Kingman Arizona

Kingman is in Northwestern Arizona . It is in Mohave County. The town is situated in the Hualapai Valley between Cerbat and Hualapai Mountain Ranges. It is located at the intersection of Interstate 40 (heading west from Flagstaff and east from California) and U.S. Highway 93 (heading south from Las Vegas, Nevada).

Kingman is a great place to use as a hub for taking some fun day trips. It is town based on transportation and location. The City of Kingman is not far from lakes, Laughlin, ghost towns, Las Vegas, the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon. Since Kingman has a terrific location, it makes getting there on highways coming out of Kingman easy. Today the population of Kingman is 33,000. The town is at an elevation of 3,336 feet. The climate in Kingman is mild in the winter and cooler in the summer. The low temperatures in the winter are 32 degrees and the highs 66 degrees. In the summer, the high temperatures are 97 degrees and the lows are 58 degrees. Kingman does receive precipitation of approximately 3 inches a year.

In 1883 Kingman was established as a railroad stop. The locating engineer named Lewis Kingman named the stop after himself. Later on, Kingman was chosen to be the county seat for Mohave in 1887. Since that time Kingman has been a unique stop over for many people. During World War II, an air force base was built in Kingman. Today, the Mohave County Airport is located where the base once stood. It also houses surplus warplanes. In 1928, Charles Linbergh (the first pilot to solo the Atlantic) made a stop in Kingman. This stop was made during the first 48 hour air mail service between New York and Los Angeles. Other famous people stepped into Kingman throughout the years. The marriage of Clark Gable and Carole Lombard took place in the Methodist Church in Kingman. Actor, Andy Devine grew up in Kingman. Although he wasn’t born in Kingman, Andy always felt it was his hometown. As a matter of fact, the main street is named after him. The construction of dams along the Colorado River also made Kingman grow. Once again because of Kingman’s strategic location, it became the perfect stop for fishermen and water sport lovers on their way to Lake Mead, Lake Mohave and the Colorado River. When Route 66 opened and found its way through Kingman, many motel-café-service stations popped up. Kingman continues to be connecting spot for many on their way to Las Vegas, Phoenix or Los Angeles.

Today Kingman uses its location to lure tourism, manufacturing/distribution and transportation industries to the area. The Airport Industrial Park combines reasonable land prices with its prime site to attract such companies as True Serve Hardware, Goodyear Tire and Rubber and American Woodmark. There are nearly 60 companies located at the airpark.

There are several attractions you will enjoy seeing in and around Kingman. In Kingman there are several attractions. The Bonelli House and the Hotel Brunswick/Hotel Beale are great spots that reveal more about the history of Kingman. The Mohave Museum of History and Art and Locomotive Park are more spots to take in the history of the area. If you are interested in today, you might want take a short 40 minute drive over to Laughlin, Nevada. Here you will eat great food and casino entertainment.

Just outside of Kingman are many outdoor spots that you will enjoy visiting. One unique spot is the Grand Canyon Caverns, where you will see what the earth is like 21 stories below. Grand Canyon West is another place that you will have an opportunity to look at the Canyon in its beauty. Hoover Dam is an amazing place to visit. You will marvel at is its size and power. If camping is your thing, then you will have several choices in the area. Packsaddle Campground, Wild Cow Springs Campground and Windy Point Campground are three good camping areas. Along with camping there are hiking trails near Kingman. The Waboyuma Peak Trail and the Cherum Peak Trail are fun ones to experience.

Many people come through Kingman to get to Lake Mead. This is a spectacular lake, placed in the desert. The views from the lake are one of a kind. Burro Creek is another outdoor place that you won’t want to miss. There are two special ghost towns located near Kingman. Chloride and Oatman are interesting towns that will take you back to the old mining days in Arizona . You will have a great time at both of these western towns.

Kingman is known for being a stop along Route 66. Route 66 is one of the most famous roads in America. You will learn a lot about the original Route 66 in Kingman. Kingman is located in the middle of the longest remaining preserved stretch of Route 66. You can find out more at the newly rehabilitated Powerhouse Visitor Center.

