industry.

Access: Lake Havasu City is accessible by two major Interstate highways, I-40 to the north and I-10 to the south. The two are connected by AZ Hwy 95, which runs through Lake Havasu City. The closest major airport is McCarran International in Las Vegas, (Approx 2 1/2 hours).

Demographics: Lake Havasu City's population is approx 70,000 during our peak seasons when we welcome vacationers and second home residents who live here to escape winter climates. The average age is 35.

 

Weather: With 300+ days of sunshine per year and its arid climate, we average only 3.82 inches of rainfall per year – this is “desert country.” Temperatures in the winter months range from the 60s to high 70s while summer averages are 95 to 109 degrees. Average annual rainfall is 3.82 inches.

Although our elevation is approximately 350 feet above sea level, we are a massive county by size and offer compelling elevation differences: Oatman at 2,500', Kingman above 3,500', its Hualapai County Park edges to 7,000' with the summit of the Hualapai mountains, are above 8,000 feet elevation. We offer temperature differences within the county as great at 40 degrees in winter and summer. It's not unusual for Hualapai County Park to experience snow and for the mountains be snow-capped in winter! Current Weather Map

Cost of Living Comparison

(Closest City in this service is Flagstaff, 3 hours from us. The cost of living, housing and taxes, are
considered less in Mohave County and than Flagstaff)

State Income Tax:
Highest (at $150,000): 5.04
Married and Child deductions available

More Features:

Chronology of our Region to the London Bridge

Native History and Before the Parker Dam

Robert McCulloch

The Colorado River Dam System

The unique lampposts of the bridge were molded from French cannons captured during the 1815 battle of Waterloo –
the London Bridge weighed 130,000 tons. Would you like to know more?

More London Bridge Facts

Quick Facts:

Arizona:

State of Arizona Flag, Seal & Map

The 13 rays of red and gold on the top half of the flag represent both the 13 original colonies of the Union, and the rays of the Western setting sun. Red and gold were also the colors carried by Coronado's Spanish expedition in search of the Seven Cities of Cibola in 1540. The bottom half of the flag has the same Liberty blue as the United States flag. Since Arizona was the largest producer of copper in the nation, a copper star was placed in the flag's center.

Arizona: 48th state (Feb. 14, 1912)
Origin of state's name: Perhaps from the O'odham Indian word for "little spring"
Nickname: Grand Canyon State
State Motto: Ditat Deus (“God enriches”)
State Flower: Saguaro Cactus
State Tree: Palo Verde (1954)
State Bird: Cactus Wren (1931)
Highest Elevation: Over 8,000 in the Hualapai Mountain
Lowest Elevation: Approximately 300 feet above sea level on Lake Havasu

Capital City: Phoenix
Land area: 113,635 sq mi. (294,315 sq km)

2004 Population: 5,743,834 (20th ranked in US)
5 largest cities (2003 est.):
Phoenix, 1,388,416;
Tucson, 507,658;
Mesa, 432,376;
Glendale, 232,838;
Scottsdale, 217,989;
(Mohave County est. population is 180,000)

Racial Breakdown of State of Arizona:
White: (75.5%);
Hispanic/Latino: (25.3%).
Other race: (11.6%);
American Indian: (5.0%);
Black: (3.1%);
Asian: (1.8%)

More Information/Resources/Credit to:

Carobeth Laird is known for her ethnographic studies of the Chemehuevi Tribe and her research was reviewed in order to get additional information for this presentation.

www.chemehuevi.net
Havasu Museum of History
Visitors Bureau for statistics
Mohave County: www.co.mohave.az.us
Bullhead City EDA: www.bullheadeconomicdevelopment.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohave_County,_Arizona
Historical Society Brochure PDF

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