Our Past

EXPLORING OUR PAST

The first people to inhabit our valley were the Pipa Aha Macav - The People by the River. Their descendents are the Fort Mojave Indians. The first white men to visit the area were Spanish explorers who heard the name as mo-HAH-vey and spelled it Mojave. On hearing the Spanish pronunciation, English people spelled it Mohave, thus the two spellings in use today.

Conflicts between the Mojaves, the Spaniards and migrants drawn west by the California gold rush led to the establishment of Fort Mojave in 1859 overlooking the place where the Mojave Road crossed the Colorado River. Mohave County was established by the first Arizona territorial legislature in 1864. Mohave City, a frontier town that had sprung up next to Fort Mojave, was named the county seat. In 1890 the War Department turned over the establishment to the Indian Service through the orders of President Benjamin Harrison. The buildings became an Indian boarding school housing up to 200 students. The school eventually closed and the buildings were given up by the Indian Service in 1935. The property is now
part of the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation.
 

Climate

A Sun Kissed Climate

The climate in Mohave Valley makes it a four-season playground. Warm winters are perfect for outdoor activities such as hiking, exploring by 4-wheel drive, gardening and star gazing under a smogless sky. Rain is sparse but early spring rains mean an explosion of wildflowers and blooming cacti throughout the valley. Summertime locals and visitors head to the river and nearby Lake Mohave for large mouth bass, striped bass and trout fishing; boating; water skiing and swimming. Fall in Arizona is markedly different than other parts of the country. Most trees in the desert are evergreen, making the season uniquely void of red or yellow leaves. While those in the East are raking leaves, Arizonans are still watering their grass, barbecuing and enjoying temperatures in the 80s often through November Average spring temperatures range from 48 F to 92F; summer ranges are 71 F to 120F; fall ranges are 59F to 100F, and typical average winter temperature ranges are 41F to 68F Average annual rainfall is just over 4 inches. With the maximum amount falling in December and January (with an average of just over 1/2-inch each month,and the least in June (0.03 inch average.)

Agriculture

A PLACE To GROW

AGRICULTURE contributes greatly to the Valleys economy and appearance. More than 15,000 acres of farms are part of the Valley. Alfalfa and cotton are the principal crops. About 7000 acres of upland cotton and about 7000 acres of alfalfa are here, along with some Bermuda and Sudan grass and a sprinkling of tomatoes, melons, pumpkins and corn that are sold locally. Field crops bring in about six million dollars annually. Cotton is planted in March and harvested in September and October. The cotton gin is in operation during the fall. Anderson Clayton Cotton Gin processes the cotton that the area farmers grow. Production depends mostly on the weather during the growing season. Anderson Clayton employs approximately 20 people during the three months of ginning season Ginning season is October, November and December. During this time there are limited tours available. The other nine months of the year are spent repairing and keeping the machinery in good condition. Anderson Clayton is located at 8482 S. Aquarius Drive in Mohave Valley. Their phone number is 928-768-4102.

ALFALFA is planted in October and harvest begins in the spring. A long season supplies about eight cuttings per year. Grain mix is also grown and used for  animal feed. All crops are irrigated with river or well water.

Transportation

Mohave Valley sits along the Colorado River on the western side of Arizona, bordered to the west by Nevada and California, to the north by Fort Mojave and Bullhead City, Ariz., and to the south by Needles, Calif. The valley sits at about 55 feet above sea level. To find the area on a map, see the point where Nevada, California and Arizona meet.

The Laughlin-Bullhead International Airport is situated in Bullhead City overlooking the Laughlin, Nev., casinos. The Mohave County Airport Authority was formed in 1979 to oversee operations. Over the years many improvements have been made including a recently remodeled and expanded main terminal. The master plan is currently being updated with long-range goals in mind. Aggressive pursuits to restore and expand passenger service are ongoing. The airport authority and the city council of Bullhead City work in cooperation to maintain the airport as a regional hub for air traffic.

The area may also be reached by Amtrak train, with the closest stop in Needles. Visit the Amtrak Web site at www.amtrak.com for more information.

There is limited Greyhound bus service in our Tri-state area. Contact Greyhound Lines in Kingman for more information at 928-757-8400.

Arizona Highway 95 passes through Mohave Valley. The nearest interstate highway is I-40 to the south.

