Yuma County was one of the original four counties designated by the first Territorial Legislature. Until 1983, when voters decided to split it into La Paz County in the north and a new Yuma County in the south, it maintained its original boundaries.

In 1540, just 48 years after Columbus arrived in America, 18 years after the conquest of Mexico by Cortéz, and 67 years before the settlement of Jamestown, Hernando de Alarcón visited the site of what is now the city of Yuma. He was the first European to set foot in the area and to recognize the best natural crossing of the Colorado River.

From the 1850s through the 1870s, steamboats on the Colorado River transported passengers and goods to mines, ranches and military outposts in the area, serving the ports of Yuma, Laguna, Castle Dome, Norton’s Landing, Ehrenberg, Aubry, Ft. Mohave and Hardyville.

For many years, Yuma served as the gateway to the new western territory of California. In 1870, the Southern Pacific Railroad bridged the river, and Yuma became a hub for the railroad and was selected as the county seat.

Much of Yuma County’s 5,519 square miles is desert land accented by rugged mountains. The valley regions, however, contain an abundance of arable land, which is irrigated with Colorado River water. Agriculture, tourism, military and government are the county’s principal industries. During the winter months, the population grows considerably with part-time residents.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management accounts for 14 percent of land ownership; Indian reservations, less than 0.5 percent; the state of Arizona, 5 percent; individual or corporate, 11 percent; and other public lands, 70 percent, including the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Population

  2000 2010 2023
Arizona 5,130,632 6,401,569 7,285,370
Yuma County 160,026 196,160 207,318
Incorporated Cities & Towns
   Yuma 77,515 93,275 97,883
   San Luis 15,322 25,614 36,081
   Somerton 7,266 14,329 14,477
   Wellton 1,829 2,884 2,482

Office of Economic Opportunity

Age Distribution

0-14 21.8%
15-24 16.1%
25-44 24.3%
45-64 20.5%
65+ 17.4%

American Community Survey

Distance to Major Cities (from Yuma)

Phoenix 185 miles
Tucson 240 miles
Los Angeles 272 miles
San Diego 172 miles
Las Vegas 296 miles

Labor Force

  Labor Force Unemployment Rate
Arizona 3,312,720 4.9%
Yuma County 93,693 12.9%
Incorporated Cities & Towns
   Yuma 43,858 8.5%
   San Luis 16,846 29.0%
   Somerton 7,666 11.7%
   Wellton 752 0.3%

Office of Economic Opportunity

Employment by Sector (in thousands)

Education, health care & social assistance 16.5 21.0%
Retail trade 9.8 12.4%
Arts, entertainment, food & recreation services 8.3 10.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, & mining 8.1 10.3%
Public administration 7.4 9.4%
Professional, scientific, & administrative services 6.4 8.1%
Construction 4.5 5.7%
Transportation, warehousing, & utilities 4.2 5.3%
Manufacturing 4.0 5.0%
Other services, except public administration 3.4 4.3%
Finance, insurance & real estate 3.0 3.8%
Wholesale trade 2.5 3.1%
Information 0.8 1.0%

American Community Survey

Property Tax

  Schools City/Fire County Total
San Luis 7.94 0.00 6.77 14.71
Somerton 6.99 1.77 6.77 15.53
Wellton 5.12 0.00 6.77 11.89
Yuma 5.91 2.35 6.77 15.03

Arizona Dept. of Revenue & Arizona Tax Research Association

SALES TAX / TRANSACTION PRIVILEGE TAX

  City County State Total
San Luis 4.00% 1.11% 5.60% 10.71%
Somerton 3.30% 1.11% 5.60% 10.01%
Wellton 2.50% 1.11% 5.60% 9.21%
Yuma 1.70% 1.11% 5.60% 8.41%

Arizona Dept. of Revenue & Arizona Tax Research Association

CONTACT INFORMATION

Arizona Commerce Authority
Phone: 602-845-1200
Website: www.azcommerce.com
Local First Arizona
Phone: 602-956-0909
Website: www.localfirstaz.com
City of San Luis
Phone: 928-341-8584
Website: www.cityofsanluis.org
Greater Yuma Economic Development
Corporation

Phone: 928-782-7774
Website: www.greateryuma.org
Yuma County Chamber of Commerce
Phone: 928-782-2567
Website: www.yumachamber.org
City of Somerton
Phone: 928-722-5085
Website: www.somertonaz.gov
Town of Wellton
Phone: 928-785-3348
Website: town.wellton.az.us
City of Yuma
Phone: 928-373-5017
Website: www.yumaaz.gov