Kingman, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kingman, Arizona
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Mohave County Courthouse in Kingman
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| Motto(s):
"The Heart of Historic Route 66"
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Location in Mohave County, Arizona
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U.S. Census map
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Arizona | |
| County | Mohave | |
| Incorporated | 1882 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 37.55 sq mi (97.25 km2) | |
| • Land | 37.55 sq mi (97.25 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | |
| Elevation | 3,333 ft (1,016 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 32,689 | |
| • Density | 870.62/sq mi (336.14/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (MST; Arizona Time (no DST)) | |
| ZIP codes |
86401, 86402, 86409
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| Area code(s) | 928 | |
| FIPS code | 04-37620 | |
Kingman is a city in Arizona, United States. It is the main city and county seat of Mohave County. The city is named after Lewis Kingman, an engineer who worked on the railroad.
Kingman is about 105 miles (169 km) southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. It is also about 180 miles (290 km) northwest of Phoenix, Arizona's capital city. In 2020, about 32,689 people lived in Kingman.
Contents
History of Kingman
Early Exploration and Roads
In 1857, a U.S. Navy officer named Lt. Edward Fitzgerald Beale explored the area. He was ordered to build a federal wagon road. This road would cross the country along the 35th parallel. Beale also tested if camels could be used as pack animals in the desert.
He traveled through what is now Kingman in 1857 and built the road in 1859. This road, called Beale's Wagon Road, later became part of U.S. Route 66. Today, it is part of Interstate 40. You can still see parts of the old wagon road in White Cliffs Canyon.
Founding and Growth
Kingman was started in 1882, before Arizona became a state. It began as a small stop for the railroad. It was located near Beale Springs, a water source used by Native Americans for hundreds of years. Lewis Kingman, an engineer, oversaw the building of the railroad.
The main office for Mohave County, called the county seat, moved a few times. It finally settled in Kingman in 1887. This made Kingman an important center for the county.
Kingman During World War II
During World War II, Kingman became home to a large U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) airfield. The Kingman Army Airfield was a training base for aerial gunnery. About 35,000 soldiers and airmen trained there. This airfield played a big role in America's war efforts. After the war, it was used to take apart old military aircraft.
Growth After the War
After World War II, Kingman grew as new businesses arrived. In 1955, Ford Motor Company opened a testing ground nearby in Yucca. This brought many skilled workers to Kingman. New neighborhoods were built for these families.
The Mineral Park mine and the Mohave Generating Station also helped Kingman grow. A General Cable plant at the Kingman Airport Industrial Park also provided many jobs.
The Kingman Explosion
On July 5, 1973, a very serious accident happened in Kingman. It was called the Kingman Explosion or Doxol Disaster. A large tank of propane exploded during a transfer. This event was a boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion (BLEVE).
A park in Kingman, Firefighters Memorial Park, is dedicated to the 11 firefighters who died in this blaze.
Historic Places in Kingman
Many historic buildings in Kingman are protected. The Mohave County Courthouse and Jail, built in 1915 and 1909, were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
A study in 1985 found 63 historic places in Kingman. Many of these were added to the National Register in 1986. These include the courthouse, an old train (the Santa Fe 3759), a World War II radio tower, and many old houses. Kingman has most of the historic listings in Mohave County.
Geography and Climate
Location of Kingman
Kingman is located in the middle of Mohave County. It sits along Interstate 40 and U.S. Route 93. Interstate 40 goes east to Flagstaff (147 miles/237 km) and southwest to Needles, California (62 miles/100 km). U.S. Route 93 goes northwest to Las Vegas (107 miles/172 km) and southeast towards Phoenix. The city covers about 37.5 square miles (97.1 km²), all of it land.
Kingman's Climate
Kingman is on the eastern edge of the Mojave Desert. It has a cold desert climate. This is because it is located on a high plateau. Kingman's higher elevation means summer temperatures are not as extreme as in Phoenix. It also means colder winters and sometimes snow.
Summer daytime temperatures often go above 90°F (32°C). They rarely go over 107°F (42°C). Summer nights are usually between 60°F and 70°F (16°C and 21°C). Winter days are mild, around 50°F to 60°F (10°C to 16°C). Winter nights often drop below freezing. Snow can happen.
