Bullhead City, Arizona - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Bullhead City is a city located on the Colorado River in Mohave County

Mohave County, Arizona

Mohave County is located in the northwestern corner of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2010 census, its population was 200,186, an increase of 45,154 people since the 2000 census count of 155,032. The county seat is Kingman...

, Arizona

Arizona

Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...

, USA

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, roughly 90 mi (144.8 km) south of Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...

, Nevada

Nevada

Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...

, and directly across the Colorado River

Colorado River

The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...

from Laughlin, Nevada

Laughlin, Nevada

Laughlin is a census-designated place in Clark County, Nevada, United States, and a port located on the Colorado River. Laughlin is south of Las Vegas, located in the far southern tip of Nevada. It is best known for its gaming, entertainment, and water recreation. As of the 2010 census, the...

, whose casinos and ancillary services supply much of the employment for Bullhead City. Bullhead City is located on the southern border of Lake Mohave

Lake Mohave

Lake Mohave is a reservoir formed by Davis Dam on the Colorado River, which defines the border between Nevada and Arizona in the United States. The lake lies at an elevation of near Laughlin, Nevada, Searchlight, Nevada, Cottonwood Cove, Nevada, and Bullhead City, Arizona, about downstream from...

.

According to 2010 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 39,540. The nearby communities of Laughlin

Laughlin, Nevada

; Needles

Needles, California

Needles is a city located in the Mojave Desert on the western banks of the Colorado River in San Bernardino County, California. It is located in the Mohave Valley, which straddles the California–Arizona border. The city is accessible via Interstate 40 and U.S. Route 95...

; Fort Mohave; and Mohave Valley

Mohave Valley, Arizona

Mohave Valley is a census-designated place in Mohave County, Arizona, United States. The population was 13,694 at the 2000 census. It is geographically connected to Needles, California and Bullhead City, Arizona....

bring the Bullhead area's total population to about 100,000, making it the largest micropolitan area in Mohave County. The latest figures indicate that "...more than 115,000 people flew in to Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport on casino-sponsored charters in 2010. That number is likely to be higher in 2011."

With over 59 square miles, Bullhead City is the largest city in Mohave County in terms of total land area.

Economically, Bullhead City has a stabilizing housing market.

In 2011, the Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport was named Airport of the Year by the Arizona Department of Transportation

Arizona Department of Transportation

The Arizona Department of Transportation is an Arizona state government agency charged with facilitating mobility within the state. In addition to managing the state's highway system, the agency is also involved with public transportation and municipal airports...

History

The earliest inhabitants of the Colorado River Valley were the Mojave people. The rich soil and plentiful water provided the valley's natives with the necessities to create a prosperous farming community. According to Mojave legend, life began on Spirit Mountain (Nevada), the highest peak visible from the Bullhead City area.
The first account of European contact was with Spanish explorer Melchor Díaz

Melchor Díaz

Melchior Díaz was an early Spanish explorer of Western North America who "was a hard worker and skillful organizer and leader. He inspired confidence in his companions and followers, and always maintained the best of order and of diligence among those who were under his charge"...

. He documented his travels in Northwestern Mohave County in 1540. He accounts of meeting a large population of natives who referred to themselves as the Pipa Aha Macav, meaning "People by the River". From "Aha Macav" came the shortened name "Mojave" (also spelled "Mohave"). While Mohave County uses the modern English spelling, the tribe retains the traditional Spanish spelling "Mojave". Both are correct, and both are pronounced "Moh-hah-vee".

In 1774, Father Garces crossed the Colorado River in the Bullhead City area.

Hardyville

In the 19th century, the current site of Bullhead City was called Hardyville, named for early resident and politician, William Hardy. A New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

native and an entrepreneur, Hardy established a ferry service across the Colorado River and raised Angora goat

Angora goat

The Angora goat is a breed of domestic goat that originated in Ankara , Turkey and its surrounding region in central Anatolia...

s. He was a colorful and somewhat controversial figure who is considered by many as the founding father of Bullhead City. He was a postmaster, county supervisor and a member of the Arizona Territorial Legislature

Arizona Territorial Legislature

The Arizona Territorial Legislature was the legislative body of Arizona Territory. It was a bicameral legislature consisting of a lower house, the House of Representatives, and an upper house, the Council. Created by the Arizona Organic Act, the legislature initially consisted of nine members in...

