Lake Havasu City, Arizona

2025-09-24T03:03:38Z

184.15.57.246: /* Notable people */

{{short description|City in Mohave County, Arizona}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Lake Havasu City
| settlement_type = [[City]]
| image_skyline = File:London Bridge, Lake Havasu City - 2011 (Aerial Photo).jpg
| image_caption = [[London Bridge (Lake Havasu City)|London Bridge]], Lake Havasu City
| imagesize =
| image_flag = Flag of Lake Havasu City, Arizona.svg
| flag_size = 110
| image_map = Mohave County Arizona Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Lake Havasu City Highlighted 0439370.svg
| mapsize = 250px
| map_caption = Location in Mohave County, Arizona
| pushpin_map = Arizona#USA
| pushpin_label = Lake Havasu City
| pushpin_map_caption =
| nickname = "LHC"

| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Arizona|County]]
| subdivision_name = United States
| subdivision_name1 = [[Arizona]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Mohave County, Arizona|Mohave]]

|government_footnotes =
| government_type =
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name =
| established_title = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date = 1978

| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021">{{cite web |title=2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Arizona |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2021_Gazetteer/2021_gaz_place_04.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=May 18, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 120.14
| area_total_sq_mi = 46.38
| area_land_km2 = 120.02
| area_land_sq_mi = 46.34
| area_water_km2 = 0.12
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.05

| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=1600000US0439370&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=Lake Havasu City city, Arizona: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=May 18, 2022}}</ref>
| population_total = 57144
| population_metro = 203361 (US: [[List of Metropolitan Statistical Areas|213th]])
| population_density_km2 = 476.13
| population_density_sq_mi = 1233.17

| timezone = [[Mountain Standard Time Zone|MST]] Arizona Time (no [[Daylight savings time|DST]])
| utc_offset = −7
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft = 938
| coordinates = {{coord|34|29|N|114|19|W|region:US-AZ|display=inline,title}}

| postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code = 86403-86406
| area_code = [[Area code 928|928]]
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 04-39370
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 2411604<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2411604}}</ref>
| website = {{URL|https://www.lhcaz.gov/|lhcaz.gov}}
| footnotes =
}}

'''Lake Havasu City''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|h|ɑː|v|ə|s|uː}}, {{respell|HAH|və|soo}}) is a city in [[Mohave County, Arizona|Mohave County]], [[Arizona]], United States. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population of the city was 57,144,<ref name="Census 2020"/> up from 52,527 in 2010.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2014-06-19}}</ref> It is served by [[Lake Havasu City Airport]].

==History==
[[File:London Bridge Lake Havasu, aerial view 1973, Film0 A 6-11-b.jpg|thumb|Lake Havasu City in 1973]]

The community first started during [[World War II]] as Site Six, an [[United States Army Air Corps|Army Air Corps]] rest camp on the shores of [[Lake Havasu]]. In 1958, American businessman [[Robert P. McCulloch]] purchased {{convert|3,353|acre|km2}} of property on the east side of the lake along Pittsburgh Point, a peninsula that would eventually be transformed into an island.

After four years of planning, McCulloch Properties acquired another {{convert|13,000|acre|km2|sigfig=2}} of federal land in the surrounding area. Lake Havasu City was established on September 30, 1963, by a resolution of the Mohave County Board of Supervisors, as the Lake Havasu Irrigation and Drainage District, making it a legal entity (the act is referenced in resolution #63-12-1).

McCulloch Properties flew in prospective residents from around the United States for free in what became a substantial air operation. To qualify, prospective customers were required to put down a fully refundable deposit. McCulloch Properties acquired over a half-dozen commercial aircraft and in 1970, bought a small charter carrier, converting the operation into its own certificated airline, McCulloch International Airlines.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Civil Aeronautics Board Reports|volume=55|pages=108–125|date=September–December 1970|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|location=Washington, DC|url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.b3534412?urlappend=%3Bseq=128%3Bownerid=9007199258460522-132|hdl=2027/uc1.b3534412|hdl-access=free|title=Acquisition of Vance International Airways, Inc.}}</ref> From 1964 through 1978, 2,702 flights were made to Lake Havasu City bringing in prospective buyers.<ref>{{cite book|last=Wildfang|first=Frederic B.|title=Lake Havasu City|publisher=Arcadia|location=Charleston, South Carolina|year=2005|pages=99–100|isbn=978-0-7385-3012-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t_5bdQIrEzQC&pg=PA99}}</ref>
{{main|McCulloch International Airlines}}
Lake Havasu City was incorporated in 1978.