The coldest temperature ever recorded in Kingman was 6°F (-14°C) in 1937. The hottest was 114°F (46°C) in 2023. The most rain in one year was 21.22 inches (539 mm) in 1919. The most snow in one year was 18.2 inches (46 cm) in 1949. On December 31, 2014, and January 1, 2015, Kingman got 6.5 inches (17 cm) of snow. This storm was so big it closed Interstate 40 for a day.
| Climate data for Kingman, Arizona, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1901–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 78 (26) |
82 (28) |
90 (32) |
97 (36) |
106 (41) |
113 (45) |
114 (46) |
111 (44) |
110 (43) |
102 (39) |
90 (32) |
77 (25) |
114 (46) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 68.6 (20.3) |
72.9 (22.7) |
80.7 (27.1) |
89.9 (32.2) |
96.7 (35.9) |
105.3 (40.7) |
107.7 (42.1) |
105.1 (40.6) |
100.8 (38.2) |
90.5 (32.5) |
81.8 (27.7) |
69.7 (20.9) |
108.9 (42.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 57.4 (14.1) |
60.6 (15.9) |
67.4 (19.7) |
74.8 (23.8) |
84.9 (29.4) |
95.1 (35.1) |
98.7 (37.1) |
97.2 (36.2) |
90.9 (32.7) |
78.9 (26.1) |
66.1 (18.9) |
55.7 (13.2) |
77.3 (25.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 44.2 (6.8) |
47.0 (8.3) |
52.7 (11.5) |
59.1 (15.1) |
68.8 (20.4) |
78.7 (25.9) |
84.3 (29.1) |
83.1 (28.4) |
75.6 (24.2) |
63.6 (17.6) |
51.3 (10.7) |
42.9 (6.1) |
62.6 (17.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 30.9 (−0.6) |
33.3 (0.7) |
38.1 (3.4) |
43.4 (6.3) |
52.7 (11.5) |
62.3 (16.8) |
70.0 (21.1) |
68.9 (20.5) |
60.4 (15.8) |
48.3 (9.1) |
36.5 (2.5) |
30.2 (−1.0) |
47.9 (8.8) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 18.5 (−7.5) |
20.9 (−6.2) |
27.1 (−2.7) |
31.3 (−0.4) |
39.4 (4.1) |
50.4 (10.2) |
62.7 (17.1) |
60.1 (15.6) |
48.0 (8.9) |
35.1 (1.7) |
24.5 (−4.2) |
19.5 (−6.9) |
15.7 (−9.1) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 4 (−16) |
9 (−13) |
11 (−12) |
20 (−7) |
29 (−2) |
34 (1) |
45 (7) |
43 (6) |
31 (−1) |
23 (−5) |
13 (−11) |
6 (−14) |
4 (−16) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.98 (25) |
1.04 (26) |
0.59 (15) |
0.46 (12) |
0.08 (2.0) |
0.11 (2.8) |
0.86 (22) |
0.88 (22) |
0.96 (24) |
0.74 (19) |
0.62 (16) |
0.68 (17) |
8.00 (203) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 inch) | 4.0 | 4.7 | 3.4 | 2.9 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 5.3 | 4.9 | 3.7 | 3.0 | 2.4 | 3.8 | 40.1 |
| Source: NOAA (mean maxima/minima 2006–2020) | |||||||||||||
People of Kingman
Population Changes Over Time
Kingman's population has grown a lot over the years. Here's how it has changed:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 322 | — | |
| 1910 | 900 | — | |
| 1920 | 1,276 | 41.8% | |
| 1930 | 2,275 | 78.3% | |
| 1950 | 3,342 | — | |
| 1960 | 4,525 | 35.4% | |
| 1970 | 7,312 | 61.6% | |
| 1980 | 9,257 | 26.6% | |
| 1990 | 12,722 | 37.4% | |
| 2000 | 20,069 | 57.8% | |
| 2010 | 28,068 | 39.9% | |
| 2020 | 32,689 | 16.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Who Lives in Kingman?
In 2022, about 33,052 people lived in Kingman. There were about 14,029 households. About 27.4% of households had children under 18. About 40.1% had people aged 65 or older. The average household had 2.25 people.
The median age in Kingman was 42.1 years old. This means half the people were younger and half were older. About 21.1% of the people were under 18. About 24.1% were 65 or older.
Economy and Jobs
Main Employers in Kingman
Kingman has several large employers that provide many jobs. Here are the top ones from 2019:
| # | Employer | # of employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kingman Regional Medical Center | 1,800 |
| 2 | Mohave County | 1,271 |
| 3 | Kingman Unified School District | 740 |
| 4 | Mohave Community College | 700 |
| 5 | American Woodmark | 689 |
| 6 | Walmart | 440 |
| 7 | City of Kingman | 374 |
| 8 | Laron Inc | 187 |
| 9 | The Home Depot | 135 |
| 10 | Indiana Western Express, Inc. | 119 |
City Services and Travel
Transportation in Kingman
Kingman has different ways to get around.