. In 1864, his personal worth was over $40,000.00, making him the second richest man in Arizona.

From 1852 to 1909, steamboats made regular trips up the Colorado River from Port Isabel, Sonora

Port Isabel, Sonora

Port Isabel was a seaport established in 1865 during the American Civil War in Sonora, Mexico near the mouth of the Colorado River on the Sea of Cortez to support the increased river traffic caused by the gold rush that began in 1862 on the Colorado River and the Yuma Quartermaster Depot newly...

, passing Hardyville regularly. These stern-wheeler riverboats played an important part in the early development of the areas bordering the Colorado River. The small town saw the construction of a general store, a saloon, a blacksmith shop, a quartz mill, a billiard hall, and a respectable public hall.

Although the 19th century saw a population boom in Hardyville as mining became more profitable, the beginning of the 20th century saw mining activities move away from the Colorado River and Hardyville. When the railroad was constructed from Needles, California

Needles, California

to Kingman, Arizona

Kingman, Arizona

Kingman is located in a desert climate on the edge of the Mojave Desert, but its higher elevation and location between the Colorado Plateau and the Lower Colorado River Valley tempers summer high temperatures and contributes to winter cold and rare snowfall. Summer daytime highs reach above 90 °F ...

, Hardyville was abandoned and became a ghost town. A small cemetery, now a historic landmark, is the most significant existing remnant of Hardyville.

Bullhead City

Decades later, Hardyville would be resurrected as Bullhead City with the construction of Davis Dam

Davis Dam

Davis Dam is a dam on the Colorado River about downstream from Hoover Dam. It stretches across the border between Arizona and Nevada. Originally called Bullhead Dam, Davis Dam was renamed after Arthur Powell Davis, who was the director of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation from 1914 to 1932...

between 1942 and 1953. The dam was originally called Bullhead Dam after Bull's Head Rock, a well-known landmark along the Colorado River. Bullhead City became the headquarters for the construction project, which was completed in 1953. Thus the name "Bullhead City" was born. As the nearby Lake Mohave

Lake Mohave

developed into a major tourism destination, and as the casino and resort town of Laughlin, Nevada

Laughlin, Nevada

, sprouted up across the river, Bullhead City grew rapidly.

In 1970, Bullhead City was the name of the six blocks that ran north-south along Highway 95 across the river from Don Laughlin's casino. About a thousand people lived in original Bullhead City at that time, about 3,000 people in Riviera. In 1984, the small communities of Bullhead City, Riviera, and Holiday Shores voted to incorporate, choosing the name "Bullhead City" for its historical significance. The annual celebration Hardyville Days pays homage to the history of the town, and the man that first settled this shoreline along the Colorado River.

Bullhead City and the neighboring town of Laughlin, Nevada, have grown in popularity as tourist destinations, and so has the population. Today, tourism is by far the main economy in Bullhead City. In the summer months, tourists from all over come for water recreation on Lake Mohave and the Colorado River. Starting in the fall, tourist from colder states flock by the thousands in their motor homes because of the mild winters.

The city is home to an international airport, two full-service hospitals, and a community college. It also serves as the shopping hub of the tri-state area.

Name origin

When the railroad bypassed Hardyville, it quickly became a ghost town until the construction of the Davis Dam

Davis Dam

. The dam was originally called Bullhead Dam, taken from "Bull's Head Rock," a rock formation along the Colorado River. http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lon=-114.573&lat=35.2047 Steam boats on the Colorado River used the rock as a navigation point. After the construction of Davis Dam, the water rose and now almost completely covers the landmark. http://www.bullheadcity.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={387FAC15-81E3-42A5-A2B2-00CB5B5DBBF1}&DE={66999C05-4ACE-4926-A4A9-F79E0BFD6EEC}http://www.bullheadcity.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={AA17A224-ED08-4B73-A976-A5AA3F7C1BAE}&DE= The community that arose during construction of Bullhead Dam was nicknamed Bullhead.

Geography

Bullhead City is located at 35°6′56"N 114°35′19"W (35.115643, -114.588655).

According to the United States Census Bureau

United States Census Bureau

The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...

