Yuma Travel Guide
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Yuma Travel Guide
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Yuma Hotels, Camping, Hiking, Golf, Maps, Weather, Activities & Real Estate
The city of Yuma itself, founded at an old location used to cross the Colorado River, is still a major stop for those traveling between San Diego and South Central Arizona. The history of Yuma dates back to 1540, when Hernando de Alarcon, the Spanish explorer, became the first European to see the site of the present day City of Yuma. The site was soon colonized when Jesuit priests were sent to convert local Native American tribes. The St. Thomas Mission (shown in this photo) was built on the grounds of the original Concepcion Mission founded by Farther Garces in 1780. Garces was killed by insurgent Yuma Indians the following year. From 1876 to 1909 Yuma earned a notorious reputation as home of the Arizona Territorial Prison -- considered one of the toughest prisons ever built due to its remote location and overwhelming heat in the summer. A total of 3,069 prisoners, including 29 women, lived within its walls during the prison's thirty-three years of operation. Their crimes ranged from murder to polygamy. Today the old prison is a popular Arizona State Park. With an economy centered on agriculture, military technology and tourism, Yuma is thriving as the commercial hub for Southwestern Arizona. When you choose Yuma for your next vacation you'll find top rated Yuma hotels and motels, great golf courses, exciting attractions and plenty of perfect weather. The series of dams on the lower Colorado River provide lakes for those seeking a little fun in the water. The Kofa Wildlife Refuge, Cabeza Prieta Wildlife Refuge, and the Imperial Dunes are just a few of the places you can visit near Yuma. Yuma is serviced by air,
rail, and bus transportation. Visitors will find cultural events
ranging from great music to street fairs and art shows. Yuma is
also a popular retirement area. We've put together a list of Yuma
Realtors® and included a Yuma
map for visitors thinking of relocating here. Yuma
Driving Distances
Additional Yuma ResourcesYuma
City Government This page last updated: |
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NOTICE! |
Arizona's
third largest city, Yuma is also one of the fastest growing cities in
the U.S. Located along the Colorado River, just north of the
border between Mexico, California and Arizona, Yuma attracts thousands
of visitors every year to experience the consistently sunny weather,
rugged scenery and numerous historical attractions found in the area.