Major Roads
Interstate 40 is a major highway.
U.S. Route 93 is another important road.
Arizona State Route 66 and Business Loop 40 are parts of the historic 
U.S. Route 66.
Arizona State Route 68
Interstate 11 is a new highway planned to replace U.S. Route 93.
Airport
The Kingman Airport is about 9 miles (14 km) northeast of the city. It was built as Kingman Army Air Field during World War II. It was a training school for gunners. Today, it is used for civilian flights. There are services for air ambulance (medical flights) and air charter (private flights). There are no regular passenger flights. The closest airport for commercial flights is Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. Kingman Airport is mostly used for storing airplanes for a long time.
Train Services
The Kingman station in downtown Kingman has daily train service. Amtrak's Southwest Chief train travels between Los Angeles and Chicago. The train station is old and has a special design. It was fixed up in 2010. Inside, there is a museum with model trains. You can also take a bus from the station to Las Vegas.
Kingman is on a very busy train route called the Southern Transcon. This route is used by the BNSF Railway. It carries about 100 to 150 freight trains every day. In 2012, the Kingman Terminal Railroad (KGTR) opened. It helps deliver goods to businesses in the industrial park.
Buses and Shuttles
The City of Kingman has its own bus system called Kingman Area Regional Transit. Other bus companies like Greyhound and TUFESA also serve Kingman. FlixBus also has a stop here. The Tri-State Shuttle connects Kingman to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.
Amtrak also offers bus service from Kingman station to Las Vegas. This bus trip is about 107 miles (172 km). There is also a bus from Laughlin, Nevada, to the Kingman Amtrak Station.
Water Supply
Kingman gets its water from underground sources. The city uses groundwater from an aquifer. This same water source is also used by farms in the desert nearby.
Education in Kingman
Kingman has public schools, charter schools, and a Christian school.
Public Schools
The Kingman Unified School District (KUSD) has 12 schools. These schools teach students from kindergarten through high school.
Elementary Schools
- Hualapai Elementary School
- Cerbat Elementary School
- Black Mountain Elementary School (in Golden Valley)
- La Senita Elementary School
- Manzanita Elementary School
- Desert Willow Elementary School
- Kingman Academy of Learning Primary/Intermediate School
Middle Schools
- Golden Valley Middle School
- Kingman Middle School
- White Cliffs Middle School
- Kingman Academy of Learning Middle School
High Schools
- Kingman High School
- Lee Williams High School
- Kingman Academy of Learning High School
K–12 School
- Mt. Tipton School is a K–12 school in Dolan Springs. It is about 30 miles (48 km) from Kingman.
Other Schools
- The Kingman Academy of Learning is a charter school. It has four parts: primary (pre-school to 2nd grade), intermediate (3rd to 5th grade), middle (6th to 8th grade), and high school (9th to 12th grade).
- The Emmanuel Christian Academy teaches students from kindergarten to 8th grade.
- Arizona Virtual Academy is an online learning center for K–12 students.
Colleges and Universities
- Mohave Community College has one of its main campuses in Kingman.
- Northern Arizona University has an extension campus in Kingman.
Famous People from Kingman
- Andy Devine (1905–1977) was an actor who grew up in Kingman. A main street in Kingman is named "Andy Devine Avenue."
- Carlos Elmer (1920–1993) was a writer and photographer. He was raised in Kingman.
- Doris Hill (1905–1976) was an American film actress from the 1920s and 1930s.
- Paul Kalanithi (1977–2015) was a neurosurgeon and writer who grew up in Kingman.
- Doug Mirabelli was a baseball catcher for the Boston Red Sox. He was born in Kingman.
- Aron Ra is an atheist activist and public speaker. He was born in Kingman.
- Joseph Rosenberg was a banker in Kingman. He later became Walt Disney's banker.
- Tarik Skubal is a baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers.
- Karen Steele was an actress who lived and died in Kingman.
Places to Visit
- Hualapai Mountain Recreation Area is a great place to visit. It is about 12 miles (19 km) southeast of Kingman.
- Oatman is a "ghost town" that is now a tourist attraction. It is about 28 miles (45 km) southwest of Kingman.
See also
In Spanish: Kingman (Arizona) para niños