, the city has a total area of 59.5 square miles (154.0 km²), of which, 59.4 square miles (153.8 km²) of it is land and 0.07 square miles (.2 km²) of it (.13%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census

Census

A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...

of 2006, there were 40,225 people, 13,909 households, and 9,110 families residing in the city. The population density

Population density

Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...

was 746.6 people per square mile (288.3/km²). There were 18,430 housing units at an average density of 407.5 per square mile (157.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.57% White

Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 1.01% Black

Race (United States Census)

, 1.34% Native American

Race (United States Census)

, 1.00% Asian

Race (United States Census)

, 0.07% Pacific Islander

Race (United States Census)

, 8.25% from other races

Race (United States Census)

, and 2.75% from two or more races. 20.16% of the population were Hispanic

Race (United States Census)

.

There were 13,909 households out of which 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples

Marriage

Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...

living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,221, and the median income for a family was $33,914. Males had a median income of $23,617 versus $19,564 for females. The per capita income

Per capita income

Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...

for the city was $16,250. About 11.3% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.2% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.

Bullhead City and the neighboring communities of Laughlin, Nevada

Laughlin, Nevada

, Fort Mojave

Fort Mojave

Fort Mohave was originally named Camp Colorado when it was established on April 19, 1859 by Lieutenant Colonel William Hoffman during the Mohave War...

, Mohave Valley, Arizona

Mohave Valley, Arizona

and Needles, California

Needles, California

, make up what is referred to as the Tri-state Area
Tri-state area
There are a number of areas in the 48 contiguous United States known as tri-state areas where three states either meet at one point or are in proximity to each other. The best known of the latter type is the New York metropolitan area...

. This is an economically interdependent group of communities, all geographically connected within a ten mile (16 km) radius. The population of the Tri-State Area, including Bullhead City, is about 100,000. The catchment area (human geography)

Catchment area (human geography)

In human geography, a catchment area is the area and population from which a city or individual service attracts visitors or customers. For example, a school catchment area is the geographic area from which students are eligible to attend a local school...

of Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport, according to its own statistics, includes 110,000 residents.

Climate

Bullhead City has a desert

Desert

A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...

climate (Köppen climate classification

Köppen climate classification

The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...

BWh), with a few inches of precipitation

Precipitation (meteorology)

In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation...

year-round. Summers are very hot with temperatures frequently exceeding 110 degrees in July and August, and winters are mild with 40 degree temperatures in January and February. It is one of the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

' hottest cities during the summer. Heat waves involving temperatures going over 122 degrees Fahrenheit are not unusual.

Parks and Recreation

Bullhead City is home to hundreds of acres of city-operated parks. Ken Fovargue Park features lighted basketball courts, a bike trail, ball fields, a playground, and a public swimming pool with a water slide. Rotary Park, the largest city park, covers 300 acres (1.2 km²) of riverfront land. It features maintained beaches with ramadas and barbecues, a large skate park, fishing jetty, fish cleaning station, boat launching ramps, a disc golf course, and a complete lighted sports complex that hosts regional tournaments and local competitions. As of November 2011, work has begun on the design of the new Bullhead City Dog Park, to be located within Rotary Park.

Annual Events

Bullhead City is known for hosting annual events. The most well known of these are the annual River Regatta, Hardyville Days, Cornfest, the Chile Cook-Off, and the Colorado River Women's Council's Christmas Parade (formerly known as the Christmas Boombox Parade). Neighboring communities, Laughlin, Oatman, and Needles, also hold several annual events.
In August 2011, the annual River Regatta attracted an estimated 29,000 participants. Just a few miles south of the city limits, in Fort Mohave, is the Mojave Crossing Event Center, an arena with a seating capacity

Seating capacity

Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...

of 5,000. As the largest stadium/arena in Mohave County, it is frequently used for large events such as graduation ceremonies, circuses, indoor extreme motocross, monster truck rallies, and concerts. Most recently, Cornfest has been holding its annual celebration at Mojave Crossing Event Center.

Education and Culture

Bullhead City is home to several educational institutions, the largest of which is the Bullhead City Campus of Mohave Community College. The campus also houses Northern Arizona University's Bullhead City campus, which offers 4-year degree programs. Recently, MCC Bullhead City received a donation of $1.8 million from the BHHS Legacy Foundation to build a 14,000 sq. ft. Health Sciences Building. It is expected to be completed by August 2012.

