Mohave City, Arizona
Encyclopedia
Mohave City is a ghost town
in Mohave County
in the northwestern part of the U.S. state
of Arizona
. Settled in the 1860s, in what was then the Arizona Territory
, it was founded as a river landing and trading center for area miners
and soldiers, and was named for Mohave County.
spurred the creation of Fort Mohave by the Army
(now the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation
). The relative safety provided by the military presence led to the founding of Mohave City in 1863 by California Volunteers stationed at the nearby fort. Mohave City served primarily as a recreation town and its saloons and brothels thrived, thanks to the ample supply of miners and soldiers. By 1866, the town had grown large enough to become the county seat, and a post office was established on October 8, 1866.
Unlike most ghost towns in Arizona, which were abandoned due to the local mine running out, Mohave City was short-lived for a different reason. Fort Mohave expanded its borders to include the town site in 1869, mostly to get rid of it. In the fall of 1869, the military demanded that all civilians leave within 30 days, and proceeded to absorb the town's land. Residents packed up their homes and businesses, and moved on to new locations.
The port town of Hardyville (now Bullhead City
), created in 1864 and just north of Mohave City, gained in prominence once Mohave City was no more, and on January 21, 1867, took over the title of county seat.
After the assumption of the land by the military, the town was referred to interchangeably as Fort Mohave or Mohave City. The town clearly continued in some capacity, as it was listed as having 159 residents in the 1870 US Census. By the 1880s, the town still housed approximately 50 residents, as well as a post office, gunsmith, a blacksmith, a pharmacist, and a general store
.
In 1890, the government gave the Fort Mohave land to the Indian Service by order of President Benjamin Harrison
. Shortly thereafter, the buildings came to be used as a school for the local Indian population, housing as many as 200 students. The school closed and the buildings were given up by the Indian Service in 1935, and on October 31, 1938, the post office was discontinued. From that point onward, the land has been part of the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation.
.
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
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...
in the northwestern part of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. Settled in the 1860s, in what was then the Arizona Territory
Arizona Territory
The Territory of Arizona was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 24, 1863 until February 14, 1912, when it was admitted to the Union as the 48th state....
, it was founded as a river landing and trading center for area miners
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
and soldiers, and was named for Mohave County.
History
Indian threats to miners on the southern portion of the Colorado RiverColorado 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...
spurred the creation of Fort Mohave by the Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
(now 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...
). The relative safety provided by the military presence led to the founding of Mohave City in 1863 by California Volunteers stationed at the nearby fort. Mohave City served primarily as a recreation town and its saloons and brothels thrived, thanks to the ample supply of miners and soldiers. By 1866, the town had grown large enough to become the county seat, and a post office was established on October 8, 1866.
Unlike most ghost towns in Arizona, which were abandoned due to the local mine running out, Mohave City was short-lived for a different reason. Fort Mohave expanded its borders to include the town site in 1869, mostly to get rid of it. In the fall of 1869, the military demanded that all civilians leave within 30 days, and proceeded to absorb the town's land. Residents packed up their homes and businesses, and moved on to new locations.
The port town of Hardyville (now Bullhead City
Bullhead City, Arizona
Bullhead City is a city located on the Colorado River in Mohave County, Arizona, USA, roughly south of Las Vegas, Nevada, and directly across the Colorado River from Laughlin, Nevada, whose casinos and ancillary services supply much of the employment for Bullhead City...
), created in 1864 and just north of Mohave City, gained in prominence once Mohave City was no more, and on January 21, 1867, took over the title of county seat.
After the assumption of the land by the military, the town was referred to interchangeably as Fort Mohave or Mohave City. The town clearly continued in some capacity, as it was listed as having 159 residents in the 1870 US Census. By the 1880s, the town still housed approximately 50 residents, as well as a post office, gunsmith, a blacksmith, a pharmacist, and a general store
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
.
In 1890, the government gave the Fort Mohave land to the Indian Service by order of President Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
. Shortly thereafter, the buildings came to be used as a school for the local Indian population, housing as many as 200 students. The school closed and the buildings were given up by the Indian Service in 1935, and on October 31, 1938, the post office was discontinued. From that point onward, the land has been part of the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation.
Geography
Mohave City was located at approximately 35°02′24"N 114°37′23"W (35.0444453, -114.6230214) on the bank of the Colorado River, 10 miles (16.1 km) south of Bullhead CityBullhead City, Arizona
Bullhead City is a city located on the Colorado River in Mohave County, Arizona, USA, roughly south of Las Vegas, Nevada, and directly across the Colorado River from Laughlin, Nevada, whose casinos and ancillary services supply much of the employment for Bullhead City...
.
See also
- American Old WestAmerican Old WestThe American Old West, or the Wild West, comprises the history, geography, people, lore, and cultural expression of life in the Western United States, most often referring to the latter half of the 19th century, between the American Civil War and the end of the century...
- BoomtownBoomtownA boomtown is a community that experiences sudden and rapid population and economic growth. The growth is normally attributed to the nearby discovery of a precious resource such as gold, silver, or oil, although the term can also be applied to communities growing very rapidly for different reasons,...
- History of ArizonaHistory of ArizonaThe last Native Americans arrived in Arizona between 16,000 BC and 10,000 BC, while the history of Arizona as recorded by Europeans began when Marcos de Niza, a Franciscan, explored the area in 1539. Coronado's expedition entered the area in 1540–1542 during its search for Cíbola...
- List of ghost towns in Arizona
External links
- Mohave City at Ghosttowns.com
- Mohave County history and time line.