===London Bridge===
[[London Bridge (Lake Havasu City)|London Bridge]] crosses the narrow Bridgewater Channel<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.londonbridgeresort.com/activities/bridgewater-channel | title= Bridgewater Channel |website = londonbridgeresort.com| publisher = | accessdate =}}</ref> that leads from Lake Havasu (a segment of the [[Colorado River]]) to Thompson Bay (also on the river).<ref>{{GNIS 2|7287|London Bridge}} – {{Coord|34|28|18|N|114|20|50|W|source:GNIS|display=i}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web| last=Laskow| first=Sarah| date=2016-10-17|title=London Is Still Paying Rent to the Queen on a Property Leased in 1211| url= http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/london-is-still-paying-rent-to-the-queen-on-a-property-leased-in-1211 |access-date=2021-04-17| website= Atlas Obscura| language=en}}</ref> Hoping to attract tourists and prospective buyers of residential lots, McCulloch bought it for US$2.5 million from the [[City of London]], [[England]], when the bridge was replaced in 1968. The bridge was disassembled on contract with Sundt Construction of [[Tucson, Arizona|Tucson]],<ref name= "sundt.com">{{cite web| url= http://www.sundt.com|title=Construction Company & General Contractor | website= Sundt.com| publisher = Sundt Construction}}</ref> and the marked stones were shipped to Lake Havasu City and reassembled by Sundt<ref name="sundt.com"/> for another US$7 million. The construction took three years to complete.

McCulloch gave an acre of land in Lake Havasu City to London. When Lake Havasu City wanted to use this land for a visitors' center, London leased it back for a [[quit rent]] of a [[Hopi Kachina figure]].<ref name=":0" />

Since its inauguration on October 5, 1971, London Bridge has become the second-largest tourist attraction in Arizona, after the [[Grand Canyon]].{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

===Events===
Lake Havasu City is an active event destination for a wide range of people. During spring months, the community is joined by university students for [[spring break]]. In 1995, Lake Havasu City was featured during [[MTV]]'s Spring Break coverage.<ref name= "imdb.com">{{cite web| url= https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0889616/?ref_=fn_al_tt_3 |title= MTV Spring Break: Lake Havasu |website= IMDb.com | accessdate = September 3, 2023}}</ref> Attendance during Spring Break has taken a downturn in recent years, as the city has declined to issue permits to the large party organizers.

For boaters, March to September are the prime months on Lake Havasu. The city is also home to the International World [[Personal watercraft|Jet Ski]] Final Races, multiple professional fishing tournaments, custom boat regattas, the Western Winter Blast pyrotechnics convention, Havasu 95 Speedway, the Chilln-n-Swilln Beer Festival annual charity event, the Havasu Triathlon,<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.tucsonracing.com/ | title = Tucson Racing| publisher= Tucson Racing Inc.| accessdate = 2018-03-06}}</ref> and the Havasu Balloon Festival & Fair.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.havasuballoonfest.com|title=Havasu Balloon Festival and Fair | date =January 2019| website= havasuballoonfest.com}}</ref>

During the winter months, the community is joined by retirees from colder regions of the country and Canada. During this period, multiple events are held on McCulloch Boulevard. Typically during the second weekend of February, McCulloch Boulevard is home to Winterfest, an annual event which draws thousands of visitors and residents for two days of food, activities, entertainment, and products from over 200 vendors from across the United States.{{citation needed|date = September 2023}}

== Geography ==
Lake Havasu City is located in southwestern Mohave County on the east side of [[Lake Havasu]], a reservoir on the [[Colorado River]]. It is {{convert|60|mi}} south of [[Kingman, Arizona|Kingman]], the Mohave [[county seat]], and {{convert|193|mi}} northwest of [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|46.4|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|0.05|sqmi|2}}, or 0.10%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021"/>

== Transportation ==

The only surface access to Lake Havasu City is by road via [[Arizona State Route 95]], which meets [[Interstate 40 in Arizona|Interstate 40]] {{convert|19|mi}} to the north of the city and [[Interstate 10 in Arizona|Interstate 10]] {{convert|74|mi}} to the south. [[C. V. Wood]], who designed Disneyland, was hired by Robert McCulloch to lay out Lake Havasu's unique road system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/2767|title=Lake Havasu City, AZ – London Bridge|website=RoadsideAmerica.com}}</ref>

In the early stages of development of the city, McCulloch Properties operated a fleet of secondhand airliners such as the [[Lockheed Constellation]] and the [[Lockheed L-188 Electra]] to fly prospective property purchasers to the area from California and elsewhere in the United States.

