Editing Blythe, California

{{Short description|City in California, United States}}
{{For|the former census-designated place|East Blythe, California}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Blythe, California
| settlement_type    = [[List of municipalities in California|City]]
| image_skyline      = BlytheCA.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Blythe street scene, {{circa|1900}}
| image_seal         = Blythe ca seal.png
| image_blank_emblem = Logo of Blythe, California.png
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| image_map          = File:Riverside County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Blythe Highlighted 0607218.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Blythe in Riverside County, California.
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| pushpin_map        = USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States
| pushpin_relief     = 1
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{Flagu|United States}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|California}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in California|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = {{flagicon image|Flag of Riverside County, California.png}} [[Riverside County, California|Riverside]]
| established_title  = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date   = July 21, 1916<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc
 |title=California Cities by Incorporation Date
 |format=Word
 |publisher=California Association of [[Local Agency Formation Commission]]s
 |access-date=August 25, 2014
|url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103002921/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc
 |archive-date=November 3, 2014
}}</ref>
| named_for          = Thomas Henry Blythe
| government_type    = [[Council-Manager]]
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Dale Reynolds<ref>{{cite news|last1=Avendano|first1=Uriel|title=Blythe council appoints new Mayor in Dale Reynolds, Dec. 12: Newly elected Halby, Rodriguez and DeConinck sworn in|url=http://www.pvvt.com/blythe_news/blythe-council-appoints-new-mayor-in-dale-reynolds-dec-newly/article_50279efc-dfc4-11e7-a533-ff76eb88d654.html|access-date=December 16, 2017|work=Palo Verde Valley Times|date=December 12, 2017}}</ref>
| leader_title1      = [[Vice Mayor]]
| leader_name1       = Joseph "Joey" DeConinck
| leader_title2      = [[City Council]]
| leader_name2       = Johnny Rodriguez <br /> Joseph Halby III <br /> Sam Burton
<!-- Area------------------>| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 30, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi   = 27.37
| area_land_sq_mi    = 26.58
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.78
| area_total_km2     = 70.88
| area_land_km2      = 68.85
| area_water_km2     = 2.03
| area_water_percent = 2.90
| area_note          = 
| elevation_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite GNIS|1660349|Blythe|access-date=October 20, 2014}}</ref>
| elevation_ft       = 272
| elevation_m        = 83
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 18317
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| population_density_sq_mi = 689.05
| population_metro   = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|33|36|37|N|114|35|47|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes = <ref name="GNIS">{{cite gnis|1660349|Blythe}}.</ref>
| timezone           = [[Pacific Time Zone|PST]]
| utc_offset         = -8
| timezone_DST       = PDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -7
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code        = 92225, 92226
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| area_code          = [[Area codes 442 and 760|442/760]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = {{FIPS|06|07218}}
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature IDs
| blank1_info        = {{GNIS 4|1660349}}, {{GNIS 4|2409872}}
| website            = {{URL|www.cityofblythe.ca.gov}}
| footnotes          = 
| population_density_km2 = 266.04
}}
[[File:ThomasHenryBlythe.jpg|thumb|right|Thomas Henry Blythe]]
[[File:Blythe Intaglio (4858).jpg|thumb|One of the [[Blythe Intaglios]], prehistoric [[geoglyph]]s in the [[Sonoran Desert]], across the river from [[Parker Valley]].]]

'''Blythe''' ({{IPAc-en|'|b|l|ai|T}}) is a city in eastern [[Riverside County, California]], United States. It is in the [[Palo Verde Valley]] of the [[Lower Colorado River Valley]] region, an agricultural area and part of the [[Colorado Desert]] along the [[Colorado River]], approximately {{convert|224|mi|km|}} east of [[Los Angeles]] and {{convert|150|mi|km|}} west of [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]]. Blythe was named after [[Thomas Henry Blythe]], a San Francisco financier, who established primary water rights to the Colorado River in the region in 1877. The city was [[municipal corporation|incorporated]] on July 21, 1916. The population was 18,317 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].