Arts and Music

MUSIC
   
The Colorado River Concert Association, founded in 1976, is bringing world-class entertainment to the community four times a year, and at affordable prices. At the same time it is sponsoring music education programs for our area youth. The ENCORE Concerts for Young People program introduces the concert experience to about 1500 local students each year. Each of the season's entertainers perform two shows - one for the paying public and one free for the students. A non-profit organization, the association welcomes both business and individual sponsors. A long-term goal and dream is to see the construction of a performing and fine arts center in town. Call 928-330-2039 or visit the Web site at http://www.coloradoriverconcerts.com/

ART

The River Valley Artists' Guild is a non-profit organization which holds annual art exhibits and shows throughout the area. Dedicated to art and art education, the guild has been promoting creative arts and supporting young artists in the community for over 30 years. Each year the guild awards high school and college arts scholarships with funds raised from promotional events such as the annual Black Mountain Fine Arts Show in the spring and an arts and crafts fair held during Hardyville Days in October. The Tri-state High School Art Show held every year at Mohave Valley Community College is co-hosted by the guild. A rotating exhibit of guild members' artwork is ongoing at Western Arizona Regional Medical Center. Anyone interested in the arts, whether artist or patron, is encouraged to join the guild. Call 928-768-1488 for more information.

Health Care

Valley View Medical Center is the Tri-state area's newest hospital. It is a full-service, state-of-the-art medical campus with 24-hour emergency services, including an on-site air ambulance helicopter.
    Each of Valley View's 60 patient beds is in a private room equipped with cable television, including a special channel with patient information and tips.    
    Most major private and public insurance programs are accepted. No one is ever turned away based on ability to pay.
    Valley View has six surgical units and a 12-bed outpatient care unit. A six-bed critical care unit provides a wide range of life supporting therapies for critically ill patients. Spacious labor and delivery suites are more like hotel rooms than hospital rooms, and each features a fold-down bed so that a family member can comfortably spend the night.
    The inpatient and outpatient radiology and imaging center has 4D ultrasound, 16-slice CT-Scan, 1.5 Tesla MRI and nuclear medicine programs that are the envy of big city hospitals. The 10-bed inpatient rehabilitation unit provides a full range of physical, occupational and speech therapy services, including a whirlpool and outdoor therapy courtyard. The outpatient rehab complex adjacent to the hospital even includes a fitness pool for aquatic therapy.
    Valley View is the only hospital in the immediate area to offer an around-the-clock option to kidney stone surgery. The on-site, non-invasive procedure, known as lithotripsy, uses sound waves (also referred to as shock waves), to break kidney stones into tiny pieces. Those pieces then travel through the urinary tract and pass from the body. This alternative to surgery is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In January 2008, community leaders and officials from Valley View broke ground for an $8.1 million expansion. The new 4,000 square foot wing will be the hospital's first addition since opening in November 2005 and is expected to be completed by August.
    Located on the hospital's south side, the new wing will double the size of the intensive care unit (ICU) from six to 12 beds. It will also house a permanent cardiac catheterization lab within hospital walls, eventually replacing a short-term portable facility constructed last year.
The cath lab will be used for inpatient and outpatient cardiac care, including the treatment of patients who are having heart attacks or who have blocked arteries. Valley View's Cardiac Care Services program is not only important for people who have heart-related problems, but also for people who want to prevent them.
    Five local cardiologists and three vascular surgeons currently have medical privileges to perform the procedures at Valley View, including pacemakers, implantable defibrillators, angioplasties (clearing blocked arteries), and stents (small mesh devices or tubes to keep arteries and veins open). Vascular surgical procedures have also been expanded to the cath lab, in addition to those already being performed in Valley View's inpatient and outpatient surgery center.
Valley View is just south of Bullhead City and is a short distance from both Laughlin, Nev., and Needles, Calif. It is approximately two miles from the point where Arizona, California and Nevada come together. The hospital is located at 5330 S. Highway 95 in Fort Mojave. Additional information is available at 928-788-CARE (2273), toll-free at 800-371-2520, or online at www.valleyviewmedicalcenter.net. Employment opportunities are also posted online.


