Needles, founded in 1883, is one of the oldest living communities on the Colorado River, rich in history and promise for the future. The fabric of it’s past is intricately woven of influences of the river, the railroad, Old Trails Highway (later Route 66), the Mojave Indian Tribe, and pre-history – evidence of which abounds on the land. Perhaps most of all it has been influenced by it’s climate… hot summers offset by mild and wonderful winters.

A backward glance into the misty past is necessary to set the stage for defining Needles as a unique community and for relating how she happened to be founded in the first place.

Mojave Indians lived in this valley long before white people ever set foot on the land. Descendents of these early people still live here today and are called the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe. How long the Mojaves were in residence here is not known but the archaeological record shows that early people were here thousands of years ago. Ancient petroglyph, pictographs, intaglios, old trails and stone work sites bear witness of those who came before us. These features are of much interest to historians both local and throughout the world, and they especially intrigue the interest of visitors.

Arrival of the railroad at the Colorado River in 1883 actually caused the founding of the town. The new settlement was named “The Needles”, a namesake of the sharp peaks at the southerly end of the valley. The peaks themselves had been named by Lt. Amiel Weeks Whipple when he started the whole thing by heading the government survey for a railroad in 1854. The first bridge across this part of the Colorado River was built about 1883, and often washed away. The railroad was rerouted to Topock, and the Old Red Rock Cantilever Bridge was built in 1890. At first people mostly traveled to and from Needles by rail, then Old Trails Highway, later called Route 66, came into being. Its approximate route is now followed by Interstate 40. A group of local citizens worked hard to keep the freeway from missing Needles for many years, and their work contributed greatly to the town’s future. Some of the significant events affecting the town have been the building of the dams along the Colorado River and dredging of the river by the Bureau of Reclamation in the early 1950s, ending the long history of flooding from “hill to hill” each spring. Dredging drained the valley lands so they became suitable for agriculture and housing. The water became clear and suitable for recreation. Thus, two new industries came to the valley, agriculture and recreation. Needles has also been the scene of two major military maneuvers, General Patton’s Army during World War II, and Desert Strike maneuvers in the mid- 1960s.

Today Needles provides many attractions to its winter and summer visitors. The East Mojave National Scenic Area offers a vast variety of desert scenes and wildlife. The Colorado River has some of the finest boating and fishing possibilities found anywhere. The Needles Municipal Golf Course, which overlooks the river, is a professional 18 hole course with a driving range, golf carts and pro shop. The Topock Gorge and Havasu Wildlife Refuge area can provide hours of enjoyment. The City of Needles, due to our smog-free desert environment, the attraction of the Colorado River as a recreation/resort area, our warm year round climate and especially the friendly residents, is the place to be!