Bullhead City, Arizona facts for kids

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Bullhead City, Arizona

City

View of Bullhead City with the Colorado River in the foreground

Seal

Nickname(s):

Arizona's West Coast

Location in Mohave County, Arizona

Bullhead City, Arizona

Location in Arizona

Bullhead City, Arizona

Location in the United States

Arizona

1984

Area

• Total

60.15 sq mi (155.79 km²)

• Land

59.37 sq mi (153.77 km²)

• Water

0.78 sq mi (2.02 km²)

Elevation

540 ft (165 m)

Population

(2020)

• Total

41,348

• Density

696.41/sq mi (268.89/km²)

Time zone

UTC-7 (MST Arizona Time (no DST))

Area code(s)

928

FIPS code

04-08220

GNIS feature ID

2409936

Bullhead City is a city in Arizona, United States. It is located right on the Colorado River in Mohave County. The city is about 97 miles (156 km) south of Las Vegas, Nevada. Across the river is Laughlin, Nevada, which has many casinos. These casinos provide a lot of jobs for people living in Bullhead City. The city is also at the southern end of Lake Mohave.

In 2020, about 41,348 people lived in Bullhead City. If you include nearby towns like Laughlin, Needles, Fort Mohave, and Mohave Valley, the total population for the area is over 77,000. This makes it the biggest economic area in Mohave County. Bullhead City is also the largest city in Mohave County by land size, covering over 60 square miles (155 sq km).

History of Bullhead City

Who lived here first?

The first people to live in the Colorado River Valley were the Mojave people. The rich soil and plenty of water helped them create a successful farming community. According to their stories, life began on Spirit Mountain. This is the tallest mountain you can see from the Bullhead City area.

The first time Europeans met the Mojave people was in 1540. A Spanish explorer named Melchor Díaz wrote about his travels. He met many native people who called themselves the Pipa Aha Macav, meaning "People by the River." The name "Mojave" comes from "Aha Macav."

In 1774, a Spanish explorer and missionary named Father Francisco Garces crossed the Colorado River in the area where Bullhead City is now.

Hardyville: An early settlement

In March 1864, a settlement called "Hardyville" was started where Bullhead City is today. It was named after William Harrison Hardy. He was an early resident and a politician. Hardy started a ferry service and a place for steamboats to land. This was where the Mojave Road crossed the Colorado River. He also built a toll road from Hardyville to Prescott, which was the capital of Arizona at the time.

From 1864 to 1883, steamboats regularly traveled up the Colorado River. They brought supplies to mines in the area and took out valuable ore. Hardyville was an important stop for these boats. It was also the starting point for roads and trails leading to mines and other towns.

Hardyville became the county seat of Mohave County in 1867. This helped the town grow. It had a general store, a saloon, and other businesses. However, in 1873, the county seat moved to Cerbat. Later, new railroads made it easier to transport goods, and steamboat traffic to Hardyville decreased. The town slowly became a ghost town.

Today, the Hardyville Pioneer Cemetery is a historic landmark. It is the most important reminder of Hardyville.

How Bullhead City got its name

Bullhead City's southern city limits as seen from SR 95

Decades later, the area of Hardyville came back to life with the building of Davis Dam. This dam was built between 1942 and 1953. It was first called Bullhead Dam. This name came from "Bull's Head Rock," a famous rock formation in the Colorado River. Steamboats used this rock to help them navigate. After the dam was built, the water level rose and now covers most of the rock.

The community that grew during the dam's construction was nicknamed Bullhead. Bullhead City became the main office for the building project. The project finished in 1953, and that's how the name Bullhead City was born. As Lake Mohave became a popular place for tourists, and as the casino town of Laughlin, Nevada grew across the river, Bullhead City also grew very fast.

In 1984, the small communities of Bullhead City, Riviera, and Holiday Shores voted to become one city. They chose the name "Bullhead City" because of its history.

Today, tourism is the main industry in Bullhead City. In the summer, people come to enjoy water activities on Lake Mohave and the Colorado River. In the fall and winter, many tourists from colder places visit because of the mild weather. Bullhead City also has an international airport, two hospitals, and a college. It is also a major shopping area for the surrounding region.

Geography of Bullhead City

Bullhead City is in the western part of Mohave County. It is on the east side of the Colorado River, which is the border between Arizona and Nevada. The city is about 34 miles (55 km) west of Kingman, which is the county seat. It is also 97 miles (156 km) south of Las Vegas, Nevada.

The city covers about 60.2 square miles (155.9 sq km) in total. Most of this area, about 59.4 square miles (153.8 sq km), is land. The rest, about 0.8 square miles (2.1 sq km), is water.