==History==
{{See also|Blythe Intaglios}}
Native Americans lived in the area.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.azcentral.com/in-depth/news/local/arizona/2021/08/17/blythe-intaglios-tribes-protect-sleeping-giants/7903902002/ | title=Blythe Intaglios: Tribes work to protect the 'sleeping giants' of the desert | date=August 17, 2021 }}</ref>

===Etymology===
{{See also|List of Riverside County, California, placename etymologies#Blythe|label 1=List of Riverside County, California, placename etymologies: Blythe}}
Blythe was named after [[Thomas Henry Blythe]], a [[San Francisco]] businessman and entrepreneur. Mr. Blythe established primary water rights to the [[Colorado River]] in the southwestern California region in 1877.  The town was originally named '''Blythe City''', by Thomas Blythe, but the name was shortened to simply ''Blythe'' around the time the first post office was opened in 1908.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gunther |first1=Jane Davies |title=Riverside County, California, Place Names; Their Origins and Their Stories |date=1984 |location=Riverside, California |pages=60}}</ref>

===Early years===
[[File:AT & Sta Fe California Southern Railroad - Ripley Branch.jpg|thumb|Route in 1930]]
In the early or mid-1870s, William Calloway (known as Oliver Calloway in some sources), an engineer and a former captain of the [[1st California Infantry Regiment]], explored an area across the Colorado River from [[Ehrenberg, Arizona]], and found its potential for development. Calloway made preliminary surveys and filed land claims under the [[Swamp Land Act of 1850]]. He interested the wealthy [[San Francisco]] capitalist Thomas Henry Blythe (originally born Thomas Williams in Mold, Wales) to undertake development and settlement of an "empire" located next to the Colorado.  Together they purchased a total of 140,000 acres under the Swamp Land Act, and another 35,000 acres under the [[Desert Land Act|Desert Land Act of 1877]].<ref name="San Diego History">{{cite web|title=Blythe resided in San Francisco and focused in real estate investments. Among his investments was a patch of undeveloped land within what is now downtown San Francisco. Development in the purchased site within Market Street, Geary Street, and Grant Street, called the "Blythe Block", and being in the center of downtown, made Blythe wealthy. The Blythe Block was sold off in portions in 1901 and 1902|url=https://sandiegohistory.org/journal/1971/july/desert/.htm|website=Sandiegohistory.org|access-date=March 26, 2020}}</ref>

On July 17, 1877, Blythe filed his first claim for Colorado River water on what was to become the "Blythe Intake".<ref>An historical marker for the intake was placed by the Palo Verde Valley Historical Society and Riverside County Parks and Recreation in 1986. {{cite book |last=Johnson |first=Marael |title=Why Stop? A Guide to California Roadside Historical Markers |year=1995 |publisher=Gulf Publishing Company |location=Houston, TX |isbn=978-0884159230 |oclc= 32168093 |pages=213}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Blythe Block Changes Hands |work=[[San Francisco Call]] |date=August 2, 1901 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Blythe Block Sold|work=Los Angeles Herald|date=January 7, 1902|pages=1}}</ref> Blythe appointed another man named George Irish as manager to assist Calloway in building an irrigation system. Calloway died in a [[Chemehuevi]] attack on March 28, 1880, and was replaced by C.C. Miller, the father of [[Frank Augustus Miller]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Roth|first1=George|title=The Calloway Affair of 1880: Chemehuevi Adaptation and Chemehuevi-Mohave Relations|journal=Journal of California Anthropology|date=1977|volume=4|issue=2|url=https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3vn6f5rg}}</ref><ref name="Desert Magazine">{{cite journal |title=Empire on the Colorado |journal=[[Desert Magazine]] |year=1939 |last=Woodward |first=Arthur |volume=2 |issue=4 |pages=22–24, 39–40 }}</ref> Thomas Blythe died on April 4, 1883; his only revisit to the valley was in November 1882.<ref name="Desert Magazine" /><ref name="PVID">{{cite web|title=Palo Verde Irrigation District History|url=http://www.pvid.org/history.html|website=Palo Verde Irrigation District|date=February 2005|access-date=February 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217004032/http://pvid.org/history.html|archive-date=February 17, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> After his death, the work in the valley halted and Blythe's estate subsequently went into litigation between his illegitimate daughter Florence and other claimants, the trial beginning in 1889. In the 1900s, Florence was awarded the estate, after several years of preceding rulings in favor of her and appeals against her.<ref name="San Diego History" /><ref name="Desert Magazine" /><ref name="Boessenecker1998">{{cite book|author=John Boessenecker|title=Lawman: The Life and Times of Harry Morse, 1835–1912|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nC2HHRJcQJAC&pg=PA265|year=1998|publisher=University of Oklahoma Press|isbn=978-0-8061-3011-8|pages=265–266}}</ref>