Educational Institutions

Mohave Community College
Mohave Community College
Mohave Community College is a two-year, public community college with campuses in Kingman, Lake Havasu City, Bullhead City, and Colorado City, serving Mohave County, Arizona and the surrounding communities. MCC is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, which is...

Bullhead City Campus
Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University is a public university located in Flagstaff, Arizona, United States. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and has 39 satellite campuses in the state of Arizona. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees.As of...

Bullhead City Campus
Palo Verde Community College
Palo Verde Community College
Palo Verde College, formerly called Palo Verde Junior College - is a community college in Blythe, California.-Main Campus:Palo Verde College is located along the Colorado River in the fertile Palo Verde Valley, west of Phoenix, east of Palm Springs, and north of Yuma...

Needles Campus
Atlantic Driving School Fort Mohave
Bullhead City Real Estate Licensing Classes Bullhead City
Sunset International Bible Institute
Sunset International Bible Institute
Sunset International Bible Institute is a Churches of Christ-affiliated institution of higher education in Lubbock, Texas. It was established in 1962 by Cline Rex Paden , a native of Hunt County, upon his return to Lubbock from an extended missionary trip to Italy...

Bullhead City
Community College of Southern Nevada
Community College of Southern Nevada
The College of Southern Nevada is primarily a two-year college in Clark County, Nevada, with one four-year degree in Dental Hygiene. The school is the largest public higher education institution in Nevada and the third largest of its kind in the nation...

Laughlin
Academy of Building Industries Fort Mohave
Charles of Italy Beauty College Mohave Valley

Elementary, Junior High and High School

Bullhead City's Elementary schools and Junior High schools are operated by the Bullhead City Elementary School District. These schools include Sunrise Elementary School, Coyote Canyon Elementary School, Desert Valley Elementary School, Diamondback Elementary School, Bullhead City Junior High School, and Fox Creek Junior High School. Bullhead City's high school Mohave High School and River Valley High School

River Valley High School (Mohave Valley, Arizona)

River Valley High School is a high school located in Mohave Valley, Arizona. It is part of the Colorado River Union High School District.-External links:*...

, are operated by the Colorado River Union High School District

Colorado River Union High School District

The Colorado River Union High School District is the high school district in Bullhead City, Arizona and surrounding areas. It operates two high schools, River Valley High School and Mohave High School...

. Other nearby high schools are Laughlin High School and Needles High School

Needles High School

Needles High School is a small public high school in Needles, California. It is part of the Needles Unified School District. The school mascot is the mustang, and the school colors are royal blue and white. The current alma mater, "All Hail to Thee," was written by members of the Class of 1959 as...

. Additionally, Mohave Accelerated Elementary School and Mohave Accelerated Learning Center

Mohave Accelerated Learning Center

Mohave Accelerated Learning Center is a public charter school serving grades 6-12 in Bullhead City, Arizona. The school opened in 2001.-External links:* * *...

are public charter schools serving K-12 students in Bullhead City and the surrounding area. Other schools in nearby communities include Young Scholars Academy, Mohave Valley Junior High, Camp Mohave Elementary, Fort Mohave Elementary, and Mohave Valley Elementary. Laughlin and Needles also have public elementary schools.

Libraries

The Bullhead City area is home to four public libraries: Two Mohave County Libraries (Bullhead City and Mohave Valley), one Clark County Library (Laughlin) and one San Bernardino County Library (Needles). Bullhead City's library recently reopened after a major expansion to include a teen section, children section, 11,000 sq. ft. adult section, pubic computers, sound-proof rooms, and conference rooms for the community. The new "green" building was partially paid for by an environmental grant. Its innovative design is unique to the desert climate.

Colorado River Concert Association

The locally organized Colorado River Concert Association is a group of local citizens who attract performing artists to the community. Their purpose is to provide entertainment to the community while offering opportunities to local students who are interested in the performing arts. The Association usually attracts three to five artists per year to perform in local high school auditoriums. In the past, the Association has brought such artists as John Davidson

John Davidson

John Davidson may refer to:* John Andrew Davidson , Canadian politician* John Davidson , American actor* John Davidson , Australian admiral...

, The Celtic Tenors, Presidio Brass

Presidio Brass

Presidio Brass is a brass quintet based in San Diego, California. Founded in 2006 primarily as a vehicle for promoting music education, the ensemble has become perhaps equally known for their work on the concert stage...