The city operates Lake Havasu City Transit.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.lhcaz.gov/transit | title=Lake Havasu City Transit }}</ref> Vegas Airporter provides service from Lake Havasu City to [[Harry Reid International Airport]] in Las Vegas.<ref>{{Cite web| title = Pickup & Drop-off Locations – VegasAirporter.com| accessdate = 2021-02-06| url = https://vegasairporter.com/locations/}}</ref> [[Havasu Landing Resort and Casino]] provides a ferry to [[Havasu Lake, California]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.havasulandingcasino.com/ferry-schedule|title=Ferry Schedule – Havasu Lake, CA – Havasu Landing Casino}}</ref>

[[Lake Havasu City Airport]], also known as Lake Havasu City Municipal Airport, is a [[general aviation]] [[airport]] owned by the city and located 6 miles north of the [[central business district]] of Lake Havasu City.

==Climate==
Lake Havasu City has a [[Desert climate|hot desert climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|BWh]]), with extremely hot [[summer]]s, mild [[winter]]s, and very little [[rain]]fall. The hottest temperature in [[Arizona]] was recorded in Havasu City. Lake Havasu City is a very hot city, even by Arizona standards; here, the highest temperature ever recorded in the state, {{convert|128|°F|°C|abbr=on}}, was set on June 29, 1994.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Johnson|first=Weldon B.|title=Hottest city in Arizona? That'd be Lake Havasu City|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/travel/arizona/2018/04/23/hottest-city-arizona-lake-havasu-city/507998002/|access-date=2020-08-15|website=The Arizona Republic|language=en-US}}</ref> Temperatures may exceed {{convert|100|°F|°C|abbr=on}} as early as April or as late as October, and in the summer months, it routinely reaches {{convert|110|°F|°C|abbr=on}}, and can even get up to {{convert|120|°F|°C|abbr=on}} or higher during the worst heat waves. Overnight low temperatures generally stay between {{convert|80|and|90|F|C}} for the months of July and August, but the highest overnight low temperature (record high minimum) ever recorded was {{convert|98|°F|°C|abbr=on}} on July 22, 2003.<ref name="wrcc.dri.edu">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?az4761|title=Lake Havasu City, Arizona – Climate Summary|website=www.wrcc.dri.edu}}</ref>

The winters, on the other hand, are very pleasant, with typical daily highs in the 60s and 70s Fahrenheit (16–26 °C), and infrequent night frosts. Mean annual rainfall is only {{convert|4.16|in|mm|abbr=off|sp=us}}; winter is the wettest season, but even then, rain occurs on an average of only 2–3 days per month.