===20th century===
Frank Murphy and Ed Williams, who were involved with the cattle industry in southeastern Arizona, came to the area in 1904 and were convinced it was well-suited for cattle and farming. With the Hobson brothers from [[Ventura County, California|Ventura County]], they bought Blythe's estate and formed the Palo Verde Land and Water Company.<ref name="PVID" /><ref name="Kleinsorge1941">{{cite book|author=Paul Lincoln Kleinsorge|title=The Boulder Canyon Project, Historical and Economic Aspects|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xT2sAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA35|year=1941|publisher=Stanford University Press|isbn=978-0-8047-1031-2|page=35}}</ref> During 1911–1912, W.F. Holt, who helped develop nearby [[Imperial Valley]], was the company's general manager.<ref>{{cite news|title=Developing Palo Verde|url=http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=IVP19110311.2.3#|access-date=February 11, 2015|work=Imperial Valley Press|date=March 11, 1911}}</ref><ref name="Myrick2001">{{cite book|author=David F. Myrick|title=Santa Fe to Phoenix: Railroads of Arizona|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=afhBPQAACAAJ|year=2001|publisher=Signature Press|isbn=978-1-930013-05-6}}</ref>

On August 8, 1916, the California Southern Railroad reached Blythe from the desert station of [[Rice, California|Rice]], then known as Blythe Junction. It was later renamed to honor G.W. Rice, an engineer and superintendent of the railroad. The dramatic growth in the valley following this event attracted national attention. Production totals increased annually from virtually nothing to near $8,000,000 in few years, primarily from cotton and cotton seed shipped to the ports.<ref>{{cite news|title=California Southern Extended to Open New District|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0-LNAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA4-PA60|work=The Santa Fe Magazine|date=April 1920|page=60}}</ref> The lower cotton prices in 1920 ended this prosperous time. The [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]] began leasing the line in 1921 and acquired it at the end of 1942.<ref name="Myrick2001" /><ref name="Robertson1986">{{cite book|author=Donald B. Robertson|title=Encyclopedia of Western Railroad History: California|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-aWhRfr3rdkC&pg=PA95|year=1986|publisher=Caxton Press|isbn=978-0-87004-385-7|page=95}}</ref>

The first automobile bridge over the Colorado River between Blythe and Ehrenberg was constructed in 1928 to replace a [[cable ferry]] service.<ref>{{cite book|title=California Highways and Public Works|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e9VKAQAAMAAJ|year=1933|publisher=Department of Public Works, State of California|page=22}}</ref> The bridge's successor was built in the early 1960s and was expanded to four lanes and a pedestrian walkway in early 1974.<ref>{{cite book|title=California Highways and Public Works|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wfo5AQAAMAAJ|year=1960|publisher=Department of Public Works, State of California|page=34}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Bridge project finished|work=Palo Verde Valley Times|date=March 7, 1974}}</ref>

