La Paz County, Arizona

La Paz County is a place in the U.S. state of Arizona. It is the 15th county in the state and is located in the western part. As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 16,557 people, making it the second-least populous county in Arizona. The main town, or county seat, is Parker.

The name "La Paz" comes from the Spanish word for "the peace". It was named after an early settlement along the Colorado River, which is now a ghost town called La Paz. The county is a quiet rural area with beautiful landscapes and a rich history.

History

See also: Yuma County, Arizona

La Paz County was created in 1983 when people voted to split off the northern part of Yuma County. This made it the only county in Arizona to be formed after the state became a state in 1912, and it is the second youngest county in the United States, just after Broomfield, Colorado, which was created in 2001. At first, the county did not have enough money from taxes to run itself, so it needed help from the state government. Because of this, the Arizona State Legislature changed the rules to make it harder to split counties in the future.

The Colorado River Indian Reservation lies in the western part of La Paz County and stretches into San Bernardino and Riverside counties in California.

Geography

La Paz County is a big area in western Arizona. It covers about 4,514 square miles, most of which is land with just a tiny bit of water.

The land in La Paz County is home to many different plants and animals. One special plant that can be found there is the California Fan Palm, which is protected because it is rare.

La Paz County touches several other places. To the north is Mohave County, to the northeast is Yavapai County, to the east is Maricopa County, to the south is Yuma County, to the southwest is Imperial County, California, to the west is Riverside County, California, and to the northwest is San Bernardino County, California.

Some parts of La Paz County are protected areas, including parts of the Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge, Cibola National Wildlife Refuge, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, and Kofa National Wildlife Refuge.

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 16,557 people. About 18.4% of the residents were children under 18 years old, and 33.7% were adults 65 years or older. The median age was 54.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.2 males. Most people lived in towns and cities, with only a small part living in rural areas.

2010 census

In 2010, the county had 20,489 people. The racial makeup was mostly white, with many also identifying as American Indian, and some from other races. About 23.5% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

2000 census

In the year 2000, the county had 19,715 people. The racial makeup was mostly white, with many also identifying as Native American, and some from other races. About 22.4% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino. Many people spoke Spanish at home.

Law enforcement

The La Paz County Sheriff's Office helps keep people safe in areas of La Paz County that are not part of a city. They work like police for these places and also manage the county jail. The main office of the Sheriff's Office is in Parker.

Past sheriffs of La Paz County include Rayburn Evans, Marvin Hare, Daniel "Hal" Collett, Donald Lowery, John Drum, William Risen, and William Ponce.

Politics

La Paz County has mostly voted for Republican leaders since it was created. However, Bill Clinton won the county in both of his elections.

Transportation

La Paz County has several important roads that help people travel. Some of the main roads include Interstate 10, U.S. Route 60, U.S. Route 95, State Route 72, and State Route 95.

There is also an airport called Avi Suquilla Airport near Parker. It is owned by the Colorado River Indian Tribes. The county uses the Arizona and California Railroad for moving goods by train.

Communities

La Paz County has several places where people live. The main town is Parker, which is also the county seat. Another town is Quartzsite.

There are also many smaller places called census-designated places, such as Alamo Lake, Bluewater, and Bouse, among others.

Some areas are not officially recognized as towns but are still home to people. These include places like Hope and Love.

There are also old, abandoned towns known as ghost towns, such as Clip and Drift Desert.

The Colorado River Indian Reservation is also located in La Paz County.