Yuma
is located in
the far southwest
corner of Arizona,
just below where
the Colorado and
Gila Rivers converge.
Since prehistoric
times, Yuma has
been the best
site for crossing
the Colorado River.
Yuma was named
for the Yuman
Indians, so called
because of their
habit of setting
fires along the
river ("humo"
meaning smoke
in Spanish). Fort
Yuma was built
during the gold
rush to protect
settlers and safeguard
the southern route
to California.
Today, Yuma serves
as the Yuma County
seat and remains
a key crossroad
for air and land
transportation.
The
Yuma
State
Territorial
Prison,
with
cells
carved
from
rock,
once
housed
Arizona's
most
dangerous
outlaws,
but
today
is
a
popular
tourist
attraction
operated
by
the
Arizona
State
Parks
Department.
Other attractions
in
and
around
Yuma
include
Fort
Yuma
(built
in
1851),
the
16th-century
St.
Thomas
Mission,
the
Quechan
Indian
Museum,
and
across
the
Colorado
River,
the
California
sand
dunes.
The
Arizona
State
Parks
Board
and
the
City
of
Yuma
operate
Yuma
Crossing
State
Park,
featuring
living
history
on
the
Colorado
before
1900.
St. George Golf Guide: Contains essential info about the golf scene in St. George, including course and hotel info.
Yuma
is located in
the far southwest
corner of Arizona,
just below where
the Colorado and
Gila Rivers converge.
Since prehistoric
times, Yuma has
been the best
site for crossing
the Colorado River.
Yuma was named
for the Yuman
Indians, so called
because of their
habit of setting
fires along the
river ("humo"
meaning smoke
in Spanish). Fort
Yuma was built
during the gold
rush to protect
settlers and safeguard
the southern route
to California.
Today, Yuma serves
as the Yuma County
seat and remains
a key crossroad
for air and land
transportation.