Population and Community

How many people live here?

Bullhead City has grown a lot over the years:

1980: 10,364 people
1990: 21,951 people
2000: 33,769 people
2010: 39,540 people
2020: 41,348 people

Bullhead City and its neighbors, Laughlin, Nevada, Fort Mohave, Mohave Valley, Arizona, and Needles, California, are called the "Tri-State Area." These communities are connected by their economy and are all within about 10 miles (16 km) of each other. The total population of the Tri-State Area is around 100,000 people.

What is the climate like?

Bullhead City has a desert climate. This means it gets very little rain throughout the year. Summers are extremely hot, with temperatures often going above 100°F (38°C) in July and August. Sometimes, temperatures can even reach over 120°F (49°C). Winters are mild, with daytime temperatures usually between 65°F (18°C) and 75°F (24°C) in January and February. It is one of the hottest cities in the country during the summer.

Fun things to do in Bullhead City

Parks and outdoor activities

Bullhead City has many city parks. Ken Fovargue Park has basketball courts, a bike trail, ball fields, a playground, and a public swimming pool with a water slide. Rotary Park is the biggest city park, covering 300 acres (1.2 sq km) along the river. It has beaches with picnic areas, a large skate park, fishing spots, boat ramps, and a dog park. It also has a sports complex for tournaments.

The proposed Arizona Peace Trail will also pass through Bullhead City.

Special events and sports

Bullhead City hosts many events each year. The most famous is the Bullhead City River Regatta. This event attracts thousands of people who float down the Colorado River. For example, in 2016, over 30,000 people took part in the "Pirates of the Colorado" themed regatta.

Other events happen in the fall and winter, especially sports tournaments. Every February, a youth soccer tournament called the Colorado River Invitational Tournament brings thousands of young soccer players to Rotary Park. Bullhead City also has two senior softball tournaments each year, one in spring and one in fall. Players come from all over, even Canada.

Just south of the city, in Fort Mohave, is the Mojave Crossing Event Center. This arena can hold 5,000 people. It's the biggest stadium in Mohave County and is used for large events like graduations, circuses, monster truck shows, and concerts.

Education and learning

Bullhead City has several schools and colleges. The largest is the Bullhead City Campus of Mohave Community College. This campus also has a branch of Northern Arizona University, where students can earn four-year degrees. The college recently received a large donation to build a new Health Sciences Building.

Schools for all ages

Mohave Community College, Bullhead City Campus
Northern Arizona University, Bullhead City Campus
Palo Verde Community College, Needles Campus

The Little Red Schoolhouse (1947), Bullhead City's first school

For younger students, the Bullhead City Elementary School District runs elementary and junior high schools. These include Sunrise, Coyote Canyon, Desert Valley, and Diamondback Elementary Schools, along with Bullhead City Middle School and Fox Creek Junior High School.

High schools in Bullhead City, Mohave High School and River Valley High School, are part of the Colorado River Union High School District. There are also public charter schools like Mohave Accelerated Elementary School and Mohave Accelerated Learning Center. The Academy of Building Industries (AOBI) High School in Fort Mohave teaches building trades along with regular classes.

Libraries and museums

Mohave County Library in Bullhead City was remodeled and expanded in 2011. Its $10 million, 24,000 sq. ft. building uses the most recent technologies for adapting buildings for the desert climate, and is designed to resemble a rustic warehouse.

Colorado River Historical Society & Museum

The Bullhead City area has four public libraries. The Bullhead City library recently got a big upgrade. It now has special sections for teens and children, public computers, and meeting rooms. Its design is "green," meaning it uses energy-saving technologies.

The Colorado River Museum and Historical Society is in Bullhead City. It has models of local landmarks, Native American items, and displays about early settlers. It's a great place to learn about the area's past.

Arts and culture

The Colorado River Concert Association brings performing artists to the community. They offer entertainment and chances for local students interested in the arts. They have brought artists like John Davidson and The Celtic Tenors to perform.

Getting around Bullhead City

Travel by land

You can reach Bullhead City by Interstate 40 (through Needles or Kingman). Amtrak trains stop in Needles, and Greyhound buses also serve the area. Arizona State Routes 95 and 68 also lead to the city.

Bullhead City has its own public bus system called the Bullhead Area Transit System (BATS). Neighboring towns like Needles and Laughlin also have small public transit systems. Many private shuttle companies connect Bullhead City to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. There are also several taxi companies in the city.

Travel by air

The Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport is the biggest airport in Mohave County. While it doesn't have regular commercial flights right now, its runway was recently made longer to fit bigger airplanes. In 2011, the Arizona Department of Transportation named it Airport of the Year. Over 115,000 people flew into the airport on casino-sponsored charter flights in 2010.