In 1935, the completion of [[Boulder Dam]] extinguished the annual destructive floods in the valley. As noted during the city's fiftieth anniversary, some forty crops were grown on the farms, and large cattle feeds were another aspect of the agriculture industry.<ref>{{cite news|title=Blythe's Golden 50|work=Palo Verde Valley Times|date=October 13, 1966}}</ref> As of 1947, the Fisher ranch had the biggest herd of registered [[Brahman cattle]] in California, the breeding stock having been sold to western states and other countries.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fisher Brahmans Largely Known|work=Palo Verde Valley Times|date=October 30, 1947}}</ref>

During [[World War II]], Blythe was the site of [[United States Army Air Forces]] facilities at the [[Blythe Airport]] and the [[Gary Field]].

In 1972, [[Interstate 10 in California|Interstate 10]] was built through the city, replacing [[U.S. Route 60#California|US 60]] and the previously decommissioned [[U.S. Route 70#History|US 70]] on Hobsonway as the main thoroughfare.<ref>Front page picture in the ''Palo Verde Valley Times'', October 26, 1972.</ref>

===21st century===
In 2016, the voter-approved recreational use of cannabis in California has made the cannabis industry drawn to the economically declined city due to lower land prices, water, and potentially lower taxes compared to other parts of the state.<ref>{{cite news|last1=DiPierro|first1=Amy|title=Can marijuana save this 'dying' town on the California-Arizona border?|url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/money/business/tourism/2018/01/31/can-marijuana-save-dying-town-california-arizona-border/1050153001/|access-date=February 26, 2018|work=[[The Desert Sun]]|date=January 31, 2018}}</ref>

==Geography and climate==
Blythe is located near the [[California]]/[[Arizona]] border in the [[Colorado Desert]] section of the [[Sonoran Desert]], at the junction of [[Interstate 10 in California|Interstate 10]] and [[U.S. Route 95 in California|US 95]]. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|27.0|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|26.2|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.8|sqmi|km2}} (2.9%) is water.

Nearby communities include [[Vidal, California|Vidal]] to the north, [[Ripley, California|Ripley]] to the south, [[Desert Center, California|Desert Center]] to the west, and [[Ehrenberg, Arizona]], to the east. Major cities in the region include [[Yuma, Arizona|Yuma]] (85 miles), [[Indio, California|Indio]] (95 miles), [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]] (150 miles), [[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]] (170 miles), [[Riverside, California|Riverside]] (172 miles), and [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]] (200 miles). Blythe is within 4 hours via car of 10% of the United States' population.

Blythe has a hot [[desert climate]], featuring extremely hot summers and mild winters. There are an average of 179.3 days with highs of {{convert|90|F|C}} or higher. There are an average of 3.1 days with lows of {{convert|32|F|C}} or lower. Until 2016, the record high temperature was {{convert|122|F|C}} on July 7, 1920, and June 24, 1929. But on June 20, 2016, that long-standing record was shattered when Blythe reached {{convert|124|F|C}}. The record low temperature was {{convert|20|F|C}} on January 8, 1971. There are an average of 17.9 days with measurable precipitation. The wettest year was 1992 with {{convert|9.16|in|cm}} and the driest year was 1950 with {{convert|0.31|in|cm}}. The most rainfall in one month was {{convert|5.92|in|cm}} in August 1951, which included the 24-hour record rainfall of {{convert|3.00|in|cm}} on August 26.<ref name = NOWData/><ref name = NOAA/>

