• COMMUNITY

    QUARTZSITE

    Quartzsite is west of Phoenix at the junction of Interstate 10 and US 95, near the Colorado River.  The community has a Sonoran Desert setting.  The nearby Kofa, New Water and Plomosa Mountains provide topographic relief while the Colorado River lies only 17 miles to the west.  Quartzsite was established in 1867 on the site of old Fort Tyson, a privately built structure constructed in 1856 by Charles Tyson for protection against Indian raids. Named Quartzsite because quartz was occasionally found in the area, the name evolved to Quartzsite through an error in spelling. The Town is currently is 130 sq. miles.

    Basic Information

    • Founded:    1867
    • Incorporated: 1989
    • Elevation: 870
    • Located in La Paz County
    • Nearby Highways: Hwy I-10, US 95, SR95

    Distance to major cities:

    • Phoenix: 125 mi
    • Tucson: 296 mi
    • Yuma: 80 mi
    • Palm Springs: 129 mi

    Population

    		 1990 2000 2006
    Quartzsite 1,876 3,354 3,650
    La Paz County 13,844 19,715 21,255
    Arizona 3,665,228 5,140,632 6,305,210

    Principal Economic Activities

    Tourism is the major contributor to Quartzsite’s economy.  The retail trade and services sectors benefit from the visitors who reside at the numerous (ore than 70) mobile home parks in the vicinity between October and March.  Nine major gem, mineral, and 15 general swap-meeting shows are popular tourist attractions, attracting approximately 1.5 million people annually.

    Major Private Employers

    Major Public Employers

    Burger King ADOT
    Love’s Auto Truck Center Quartzsite Post Office
    McDonald’s Town of Quartzsite
    Pilot Truck Center Quartzsite Elementary School District
    Horizon Bank

    County Employment 2006

    Government 2,125
    Other Private Service-Providing Trade 1,450
    Providing Trade & Utilities 1,325
    Goods Producing 500

    Labor Force Data 1990 2000 2006
    Civilian Labor Force 679 695 692
    Unemployed 37 34 33
    Unemployment Rate 5.4% 4.9% 4.8%

    Growth Indicators 1990 2000 2006
    New Bldg. Permits 92 95 177
    Taxable Sales ($) 15.9 million 29.2 million 51.8 million
    Net Assessed Value ($) 7.7 million 14.2 million 18.2 million

    Scenic Attractions

    A rock hunter’s paradise surrounds Quartzsite with agates, limonite cubes, gold and quartz being just a few.  In town, the Hi Jolly Monument honors the Greek & Syrian camel driver Hadji Ali, who took part in an unsuccessful 1850′s U.S. War Department attempt to use camels as beasts of burden in the desert. To the south rise the Kofa Mountains. Historic and scenic areas include the Spanish Wall, Crystal Hill, Tyson Tanks, and Tyson Wells Museum.  South in the Kofa Mountains is Palm Canyon, a tight gorge and home of Arizona’s only native palms, reached by a steep but rewarding climb.  Farther south is Castle Dome peak.  There are many points of interest including historical sites, day trips and many off road ATV trails.

    Community Facilities

    Quartzsite offers a broad range of community facilities including an 80-acre town park with water-feature and skateboard park, ball field, volleyball and basketball, playgrounds, horse-shoe pits, and remote control flying site; Celia’s Rainbow Gardens, a senior citizens hall, recreation centers, a public library and museum, one 27-hole par 3 desert golf course.  The Quartzsite sewer and water system is in the process of being upgraded on an on-going basis.

    Educational Institutions Public Private

    Elementary                                    Y                        N

    High School                                   Y                        N

    Financial

    Number of Banks:  1

    Government

    Quartzsite Fire District: Staffed Town/Local Fire Department

    Law Enforcement: Town of Quartzsite Police Department

    Medical

    Quartzsite has three medical centers, year-round ambulance services, pharmacy and medevac heliport.

    Hotel & Lodging

    Number of Rooms: 72

    Meeting Rooms:  4

    Capacity of Largest Facility:  1,000

    Utilities

    Electricity APS (Statewide) 800-428-7324
    Propane Various Dealers
    Sewer Town of Quartzsite 928-927-4333
    Telephone TDS Telecom 928-927-6345
    Trash Pick-Up Palo Verde Disposal 760-922-9107
    Waste Disposal Allied Waste (Quartzsite) 928-669-8886
    Water Town of Quartzsite 928-927-4333

    Cable Internet Service Provider: No

    Digital Switching Station: No

    Internet Service Provider: Yes

    Satellite: Yes

    Fiber Optics: Yes

    TAXES

    Property Tax Rate

    1990 2000 2006
    Elementary/High Schools 3.84 5.72 4.22
    Fire District 2.28 2.50 2.76
    Countywide 5.24 4.96 4.68

    Totals 11.36 13.18 11.66

    NOTE: Tax rate per $100 assessed valuation

    Sales Tax 2006

    City/Town        2.5%

    County             1.0%

    State                6.60%

    Weather

    Avg. Low (F) Avg. High (F) Precip. (in.)
    January 38.5 65.5 0.5
    February 43.1 70.8 0.5
    March 49.2 77.8 0.4
    April 56.2 86.3 0.2
    May 65.4 95.0 0.0
    June 74.3 104.1 0.0
    July 81.7 108.3 0.3
    August 81.0 106.3 0.6
    September 72.9 101.1 0.4
    October 60.0 90.0 0.4
    November 46.2 74.5 0.3
    December 37.6 64.7 0.4
    Yearly Avg. 58.8 87.0 4.1

     

    For additional information contact:

    Town of Quartzsite

    PO Box 2812/465 N. Plymouth Ave.

    Quartzsite, AZ  85346

    928-927-4333