The Bullhead City area also has two smaller airports: Eagle Airpark and Sun Valley Airport. These do not offer commercial flights.

News and entertainment

Bullhead City along the Colorado River

Bullhead City has three local newspapers: the Mohave Valley Daily News, The Laughlin Nevada Times, and The Needles Desert Star. These newspapers are all owned by River City Newspapers.

The city is part of the Las Vegas television market. However, local cable TV usually includes Phoenix news stations to provide Arizona news. It can be harder to get Las Vegas news channels, even though Las Vegas is closer. With the internet, it's now easier for people in the Tri-State Area to get news from Las Vegas.

A local cable TV station, TV2/KLBC, broadcasts from Laughlin, Nevada. It has provided local TV shows to Bullhead City since 1989. The Bullhead City Police Department is also featured on a local show called Tri-State on Patrol.

Bullhead City is home to Cameron Broadcasting, which runs four local radio stations:

KNKK (The Knack 107.1) - Top 40 Pop
KFLG (K-FLAG 94.7) - Country
KLUK (Lucky 98) - Classic Rock
KZZZ (1490 A.M.) - Talk Radio

Many other radio stations are also available in the area.

Community groups

One of the largest buildings in the city, St. Margaret Mary Church in Bullhead City is visible for miles. It was completed in 2011.

The Bullhead City area has many different religious groups. These include various Christian churches, an Islamic Center, and Jewish, Neo-Pagan, and Buddhist communities.

The city is also home to many special interest groups and social clubs. Some of these are The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Bullhead 4-Wheelers, Kiwanis, Lions Clubs International, and the Colorado River Historical Society.

Fort Mojave Indian Tribe

The Fort Mojave Indian Reservation covers almost 42,000 acres (170 sq km) in the Tri-State Area. The local history is rich with Native American culture. The tribe operates two casinos, a hotel, and the Mojave Resort PGA Championship Golf Course.

Environmental efforts

In 2013, a large solar power plant was built near Bullhead City. It covers over 10,000 acres (40 sq km) and can produce 1,200 megawatts of power. In 2005, a coal power plant called Mohave Generating Station was closed. This helped reduce air pollution and save river water.

The Bullhead City Elementary School District has also received a grant to use solar power for some of its electricity.

Water fun: Rafting, kayaking, and diving

The Colorado River between Hoover Dam and Lake Mohave is mostly calm. You can go white water rafting there. If you want to go without a guide, you need a permit from the United States Bureau of Reclamation. You can rent rafting supplies, canoes, and kayaks in Bullhead City. Guided kayaking tours are also available.

On Lake Mohave, scuba divers can explore Black Canyon. The water is clear for diving. More experienced divers can try Ringbolt Rapids, where the water moves faster. There are also sunken boats to explore, like a 38-foot (12 m) tow barge that sank in 1946.

Fishing in the river and lake

Fishing is very popular on Lake Mohave and the Colorado River. The waters are full of different kinds of fish. You can find rainbow trout, largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie, sunfish, catfish, and carp. There are many coves and inlets that are well-known spots for fishing.

Camping, biking, and hiking

Finger Rock

The area around Lake Mohave has many hiking trails, campsites, and bicycle trails. You can find supplies and equipment for off-roading, hiking, boating, scuba diving, and fishing in Bullhead City. There are also stores for sporting goods, scuba diving instructors, and places to rent watercraft.

Lake resorts

There are two resorts on Lake Mohave: Cottonwood Cove and Lake Mohave Resort. Both resorts offer lodging, campgrounds, restaurants, stores, and marinas with gas docks. You can also find off-road vehicle roads and hiking trails around Lake Mohave.

Famous people from Bullhead City

Josh Briggs, a professional wrestler.
Seamus Dever, an actor who grew up in Bullhead City. He graduated from Mohave High School in 1994.
Joe Lengson, a musician and bass player for the band MyChildren MyBride.
Chris McCandless, known from the book Into the Wild. He worked at McDonald's in Bullhead City for two months.
Ella Mae Morse, a singer who passed away in Bullhead City in 1999.

Images for kids

Bullhead City's southern city limits as seen from SR 95
The Little Red Schoolhouse (1947), Bullhead City's first school
Mohave County Library in Bullhead City was remodeled and expanded in 2011. Its $10 million, 24,000 sq. ft. building uses the most recent technologies for adapting buildings for the desert climate, and is designed to resemble a rustic warehouse.
Colorado River Historical Society & Museum
Bullhead City along the Colorado River
One of the largest buildings in the city, St. Margaret Mary Church in Bullhead City is visible for miles. It was completed in 2011.
Finger Rock