Quartzite
Homes and Real Estate for Sale in Arizona
Quartzsite is ideally located at the junction of Highway 95 and Interstate
10 on the western edge of Arizona. This town of 3,055 year round residents
hosts over one million visitors each winter…seasonal residents from
northern states (Snowbirds), vendors and tourists.
Quartzsite businesses are both seasonal and permanent. These include
motels, restaurants, grocery stores, real estate sales, storage, over 50
RV and mobile home parks, truck stop centers, bakery, medical clinics,
hardware, beauty and barber shops, clothing and jewelry stores, printers,
craft shops, veterinarian and more.
NEW MUNICIPAL CENTER
The Town Municipal Center houses town hall, the Marshall's offices and a
public library. The Town park and Veteran's Memorial are across the street
from the municipal center on Plymouth Drive.
Community organizations provide a variety of activities and services, and
include the historical society and museum, the Quartzsite Improvement
Association, a senior center, churches, Rotary International, Chamber of
Commerce, Veteran's Association, Quartzsite General Federation of Women's
Clubs and Gem and Mineral Club.
The Quartzsite Elementary School is located at the Northern part of town.
High students attend the Salome High School which provides bus service for
the students.
GEM AND MINERAL SHOWS
Quartzsite has become the home base for nine major gem, mineral and
general merchandise shows.
Beginning in November and December more than 2,000 vendors from all over
the country come for the season to sell their products. From one end of
the town to the other, vendors selling everything imaginable crowd the
edges of the streets.
HI JOLLY'S LAST CAMP
Hahji Ali (known as Hi jolly) was a Syrian camel driver who came to
Arizona in the Mid 1850's with a large number of camels what were ordered
by the U.S. Army. This was an experiment to use them as desert pack
animals. The experiment was cancelled in 1864 as the camels were not
compatible with the Army mules. They were auctioned off and Hi Jolly kept
a few for his own use. His freighting operation failed and in 1868 he
became a 'sometime' guide and prospector in the Quartzsite area. Hi Jolly
died in 1902, and his grave is now the centerpiece of the Hi Jolly
Cemetery in Quartzsite.
This monument, known as "Hi Jolly's Last Camp" was dedicated by the
Governor of Arizona in 1935, and is one of the most visited spots in the
southwest.
The Quartzsite Chamber of Commerce holds it's annual "Hi Jolly Daze" each
January to honor Hi Jolly. The celebration includes a town parade,
barbeque, games and music.
DESERT BEAUTY ABOUNDS
The beautiful Dome Mountain Range, the Plomosa and Kofa Mountians to the
south create breathtaking desert sunrises and sunsets.
The adventures who visit Quartzsite explore the valley and mountains in
four wheel drives, locating deserted mines, remains of mining towns, and a
few lucky folks even find gold nuggets! Hikers find quiet beauty in
exploring the famous Palm Canyon just south of town and other historic
areas dotted around Quartzsite. See our 36 points of interest and day
trips.
Desert wildlife and plants are unique and varied in this area. The famous
saguaro cactus is a favorite and found in literally every nook and cranny
of the desert. The roadrunner, quail, dove and cactus wren (Arizona's
state bird) are just some of the bird life found in the area. Nature
lovers and hikers are often able to see and photograph mule deer and
mountain sheep. See the world's largest saguaro cactus with 47 arms.
Quartzsite Town Hall
(928) 927-4333
Town of Quartzsite
Quartzsite Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 85
Quartzsite, AZ 85346
(928) 927-5600 phone
(928) 927-7438 fax
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"Top Real Estate Agents in
Quartzite, Arizona"
Quartzsite
Overview
Where
to stay
Things
To Do History Nearby
Resources
Overview
Location / Description
Quartzsite, in western Arizona, just 20 miles east of the Colorado River on
I-10, has been a rock- hound's paradise since the 1960s. These days, it is
also a mecca to well over a million visitors each year, most of whom
converge on this small town in a wave of RVs during the months of January
and February.
At this time of the year, 2,000 vendors of rocks, gems, minerals, fossils
and everything else imaginable create one of the worlds largest open air
flea markets. Eight major gem and mineral shows as well as well as vendors
of raw and handcrafted merchandise peddle their wares to snowbirds,
collectors and enthusiasts making Quartzsite the place to be the first two
months of each year.
