Mohave County

History

Mohave County was the one of four original Arizona Counties created by the 1st Arizona Territorial Legislature. The county territory was originally defined as being west of longitude 113° 20' and north of the Bill Williams River. Pah-Ute County was created from it in 1865 and was merged back into Mohave County in 1871 when much of its territory was ceded to Nevada in 1866. The county's present boundaries were established in 1881. The county is also home to a large polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints sect located in Colorado City.

Mohave County has had five county seats: Mohave City (1864–1867), Hardyville (1867–1873), Cerbat (1873–1877), Mineral Park (1877–1887), and Kingman (since 1887).

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 13,461 square miles (34,860 km2), of which 13,311 square miles (34,480 km2) is land and 150 square miles (390 km2) (1.1%) is water. It is the second-largest county by area in Arizona and the fifth-largest in the contiguous United States.

The county consists of two sections divided by the Grand Canyon, with no direct land connection between them. The northern section, smaller and less populated, forms the western part of the Arizona Strip, bordering Utah and Nevada. The larger southern section borders Nevada and California across the Colorado River, which forms most of the county's western boundary. The southern section includes Kingman, the county seat, and other cities, as well as part of the Mojave Desert.

Adjacent counties

Washington County, Utah – north

Kane County, Utah – northeast

Coconino County – east

Yavapai County – east

La Paz County – south

San Bernardino County, California – southwest

Clark County, Nevada – west

Lincoln County, Nevada – northwest

Mohave County and its adjacent counties form the largest such block of counties outside of Alaska. Their combined land area is 89,567.34 square miles (231,978.3 km2), or larger than that of the state of Idaho. They include the #1 (San Bernardino), #2 (Coconino), #5 (Mohave), and #7 (Lincoln) largest counties outside of Alaska. If Nye County, Nevada- which is #3 for total county area that does not border Mohave but borders neighboring Lincoln and Clark counties is included, then the combined land area would be 107,726.34 squard miles or larger than the state of Colorado.

National protected areas

Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Grand Canyon National Park (part)

Grand Canyon–Parashant National Monument

Havasu National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Kaibab National Forest (part)

Lake Mead National Recreation Area (part)

Pipe Spring National Monument

There are 18 official wilderness areas in Mohave County that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Most of these are managed by the Bureau of Land Management, but some are integral parts of the preceding protected areas, or have shared jurisdiction with the BLM. Some extend into neighboring counties (as indicated below) All wilderness areas within Grand Canyon–Parashant National Monument are managed by BLM, although the National Monument shares management with the National Park Service:

Arrastra Mountain Wilderness (BLM) partly in Yavapai County, Arizona, and La Paz County, Arizona

Aubrey Peak Wilderness (BLM)

Beaver Dam Mountains Wilderness (BLM) partly in Washington County, Utah

Cottonwood Point Wilderness (BLM)

Grand Wash Cliffs Wilderness (Grand Canyon–Parashant NM) managed by BLM

Havasu Wilderness (Havasu NWR) partly in San Bernardino County, California

Kanab Creek Wilderness (Kaibab NF / BLM) mostly in Coconino County, Arizona

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 213,267. Of the residents, 16.8% were under the age of 18 and 31.0% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 53.8 years. For every 100 females there were 102.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.8 males. 76.1% of residents lived in urban areas and 23.9% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 79.6% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 2.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 5.9% from some other race, and 9.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 16.0% of the population.

There were 91,270 households in the county, of which 19.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 117,650 housing units, of which 22.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.7% were owner-occupied and 28.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.0%.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 200,186 people, 82,539 households, and 54,036 families living in the county. The population density was 15.0 inhabitants per square mile (5.8/km2). There were 110,911 housing units at an average density of 8.3 units per square mile (3.2 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 86.9% white, 2.2% American Indian, 1.1% Asian, 0.9% black or African American, 0.2% Pacific islander, 6.0% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 14.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 23.1% were German, 16.2% were Irish, 15.6% were English, 5.7% were Italian, and 4.5% were American.

Of the 82,539 households, 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.5% were non-families, and 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.86. The median age was 47.6 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,785 and the median income for a family was $47,530. Males had a median income of $36,222 versus $28,060 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,523. About 11.6% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.7% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 155,032 people, 62,809 households, and 43,401 families living in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile (4.6 people/km2). There were 80,062 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.1% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 2.4% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 4.0% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. 11.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 62,809 households, out of which 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.1% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 98.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,521, and the median income for a family was $36,311. Males had a median income of $28,505 versus $20,632 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,788. About 9.8% of families and 13.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.4% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.

Politics, government, and infrastructure

No Democratic presidential nominee has carried Mohave County since Lyndon Johnson, who, despite the home state advantage of Arizona native Barry Goldwater, did so in 1964, by a margin of only 152 votes.

The Mohave County Administration Building is located in downtown Kingman at 700 West Beale Street. The old County Complex, which the Administration Building replaced, was located adjacent to the courthouse on Spring Street and 4th Street. The Mohave County Superior Courthouse, built in 1915, is an Art Deco/Streamline Moderne building on the National Register of Historic Places. The county jail is adjacent to the County Administration Building at 501 S. Highway 66.

Arizona State Prison – Kingman, a privately run prison of the Arizona Department of Corrections, is located in unincorporated Mohave County near Golden Valley and Kingman.

Education

K-12 school districts

The following school districts serve Mohave County:

Unified school districts

Colorado City Unified School District

Fredonia-Moccasin Unified District

Kingman Unified School District

Lake Havasu Unified School District

Littlefield Unified School District

Peach Springs Unified School District – While it is a USD, it sends its high school students to other districts

High school districts

Colorado River Union High School District

Elementary school districts

Bullhead City Elementary School District

Hackberry School District

Mohave Valley Elementary School District

Owens-Whitney Elementary School District

Topock Elementary School District

Valentine Elementary School District

Yucca Elementary School District

Additionally there is a charter school:

Kingman Academy of Learning

Colleges

Mohave Community College

Arizona State University Lake Havasu City Campus

Public libraries

The Mohave County Library has ten branches. The branches in Bullhead City, Kingman and Lake Havasu City are open 56 hours a week. The branch in Mohave Valley is open 40 hours a week. Branches in Chloride, Dolan Springs, Golden Shores, Golden Valley, Meadview and Valle Vista are open 15 hours a week.

Transportation

Airports

The following public use airports are located in Mohave County:

Bullhead City – Eagle Airpark (A09)

Bullhead City – Laughlin-Bullhead International Airport (IFP)

Bullhead City – Sun Valley Airport (A20)

Colorado City – Colorado City Municipal Airport (AZC)

Kingman – Kingman Airport (IGM)

Lake Havasu City – Lake Havasu City Airport (HII)

Meadview – Pearce Ferry Airport (L25)

Peach Springs – Grand Canyon West Airport (1G4)

Temple Bar – Temple Bar Airport (U30)

Communities

Cities

Bullhead City

Kingman (county seat)

Lake Havasu City

Town

Colorado City

Indian communities

Fort Mojave Indian Reservation

Kaibab Indian Reservation

Hualapai Indian Reservation

County population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Mohave County.

† county seat

Economy

Mining

Artillery Peak mine