{{Weather box
| location = Lake Havasu City, Arizona (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1967–present)
| single line = Y
| collapsed = yes
| Jan record high F = 86
| Feb record high F = 92
| Mar record high F = 100
| Apr record high F = 107
| May record high F = 117
| Jun record high F = 128
| Jul record high F = 126
| Aug record high F = 123
| Sep record high F = 118
| Oct record high F = 113
| Nov record high F = 95
| Dec record high F = 84
| Jan high F = 65.2
| Feb high F = 70.4
| Mar high F = 78.1
| Apr high F = 85.8
| May high F = 95.2
| Jun high F = 105.1
| Jul high F = 109.3
| Aug high F = 108.1
| Sep high F = 101.9
| Oct high F = 89.1
| Nov high F = 74.9
| Dec high F = 63.8
| year high F = 87.2
| Jan low F = 42.7
| Feb low F = 45.8
| Mar low F = 51.4
| Apr low F = 57.7
| May low F = 66.9
| Jun low F = 75.5
| Jul low F = 82.7
| Aug low F = 82.3
| Sep low F = 74.5
| Oct low F = 61.6
| Nov low F = 50.0
| Dec low F = 41.8
| year low F = 61.1
| Jan mean F = 53.9
| Feb mean F = 58.1
| Mar mean F = 64.8
| Apr mean F = 71.7
| May mean F = 81.1
| Jun mean F = 90.3
| Jul mean F = 96.0
| Aug mean F = 95.2
| Sep mean F = 88.2
| Oct mean F = 75.3
| Nov mean F = 62.4
| Dec mean F = 52.8
| year mean F = 74.2
| Jan avg record high F = 75.0
| Feb avg record high F = 81.4
| Mar avg record high F = 91.8
| Apr avg record high F = 101.4
| May avg record high F = 108.1
| Jun avg record high F = 116.2
| Jul avg record high F = 119.0
| Aug avg record high F = 117.4
| Sep avg record high F = 112.2
| Oct avg record high F = 103.2
| Nov avg record high F = 88.4
| Dec avg record high F = 75.5
| year avg record high F = 120.5
| Jan avg record low F = 35.6
| Feb avg record low F = 38.4
| Mar avg record low F = 43.7
| Apr avg record low F = 49.4
| May avg record low F = 57.5
| Jun avg record low F = 66.1
| Jul avg record low F = 74.8
| Aug avg record low F = 74.1
| Sep avg record low F = 65.3
| Oct avg record low F = 53.0
| Nov avg record low F = 42.0
| Dec avg record low F = 35.6
| year avg record low F = 33.7
| Jan record low F = 24
| Feb record low F = 28
| Mar record low F = 37
| Apr record low F = 36
| May record low F = 49
| Jun record low F = 52
| Jul record low F = 68
| Aug record low F = 68
| Sep record low F = 56
| Oct record low F = 43
| Nov record low F = 30
| Dec record low F = 25
| Jan precipitation inch = 0.75
| Feb precipitation inch = 0.61
| Mar precipitation inch = 0.48
| Apr precipitation inch = 0.16
| May precipitation inch = 0.03
| Jun precipitation inch = 0.01
| Jul precipitation inch = 0.26
| Aug precipitation inch = 0.38
| Sep precipitation inch = 0.36
| Oct precipitation inch = 0.28
| Nov precipitation inch = 0.30
| Dec precipitation inch = 0.54
| year precipitation inch = 4.16
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 2.9
| Feb precipitation days = 2.8
| Mar precipitation days = 2.2
| Apr precipitation days = 0.9
| May precipitation days = 0.3
| Jun precipitation days = 0.2
| Jul precipitation days = 1.5
| Aug precipitation days = 2.1
| Sep precipitation days = 1.5
| Oct precipitation days = 1.1
| Nov precipitation days = 1.1
| Dec precipitation days = 2.3
| year precipitation days = 18.9
| Jan sun = 248.0
| Feb sun = 254.3
| Mar sun = 310.0
| Apr sun = 360.0
| May sun = 403.0
| Jun sun = 390.0
| Jul sun = 372.0
| Aug sun = 372.0
| Sep sun = 330.0
| Oct sun = 310.0
| Nov sun = 240.0
| Dec sun = 248.0
| Jand sun = 8.0
| Febd sun = 9.0
| Mard sun = 10.0
| Aprd sun = 12.0
| Mayd sun = 13.0
| Jund sun = 13.0
| Juld sun = 12.0
| Augd sun = 12.0
| Sepd sun = 11.0
| Octd sun = 10.0
| Novd sun = 8.0
| Decd sun = 8.0
| Jan percentsun = 80
| Feb percentsun = 82
| Mar percentsun = 83
| Apr percentsun = 92
| May percentsun = 93
| Jun percentsun = 93
| Jul percentsun = 86
| Aug percentsun = 92
| Sep percentsun = 92
| Oct percentsun = 91
| Nov percentsun = 80
| Dec percentsun = 80
| Jan uv = 3
| Feb uv = 4
| Mar uv = 6
| Apr uv = 8
| May uv = 9
| Jun uv = 10
| Jul uv = 11
| Aug uv = 10
| Sep uv = 8
| Oct uv = 5
| Nov uv = 4
| Dec uv = 2
| source 1 = National Weather Service<ref>{{cite web | title= NOAA Online Weather Data | url=https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=vef | publisher=[[National Weather Service]] – NOWData| access-date=2021-05-05}}</ref><ref name="Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020">{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00024761&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL | publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title=Station Name: Lake Havasu City, AZ |access-date=2021-05-05}}</ref> / Western Regional Climate Center <ref name="LAKE HAVASU, ARIZONA (024759)">{{cite web | author=WRCC | title=Period of Record General Climate Summary – Temperature | url=https://wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?az4759 | publisher=WRCC | access-date=2021-05-05}}</ref><ref name="LAKE HAVASU CITY, ARIZONA (024761)">{{cite web | author=WRCC | title=Period of Record Monthly Climate Summary | url=https://wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?az4761 | publisher=WRCC | access-date=2021-05-05}}</ref>
| source 2 = Weather Atlas <ref name="Weather Atlas">{{cite web |url=https://www.weather-us.com/en/arizona-usa/lake-havasu-city-climate |title=Lake Havasu City, Arizona, USA – Monthly weather forecast and Climate data |publisher=Weather Atlas |access-date=17 May 2019 }}</ref>
| source =
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1970= 4111
|1980= 15909
|1990= 24363
|2000= 41938
|2010= 52527
|2020= 57144
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2016}}</ref>
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Lake Havasu City, Arizona – Racial composition''' {{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}
!Race (''NH = Non-Hispanic'')
!{{partial|% 2020}}<ref>{{cite web |title=HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE (2020) |url=https://data.census.gov/table?t=Race+and+Ethnicity&g=160XX00US0439370&d=DEC+Demographic+and+Housing+Characteristics |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref>
!% 2010<ref>{{cite web |title=HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE (2010) |url=https://data.census.gov/table?t=Race+and+Ethnicity&g=160XX00US0439370&y=2010 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref>
!% 2000<ref>{{cite book |title=Arizona: 2000 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |pages=24-25 |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2002/dec/phc-1-4.pdf}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}
!Pop 2010
!Pop 2000
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|style='background: #ffffe6; |79.7%
|84%
|89.5%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |45,521
|44,119
|37,550
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black]] alone (NH)
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.5%
|0.6%
|0.3%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |309
|329
|127
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian]] alone (NH)
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.6%
|0.8%
|0.6%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |371
|419
|233
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.1%
|0.9%
|0.6%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |609
|486
|233
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.1%
|0.1%
|0.1%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |69
|54
|38
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.3%
|0.1%
|0%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |164
|29
|19
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Multiracial]] (NH)
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.9%
|1.4%
|1%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,233
|735
|440
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic/Latino]] (any race)
|style='background: #ffffe6; |13.8%
|12.1%
|7.9%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7,868
|6,356
|3,298
|}
The most reported ancestries in [[2020 United States census|2020]] were [[english people|English]] (19.8%), [[germans|German]] (18.7%), [[irish people|Irish]] (15.8%), [[mexicans|Mexican]] (10.7%), [[italians|Italian]] (6%), and [[french people|French]] (3.1%).<ref>{{cite web |title=TOTAL POPULATION |url=https://data.census.gov/table?t=-06:-1000E:-3000F:-4000G:-5000K:-7000E:-8000B&g=160XX00US0439370&d=DEC+Detailed+Demographic+and+Housing+Characteristics+File+A |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref>

