Colorado River Indian Reservation
Encyclopedia
The Colorado River Indian Reservation is 189 miles (304 km) west of Phoenix, Arizona
, on highway 95. It lies in western La Paz County, Arizona
, southeastern San Bernardino County, California
, and northeastern Riverside County, California
. It has a total land area of 432.22 sq mi (1,119.4445 km²), and most of it lies within Parker Valley
. The 2000 census
indicated a resident population of 9,201 persons, of which 3,389 were enrolled tribal members from the Chemehuevi
, Mohavi
, Hopi
and Navajo
, which today, collectively form a geopolitical body known as the Colorado River Indian Tribes
. Tribal headquarters are in Parker, Arizona
, the reservation's largest community.
Established in March 1865 for the "Indians of said river and its tributaries," the Colorado River Indian Reservation straddles a part of the Arizona
and California
border with 360.542 sq mi (933.799 km²) in Arizona and 71.678 sq mi (185.645 km²) in California.
The reservation's economy revolves around agriculture
, recreation, light industry, and government. The Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) has senior water rights to 717000 acre.ft of the Colorado River
, which represents nearly a third of the allotment for the state of Arizona. The CRIT operates the BlueWater Resort and Casino in Parker, Arizona
.
For 2005 restoration of land taken in 1915 see article of
20 December 2005 Indian Country Today
The politics of passing bills"
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, on highway 95. It lies in western La Paz County, Arizona
La Paz County, Arizona
La Paz County is a county in the western part of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2010 census its population was 20,489. The county seat is Parker...
, southeastern San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census...
, and northeastern Riverside County, California
Riverside County, California
Riverside County is a county in the U.S. state of California. One of 58 California counties, it covers in the southern part of the state, and stretches from Orange County to the Colorado River, which forms the state border with Arizona. The county derives its name from the city of Riverside,...
. It has a total land area of 432.22 sq mi (1,119.4445 km²), and most of it lies within Parker Valley
Parker Valley
The Parker Valley of the Lower Colorado River is located at Parker, Arizona-Earp, California, . It is at the northern area of the Colorado River Indian Reservation on the Colorado River, and is also at the northern perimeter of the La Posa Plain...
. The 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
indicated a resident population of 9,201 persons, of which 3,389 were enrolled tribal members from the Chemehuevi
Chemehuevi
The Chemehuevi are a federally recognized Native American tribe enrolled in the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe of the Chemehuevi Reservation. They are the southernmost branch of Paiutes.-Reservation:...
, Mohavi
Mohave
Mohave or Mojave are a Native American people indigenous to the Colorado River in the Mojave Desert. The Fort Mojave Indian Reservation includes parts of California, Arizona, and Nevada...
, Hopi
Hopi
The Hopi are a federally recognized tribe of indigenous Native American people, who primarily live on the Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona. The Hopi area according to the 2000 census has a population of 6,946 people. Their Hopi language is one of the 30 of the Uto-Aztecan language...
and Navajo
Navajo Nation
The Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...
, which today, collectively form a geopolitical body known as the Colorado River Indian Tribes
Colorado River Indian Tribes
The Colorado River Indian Tribes is a geo-political unit consisting of the four distinct tribes associated with the Colorado River Indian Reservation: the Mohave, Chemehuevi, Hopi and Navajo. The combined tribe is governed by a council of nine members and overseen by a tribal Chairman, Secretary...
. Tribal headquarters are in Parker, Arizona
Parker, Arizona
Parker is a town in and the county seat of La Paz County, Arizona, United States, on the Colorado River in Parker Valley. The population was 3,140 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, the reservation's largest community.
Established in March 1865 for the "Indians of said river and its tributaries," the Colorado River Indian Reservation straddles a part of the Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
border with 360.542 sq mi (933.799 km²) in Arizona and 71.678 sq mi (185.645 km²) in California.
The reservation's economy revolves around agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, recreation, light industry, and government. The Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) has senior water rights to 717000 acre.ft of the Colorado River
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
, which represents nearly a third of the allotment for the state of Arizona. The CRIT operates the BlueWater Resort and Casino in Parker, Arizona
Parker, Arizona
Parker is a town in and the county seat of La Paz County, Arizona, United States, on the Colorado River in Parker Valley. The population was 3,140 at the 2000 census.-History:...
.
For 2005 restoration of land taken in 1915 see article of
20 December 2005 Indian Country Today
Indian Country Today
Indian Country Today Media Network is a weekly U.S. newsmagazine that is the primary national news source for Natives, American Indians, and Tribes in the U.S. and Alaska. The ICT Media Network revealed their new online multi-media news platform in January 2011; it is a daily, hourly, or "as news...
The politics of passing bills"
Communities
- Big River, CaliforniaBig River, CaliforniaBig River is a census-designated place in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 1,327 at the 2010 census, up from 1,266 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Bluewater, ArizonaBluewater, ArizonaBluewater is a census-designated place in La Paz County, Arizona, United States. The population was 730 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bluewater is located at ....
- Bluewater, CaliforniaBluewater, CaliforniaBluewater is a census-designated place in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 172 at the 2010 census, down from 265 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bluewater is located at ....
- Parker, ArizonaParker, ArizonaParker is a town in and the county seat of La Paz County, Arizona, United States, on the Colorado River in Parker Valley. The population was 3,140 at the 2000 census.-History:...
- Poston, ArizonaPoston, ArizonaPoston is a census-designated place in La Paz County, Arizona, United States, in Parker Valley. The population was 389 at the 2000 census....