, Alpin Hong, The Montana Mandolin Society, and QuatroCelli.

Colorado River Museum and Historical Society

Located in Bullhead City, just north of the Laughlin Bridge, the Colorado River Museum includes replicas of area landmarks, Native American artifacts and displays of historical items, from early settlers to the first slot machines. The museum is operated by the non-profit Colorado River Historical Society. It is open from September thorough May.

Train, Bus, and Highway

The Bullhead City area is accessible by Interstate 40 (via Needles or Kingman), Amtrak (via Needles BNSF), Greyhound Bus Services, and Highways 95 and 93. Bullhead City also operates a full-service public transit system, BATS, and is home to several cab companies. Sister cities Needles and Laughlin also operate their own public transit systems.

Airports

The Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport is the only international airport in Mohave County. There are daily flights to and from Bullhead City, with annual air shows attracting hundreds of spectators. Recently, the airport announced plans to extend the runway to 8,500 feet to accommodate even larger aircraft. This will make it the largest runway within a 90-mile radius.

In 2011, the Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport was named Airport of the Year by the Arizona Department of Transportation

Arizona Department of Transportation

.

The Bullhead City area is also home to two smaller airports. Eagle Airpark

Eagle Airpark

Eagle Airpark is a public use airport in Mohave County, Arizona, United States. It is located 12 nautical miles south of the central business district of Bullhead City.- Facilities and aircraft :...

is a 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) rural airport south of the city limits. Sun Valley Airport

Sun Valley Airport (Arizona)

Sun Valley Airport is a privately-owned public-use airport and residential airpark located seven miles south of the central business district of Bullhead City, in Mohave County, Arizona, United States.- Facilities and aircraft :...

is a public use airport with a residential airpark.

Media

The Bullhead City area is home to several local newspapers, the most widely-read being The Mohave Valley Daily News

Mohave Valley Daily News

The Mohave Valley Daily News is a newspaper in Bullhead City, Arizona, USA. It was started in 1926. It is owned by Brehm Communications, and it has a circulation of 9,300....

. Others include The Bullhead City Bee, The Needles Desert Star, The Laughlin Times, and The Mohave County Standard.

Laughlin operates a local TV Channel, KLBC, which delivers local news and other programming. It is available through local cable companies and transmission towers. Bullhead City operates a public service channel through local cable companies. Over a dozen other regional network affiliates originate from Las Vegas and Phoenix.

Bullhead City is home to Cameron Broadcasting, the parent company of four local radio stations:

KNKK (The Knack 107.1) Top 40 Pop
KFLG (K-Flag) Country
KLUK (Lucky 98) Classic Rock
KZZZ (1490 A.M.) Talk Radio

Other Radio Stations available in the Bullhead City area are:

KNPR (89.5) Public Radio
KVYL (93.7) Nostalgia Radio
KZUL (95.3) Adult Contemporary
KRCY (103.9) Oldies
KRRK (106.3) Classic Rock
KVAL (104.9) Hot AC
KCAN (103.1) Angel Broadcasting Network Christian Talk & Music
KNLB (90.5) Christian Radio
KHWY (98.9) Dance and Regional Traffic & Weather

Religious, Social, and Special Interest Groups

The Bullhead City Tri-State Area is home to dozens of religious organizations. Among them are two Churches of Christ (non-instrumental), three Roman Catholic churches, four Lutheran churches, three Methodist churches, over a dozen Baptist

Baptist

Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...

churches, two LDS Churches, the Bullhead Islam

Islam

Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...

ic Center, two Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Halls, two Episcopal churches, two Seventh-day Adventist church

Seventh-day Adventist Church

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...

es, Unity Church

Unity Church

Unity, known informally as Unity Church, is a religious movement within the wider New Thought movement and is best known to many through its Daily Word devotional publication...

of the Mohave Valley, two Assemblies of God

Assemblies of God

The Assemblies of God , officially the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, is a group of over 140 autonomous but loosely-associated national groupings of churches which together form the world's largest Pentecostal denomination...

, Foursquare (Spirit Life Church), Calvary Chapel, Temple Israel Ba Midbor (Jewish services in Laughlin), and active Neo-Pagan (Coven of the Canyon and River) and Buddhist communities (Soka Gakkai Colorado River District).

Bullhead City is also home to many special interest groups and social clubs. Among them are The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks

The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is an American fraternal order and social club founded in 1868...

, Bullhead 4-Wheelers, Kiwanis

Kiwanis

Kiwanis International is an international, coeducational service club founded in 1915. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Current membership is 240,000 members in 7,700 clubs in 80 nations...

, River Cities Players and Community Theater, Lions Clubs International

Lions Clubs International

Lions Clubs International is a secular service organization with over 44,500 clubs and more than 1,368,683 members in 191 countries around the world founded by Melvin Jones Headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, United States, the organization aims to meet the needs of communities on a local and...

, Shriners

Shriners

The Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, also commonly known as Shriners and abbreviated A.A.O.N.M.S., established in 1870, is an appendant body to Freemasonry, based in the United States...

, the Colorado River Historical Society, and Moose International

Moose International

Moose International is a fraternal and service organization founded in 1888, consisting of the Loyal Order of Moose, with nearly 1 million men in roughly 2,400 Lodges, in all 50 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces, plus Great Britain and Bermuda; and the Women of the Moose with more than...

Fort Mojave Indian Tribe

The Fort Mojave Indian Reservation

Fort Mojave Indian Reservation

The Fort Mojave Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation along the Colorado River, currently encompassing 23,669 acres in Arizona, 12,633 acres in California, and 5,582 acres in Nevada. The reservation was originally established in 1870 and is now home to approximately 1,100 members of the...

covers almost 42000 acres (170 km²) in the Tri-State area, and the local history is rich with Native American Culture. Currently the tribe operates two casinos, one full-service hotel, and the Mojave Resort PGA Championship Golf Course. See also, the Mohave people.

Environmental Projects

The Bullhead City area is expected to be the future home of a six billion dollar solar plant and energy farm. The solar plant, which will be built in Laughlin, Nevada, will potentially bring over 4,000 jobs to the Tri-State. In addition to this project, a 1,200 Megawatt solar generating facility has been approved by Mohave County, to be located on over 10000 acres (40.5 km²), just over ten miles (16 km) outside of Bullhead City. The decades-old Mohave Generating Station Coal Slurry Power Plant was shut down in 2005, reducing air pollution and excess use of river water.

Becoville Laughlin was announced in 2010 as a 640 acres (2.6 km²) environmentally self-sustained community development in Laughlin Ranch, which is itself a master-planned community. Construction is expected to begin in 2012.

Other Projects

The Bullhead City Elementary School District has accepted a federal grant to convert a portion of their electricity to solar.
Mohave Community College uses a solar array for a portion of their electricity at its Bullhead City campus.
In November 2011, the City Council of Bullhead City initiated a city-wide curbside recycling program.
The recently constructed Mohave County Library Bullhead City Branch is an environmentally "green" building.

Agriculture

The Fort Mohave Indian Tribe and other private companies have created an agricultural community that covers several square miles in the fertile fields of Mohave Valley and Fort Mohave, just south of Bullhead City. The main crops are cotton and alfalfa, with some Bermuda farms. Because of the mild winter weather, and despite the extreme heat in the summer, the agricultural economy continues to boom in the area.

Shopping

RelyLocal.com., the Bullhead Area of Commerce and the City of Bullhead City recently launched the "Shop Local" campaign. They are asking local residents to pledge to "shop local", at the same time asking local merchants to serve their customers with great customer service and prices.

The Bullhead City area is home to the region's only Outlet Mall, Target

Target Corporation

Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...

, Ross

Ross

Ross is a region of Scotland and a former mormaerdom, earldom, sheriffdom and county. The name Ross allegedly derives from a Gaelic word meaning a headland - perhaps a reference to the Black Isle. The Norse word for Orkney - Hrossay meaning horse island - is another possible origin. The area...

, Kohl's

Kohl's

Kohl's Corporation is an American department store chain headquartered in the Milwaukee suburb of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, operating , 1,089 stores in 49 states. In 1998, it entered the S&P 500 list, and is also listed in the Fortune 500...

, Bed, Bath and Beyond, PetSmart

PetSmart

PetSmart, Inc. is a retail chain doing business in the United States and Canada engaged in the sale of specialty pet supplies and services such as grooming and dog training, PetSmart PetsHotel dog and cat boarding facilities and Doggie Day Care.- History :...