Population / Elevation
1,900 people / 876 feet above sea level
Weather / Climate
Quartzsite has a classic low desert climate with extremely low relative
humidity and very high summer temperatures. On the average, it receives less
than 4 inches of precipitation a year. Stores, shops, restaurants theaters
and homes are air-conditioned year round.
Quartzsite, Arizona - Monthly Climate Normals
Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
High °F 87.0 65.1 71.2 78.0 86.0 94.7 103.9 108.3 106.7 100.9 89.9 74.7 64.4
Low °F 58.1 37.3 42.7 48.4 54.8 64.6 73.5 81.5 80.5 71.9 59.1 45.7 37.0
Avg °F 72.6 51.2 57.0 63.2 70.4 80.0 88.7 94.9 93.6 86.4 74.5 60.2 50.7
Rain " 4.07 0.54 0.45 0.35 0.15 0.05 0.03 0.34 0.66 0.39 0.38 0.27 0.45
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History
In 1856, settler Charles Tyson built a fort at the present site of
Quartzsite to protect his water supply from attacks by Native Americans.
Fort Tyson soon became a stopover on the Ehrenburg-to-Prescott stagecoach
route. It became known as Tyson's Wells by the time the stage stopped
running and the town was abandoned.
A small mining boom revitalized the town as Quartzsite in 1897 and it
remained thus until 1965, when the Pow Wow Rock, Gem & Mineral Show began
the rockhound winter migration to Quartzsite each year. These days, the
population can swell to almost a million during January and February as
rockhounders, jewelers and vendors, mostly in thousands of RVs, attend the 8
major gem and mineral shows.
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Things To Do
January & February 2004:
Prospector's Panorama
Christmas Gold Rush Days - Nov. 1st - December 31st, 2003
Gold Show - Jan. 2nd - Jan. 14th, 2004
Gem and Mineral Jan. 17th - Feb. 2nd, 2004
Peddler's Fair - Feb. 5th - Feb. 16th, 2004
PO Box 786
Quartzsite, AZ 85346
(928) 927-6467
The Main Event
Rocks/Gems/Arts/Crafts & Year Round Swap Meeting
HOT Air Balloons/Ultra Light/Parachute/Bi-plane & Glider flights.
January 17th - February 1st, 2004
Mexicali Dancers & Fireworks
Horseshoe Tournaments
Hit & Miss Engine Show
Po Box 2801
Quartzsite, AZ 85346
(928) 927-5213
Four Corners Swap Meet
Jan 14th - Feb 15th, 2004
Seasonal Swap Meet
October 11th - March 16th, 2004
PO Box 620
Quartzsite, AZ 85346
(928) 927-5219
Tyson Wells Rock & Gem Show
Rocks/Gems/Arts/Crafts & more
January 2nd - 11th, 2004
PO Box 60
Quartzsite, AZ 85346
(928) 927-6364
Rock & Roll Classic Car Show (6th Annual)
January 31st - February 1st. 2004
4952 Warner Ave., Suite 203
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
800-969-5464
Tyson Wells Sell - A - Rama
January 16th - January 25th, 2004
Rocks/Gems/Arts/Crafts & more
PO Box 60
Quartzsite, AZ 85346
(928) 927-6364
Sports, Vacation, & RV Show (21st Annual)
Sports, Vacation & RV Show
(Big Tent) January 17th - January 25th, 2004
4952 Warner Ave., Suite 251
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
800-969-5464
Hobby, Craft, Gem & Car Show (6th Annual)
(Big Tent)
January 28th - February 1st, 2004
800-969-5464
Pow Wow (38th Annual)
Rocks/Gems/Minerals/ & Related Hobbies
January 28th - February 1st, 2004
PO Box 881
Quartzsite, AZ 85346
(928) 927-6325
Tyson Wells Arts & Crafts Fair
January 30th - February 8th, 2004
PO Box 60
Quartzsite, AZ 85346
(928) 927-6364
Rice Ranch "Yawl Come" Show (17th Annual)
January 3rd - February 18th, 2004
PO Box 1123
Quartzsite, AZ 85346
(928) 927-8118
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