As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 41,938 people, 17,911 households, and 12,716 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|974.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 23,018 housing units at an average density of {{convert|534.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 94.4% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.3% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.7% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.6% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.5% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.5% from two or more races. 7.9% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 17,911 households, out of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.69.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 19.4% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 21.6% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 25.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,499, and the median income for a family was $41,393. Males had a median income of $31,594 versus $21,576 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $20,403. About 6.6% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
Lake Havasu City is served by the [[Lake Havasu Unified School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.havasu.k12.az.us/|title=Lake Havasu USD No. 1|last=Lake Havasu USD No. 1|website=www.havasu.k12.az.us}}</ref> There are currently six elementary schools: Jamaica Elementary, Oro Grande Classical Academy, Starline Elementary, Smoketree Elementary, Nautilus Elementary, and Havasupai Elementary), one middle school (Thunderbolt Middle School), one high school ([[Lake Havasu High School]]), and several alternative schools in the city including Telesis Preparatory Academy and Havasu Preparatory Academy. Lake Havasu Unified went through some strict budget cuts, closing one of its two middle schools (Daytona Middle School), and distributing 6th graders throughout the elementaries and 7th and 8th grades to Thunderbolt Middle School. Local voters passed a bond and a budget override for the district in 2016, helping to alleviate some school district budget problems.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.havasunews.com/news/passage-of-bond-override-allows-havasu-s-school-district-to/article_e8fcd5f0-e1fc-11e6-bcf3-87b83739c883.html|title=Passage of bond, override allows Havasu's school district to cut sports fees in half|last=Louis|first=David|work=Havasu News-Herald|access-date=2018-06-11|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.havasunews.com/news/lake-havasu-unified-school-board-oks-budget-teacher-raises/article_a056faf2-65f4-11e7-9181-f3e62af5422b.html|title=Lake Havasu Unified School Board OKs budget, teacher raises|last=Messick|first=Brandon|work=Havasu News-Herald|access-date=2018-06-11|language=en}}</ref>

