City of Yuma history

Mormons settled the Great Basin of Utah in 1847, moved quickly into tributary valleys of the Colorado in Utah and Arizona, and acquired knowledge that contributed to later scientific surveys.

1848 — The Yuma Crossing affords an easy place for settlers to cross the Colorado River on their way to California as part of the Gold Rush.

In 1849, so great was the travel to California, then the new Eldorado, that a ferry was established across the river by a discharged soldier from the United States army in conjunction with, and protected by, the Yuma Indians.

In 1852 Fort Yuma was established upon the right or west bank of the Colorado River, opposite the mouth of the Gila River in the State of California.

The Yuma City of today was first laid out and called Colorado City in 1854, and sometime in the '60's was changed to Arizona City, and still later to Yuma.

By 1857, the first stage road was built from San Diego to San Antonio, with stages carried across the river aboard the rope ferry.

In 1858 rich placer diggings were discovered by Jacob Snively and others at what was, and is yet, known as Gila City, some eighteen miles east of Yuma, and soon a heterogeneous population of 3,000 persons gathered there.

In the year 1862 Captain Pauline Weaver made the discovery of gold placers some few miles easterly from La Paz, and during that year as many as twelve hundred persons were at work there and it has been estimated that somewhere near a million dollars in gold was taken out that year.

Yuma is one of the original counties into which the Territory of Arizona was divided by the first legislature of the Territory, which met at Prescott in 1864.

La Paz was the first county-seat of Yuma County, but in 1871 it was changed to Yuma, where it is at present and will probably remain.

In 1873, it is renamed Yuma.

In 1875 alone, the Colorado River Steam Navigation Co. shipped over 4,500 tons of freight to Yuma.

The newly renamed city gained one of its lasting claims to fame in 1876, when the Yuma Territorial Prison opened on the twin hill across from the fort.

The first train crossed into Arizona from California in 1877 on a track alignment that corresponds to present-day Madison Avenue.

1878 — Wellton is founded.

Typical of Arizona’s atypical development, the railroad line was built from west to east beginning in Yuma, reaching Tucson in 1880.

1898 — Somerton is founded.

After 1900, investigations would focus on issues of river development: flood control, irrigation, hydropower, and water supply.

The engineers’ camp at Laguna Dam is seen in August of 1905.

A view from 1910 looking down the shaft from the Arizona side during the siphon construction under the Colorado River.

25, 1911 — The first airplane to land in Arizona touches down in Yuma near 4th Avenue, between 1st and 3rd streets.

The Queen Faye Pyle float from Bard, Calif., is the entry in the 1912 parade marking the opening of the Yuma Siphon.

When the City of Yuma celebrated the 100th anniversary of its charter under the laws of the new state of Arizona – April 7, 1914 – it also demonstrated that this community is committed to preserving and celebrating its rich heritage and unique position at the crossroads of the Southwest.

May 22, 1915 — The Ocean-to- Ocean Bridge opens over the Colorado River at Yuma, serving as a key link for auto travel from the East Coast to the West Coast.

The Colorado River Compact is a 1922 agreement among seven United States states in the watershed of the Colorado River governing the allocation of the water rights to the river's water among the parties.

In 1929, the famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart ran off the end of the runway in Yuma while competing in the first Women's Air Derby from Santa Monica, Calif., to Cleveland (Earhart had a new propeller flown in, continued the race and finished third).

1930 — San Luis, Ariz., is established as a port of entry for traffic from Mexico.

As the Great Depression gripped the nation, Yuma’s economy was sustained by the construction of the Imperial Dam and All-American Canal; in fact, the Coronado Motel was the first modern-style motel to be built in Arizona (in 1938, with side-by-side rooms in a single building versus separate cabins).

The Civil Aeronautics Administration had authorized permanent runways at Fly Field in 1941; now activity ramped up and Yuma Army Air Base was established at the site.

June 1942 — United States Army opens Yuma Army Air Field.

With its first classes graduating in 1943, the base became one of the busiest flight schools in the nation, training pilots to fly AT-6 single-engine trainers, T-17 multi-engine trainers and B-17 Flying Fortresses.

Glen Canyon Dam (1968) was the last dam built on the Colorado River, creating storage capacity of 27 million acre feet of water, more than all other dams combined.

1878 — Wellton is founded. It is named for the water wells drilled in the area to serve the Southern Pacific Railroad – “Well Town.” In 1970, it is incorporated.

In 1979, it is incorporated as a city.

1, 1983 — Yuma County is reduced in size when the northern half of the county breaks away to form La Paz County, with Parker as its county seat.

1990-91 — Yuma’s military bases and personnel play a key role in the United States’ efforts to oust Iraqi troops from Kuwait, first in Operation Desert Shield and then Operation Desert Storm.

March 1997 — Former President George H.W. Bush parachutes over Yuma Proving Ground just a couple of months before his 73rd birthday.

2000 — The Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area is officially designated as the first federal Heritage Area west of the Mississippi River.

Since 2001, a unique partnership of the Quechan Indian Tribe, City of Yuma, Arizona Game and Fish, Bureau of Reclamation, and Bureau of Land Management, managed by the Heritage Area, led to the restoration of nearly 400 acres of wetlands.

March 2003 — The Iraq war begins and Marine Corps Air Station sends Harrier squadrons and other units overseas against Saddam Hussein.

2004 — Work begins in the development of the East Wetlands, part of the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area.

Arizona’s budget crisis following the 2008 recession posed a challenge for Yuma as the two state historic parks bookending its riverfront redevelopment area were threatened with closure.

July 2009 — The GM Desert Test Center opens at Yuma Proving Ground.

West Wetlands Park in 2012 has many fun activities available, including fishing.