Kingman is located in northwestern Arizona at the inter-section of Interstate 40 and U.S. 93. Kingman is situated in the
Hualapai Valley between the Cerbat and Hualapai Mountain Ranges at an elevation of 3,400 feet. The city was established in
the early 1880s by Lewis Kingman who located the route of the Santa Fe Railway. It was incorporated in 1952 and has served as
county seat of Mohave County since 1887.

Kingman is a regional trade, service and distribution center for northwestern Arizona . Its strategic location relative to Los
Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Laughlin and the Grand Canyon has made tourism, manufacturing/distribution, and transportation
leading industries.

Favorable Arizona taxes, I-40, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway mainline, and the proximity to the California market
make Kingman a prime site for industries and distributors. The fully developed Airport Industrial Park, with reasonable land
costs, is attracting the attention of manufacturers and distributors who wish to establish facilities to serve the Western states.
True*Serve Hardware, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., and American Woodmark Corp. are a few of the more than 60 companies
located in the Airport Industrial Park. Northstar Steel has also completed a major steel recycling plant in Kingman.
Kingman and its historical downtown shops are part of the Arizona Main Street Program. Kingman is also an Arizona REDI
accredited community.

The scenic mountains around the Kingman area, including the Hualapai Mountain Park and Cerbat Mountains, offer hiking, picnicking, camping, and other outdoor activities. The Kingman and
the Colorado River areas offer unique recreational and historical attractions as do several ghost towns in the area.
Water sports also play a central role in the county’s recreation. The Colorado River forms the western boundary of Mohave
County. An estimated 1,000 miles of fresh water shoreline lie within Mohave County along the Colorado River and Lakes Havasu,
Mohave and Mead. The rivers and lakes offer fishing along with boating and other forms of water-oriented recreation. Nearby
Hoover Dam also have visitor tours.

Kingman has a Multiple Resource Historic District with a developed walking tour and district map, which can be seen at Locomotive Park. Other interesting sites may be seen in and around Kingman including the Beale Wagon Road, Beale Springs,
and the White Cliffs Wagon Road. Historic Route 66, which runs through Kingman, offers the longest remaining preserved stretch of old, U.S. Route 66 left in the United States. The recently rehabilitated
Brunswick Hotel and Powerhouse Visitor Center are both located along Historic Route 66 in the heart of Kingman.

Events:
KORCC Sand Drags January
KORCC Sand Drags February
Gun Show March
Annual Route 66 Fun Run Weekend April
Mohave Education Festival
Festival of the Arts May
“A Taste of Kingman” June
Kingman Fireworks Displaay July
Mohave County Fair September
Kingman Army Airfield October
Andy Devine Days P.R.C.A. Rodeo
Gem and Mineral Show
Kingman Cancer Arts and Crafts Fair November
Olde Towne Christmas Caroling Festival December

There are several offices that you might need to get in contact with in Kingman. The City of Kingman Complex at 310 North 4th Street (753-5561) might be able to answer your questions about the city. The Planning and Zoning (county) office is located at 301 West Beale Street (753-0903). If you are in search of a good book, then head on over to the Mohave County Library at 3269 Burbank (693-BOOK). The Mohave County Recorder can be contacted by calling 753-0701. The Kingman Animal Shelter is at 950 Buchanan (753-2727).

Kingman includes several elementary schools, a junior high school, charter schools, a high schools including one with two campuses, a off site campus for the Northern Arizona University and a local Community College. There are six elementary schools. They are Kingman Elementary at 3033 McDonald 9753-5678, Manzanita Elementary School at 2901 Detroit Avenue (753-6197), Palo Christi Elementary School at 500 Maple (753-2473, Hualapai Elementary School at 350 Eastern (753-1919), La Senita Grammar School at 3175 Gordon (757-4328) and Cerbat Elementary School at 269 Jagerson Avenue (757-5100). There is one junior high school called Kingman Jr. High School at 1969 Detroit Avenue (753-3588). The two main high schools are Mohave Union High at 323 Gold Street (753-6211) and Kingman High School (South Campus - ninth grade only) at 400 Grandview Avenue and Kingman High School (North Campus - 10th through 12th grades only) at 4182 Bank Street (692-6480). The off site Northern Arizona University campus is located at the Mohave Community College Campus at 1971 Jagerson Avenue (757-0818). The local Community College is Mohave Community College located at 1971 Jagerson Avenue (757-4331).

