Quartzsite is west of Phoenix at the junction of Interstate 10 and U.S. 95, near the Colorado River. The community has a Mohave Desert setting. The nearby Kofa, New Water and Plomosa Mountains provide topographic relief while the Colorado River lies only 17 miles to the west. Quartzsite was established in 1867 on the site of old Fort Tyson, a privately built structure constructed in 1856 by Charles Tyson for protection against raids. Named Quartzite because quartz was occasionally found in the area, the name evolved to Quartzsite through an error in spelling.
Tourism is the major contributor to Quartzsite’s economy. The retail trade and service sectors benefit from the visitors who reside at the numerous mobile home and trailer parks in the vicinity between October and March. Several major gem and mineral shows, as well as numerous general swap meets, are popular tourist attractions, drawing approximately 1.5 million people annually.
A rock hunter's paradise surrounds Quartzsite with agates, limonite cubes, gold and quartz being just a few. In town, the Hi Jolly Monument honors the Arab camel driver, Hadji Ali, who took part in an unsuccessful 1850s U.S. War Department attempt to use camels as beasts of burden in the desert. To the south rise the Kofa Mountains. Historic and scenic areas include the Spanish Wall, Crystal Hill, Tyson Tanks and Tyson Wells Museum. South in the Kofa Mountains is Palm Canyon, a tight gorge and home to Arizona's only native palms, reached by a steep, but rewarding, climb. Farther south is Castle Dome Peak. There are many points of interest including historical sites, day trips and many off-road ATV trails.
Quartzsite offers a broad range of community facilities including an 80-acre town park. Celia's Rainbow Gardens, a senior citizens' hall, recreation centers, a public library, a historical museum and one nine-hole and one 18-hole primitive desert golf course are located in Quartzsite. The Quartzsite sewer and water system is upgraded on an on-going basis.
| Founded | 1867 | Incorporated | 1989 |
| Elevation | 870 ft. | Location | La Paz County |
| Phoenix | 125 miles | San Diego | 238 miles |
| Tucson | 296 miles | Los Angeles | 245 miles |
| Las Vegas | 215 miles |
| 2000 | 2010 | 2023 (est.) | |
| Quartzsite | 3,354 | 3,676 | 2,417 |
| La Paz County | 19,715 | 20,495 | 16,820 |
| State of Arizona | 5,130,632 | 6,401,569 | 7,285,370 |
Office of Economic Opportunity
Arizona Dept. of Revenue & Arizona Tax Research Foundation
| Quartzsite | 2.50% |
| La Paz County | 2.00% |
| State | 5.60% |
Arizona Dept. of Revenue & Arizona Tax Research Foundation
| 2000 | 2010 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian Labor Force | 698 | 1,063 | 834 |
| Unemployed | 36 | 200 | 0 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2% | 18.8% | 0.0% |
Office of Economic Opportunity
| Count | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| Less than high school | 614 | 18.4% |
| High school or equivalent, no college | 923 | 27.6% |
| Some college or Associate degree | 1,049 | 31.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree | 754 | 22.6% |
American Community Survey
| Count | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 301 | 47.6% |
| Transportation, warehousing, & utilities | 126 | 19.9% |
| Wholesale trade | 68 | 10.8% |
| Professional, scientific, & administrative services | 61 | 9.7% |
| Education, health care & social assistance | 45 | 7.1% |
| Manufacturing | 31 | 4.9% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, & mining | 0 | 0.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, food & recreation services | 0 | 0.0% |
| Construction | 0 | 0.0% |
| Finance, insurance & real estate | 0 | 0.0% |
| Information | 0 | 0.0% |
| Other services, except public administration | 0 | 0.0% |
| Public administration | 0 | 0.0% |
American Community Survey
This profile was prepared by the Arizona Commerce Authority in cooperation with local sources. For further information, please contact: