The Future of La Paz County

Factors Impacting The Growth Of La Paz County.

TOURISM

Tourism is the major economic driver in La Paz County.
Unlike much of Arizona, La Paz County has an active tourist market throughout the year. Winter visitors, including hundreds of thousands of RVers, come to the county between October and May. They are attracted by the warm and sunny winter climate, the recreation on and near the Colorado River, and many events including the Quartzsite RV, Crafts, and Gem shows, off-road racing events, and just to hang out with their friends.
The wave of baby boomer retirees and pre-retirees are now creating an even more dynamic winter visitor and full-time retiree market. They prefer to own their own place in the sun rather than rent a space in an RV park or manufactured home park.

From Spring until Fall, tens of thousands of boaters, fishermen, hunters and other sportsmen are drawn to the beautiful, cool waters of the Colorado River which acts as California’s east coast and Arizona’s west coast.
The eight counties which comprise southern California have a 45 to 65 year old population of approximately 4.5 million. Many of these residents have sold their expensive homes and have retired to the much more affordable La Paz County.

A VERY STRATEGIC LOCATION
La Paz County is becoming a very active link (or bridge?) between California, Arizona, Nevada and Mexico. Its major highways, Interstate 10, Arizona State Highway 72, and US/Arizona Highway 95 provide the critical links between these major markets
Companies which have traditionally located in the major metropolitan areas are now looking at La Paz County as an area which is much more open to industrial development and where the “not in my backyard” mentality is much less than it is in the metropolitan areas.

Current Trends Include:

An industrial park is in the final planning stages at the intersection of Interstate 10 and Vicksburg Road, in central La Paz County. The developer is in discussions with a wood products company, a sit-down restaurant and some trucking related companies.
Two major natural gas fired power plants have been built in recent years. One is just east of the county and the other is just west of the county in Blythe, California. They chose those locations because they are near the major El Paso Natural Gas Company line which extends through La Paz County.

A major cargo transfer facility has also been built on Interstate 10 in Blythe. Trucks arriving from the east divide their loads and distribute them to trucks bound for all parts of California. Additional facilities to serve the trucking industry are expected to be built in La Paz County.

A large company in western La Paz County builds the bodies for cargo trucks and mounts them on the trucks.
General Motors Corporation has recently started construction of a 2,400 acre, $100 million hot weather vehicle testing facility in Yuma County, very near the south boundary of La Paz County. The facility is being relocated from the Phoenix Metropolitan area where it has been pushed out by urban growth.

The US Border Patrol is reportedly increasing its workforce in the area by 100.
Three private prisons have been built just west of Blythe, California. Employees of these facilities have expressed interest in living in La Paz County due to its lower housing costs.
Vicksburg Indoor Produce has opened a hydroponic facility for growing high quality vegetables and is now expanding. It is located in central La Paz County.
A California company has recently purchased a 70 acre site near Interstate 10 and Vicksburg Road in order to develop a plant for the purpose of collecting and packaging a variety of products for export to Asia.

Five major dairies are being established in the county. Two are already in operation.  In order to support the growth of La Paz County and western Arizona, Arizona Western College (AWC) of Yuma, in cooperation with Northern Arizona University (NAU) in Flagstaff, currently has 13 buildings under construction, including a 5,000 square foot classroom building in Quartzsite and a 25,000 square foot building addition to its campus in Parker, which is the La Paz County Seat. AWC has acquired 60 acres in Quartzsite for that campus.

Wal-Mart will soon start construction of one of its Supercenters in Parker in order to serve the growing retail demand in the area.Housing for the management and workers of these various entities is in very short supply.
ONLY 5% OF THE LAND IN THE COUNTY IS PRIVATELY HELD.
The remaining 95% is owned by the US Government, the State of Arizona and the Colorado River Indian Tribes.Only a small amount of the private land can be zoned at densities which permit urban development. The pattern of land ownership in the county creates a great land investment and development opportunity.