Lake Havasu City, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lake Havasu City
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London Bridge, Lake Havasu City
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| Nickname(s):
"LHC"
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Location in Mohave County, Arizona
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 Lake Havasu City, Arizona
Location in Arizona
Lake Havasu City, Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Arizona | |
| County | Mohave | |
| Incorporated | 1978 | |
| Area | ||
| • City | 46.38 sq mi (120.14 km2) | |
| • Land | 46.34 sq mi (120.02 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.05 sq mi (0.12 km2) | |
| Elevation | 938 ft (286 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • City | 57,144 | |
| • Density | 1,233.17/sq mi (476.13/km2) | |
| • Metro | 203,361 (US: 213th) | |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (MST Arizona Time (no DST)) | |
| ZIP codes |
86403-86406
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| Area code(s) | 928 | |
| FIPS code | 04-39370 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2411604 | |
Lake Havasu City is a city located in Mohave County, Arizona, United States. It sits on the shores of Lake Havasu. In 2020, the city had a population of 57,144 people. It is known for its unique history and as a popular spot for outdoor activities.
Contents
- Discovering Lake Havasu City's Past
- Fun Events and Activities
- Where is Lake Havasu City?
- Getting Around Lake Havasu City
- Lake Havasu City's Climate
- People of Lake Havasu City
- Learning and Education
- City Government
- Famous People from Lake Havasu City
- Places to Visit and Things to Do
- Images for kids
- See also
Discovering Lake Havasu City's Past
Lake Havasu City began during World War II as a rest camp for the United States Army Air Corps called Site Six. In 1958, a businessman named Robert P. McCulloch bought a large piece of land by Lake Havasu. He had a big dream to build a new city there.
After several years of planning, McCulloch bought even more land. Lake Havasu City was officially started on September 30, 1963. To help the city grow, McCulloch's company offered free flights to people from all over the United States who were interested in buying property there. This helped many new residents discover the area. The city officially became an incorporated city in 1978.
The Famous London Bridge in Arizona
One of the most surprising things about Lake Havasu City is that it is home to the London Bridge. This famous bridge crosses the Bridgewater Channel, which connects Lake Havasu to Thompson Bay.
In 1968, the City of London in England decided to replace their old London Bridge. Robert McCulloch saw an opportunity and bought the bridge for $2.5 million. The bridge was carefully taken apart, with each stone marked. Then, the stones were shipped all the way to Lake Havasu City and put back together. This huge project cost another $7 million and took three years to finish.
The London Bridge officially opened in Lake Havasu City on October 5, 1971. It quickly became a major tourist attraction, second only to the Grand Canyon in Arizona.
Fun Events and Activities
Lake Havasu City is a lively place with many events happening throughout the year.
Spring Break and Boating Fun
During the spring, many university students visit Lake Havasu City for spring break. The city is also a top spot for boaters, especially from March to September.
Exciting Competitions and Festivals
The city hosts the International World Jet Ski Final Races, where people compete on personal watercraft. There are also professional fishing tournaments and boat regattas. Other fun events include the Western Winter Blast, which is a pyrotechnics (fireworks) convention, and the Havasu Triathlon. The Havasu Balloon Festival & Fair is another popular event, featuring colorful hot air balloons.
Winterfest Celebrations
In the winter, many retirees from colder places come to enjoy the mild weather. During this time, events like Winterfest are held on McCulloch Boulevard. Winterfest is an annual event in February that brings thousands of visitors and locals together for food, activities, entertainment, and products from many different vendors.
Where is Lake Havasu City?
Lake Havasu City is located in the southwestern part of Mohave County, Arizona. It sits on the eastern side of Lake Havasu, which is a reservoir on the Colorado River. The city is about 60 miles south of Kingman, the county seat, and 193 miles northwest of Phoenix.
The city covers an area of about 46.4 square miles. Most of this area is land, with a very small portion being water.