{{Weather box
|location = Blythe, California ([[Blythe Airport]]), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1948–present
|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 89
|Feb record high F = 93
|Mar record high F = 100
|Apr record high F = 107
|May record high F = 115
|Jun record high F = 124
|Jul record high F = 123
|Aug record high F = 121
|Sep record high F = 121
|Oct record high F = 112
|Nov record high F = 96
|Dec record high F = 87

|Jan avg record high F = 78.0
|Feb avg record high F = 82.7
|Mar avg record high F = 92.5
|Apr avg record high F = 101.3
|May avg record high F = 107.4
|Jun avg record high F = 114.8
|Jul avg record high F = 117.2
|Aug avg record high F = 115.6
|Sep avg record high F = 111.3
|Oct avg record high F = 101.6
|Nov avg record high F = 89.5
|Dec avg record high F = 76.8
|year avg record high F = 118.4

|Jan high F = 68.2
|Feb high F = 72.3
|Mar high F = 79.6
|Apr high F = 87.0
|May high F = 95.5
|Jun high F = 105.0
|Jul high F = 108.5
|Aug high F = 107.7
|Sep high F = 102.0
|Oct high F = 89.9
|Nov high F = 76.8
|Dec high F = 66.4
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 55.7
|Feb mean F = 59.3
|Mar mean F = 65.6
|Apr mean F = 72.1
|May mean F = 80.3
|Jun mean F = 89.2
|Jul mean F = 95.0
|Aug mean F = 94.7
|Sep mean F = 88.0
|Oct mean F = 75.4
|Nov mean F = 62.9
|Dec mean F = 54.0
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 43.2
|Feb low F = 46.2
|Mar low F = 51.6
|Apr low F = 57.3
|May low F = 65.2
|Jun low F = 73.4
|Jul low F = 81.5
|Aug low F = 81.7
|Sep low F = 74.0
|Oct low F = 61.0
|Nov low F = 49.1
|Dec low F = 41.7
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 32.9
|Feb avg record low F = 35.4
|Mar avg record low F = 41.0
|Apr avg record low F = 46.8
|May avg record low F = 54.6
|Jun avg record low F = 62.5
|Jul avg record low F = 72.2
|Aug avg record low F = 71.0
|Sep avg record low F = 62.8
|Oct avg record low F = 49.4
|Nov avg record low F = 38.0
|Dec avg record low F = 31.3
|year avg record low F = 29.6

|Jan record low F = 20
|Feb record low F = 22
|Mar record low F = 30
|Apr record low F = 38
|May record low F = 43
|Jun record low F = 46
|Jul record low F = 62
|Aug record low F = 62
|Sep record low F = 53
|Oct record low F = 27
|Nov record low F = 26
|Dec record low F = 24

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.53
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.62
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.48
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.09
|May precipitation inch = 0.05
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.01
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.26
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.40
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.32
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.16
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.21
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.43
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 2.6
|Feb precipitation days = 2.6
|Mar precipitation days = 2.3
|Apr precipitation days = 0.8
|May precipitation days = 0.5
|Jun precipitation days = 0.2
|Jul precipitation days = 1.5
|Aug precipitation days = 1.5
|Sep precipitation days = 1.6
|Oct precipitation days = 1.2
|Nov precipitation days = 1.2
|Dec precipitation days = 1.9

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00023158&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Blythe AP, CA
|access-date = March 26, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=psr
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Phoenix
|access-date = March 26, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

Also notable is the geological history of Blythe – despite California's reputation for [[earthquake]]s, according to geologists Blythe has not had an earthquake centered in the city for over 500,000 years.<ref name="Palo Verde Valley District Library"/>

==Local features==
Tourism is a major component of the local economy. Blythe is a stopover city with full services for travelers between any of the nearby regions, in particular the major cities of [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]] and [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]], since it is approximately midway between those two metropolitan areas. The winter months bring visitors avoiding the colder climates of the north, when the population of the area within <span style="white-space:nowrap">50&nbsp;miles&nbsp;(80&nbsp;km)</span> of Blythe has been known to exceed 500,000.<ref name="Palo Verde Valley District Library">{{cite web|url=http://paloverdevalleylibrary.com/about_blythe,_ca.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070123151841/http://paloverdevalleylibrary.com/about_blythe%2C_ca.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 23, 2007|title=About Blythe, Ca|date=January 23, 2007|access-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref>

