Fort Mohave

History

The first known European to visit the area was Spanish explorer Melchor Díaz. He documented his travels in what is now northwestern Mohave County in 1540. He recounts meeting a large population of natives who referred to themselves as the Pipa Aha Macav, meaning "People by the River". From "Aha Macav" came the Spanish name "Mojave", which was later passed into English, where it is also spelled "Mohave". When most people refer to Fort Mohave, they use the spelling "Mohave", while the tribe retains the traditional Spanish spelling "Mojave". During the Mohave War the fort was established as a base of U. S. Army military operations against the native Mohave people, who had been living in the area for centuries prior. In April 1861, during the early part of the American Civil War, the fort was abandoned, its garrison sent to secure Southern California from possible secession, and then sent to the east. It was subsequently garrisoned by Company B and Company I, 4th California Infantry Regiment, in May 1863. Company B remained for six months, but Company I remained until March 1865, when it was relieved by Company C, 7th California Infantry Regiment, until 1866 when Camp Mohave was again garrisoned by regular U.S. Army troops. The U.S. Army remained until September 29, 1890, when the War Department turned it over to the Indian Service by order of President Benjamin Harrison. It was given up by the Indian Service in 1935 and is now part of the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation.

Geography

Fort Mohave is in western Mohave County along Arizona State Route 95. It is bordered to the north by Bullhead City, to the west by the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation, and to the south by unincorporated Mesquite Creek. AZ 95 leads north to the center of Bullhead City and south to Needles, California, across the Colorado River. Aztec Road leads west from the center of Fort Mohave across the Colorado into the southernmost corner of Nevada, south of Laughlin. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Fort Mohave CDP has an area of , all of it recorded as land. It is home to the Mojave Crossing Event Center, the largest stadium within , serving all Mohave County for large indoor events. It has a seating capacity of 3,000 stadium style and 5,000 arena style.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Mohave High School
  High · BULLHEAD CITY · 1,175 students
• River Valley High School
  High · MOHAVE VALLEY · 545 students
• Fox Creek Jr High School
  Middle · BULLHEAD CITY · 516 students · 25.8:1 ratio
• Desert Valley School
  Elementary · BULLHEAD CITY · 510 students · 17:1 ratio
• Bullhead City Middle School
  Middle · BULLHEAD CITY · 508 students · 18.8:1 ratio
• Mohave Accelerated Learning Center
  High · BULLHEAD CITY · 507 students
• Desert Star Academy
  Elementary · Fort Mohave · 480 students
• Mohave Valley Junior High School
  Middle · MOHAVE VALLEY · 448 students · 28:1 ratio