A campus of [[Mohave Community College]] is located in Lake Havasu City. MCC also is home of one of the [[Northern Arizona University]] extended campuses. [[Arizona State University]] opened a new lower-tuition 4-year college campus, the [[ASU Colleges at Lake Havasu City]], in August 2012.<ref name="Havasu ASU">{{cite web|title=Havasu ASU|url=http://havasu.asu.edu/|publisher=ASU|access-date=8 June 2012}}</ref> In September 2024, ASU announced that the campus would close in June 2025 in response to state budget cuts.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-09-23 |title=ASU Havasu will close in June |url=https://www.havasunews.com/free_access/asu-havasu-will-close-in-june/article_0d67ddf4-79e4-11ef-8585-970001e1f1a3.html |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=Havasu News |language=en}}</ref>

==Government==
The city operates under a council-manager form of government. The mayor and six councilmembers are elected to staggered four-year terms. The City Council sets the city's policy and direction, and appoints the City Manager who is tasked with the responsibility for carrying out council policies and administering the day-to-day operations. Per the City Code, the Department Directors are appointed by the City Manager.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lhcaz.gov/aboutUs.html |title=Official Website of Lake Havasu City |access-date=2015-07-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150823014835/http://lhcaz.gov/aboutUs.html |archive-date=2015-08-23 }}</ref>

As of November, 2008, 64 percent of registered voters in Lake Havasu City are Republican, 35 percent Democrat, and the remaining 1 percent Independent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bestplaces.net/city/Lake_Havasu_City-Arizona.aspx|title=Lake Havasu City, Arizona (AZ) - Sperling's BestPlaces|website=www.bestplaces.net|access-date=March 8, 2009|archive-date=March 14, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100314054241/http://www.bestplaces.net/city/Lake_Havasu_City-Arizona.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Lake Havasu City hosted the final appreciation dinner for retiring United States Senator [[Barry Goldwater]], the 1964 Republican Party presidential nominee, at the Nautical Inn Convention Center on October 21, 1986.

==Notable people==
* [[Roy Thomas Baker]], English record producer, songwriter and arranger.
* [[David Bazan]], indie rock singer-songwriter, most notably of [[Pedro the Lion]]
* [[Michael Biehn]], actor
* [[Chuck Crim]], former Major League baseball pitcher
* [[Crystal Hefner]], ''Playboy'' Miss December 2009, widow of the late [[Hugh Hefner]]
* [[Robert P. McCulloch]], CEO of McCulloch chainsaws and purchaser of the London Bridge tourist attraction<ref name=":0" />
* [[Bob Milacki]], former Major League baseball pitcher
* [[Gary Simmons (ice hockey)|Gary Simmons]], former National hockey league player
* [[Julien "juju" Beaumer]], Pro Motocross Racer

==In popular culture==

''[[The Day of the Wolves]]'' is a 1971 [[heist film]] starring [[Richard Egan (actor)|Richard Egan]]. It was directed, written and produced by Ferde Grofe Jr. It was the first movie to be made on location in the new town of Lake Havasu City.<ref>[[Day of the Wolves]]</ref>

The London Bridge's relocation to Arizona was the basis of a 1985 made-for-TV movie ''[[Bridge Across Time]]'' (also known as ''Arizona Ripper'' or ''Terror at London Bridge''), directed by E.W. Swackhamer and starring [[David Hasselhoff]] and [[Stepfanie Kramer]]. In the film, a series of murders in Lake Havasu is attributed to the spirit of [[Jack the Ripper]], whose soul is transported to America in one of the bricks of the London Bridge.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088852/|title=Terror at London Bridge|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>

The director [[Andy Sidaris]] has directed three soft-core adult films in Lake Havasu: 1989's ''Savage Beach'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098257/|title=Savage Beach|date=9 March 1990|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref> 1990's ''Guns'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099720/|title=Guns|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref> and 1992's ''Hard Hunted''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104391/|title=Hard Hunted|date=3 March 1993|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>