Getting Around Lake Havasu City
The main way to get to Lake Havasu City by road is using Arizona State Route 95. This highway connects to Interstate 40 to the north and Interstate 10 to the south. The city's unique road system was designed by C. V. Wood, who also helped design Disneyland.
In the early days, Robert McCulloch's company used airplanes to fly people interested in buying property to the area. Today, Lake Havasu City has its own public transportation system called Lake Havasu City Transit. There is also a service called Vegas Airporter that provides rides to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. If you want to visit Havasu Lake, California, you can take a ferry from Lake Havasu City.
The city also has its own airport, Lake Havasu City Airport, which is used for general aviation.
Lake Havasu City's Climate
Lake Havasu City has a hot desert climate. This means it has extremely hot summers, mild winters, and very little rain.
Summer Heat
Lake Havasu City is known for its intense heat. The highest temperature ever recorded in Arizona was in Lake Havasu City, reaching 128°F (53°C) on June 29, 1994. Temperatures can reach over 100°F (38°C) as early as April and as late as October. In the summer, it's common for temperatures to be 110°F (43°C) or higher. Even at night, summer temperatures often stay between 80°F (27°C) and 90°F (32°C).
Mild Winters and Low Rainfall
Winters in Lake Havasu City are very pleasant. Daily high temperatures are usually between 60°F (16°C) and 70°F (26°C). It rarely freezes at night. The city receives very little rain, with an average of only about 4.16 inches (106 mm) per year. Even in winter, which is the wettest season, rain only falls on about 2-3 days per month.
| Climate data for Lake Havasu City, Arizona (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1967–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 86 (30) |
92 (33) |
100 (38) |
107 (42) |
117 (47) |
128 (53) |
126 (52) |
123 (51) |
118 (48) |
113 (45) |
95 (35) |
84 (29) |
128 (53) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 75.0 (23.9) |
81.4 (27.4) |
91.8 (33.2) |
101.4 (38.6) |
108.1 (42.3) |
116.2 (46.8) |
119.0 (48.3) |
117.4 (47.4) |
112.2 (44.6) |
103.2 (39.6) |
88.4 (31.3) |
75.5 (24.2) |
120.5 (49.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 65.2 (18.4) |
70.4 (21.3) |
78.1 (25.6) |
85.8 (29.9) |
95.2 (35.1) |
105.1 (40.6) |
109.3 (42.9) |
108.1 (42.3) |
101.9 (38.8) |
89.1 (31.7) |
74.9 (23.8) |
63.8 (17.7) |
87.2 (30.7) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 53.9 (12.2) |
58.1 (14.5) |
64.8 (18.2) |
71.7 (22.1) |
81.1 (27.3) |
90.3 (32.4) |
96.0 (35.6) |
95.2 (35.1) |
88.2 (31.2) |
75.3 (24.1) |
62.4 (16.9) |
52.8 (11.6) |
74.2 (23.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 42.7 (5.9) |
45.8 (7.7) |
51.4 (10.8) |
57.7 (14.3) |
66.9 (19.4) |
75.5 (24.2) |
82.7 (28.2) |
82.3 (27.9) |
74.5 (23.6) |
61.6 (16.4) |
50.0 (10.0) |
41.8 (5.4) |
61.1 (16.2) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 35.6 (2.0) |
38.4 (3.6) |
43.7 (6.5) |
49.4 (9.7) |
57.5 (14.2) |
66.1 (18.9) |
74.8 (23.8) |
74.1 (23.4) |
65.3 (18.5) |
53.0 (11.7) |
42.0 (5.6) |
35.6 (2.0) |
33.7 (0.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 24 (−4) |
28 (−2) |
37 (3) |
36 (2) |
49 (9) |
52 (11) |
68 (20) |
68 (20) |
56 (13) |
43 (6) |
30 (−1) |
25 (−4) |
24 (−4) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.75 (19) |
0.61 (15) |
0.48 (12) |
0.16 (4.1) |
0.03 (0.76) |
0.01 (0.25) |
0.26 (6.6) |
0.38 (9.7) |
0.36 (9.1) |
0.28 (7.1) |
0.30 (7.6) |
0.54 (14) |
4.16 (106) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 2.9 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 18.9 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 248.0 | 254.3 | 310.0 | 360.0 | 403.0 | 390.0 | 372.0 | 372.0 | 330.0 | 310.0 | 240.0 | 248.0 | 3,837.3 |
