Lake Havasu City : Arizona

Lake Havasu City is an isolated desert town in western Arizona, located on the eastern shore of the Colorado River.  It is home to the historic London Bridge, which is the state's second largest tourist attraction, after the Grand Canyon.  As history has it, Lake Havasu was formed with the construction of the Parker Dam on the Colorado River in 1938. Robert McCulloch, a developer, planned the city and began purchasing land around the lake in 1958, establishing Lake Havasu City in 1963.  When the London Bridge went up for auction in 1968, McCulloch bought it and had it reconstructed over Lake Havasu, opening it in 1971. Lake Havasu is also known for it's many functioning lighthouses which are smaller replicas of famous one throughout the U.S.  With a population of approximately 52,000, it is a popular vacation spot for water sport enthusiasts, and a retirement town for snowbirds. Lake Havasu City has also gained the reputation of being a party community once a year, as it is a wildly popular spring break destination for college students, and has been featured on MTV twice.

Lake Havasu City's claim to fame is the London Bridge and has an interesting history of how the town was developed and the reconstruction of the bridge. Lake Havasu City offers over 300 days of sunshine a year, a lake with boating and town docks, beaches, state parks, and several city events held throughout the year. 

The town is isolated with the nearest large city, Las Vegas, 150 miles away. Phoenix is 200 miles.  The summer months are hot and it is not uncommon for temperatures to reach 100 degrees.  Spring break brings hundreds of college students ready to party.

Those who love the outdoors with fishing, boating, and water sports would enjoy retiring here.  There are also state parks that offer a lot outdoor activities, along with bird watching and hiking and biking trails.  The town hosts many events and festivals, especially during the winter months when the snowbirds arrive. Lake Havasu City has a low crime rate and the cost of living is below the national average. About 33% of the population is over 65 years old (2020 Census).

The economy is driven by retail, as a large shopping complex was built in 2008. Construction and tourism are also important.

Lake Havasu City is blessed with over 300 days of sunshine each year.  The average January temperature is about 55 degrees, July's average is about 95 degrees, with the temperature often reaching over 100 degrees during June and July.  The city receives about 18 inches of rain annually, with March being the wettest month.

The city is located between the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge which occupies over 37,000 acres, and Lake Havasu State Park. Lake Havasu is known as a vacation spot for fishermen and boaters, and is host to the racing finals of the World Jet Ski competition and professional fishing tournaments;  tours of the London Bridge are offered through the Visitors Center;  Lake Havasu City also has many festivals including an annual Hot Air Balloon Festival and Fair, a spectacular sight of about 80 balloons over the lake, and the Festival of Lights held during the holiday season with an annual Boat Parade of Lights;  the London Bridge itself has been used for different and fun events each year including Camaros on the Bridge, an event that was held to see how many Camaros could be squeezed onto the bridge;  The Havasu Health Foundation sponsors a popular annual Line Dancing event on the bridge each winter; The English Village near the bridge offers shopping and dining. There is also a resort and casino across the lake.