Kingman has a regional medical center in town. The Kingman Regional Medical Center is located at 3269 Stockton Hill Road (757-2111). Kingman has several family physicians. There are physicians for podiatry, neurological and headache disorders, osteopathic, neuropsychiatry, ophthalmology, dentistry and chiropractors all in the area to help.

Citizens Utility Company is your provider for electric, gas and phone. The Company is located at 2202 Stockton Hill Road. The phone number is 520-753-4051.

You may receive propane in bulk or in bottle sizes from several places in town. The Ferrellgas Products at 2813 Beverly (phone 757-1101) or Discovery Propane at 1838 Golden Gate Avenue (phone 753-9596) or Bud’s Pioneer Propane at 3490 East Andy Devine (phone 757-2202).

The Kingman City Police are available if you are in need at 2730 East Andy Devine (753-2191). The Mohave Sheriff Department is also ready to serve you at 301West Beale Street (753-0753). If you have questions about your motor vehicle, you may stop by the Motor Vehicle Department at 3670 East Andy Devine or call 757-9202. The Department of Public Safety is also in town at 2319 East Andy Devine (753-5552).

The Kingman City Fire Department is ready for emergencies at 3310 North 5th Street (753-2891).

Kingman has four local papers available for reading. The Kingman Daily Miner at 3015 Stockton Hill Road (753-6397), The Prospector at (the same address as the Miner - 753-4111) and The Standard at 221 East Beale Street (753-1143).

The local post office is located at 1901 Johnson Street. If you need to contact the office, call 753-2480.
Living Accomedations:

Kingman has many banking establishments in town. There are at least six banks. Several of the bank names are familiar around the country. Bank One Arizona is at 3755 Stockton Hill Road (757-3181), Norwest Bank at 330 East Beale Street (753-5555) and Bank of America at 2307 Stockton Hill Road (753-2181). Check in town for the names and addresses of other banks.

Kingman has six beautiful parks located around the town for everyone to enjoy. The Centennial Park (Harrison and Beverly), Neal Butler Park (Jagerson and Bank Street), Metcalf Park (Grandview and Beale), Locomotive Park (1st and Andy Devine Avenue), Lewis Kingman Park (Andy Devine Avenue and Louise) and Firemen’s Memorial Park (Fairgrounds and Detroit). All of these parks are great places to picnic and enjoy the day.

The Bonelli house a place to go to take a step back in time. The house is filled with history and you will learn a lot about what Kingman was like when it began as a town long ago.

The architecture of the house is typical of the Anglo-territorial style. The outside is a locally quarried tufa stone, gray in color and cut thick. The purpose of the thickly cut stone was to keep the house cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. When you stroll through the house, you will see furnishing of the period. The pieces are common to those found in homes that were as prosperous as the Bonelli’s house. One of the most interesting pieces in the Bonelli house is the large wall clock. This clock was the only clock in Kingman, at one time.

The Mohave County Historical Society manages the home today and takes care of the heirlooms. If you are interested in seeing this piece of Kingman history, the Bonelli house is open Monday through Thursday from 1 pm to 4 pm. It is closed on major holidays.

Hotel Brunswick/Hotel Beale
The Hotel Brunswick and the Hotel Beale are old western establishments you won’t want to miss when you are in Kingman. Both of these structures have a rich history. In 1909, the Hotel Brunswick was built. The hotel has cowboy rooms that will help you relive the old west. This hotel is going to become a bed and breakfast. You will want to plan a day’s stay at this hotel. The Hotel Beale was once the home of Andy Devine, an old time entertainer. Andy Devine’s parents owned the hotel since 1906. It too is decorated in its original western theme. The Devine family no longer owns the property. Today, the Hotel Beale is open for tours. You will have to look into scheduling a tour.

The “Main Street of America” was once the name of the historic Route 66. It was the first completely paved transcontinental highway in the country. This highway linked many towns and cities together. Route 66 has had many nicknames “The Wire Road” and “The Will Rogers Highway” to name just a few. This piece of highway still remains one of the most well know highways in America

The highway began in prehistoric times with Indian trails that crossed the area. Much later, during the Mexican War, Navy Lieutenant Edward Fitzgerald Beale made several journeys along these Indian trails as a scout and messenger. Following his treks across the land, gold was discovered in California. Many people decided to head west. So in 1857, Beale was appointed by the Secretary of War to construct a safe wagon road from Fort Defiance to the mouth of the Mohave River. Lieutenant Beale used camels to survey the road. The idea of using camels for this task was suggested by then Secretary of State Jefferson Davis. The camels were imported from the Mideast. Beale once again used the centuries old Indian trails as a guide for the road.