, Wakimoto Farmer's Market, Lake Mohave Scuba, Jo-Ann Stores, Staples

Staples

-Places:*Staples, Minnesota, United States*Staples, Texas, United States*Staples Center, an arena in Los Angeles, California*Staples High School, a high school in Connecticut*Staples , a train station in Staples, Minnesota served by Amtrak...

, and Sam's Club

Sam's Club

Sam's Club is a chain of membership-only retail warehouse clubs owned and operated by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., founded in 1983 and named after Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton. , the Sam's Club chain serves more than 47 million U.S. members...

. Other stores in Bullhead City are Walmart Supercenter, K-mart, Lowe's

Lowe's

Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a U.S.-based chain of retail home improvement and appliance stores. Founded in 1946 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the chain now serves more than 14 million customers a week in its 1,710 stores in the United States and 20 in Canada. Expansion into Canada began in...

, J. C. Penney

J. C. Penney

-External links:*...

, Stage

Stage (store)

Stage is a middle-class retail clothing chain that operates in small to midsize communities in parts of the United States. the chain is operated by Stage Stores Inc., which also owns Bealls, Palais Royal, and Peebles stores...

, Sears, Hastings Entertainment

Hastings Entertainment

Hastings Entertainment is a regional retail chain that sells books, music, movies, and video games. It also rents movies and video games and buys used books, music, movies and video games for resale....

, Big 5 Sporting Goods

Big 5 Sporting Goods

Big 5 Sporting Goods is a sporting goods retailer headquartered in El Segundo, California with 388 stores in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Steven G. Miller is the Chairman, President, and CEO.The Big 5 name is...

, Home Depot, Walgreens

Walgreens

Walgreen Co. , doing business as Walgreens , is the largest drugstore chain in the United States of America. As of August 31st, the company operates 8,210 locations across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1901, and has since expanded...

, CVS Pharmacy, Safeway

Safeway Inc.

Safeway Inc. , a Fortune 500 company, is North America's second largest supermarket chain after The Kroger Co., with, as of December 2010, 1,694 stores located throughout the western and central United States and western Canada. It also operates some stores in the Mid-Atlantic region of the Eastern...

, and Smith's Food & Drug. To see a complete list of places to shop go to the official Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce website for the Bullhead City & Laughlin Area at RelyLocal.com.

Dining

The Bullhead City area is home to many great restaurants, including Samurai Steakhouse and Sushi, Buffalo Wild Wings

Buffalo Wild Wings

Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar is a casual dining restaurant and sports bar franchise in the United States that is known for its Buffalo wings.-History:...

, and International House of Pancakes, Cork & Beans, a Coffee/Wine Bistro, Mohave Steakhouse, Maki Sushi, China Buffet, Red Dragon, Casa Serrano, El Palacio Mexican Restaurant, Antonucci's, Krispy Kreme, and Chili's

Chili's

Chili's Grill & Bar is a restaurant chain founded by Larry Lavine. The chain has more than 1400 casual dining restaurants, mostly located in the United States and Canada...

.
Other well known restaurants like Outback Steakhouse

Outback Steakhouse

Outback Steakhouse is an American casual dining restaurant chain based in Tampa, Florida with over 1200 locations in 22 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. It was founded in February 1988 in Tampa by Bob Basham, Chris T...

, Joe's Crab Shack

Joe's Crab Shack

Joe's Crab Shack is an American chain of beach-themed seafood casual dining restaurants owned by Ignite Restaurant Group. Founded in Houston, Texas, the restaurant now operates locations all across the country. It serves seafood and American cuisine. The restaurants also have a gift shop that sells...

, are located in Laughlin NV just across the river from Bullhead City. To see a complete list of places to dine go to the official Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce website for the Bullhead City & Laughlin Area at RelyLocal.com.

Hotels and Resorts

While there are a few small motels in Bullhead City, the sister city of Laughlin, Nevada

Laughlin, Nevada

, makes visiting the area very convenient with more than 11,000 hotel rooms, full service spas, fitness centers, banquet halls, big-ticket concerts, and a River Walk. Laughlin also has three cinema complexes, totalling 23 screens, a 34-lane bowling alley, a classic car museum, and dozens of restaurants.