| Mean daily sunshine hours | 8.0 | 9.0 | 10.0 | 12.0 | 13.0 | 13.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 11.0 | 10.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 10.5 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 80 | 82 | 83 | 92 | 93 | 93 | 86 | 92 | 92 | 91 | 80 | 80 | 87 |
| Average ultraviolet index | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 7 |
| Source 1: National Weather Service / Western Regional Climate Center | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Weather Atlas | |||||||||||||
People of Lake Havasu City
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1970 | 4,111 | — | |
| 1980 | 15,909 | 287.0% | |
| 1990 | 24,363 | 53.1% | |
| 2000 | 41,938 | 72.1% | |
| 2010 | 52,527 | 25.2% | |
| 2020 | 57,144 | 8.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Lake Havasu City has grown quite a bit over the years. In 2020, the population was 57,144. Most residents are White, with growing numbers of people from Hispanic/Latino backgrounds and those identifying with multiple races.
The most common backgrounds reported in 2020 included English, German, Irish, Mexican, Italian, and French. The median age in the city in 2000 was 48 years old.
Learning and Education
Lake Havasu City has a good school system managed by the Lake Havasu Unified School District.
Schools in the City
The city has six elementary schools: Jamaica Elementary, Oro Grande Classical Academy, Starline Elementary, Smoketree Elementary, Nautilus Elementary, and Havasupai Elementary. There is one middle school, Thunderbolt Middle School, and one high school, Lake Havasu High School. There are also other schools like Telesis Preparatory Academy and Havasu Preparatory Academy.
Higher Education Opportunities
For students looking for college, there is a campus of Mohave Community College in Lake Havasu City. This college also hosts one of the Northern Arizona University extended campuses. Arizona State University opened a new campus here in August 2012, offering four-year college programs. However, it was announced in September 2024 that this campus would close in June 2025 due to state budget changes.
City Government
Lake Havasu City is run by a council-manager system. This means the city has a mayor and six council members who are elected by the people. They serve four-year terms.
The City Council makes the rules and sets the direction for the city. They also choose a City Manager. The City Manager is in charge of carrying out the council's plans and managing the city's daily operations. Department Directors are appointed by the City Manager.
Famous People from Lake Havasu City
Several notable people have connections to Lake Havasu City:
- Roy Thomas Baker – An English record producer and songwriter.
- David Bazan – An indie rock singer-songwriter.
- Michael Biehn – An actor.
- Chuck Crim – A former Major League baseball pitcher.
- Crystal Hefner – A model.
- Robert P. McCulloch – The businessman who bought the London Bridge and helped create Lake Havasu City.
- Bob Milacki – A former Major League baseball pitcher.
- Gary Simmons – A former National Hockey League player.
Places to Visit and Things to Do
Lake Havasu City offers many attractions for visitors and residents:
- London Bridge
- London Bridge Resort
- Lake Havasu Golf Club (with 36 holes)
- The Nautical Beachfront Resort
- Lake Havasu and Colorado River
- Wheeler Park
- Lake Havasu Historical Society
- The Aquatic Center
- Patrick Tinell Memorial Skatepark
- Rotary Community Park
- The Shops at Lake Havasu
- Lake Havasu Art Collective
- Lake Havasu City Airport (KHII)
- Minor league baseball games at Havasu 95 Speedway
- Lighthouses along the Colorado River
Images for kids
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London Bridge
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Lake Havasu City from the west
See also
In Spanish: Lake Havasu City para niños