The construction of the Atlantic and Pacific railroad came along much later and used the most logical route. The railroad ran alongside the same route Beale had laid out. The National Old Trails Highway was completed in 1914,once again this highway used the same route. Then in 1916, the Colorado River was bridged at Topock.

It wasn’t until 1926, when the route was officially named Route 66. During this time only 800 of the 2,200 miles were paved. As a matter of fact, the entire route in Arizona was dirt and gravel. The paving of Route 66 did not occur until the mid-1930’s. Route 66 enjoyed its hay day in the 40’s, with families traveling to California to start their lives after World War II.
The fall of Route 66 began in the 1950’s, with the increase in traffic and accidents on the nation’s roads. President Eisenhower decided to put into effect the National Interstate Highway System. This new Highway System created Interstate Highway 40, which parallels Route 66 in some spots and covers it in others. Needless to say, this change ended some communities along Route 66. Due to the lack of traffic many perished and yet it created new communities in other places.
One of the most interesting parks in Kingman is the the Locomotive Park. It is located at 1st and Andy Devine Avenue, in downtown Kingman. This park is home for steam engine #3759.

This steam engine began in 1927, when it was rebuilt to a coal-burning steam locomotive. It was a mountain type of locomotive. Then in 1941, it was converted to use oil.

Finally in 1957, it was the last steam engine to travel the line to Kingman. On this last journey, the Santa Fe Railroad presented the engine to the city of Kingman. The steam engine #3759 is a historical monument for the town of Kingman. Later in 1987 a brightly colored caboose was added to Locomotive Park. You will have fun seeing this form of transportation up close.
Many individuals want to preserve this history and today you can still travel Route 66. You can drive the longest stretch of the Historic Route 66 still intact. The Route begins at Ashfork, a small town to the west of Flagstaff and Williams (approximately 50 miles) and east of Kingman (approximately 94 miles). Route 66 continues east through Ashfork to Seligman. Then the route goes through Peach Springs and Kingman. In Kingman, you might want to stop in at the recently renovated Powerhouse Visitor Center. This center is the home of the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona . It is located on Route 66, now called Andy Devine Avenue. After a quick stopover, you will continue on to Oatman and then ending at Topock.

For more information about the Powerhouse Visitor Center and Route 66 you can contact: The Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona , P.O. Box 66, 120 West Andy Devine Avenue, Kingman, AZ 86402 or call 502-753-5001.

This museum has information and exhibits ranging from the Indians that lived in the area to cowboys and miners that followed later on in history. This 12,000 square foot museum will let you slip back in time. The historical displays and dioramas set the stage for reliving the history of Kingman.
Mohave Museum showcases collections of turquoise and artwork and artifacts from the Mohave and Hualapai Indians. You will also find an exhibit on ranching in the area. Another special part of the museum is the section dedicated to Andy Devin, a television-movie-radio-Broadway star.

The Mohave Museum of History and Art is open Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and Saturdays and Sundays 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The museum is closed on major holidays. The admission to the museum is $2.00 and children under 12 are free when accompanied by an adult.

The museum is located in Kingman. If you are on Interstate 40 take the exit at U.S. 93 and head east into Kingman. The address of the museum is 400 West Beale (753-3195).

You learn a lot about the area around Kingman and Kingman itself at this museum.

The Centennial Park is the largest one in town. It is where many individuals go for sporting events. It is a popular spot and you will see why after you read about all the things that are at the park. Centennial Park is a multi-sport complex. The complex has four lighted tennis courts, two lit basketball courts, two lighted racquetball courts, a walking track, five softball fields, soccer fields, horseshoe pits and an Olympic-sized pool with a water slide.
Golf

There is a terrific golf course in Kingman located at 9686 Concho Drive (757-8744) called Valley Vista. The course has 18 holes.