COMMUNITY PROFILES / ARIZONA’S RIVER CITIES
Services
The quality of life in this region is high and services are outstanding, from state-of-the-art healthcare facilities to private schools and institutions of higher education. As the leading city in La Paz County, Parker is home to the La Paz Regional Hospital. The hospital is dedicated to providing a high quality of care, a comprehensive array of services, and a patient-centered atmosphere. “People serving people” is the mission of the hospital, which serves the entire county with primary and secondary healthcare services and specialties. Three outstanding hospitals serve residents of Mohave County, including the teaching hospital of Kingman Regional Medical Center in Kingman and Havasu Regional Medical Center in Lake Havasu City. The expansive and highly respected campus for Western Arizona Regional Medical Center in Bullhead City serves a regional population that includes residents of the tri-state region that encompasses sections of Arizona, Nevada, and California.
Public and private schools provide a quality education for students from preschool through 12th grade, complemented by nearby institutions of higher education. Mohave Community College provides one of the most affordable opportunities in the state at several convenient locations. With campuses in Bullhead City, Colorado City, Kingman, and Lake Havasu City, the college also offers an impressive variety of classes at off-site locations and an extensive distance education program. Since its founding in 1971, MCC has grown to nearly 12,000 students who enjoy a class size of approximately 13. The educational opportunities at all three MCC campuses are further expanded by extensions for Northern Arizona University. Degree and certification programs on undergraduate and even graduate levels are available through these extensions. La Paz County residents have the advantage of attending an extension for Arizona Western College with its main campus in Yuma. Northern Arizona University based in Flagstaff has expanded its extensions into Mohave County, bringing the opportunity to earn a four-year degree even closer to home.
Lifestyle
The architect of the Grand Canyon, the mighty Colorado River, plays a significant role in this region along its journey from Hoover Dam down to Mexico. Friendly communities with a strong appreciation for water-oriented outdoor adventures have sprung up along the scenic riverfront, while many habitats preserve the region’s abundant wildlife. These cities provide easy access to the entertainment centers of Laughlin and Las Vegas in Nevada, but they are also a short drive from two of the nation’s largest metropolitan centers—Los Angeles and Phoenix—and the vast international wonder of the Grand Canyon. Lake Havasu, the famous London Bridge, Lake Mohave, the Parker Strip, and the Lake Mead National Recreational Area with a full 1,000 miles of Colorado River shoreline combine with first-rate snowboarding and skiing opportunities in Flagstaff to ensure four-season recreation. Championship golf courses, tennis courts, sports courts and fields, equestrian attractions, hiking and biking trails, hunting and fishing opportunities and camp sites combine with world-class water sports.
From clear desert nights to the higher elevations of mountain foothill communities, this panoramic area supports every imaginable lifestyle. Historic properties in the heart of a small town, horse properties, country manors, sprawling ranches, and newer subdivisions are all available. Historic sites and fine museums preserve a proud past, while ghost towns and old mining sites like Oatman and Chloride invite exploration.
This scenic Colorado River Valley is well known as a summer vacation paradise, drawing throngs of boaters, water-sport enthusiasts, and anglers to its shores. The 17-mile “Parker Strip” alone has earned a national reputation for some of the West’s finest water-skiing, boating, jet skiing, wave-running, swimming, and fishing opportunities. The London Bridge and English Village in Lake Havasu City are the focal point of a multi-million dollar resort complex of shops, restaurants, and fine lodging, drawing more than one million visitors into the city each year. Colorful celebrations dot the calendar, including lively events like rodeos, demolition derbies, bluegrass festivals, the annual Harley Run, powerboat races, county fairs, chili cook offs, and community barbecues. Drawn together by a hometown spirit and a shared appreciation of an active lifestyle, the residents of this fertile area are quick to welcome newcomers to a truly enviable quality of life.