MTV featured Lake Havasu during its Spring Break coverage in 1995.<ref name="imdb.com"/>

The comedy-adventure ''Border to Border'' was filmed in Lake Havasu in 1998. Actor [[Curtis Armstrong]] and Lisa Arturo were the leads, with a cameo by porn star [[Ron Jeremy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0131327/|title=Border to Border|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>

''[[Piranha 3D]]'' was filmed in Lake Havasu in 2009. The city was called Lake Victoria in the film. It was directed by Alexandre Aja and starred [[Adam Scott]], [[Elisabeth Shue]], [[Kelly Brook]], [[Richard Dreyfuss]], [[Jerry O'Connell]], [[Ving Rhames]] and [[Christopher Lloyd]]. The film is a remake of the 1978 film ''[[Piranha (1978 film)|Piranha]]''. It debuted in Lake Havasu on August 19, 2010, and was released nationally on August 20, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0464154/|title=Piranha 3D|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>

The Concepts x New Balance Made in U.K. 991.5 "Lake Havasu" athletic shoe was inspired by the story of the London Bridge's relocation to Arizona, and the transatlantic partnership between U.K. shoe manufacturer [[New Balance]] and American shoe retailer Concepts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cncpts.com/blogs/news/concepts-x-new-balance-made-in-u-k-991-5-lake-havasu|title=Concepts International – Concepts x New Balance Made in U.K. 991.5 "Lake Havasu"|website=cncpts.com|date=January 11, 2018 }}</ref> Lake Havasu City Mayor Mark Nexsen officially declared February 27, 2018 as "Concepts/New Balance 991.5 'Made in U.K.' Lake Havasu Shoe Day."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.havasunews.com/news/new-balance-releases-shoe-honoring-lake-havasu-city/article_429f4794-1c50-11e8-8082-63a2b23b2b3b.html|title=New Balance releases shoe honoring Lake Havasu City|author=Staff report|date=February 27, 2018 }}</ref>

Indie rock band [[Pedro the Lion]]'s sixth studio album [[Havasu (Pedro the Lion album)|''Havasu'']] was written about the one year of childhood the singer spent living in the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pedrothelion.bandcamp.com/album/havasu|title=Havasu on Bandcamp|publisher=[[Bandcamp]]|accessdate=January 20, 2022}}</ref>

==Attractions==
* London Bridge
* London Bridge Resort
* Lake Havasu Golf Club (36 holes)
* The Nautical Beachfront Resort
* Lake Havasu and Colorado River
* Wheeler Park
* Lake Havasu Historical Society
* The Aquatic Center
* Patrick Tinell Memorial Skatepark
* Rotary Community Park<ref>[https://www.lhcaz.gov/parks-recreation/parks-trails/rotary-community-park “Rotary Community Park”]</ref>
* The Shops at Lake Havasu
* Lake Havasu Art Collective
* [[Lake Havasu City Airport]] (KHII)
* Minor league baseball: the [[Blythe Heat]] of the [[Arizona Winter League]] and the [[Lake Havasu Heat]] of the [[Pacific Southwest Baseball League]] play regular season games.
* [[Havasu 95 Speedway]]
* Lighthouses on the Colorado River<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lh-lighthouseclub.org/|title=LHC Lighthouse Club – Famous replica lighthouses|website=www.lh-lighthouseclub.org}}</ref>

[[File:Lake Havasu City London Bridge.jpg|thumb|500px|center|London Bridge]]
[[File:Lake Havasu City AZ.jpg|thumb|500px|center|Lake Havasu City from the west]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Lake Havasu City, Arizona}}
{{wikivoyage}}
* {{Official website|https://www.lhcaz.gov/}}
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120517001142/http://havasucityguide.com/ Lake Havasu City Guide]}}
* [http://www.golakehavasu.com Lake Havasu City Visitors Bureau]
* [http://www.havasuchamber.com Lake Havasu City Chamber of Commerce]

{{Mohave County, Arizona}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Lake Havasu City, Arizona| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Arizona]]
[[Category:Arizona placenames of Native American origin]]
[[Category:Lake Havasu]]
[[Category:Micropolitan areas of Arizona]]
[[Category:Cities in Mohave County, Arizona]]
[[Category:Lower Colorado River Valley]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Sonoran Desert]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1964]]
[[Category:1964 establishments in Arizona]]
[[Category:Arizona populated places on the Colorado River]]

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Lake Havasu City, Arizona