Colorado City, Yuma County, Arizona facts for kids

Colorado City was once a small, busy settlement in what is now Yuma County, Arizona. It was located right on the southern bank of the Colorado River, near a ferry crossing known as Jaeger's Ferry. This spot was also about a mile downstream from Fort Yuma, an important military post.

What Was Colorado City?

Colorado City was a "ghost town" – a place that was once active but is now abandoned. It was created in 1854, not as a natural town, but as a way to make money from selling land. This idea, called "land speculation", meant people bought land hoping its value would go up.

Why Was Colorado City Built?

The main reason Colorado City was planned was to help pay for the ferry crossing at Jaeger's Ferry. A man named Charles Poston surveyed the land and then sold plots in San Francisco.

The town quickly became an important place because it was chosen as the site for a U.S. custom house. A custom house was like a special office where government officials collected taxes on goods that were brought into the country. This was important because the town was right on the border.

A Shifting Border Town

When Colorado City first started, it was just north of the border between Sonora, Mexico, and California. After the Gadsden Purchase in 1854, when the United States bought more land from Mexico, the area became part of the Territory of New Mexico. Later, in 1863, it became part of the new Territory of Arizona.

Even though it was in what would become Arizona, the land where Colorado City stood was officially registered in San Diego, California. This meant that for many years, San Diego County collected taxes from the people living there. It showed that California was seen as having control over both sides of the Colorado River, especially near where the Gila River joins it.

The Great Flood and a New Beginning

Life in Colorado City changed dramatically in 1862. A massive event known as the Great Flood of 1862 hit the area. This powerful flood destroyed Colorado City, along with another nearby settlement called Jaeger City, which was located across the river.

But the people didn't give up! The town was rebuilt on higher ground, away from the river's floodwaters. This new settlement eventually became part of a larger town called Arizona City. In 1873, Arizona City was renamed Yuma, Arizona, which is a thriving city today. So, while Colorado City itself became a ghost town, its spirit lived on in the new city of Yuma.