Yuma County, Arizona

Yuma County History, Geography, Demographics, Cities and Towns, and Education

Named: Yuma is named after the Yuma Indians, today called the Quechan.

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History

Yuma County, Arizona

Yuma County is one of four original counties designated by the first Territorial Legislature. It maintained its original boundaries until 1983 when voters decided to split Yuma County into LaPaz County in the north and a new "Yuma County" in the south.
 

This county is created out of the southwestern portion of the Territory, and is surrounded on the west by the Colorado River. The valley of the Colorado is from two to ten miles in width; the soil is rich alluvial, and is generally covered with a dense growth of vegetation, and is well wooded with Mesquite and Cottonwood trees. Very little attempt has been made to cultivate these lands, except by the Indians. They in a rude way produce some vegetables, corn and wheat.

The soil and climate are unquestionably well adapted to the production of cotton, rice and sugar cane, as well as the cereals, and nearly all kinds of vegetables. Experiments made in planting figs, lemons and oranges encourage the belief that these fruits can be raised in abundance. The only obstacle in the way of extensive and profitable agriculture in the valley of this river is the frequent changes of its channel. Its waters can undoubtedly be controlled by levees and canals, and it would be policy for the government to make liberal grants of land to accomplish this object. The water once under control and this would be an inviting field for investment and enterprise.

The Gila River runs about 150 miles in a westerly course through this county; its valley is from one to three miles in width; the soil is rich and covered with vegetation, and by irrigation will produce almost anything that grows; it is uninhabited, except by station keepers along the overland mail road. These stations are usually located about fifteen miles apart. The balance of this county is mostly high table lands, with frequent broken mountains, and is generally destitute of water; portions of the year these lauds are covered with excellent grass, but until water is increased by sinking wells, the larger portion of this belt of country will be of little value.

You can find gold, silver, copper and lead, are found in lodes near the Colorado river, the entire length of the county; also placer gold in considerable sums has been extracted. No effort has been made to conduct water to these mines; the gold has generally been obtained by what is called the dry washing process. To pay by this process, the mines must necessarily be very rich, but if water could be obtained, they 'would undoubtedly pay well, even when once worked by the other process.

Many lodes of gold, silver, copper and lead have been located, and quite a profitable business engaged in by shipping the ores via the Colorado River to San Francisco. The success of these enterprises would warrant the belief that by the erection of machinery and properly opening the mines, they could be made very profitable to the owners. Along the southern border of the county, extensive and rich mines of copper are found, but owing to the high rate of transportation have not yet been made to pay.

Neighboring Counties:

• North: La Paz County
• Northeast: Maricopa County
• Southeast: Pima County
• South: Sonora
• Southwest: Baja California
• West: Imperial County, Calif.

Cities:

• Dateland
• Gadsden
• Roll
• San Luis
• Somerton
• Tacna
• Wellton
• Yuma (County Seat)

County Resources:

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Yuma County, Arizona