Lake Mohave

Bullhead City is at the southernmost border of Lake Mohave, which is part of Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Lake Mead National Recreation Area is located in southern Nevada and northwestern Arizona. The centerpieces of the National Recreation Area are its two large reservoirs: Lake Mead and Lake Mohave. These lakes cater to boaters, swimmers, sunbathers, and fishermen while the surrounding desert rewards...

. The federally operated national recreation area offers year-round recreational opportunities. Its lakes cater to boaters, swimmers, and fishermen while its desert rewards hikers, wildlife photographers, and roadside sightseers. It is also home to thousands of desert plants and animals. Contrary to popular belief, Lake Mohave is larger in area, deeper, and cleaner than Lake Havasu. It is also less well-known and much less crowded than all of the other nearby lakes.

White Water Rafting, Kayaking, and Scuba Diving

The stretch of the Colorado River between Hoover Dam and Lake Mohave is mostly tame but still enjoyable. It is recommended that inexperienced visitors ride with a guide. If you decide not to hire a guide, permits are required to launch below Hoover Dam and can be obtained through the United States Bureau of Reclamation

United States Bureau of Reclamation

The United States Bureau of Reclamation , and formerly the United States Reclamation Service , is an agency under the U.S...

. Rafting supplies, canoes, kayak rentals and guided kayaking tours are available in Bullhead City.
On Lake Mohave, scuba divers can explore Black Canyon, which has excellent diving conditions. Advanced divers can check out Ringbolt Rapids, where swift water makes for an additional challenge. Work Barge on the Arizona side has a 38 feet (11.6 m) tow barge that sank in 1946. Cabinsite Point has two boat wrecks to view.

Fishing

Fishing is popular on Lake Mohave and the Colorado River, which is plentiful with several species of fish, including Rainbow trout, Largemouth bass, Striped bass, crappie, sunfish, catfish (channel), and carp. There are dozens of coves and inlets that are well known among fishing enthusiasts.

Camping, Biking, and Hiking

The recreation area around Lake Mohave includes dozens of designated hiking trails, camp sites, and bicycle trails.

Lake Resorts

There are two resorts on Lake Mohave: Cottonwood Cove and Lake Mohave Resort. Both resorts have lodging, campgrounds, restaurant, store, and a marina with a gas dock. There are also off-road vehicle roads and hiking trails around Lake Mohave. Supplies and equipment for off-roading, hiking, boating, scuba diving, and fishing are locally available. There are sporting goods stores, scuba diving instructors, guided kayaking tours, and watercraft rentals available throughout Bullhead City.

Notable residents

Louis L'Amour
Louis L'Amour
Louis Dearborn L'Amour was an American author. His books consisted primarily of Western fiction novels , however he also wrote historical fiction , science fiction , nonfiction , as well as poetry and short-story collections. Many of his stories were made into movies...

, best-selling author, worked as a young mine assessment worker just outside Bullhead City, at Katherine Mine.
Chris McCandless of Into the Wild fame spent two months as a McDonald's employee in Bullhead City.
Seamus Dever
Seamus Dever
Seamus Patrick Dever is an American actor.Dever was born in Flint, Michigan, and grew up in Bullhead City, Arizona. He graduated as valedictorian of his high school class, completed his undergraduate studies at Northern Arizona University, and holds MFAs in Acting from the Moscow Art Theatre and...

, actor, grew up in Bullhead City, graduated from Mohave High School in 1994.
Joe Lengson, Musician, Bass player and backing vocals for the hardcore band, MyChildren MyBride
Mychildren Mybride
MyChildren MyBride is an American Christian metalcore band originating from Madison, Alabama. They are signed to Solid State Records after being noticed by extensive constant touring, including various dates in European countries.-History:...

.
Robert Bloomfield
Robert Bloomfield
Robert Bloomfield was an English labouring class poet whose work is appreciated in the context of other self-educated writers such as Stephen Duck, Mary Collier and John Clare.-Life:...

, Musician, Guitar player for the hardcore band, MyChildren MyBride
Mychildren Mybride
MyChildren MyBride is an American Christian metalcore band originating from Madison, Alabama. They are signed to Solid State Records after being noticed by extensive constant touring, including various dates in European countries.-History:...

.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.