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About Quartzsite

Quartzsite is a town of 3,397 people (2006 estimate) about twenty miles from the California-Arizona border in western Arizona. It lies in a long valley known as the La Posa Plain, near the Dome Rock Mountains, which line its western edge. The area is part of the Sonoran Desert, characterized by saguaro and cholla cactus, ocotillo and creosote bushes. The creosotes fill the plain, while the cactuses are found more commonly on the mountains. The climate is very hot with an average daily high of 87 degrees for the whole year, and about 4 inches of rain a year.

Interstate 10 passes through Quartzsite, heading east and west. It leads to Ehrenberg to the west, a small town on the Colorado River. To the east it passes through a sparsely settled country, with no major towns until it reaches the Phoenix suburbs eighty miles away. The freeway brings many travelers through Quartzsite, for whom it provides a convenient place to stop for gas and food. This is probably the major source of economic activity for Quartzsite. U.S. Highway 95 also serves Quartzsite, heading southward from town towards Yuma. The highway joins the freeway at Quartzsite to cross the Colorado River before heading north again on the California side of the border. Arizona Highway 95 continues north from Quartzsite, leading to Parker.

In the past, this part of Arizona was a major mining area and old mines and prospects are scattered through all the surrounding mountains. Quartzsite was originally called "Tyson's Well" after the well dug by a miner named Tyson in 1864. In those days it was an important watering stop on the Ehrenberg-Prescott stagecoach route. Along with valuable minerals, quartz deposits are scattered throughout the area, for which Quartzsite was later named. Mines ran later out and/or became unprofitable in the regimented modern economy, leaving the area without much industry.

With the hot climate at Quartzsite, it becomes a winter home to many retirees who, living in cold climates, come here for the cool part of the year. The surrounding desert is not entirely barren, and provides a wide open expanse for exploring and enjoying the exotic vegetation. Many dirt roads wander through the desert, leading often to old mines. Take plenty of water while exploring these areas.

Quartzsite is the largest of the traditional towns in La Paz County. The elevation ranges from about 820 to 920 feet. The Tyson Wash (a dry riverbed) flows northward through the center of town.

For More Information:
Quartzsite has its official town website at www.ci.quartzsite.az.us. See also Wikipedia's Quartzsite article.


Street Index


a dirt road
a street
Byerly Road
Camel Lane
Camel Street
Cemetery Road
Central Boulevard
Chandler Street
Cornejo Street
Cowell Street
Coyote Street
Datig Avenue
Desert Avenue
Desert Vista Street
Duke Lane
Elsie Lane
Emelia Avenue
Hyalite Drive
Idaho Avenue
Interstate 10
Johnson Avenue
Joshua Avenue
Kanoyer Street
Kenoyer Street
Kitsap Avenue
Kofa Avenue
Kuehn Street
Las Palomas Avenue
Lillipop Lane
Loma Vista Avenue
Main Street
Malapais Lane
Mayflower Street
Mesquite Avenue
Mockingbird Avenue
Mockingbird Street
Moon Mountain Avenue
Mountain View Lane
No Name Street
Ocotillo Street
Oregon Avenue
Palo Verde Avenue
Plomosa Wash
Plymouth Avenue
Pyramid Lane
Pyramid Street
Q Mountain Parkway
Quail Trail Street
Quartzsite Boulevard
Riggles Street
Rogers Place
Saguaro Lane
Saguaro Street
Scott Lane
Senter Street
Showplace Lane
Smith Avenue
Snowbird Lane
Sunrise Street
Sunset Street
Tesota Lane
Tyson Drive
Washington Avenue

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