Kingman, AZ

Location / Description

Kingman is known as The Heart of Historic Route 66 because the longest remaining preserved stretch of the famous all-American road, Route 66, runs through downtown. However, that is not all there is to the Kingman.

Kingman is located in northwestern Arizona at the intersection of Interstate 40 and US 93. It is situated in the Hualapai Valley between the Cerbat and Hualapai Mountain Ranges. The surrounding terrain lends itself to exploration and the location of Kingman makes it a good stopping place: see the town and see the surrounding sites and destinations.

Kingman is a mining and a ranching center that is presently experiencing a growth spurt along with many other areas of Arizona.

Population / Elevation

Population: 28, 586
Median Age: 42.9
Elevation: 3,345 feet above sea level

History

In October of 1857, Lt. Edward Fitzgerald Beale and his experimental Camel Corps trudged across the present site of Kingman, Arizona, surveying a wagon road along the 35th parallel. After the first travelers encountered hostile Indians in the area, Fort Mojave was established on the Colorado River. Off-duty soldiers scouted the hills and found gold and silver. Mining camps sprang up in the years to come and in the early 1870s, cattle were driven in to take advantage of the lush grasses of the area. In 1880, Lewis Kingman surveyed the area, and the laying of railroad track was eventually completed in 1883, establishing Kingman as a mining and ranching center. In 1887, Kingman became the County Seat. Its location on the railroad line and on Route 66 made the area ideal for commerce. It was also in the direct route to what would become Hoover Dam.

Movie star, Andy Devine (1905-1977) was from Kingman. A street is named after him and an annual town event holds his name.

Things To Do

Events

• January - Polar Bear Dip - A New Year’s Icy Cold Challenge - Join in a freezing swim on the first day of the new year.
• February - Wild West Days (Oatman, AZ)
• March - St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Community Fair
• April - Laughlin River Run - Bring your Harley and show off your skill.
• May - Historic Route 66 Fun Run - classic cars travel from Seligman to Topock/Gold Shores, AZ along the Historic Route 66 and through Kingman.
• May - Festival of the Arts at Metcalfe Park
• June - Old Miners Day Parade and Community Fair
• July Fourth of July Celebration and Fireworks Display
• August - Hualapai Mountain Arts and Crafts Festival
• August - Mighty Mud Mania - kids get down and dirty on a mud obstacle course. Then they get cleaned up by fire engine hoses. Super fun and very popular event.
• September - Gold Camp Days - Labor Day weekend parade with a crazy hat contest, beard contest, and a Burro Biscuit Throwing Contest
• September - Mohave County Fair at Mohave County Fair Grounds
• September - Andy Devine Days/Rodeo at Mohave County Fair Grounds
• October - Kingman Air and Auto Show
• November - Dick Tomlin Triathlon
• December - Very Merry Parade of Lights - features brilliantly lighted floats and vehicles

 

 

Camping & RV Parks

For more information contact:

Kingman Area Chamber of Commerce
3001 N Stockton Hill Rd Suite 3,
Kingman, AZ 86401
928. 753.6253
http://www.kingmanchamber.org/

Hotels & Motels

There are hotels and motels in Kingman with something for every taste and price range. Click here for a complete list of rates, availability and reservations online.

Nearby Attractions:

Historic Route 66, also known as The Main Street of America, The Will Rogers Highway, and The Mother Road go through the heart of Kingman.

The Hualapai, Cerbat and Black mountains that surround Kingman offer numerous recreational opportunities. Mohave County boasts 1,000 miles of shoreline on the Colorado River, which includes Lake Mead, Lake Havasu, and Lake Mohave. These areas provide fishing, boating, swimming, and other water sports.

Lake Mead - largest manmade lake in North America; houseboats and water sports. Vacation site.

Hoover Dam (73 miles) - Interesting tours of the dam. Location is en route to Las Vegas.

Lake Havasu and the London Bridge (61 miles) - houseboating, waterskiing, lake activities.

Lake Mohave - lake recreation site.

Cities & Towns

• Las Vegas, NV - 103 miles
• Phoenix - 186 miles
• Flagstaff - 143 miles
• Tucson - 297 miles
• Lake Havasu City - 61 miles
• Laughlin
• Grand Canyon
• Needles, CA - 64 miles
• Williams - 111 miles

Parks & Monuments

Near Kingman there are ghost towns and old mining town sites including Oatman and Chloride. These places are interesting to visit and they help preserve the heritage of the area.

Recreation & Wilderness Areas

• Fourteen miles southeast of Kingman is beautiful Hualapai Mountain Park, which is at an elevation of 6,700 feet. Offered there is overnight camping, picnicking, hiking and other activities.
• Camp Beale Loop Trail – multipurpose (non-motorized hiking, mountain bicycling, and equestrian trails)
• White Cliffs Wagon Trail Path – once used to bring ore from Stockton Hill Mines to the railroad
  
  

Historic & Points of Interest

• Bonelli House – This was built in 1915 and is an example of the type of architecture popular in Arizona at that time. Antiques. Period pieces. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Mohave Museum of History and Arts – 12,000 square feet of “Old West” dioramas.
• Historic Route 66 Museum
• Locomotive Park – Home to the famed steam engine #3759

 

 

 

The Desert Environment
The North American Deserts
Desert Geological Terms