Yuma : Arizona

Yuma, Arizona, located in the southwest corner of the state, is considered to be the sunniest and driest spot in the U.S.  The sun shines 90% of the days each year, with just over 3 inches of rain annually, which makes it a popular winter destination for snowbirds.  Yuma’s population was 95,429 (2012 census), but that number swells during the winter months.  Yuma, once known as Colorado City and later as Arizona City, served as a gateway during the gold rush of 1849, when thousands of fortune hunters passed through while heading west to California.  The U.S. Army also found Yuma to be in a prime location along the Colorado River and used it as a supply base for Army posts.  Today the Army’s presence is still important to the area as it operates the Yuma Proving Ground, a testing site of all weapon systems and equipment used by U.S. soldiers which includes helicopters, parachutes, tanks and artillery.  It is also home to the Marine Corps Air Station, one of the largest employers in Yuma.  Photo of the Old Yuma Post Office which is listed on National Register of Historic Places, and photo of the Sonoran Desert near Yuma courtesy of Wikipedia.

The Zillow Home Value Index in Yuma was $145,000 in late 2016. There are several RV and mobile home communities in Yuma (see link at top right)

The sun shines most everyday, and offers a lot of outdoor recreation including golf, hiking, and bird watching.  Yuma has beautiful desert scenery with wide-open spaces and the Colorado River running through it.

Yuma's summers are very hot with temperatures reaching the high 90's and above; the town has a high unemployment rate; Yuma's crime rate is higher than the national average. Yuma is not near a large city as San Diego, CA is 147 miles away, and Phoenix is 185 miles away.

Those who like a historical town with a warm, dry, and sunny climate would enjoy Yuma.  The area is very popular with snowbirds and RVers.

Agriculture and the two premier military installations, ( Marine Corps Air Station and U.S. Army Proving Ground), are the largest contributors to the local economy.

The sun shines almost everyday in Yuma, with a July average temperature of 95 degrees.  The average January temperature is 58 degrees.  Yuma receives about 3.36 inches of rain annually.

Yuma has an interesting history from when it was found to be the easiest and safest place to cross the Colorado River, and the role it had in taming the Wild West.  The Yuma Territorial Prison and the Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park are tourist attractions that are part of Yuma's early history; Yuma is a multicultural community and celebrates its heritage with several festivals throughout the year; The historic Yuma Theatre and the Yuma Civic Center offer a variety of stage shows and events;