Why Yuma
Located in the southwestern corner of Arizona within the Sonoran Desert's Yuma Desert sub-region, Yuma serves as the seat of Yuma County. Positioned near the border of California to the west and Mexico to the south, the city lies just west of the confluence of the Gila and Colorado rivers, approximately 60 miles north of the Gulf of California. Recognized by Guinness World Records as the sunniest city on Earth, Yuma receives sunshine for roughly 90 percent of daylight hours, drawing tens of thousands of out-of-state seasonal residents every winter.
The region's earliest inhabitants were Native American cultures, whose descendants now reside on the nearby Cocopah and Quechan reservations. In 1540, Spanish colonial expeditions noted a natural narrowing of the Colorado River to under 1,000 feet wide, identifying it as an ideal river crossing. Known as the Yuma Crossing, this site became a key transit point for historic military expeditions, including those led by Juan Bautista de Anza, the Mormon Battalion, and the California Column. During the California Gold Rush, ferry operations established the location as a primary gateway to California and the broader Southwest.
Local settlement expanded following the establishment of Fort Yuma. Early riverbank communities, including Jaeger City and Colorado City, were largely destroyed by the Great Flood of 1862, leading to rebuilding on higher ground. A neighboring settlement called Arizona City eventually incorporated the surrounding areas and was officially renamed Yuma in 1873. The town developed into a major steamboat stop servicing mines and outposts. Sites like the Yuma Quartermaster Depot, today preserved as a state historic park, supplied military forts across Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico until the Southern Pacific Railroad bridged the river in 1877.
In addition to its historic transport links, Yuma is a major agricultural hub. Thanks to its climate and long growing season, the area produces more than 175 types of crops. It is widely recognized for its leafy green production, providing roughly 90 percent of all winter vegetables grown in the United States from November through March. The city also features a prominent military presence, highlighted by facilities such as the Marine Corps Air Station.
Yuma features a hot desert climate marked by low humidity, hot summers, and mild winters. It ranks as the driest, sunniest, and least humid populated place in the contiguous United States, averaging 3.36 inches of rainfall per year. Temperatures reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit or higher on average 175 days annually, frequently exceeding 100 degrees between April and October. Although precipitation is sparse, late-summer monsoon surges can bring maritime moisture from the Gulf of California.
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