Western Arizona Regional Medical Center is a 139-bed hospital offering inpatient and out-patient care. WARMC has the areas largest 24-hour emergency department and largest critical care unit. Also available are diagnostic and therapeutic services, obstetrics and perinatal, cardiac catheterization lab, pulmonary rehab, home health, hospice physical therapy and more. WARMC is located at 2735 Silver Creek Rd. in Bullhead City. They may be reached at 928-763-2273.

WARMC Imaging Center, located at 1245 E. Hancock Road in Bullhead City, offers lab work, EKG testing, mammography and open MRI. The Imaging Center may be reached at 928-763-2585.

WARMC Surgery Center, located at 1225 E. Hancock Road in Bullhead City offers modern and convenient day-surgery and  outpatient procedures. It is equipped with the same technology as the hospital, but in a doctors office-like environment as well as quicker turnaround times on procedures. Areas of specialty include general surgery, gynecology,  otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat), gastroenterology and endoscopy, orthopedic, hand and microvascular, urology and more. They may be reached at 928-763-2772.

Education

Public charter, alternative high school and private schools are all available in our area. Each school puts the education of students first and foremost in their curriculum.
    
Public Charter Schools

Private Schools

Montessori School House, P K - 3
928-763-3202

Colleges and Universities 

Mohave Community College is a two-year, fully accredited public college. It serves over 6,000 students each semester at its four campus locations, including the Bullhead City campus located at 3400 Highway 95 in Bullhead City. Courses are diverse and selected to serve the needs of the community. A new health services building houses nursing, dental hygiene and emergency medical services classes. There are quilting, stained glass, and jewelry making classes for those interested in hand crafts. Several levels of creative writing classes have produced a literary journal at the Bullhead City campus. Gaming classes, such as card dealing and craps dealing are also available for those working in the gaming industry. For more information call 928-758-3926.

Northern Arizona University courses are also available at the MCC campus. For more information call 928-704-9450. 

Utilities

Allied Waste
(formerly Tri-state)
967 Hancock Rd.
Bullhead City, AZ 86442
928-758-0000
Trash services in Bullhead City,
Mohave Valley, Needles, Golden Shores and Fort Mojave

Americable
12917 S. Cerro Colorado
Topock, AZ 86436
928-768-3711

American Water Co.
927 Hancock Rd.
Bullhead City
928-758-1146
Bullhead City service

Bermuda Water Co.
4544 Highway 95
Fort Mojave, AZ 86442
928-763-6676
Service in Mohave Valley,
Fort Mojave, and south end of Bullhead City.

Cable Television
1049 Hancock Rd.
Bullhead City, AZ 86442
928-758-4844

CMA Cablevision Inc.
3030 Needles Highway # 1400
Laughlin, NV
702-298-3214
Cable television and
internet Provider for Laughlin.

Expand Cable
5902 S. Hwy 95 Ste. 110
Fort Mojave, AZ 86426
928-577-0104

Fort Mojave Disposal
2250 Boundary Cone Rd.
Mohave Valley, AZ 86440
928-330-5111

Fort Mojave Telecommunications Inc.
928-346-2500
Telephone service on reservation land

Fort Mojave Television Network
dial-up internet available on and off
reservation land
928-346-2500

Fort Mojave Tribal Utilities Authority
water and sewer available on and off reservation land
928-346-1909

Frontier Communications
927 Hancock Road
Bullhead City
928-763-1122 (residential service)
928-763-1111 (business service)

Golden Shores Water Co.
12812 Highway 66
Topock, 86436
928-768-3110

Hargus Disposal
Mohave Valley
928-768-3118

Lagoon Estates Water Co.
Mohave Valley
928-768-9646

Mohave Electric Cooperative, Inc.
928 Hancock Rd.
Bullhead City, AZ  86442
928-763-1100
Electric service in Bullhead City, Fort Mojave, Mohave Valley, and Topock

North Mohave Valley Water Co.
1975 Highway 95
Bullhead City
928-763-5655
Service in Sunridge, Punta Vista and Bullhead City Airport areas

NPG Cable
2277 Swanson Ave. Ste. A
Lake Havasu City, AZ
928-855-4201

Southwest Gas Company
1705 Langford Dr.
Bullhead City, AZ 86442
928-763-7766
800-446-4642
Natural gas services in Bullhead City, Laughlin, Mohave Valley, Needles, and Fort Mojave

Unisource Energy Services
928-753-2124
Electricity in Katherine Landing and Oatman areas.

