Yuma Broadcasting Co history

The growing influx of Americans into Mexico’s northern reaches eventually led to the outbreak of war in 1846.

What put Yuma on the map for Americans was the gold rush of 1849, when thousands of fortune hunters headed west, seeking the quickest way to reach California.

Reflecting the town’s new importance, the United States Army in 1852 established Fort Yuma on Indian Hill, overlooking the strategic crossing from across the river.

In 1854, the Gadsden Purchase was ratified, finally making the portion of Arizona south of the Gila River – and the Colorado City town site – part of the United States.

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

The first post office also was established that year in Colorado City – only to be washed away by flooding in 1862.

With big plans following the end of the war, the Arizona City town site was laid out in 1866 with a 100-foot right of way for Main Street in order to accommodate heavy wagon traffic and promote commercial development.

THERE ARE TWO INFAMOUS PRISONS IN THE WESTERN United States ONE IS THE YUMA TERRITORIAL PRISON. AND THE OTHER ONE IS ALCATRAZ. THE TERRITORIAL PRISON IS REALLY AN ICON OF THE SOUTHWEST. IT OPENED IN 1876.

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

THEY BUILT A BIG SIPHON, A HOLE THAT WENT COMPLETELY UNDER THE RIVER THAT DELIVERED WATER FROM ONE SIDE OF THE RIVER TO THE OTHER SIDE AND ALLOWED THE YUMA VALLEY TO BE IRRIGATED. THAT WAS PUT IN IN 1912.

As the City of Yuma celebrated the 100th anniversary of its charter under the laws of the new state of Arizona on 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.

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).

WHAT HAS REALLY IMPACTED SINCE THEN IS A NUMBER OF DAMS WHICH HAVE -- THINK OF THEM LIKE STRAWS INTO THE RIVER. YOU THINK THE RIVER IS UNLIMITED. PARKER DAM GETS BUILT IN 1941.

By 1943, the Army also had opened the Yuma Test Branch at the present-day site of Yuma Proving Ground near the Imperial Dam on the Colorado River.

THE ONE HEINE US WAS BUILT IN THE MID 1980.

Development of the East Wetlands environmental restoration area (begun 2004)

AND THEN MORE RECENTLY, THEY BUILT A COMMERCIAL CROSSING ABOUT FOUR MILES TO THE EAST. AND THAT WAS COMPLETED IN 2010.

C-SPAN’s Local Content Vehicles (LCVs) made a stop in their “2013 LCV Cities Tour” in Mesa, Arizona, on March 4-7 to…

December 16, 2016C-SPAN Cities Tour in Tempe, Arizona, Part 167 viewsC-SPAN’s Local Content Vehicles (LCVs) made a stop in their “2016 LCV Cities Tour” in Tempe, Arizona, from October 1-6 to feature the history and literary life of the community.