Willow Valley Water Co.
Mohave Valley
928-768-4413

Diverse Culture

A Diverse Cultural Community (Fort Mojave Indian Tribe article)

    The Fort Mojave Indian Tribe has seen a great deal of expansion and economic growth in past years, but has also made strides in preserving its culture. For many years the tribe has created development and employment opportunities in the ever expanding Mohave Valley area for both native and non-native residents. The Fort Mojave reservation covers approximately 42,000 acres of land in the Tri-state area, most of which is in Mohave Valley.
    Services provided by the tribe for both on and off the reservation have provided over 3,500 job opportunities in the Tri-state area.
The tribe currently provides customer services and entertainment venues. The customer services include Fort Mojave Telecommunications, which recently added long-distance services, Aha Macav Power Service, Fort Mojave Tribal Utilities Authority, Fort Mojave Realty, Fort Mojave Television Network, and two full-service convenience stores, just to name a few.
    The Avi Resort & Casino, located in Nevada about eight miles south of Laughlin and fifteen miles north of Needles is a favorite spot for locals to stay and play. The resort offers over 450 rooms, including 29 spa suites, Nevada style gaming in a 32,000 square foot casino, bingo hall, Race & Sports Book and keno lounge. A $32 million expansion project started with the opening of a three-story parking garage. What catches people's eyes about the building is the exterior artwork. The designs were inspired by the beadwork of the late Norg Betty Barrackman, long-time member of the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe and well-known native artist. The completion of the second phase of the expansion project added a new lagoon pool with waterfalls, banquet room, 11,000 square-foot convention center, and 310 new slot machines. The third phase includes new rooms, an expanded beach area, added boat storage facilities and a new boat launch ramp.
    Other amenities include a multi-movie complex, Brenden Theatres, with reclining stadium seating, River Garden Pavilion, workout room, gift shop, and Kids Quest, a supervised fantasy playland for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years.
    Free entertainment is provided nightly in the Arrow Weed Lounge. The Avi has a harbor-marina complex and cove with a swim beach, launch, fuel dock and watercraft rentals.
    Restaurants include the casual elegance of the MoonShadow Grille, the 24-hour Feathers CafŽ, the Native Harvest Buffet and the new Ristorante Aviano. Other food outlets include Panda Express, Subway, Sbarro (a deli) and Little Larry's Pizza.
    Across the street from the Avi is the Mojave Resort Golf Club with an 18-hole, par 72 championship course. It is rated one of the best courses in the Tri-state area. Chris Stewart is the director of golf.
    The tribe is continually expanding the two subdivisions located on the reservation. Both subdivisions are gated, with clubhouse, swimming pool, spa, fitness center and many more amenities. Desert Springs is located in Laughlin, Nevada with homes being constructed around the Mojave Resort Golf Club. This is an active adult community for those over 55 years young.
    The subdivision of Mesquite Creek, located in Mohave Valley on Boundary Cone Road, has entered Phase II of construction, with models available for viewing.
    The Mojave Crossing Event Center is in Arizona, just across the Colorado River from the Avi Resort and Casino. This multi-venue facility is designed to be used for events such as concerts, rodeo, motocross and boxing, to name a few. The floor in the event center is 45,000 square feet, and there are 3,000 individual bleacher type arena seats. A sky lounge with a dance floor that can hold approximately 150 is available for parties and meetings, and there is the 12,000 square-foot Crossing Casino with slots. Up to 60 vendors may be present during events, and there is a permanent concession stand. The arena is climate controlled, with a mist system for cooling in the barn and cattle pens. This is a state-of-the-art event center.
    Spirit Mountain Casino, located in Mohave Valley on Highway 95 has a new bar, slots, video poker machines and a snack bar.
    The Fort Mojave Indian Tribe Band celebrated its 100-anniversary in 2006. It is thought to be the oldest Native American band in the country, and the group regularly marches in parades and performs at local events.
    The Topock Maze landscape, in the Mojave Desert west of the California Arizona border, is essential to the tribe's creation story as a portal through which spirits journey at the end of life.
    The tribe expands its economic ventures, but always remains committed to preserving its cultural heritage. Protecting the sacred sites and environment is always first and foremost. The desired outcome of all the tribe's expansion and growth is to become entirely self-sufficient.