Blythe also contains 24 churches, one library, two newspapers (''[http://paloverdevalleytimes.com/ Palo Verde Valley Times]'', ''{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20021005030848/http://www.thedesertinde.com/ The Desert Independent]}}''), two museums, two radio stations ([[KERU-FM]]<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=KERU |title = FM Query Results – Audio Division (FCC) USA|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170328165736/https://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=KERU|archive-date = March 28, 2017}}</ref> and [[KJMB-FM]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kjmbradio.com/|title=Radio Station in Blythe, CA – Adult Contemporary Radio Station|website=Kjmbradio.com|access-date=February 6, 2019}}</ref> ), three banks, a three-screen movie theater (now closed), one funeral home and an <span style="white-space:nowrap">18,500&nbsp;sq&nbsp;ft&nbsp;(1,720&nbsp;m<sup>2</sup>)</span>. recreation center. The area is popular with campers and hikers and has six parks, seven campgrounds, seven [[RV park]]s, 3 boat ramps onto the Colorado River, and an 18-hole public golf course.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1920= 1622
|1930= 1020
|1940= 2355
|1950= 4089
|1960= 6023
|1970= 7047
|1980= 6805
|1990= 8428
|2000= 12155
|2010= 20817
|2020= 18317
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2020===
The [[2020 United States census]] reported that Blythe had a population of 18,317. The population density was {{convert|689.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Blythe was 31.6% [[White Americans|White]], 11.7% [[African Americans|African American]], 1.8% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 1.8% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.2% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 41.9% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 11.0% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race were 59.4% of the population.<ref name=DP1>{{cite web |title=Blythe city, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?g=1600000US0607218 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 18, 2025}}</ref>

The census reported that 66.0% of the population lived in households, 0.6% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 33.4% were institutionalized.<ref name=DP1/>

There were 4,477 households, out of which 37.9% included children under the age of 18, 36.8% were married-couple households, 8.3% were [[cohabitation|cohabiting]] couple households, 32.1% had a female householder with no partner present, and 22.8% had a male householder with no partner present. 27.5% of households were one person, and 9.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.7.<ref name=DP1/> There were 2,980 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (66.6% of all households).<ref>{{cite web |title=Blythe city, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.P16?g=1600000US0607218 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 18, 2025}}</ref>

The age distribution was 18.4% under the age of 18, 9.5% aged 18 to 24, 36.3% aged 25 to 44, 26.6% aged 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65{{nbsp}}years of age or older. The median age was 36.9{{nbsp}}years. For every 100 females, there were 198.6 males.<ref name=DP1/>

There were 5,246 housing units at an average density of {{convert|197.3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}, of which 4,477 (85.3%) were occupied. Of these, 51.2% were owner-occupied, and 48.8% were occupied by renters.<ref name=DP1/>

===2023 estimates===
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 17.7% of the population were foreign-born. Of all people aged 5 or older, 55.2% spoke only English at home, 41.0% spoke [[Spanish language|Spanish]], 1.8% spoke other [[Indo-European languages]], 1.4% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages, and 0.6% spoke other languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 69.7% were high school graduates and 8.9% had a bachelor's degree.<ref>{{cite web |title=Blythe city, California; CP02: Comparative Social Characteristics in the United States - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSCP5Y2023.CP02?g=1600000US0607218 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 18, 2025}}</ref>

The median household income was $51,984, and the [[per capita income]] was $18,378. About 15.4% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Blythe city, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP5Y2023.DP03?g=1600000US0607218 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 18, 2025}}</ref>

==Politics==
In the [[California State Legislature]], Blythe is in {{Representative|casd|18|fmt=sdistrict}}, and in {{Representative|caad|36|fmt=adistrict}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/ |title=Find Your California Representative|publisher=California State Assembly |access-date=February 8, 2024 }}</ref>

In the [[United States House of Representatives]], Blythe is in {{Representative|cacd|25|fmt=district}}.<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|25}}</ref>

==Sports==
The [[Blythe Heat]] was a winter professional minor league baseball team of the [[Arizona Winter League]], and also a member of the [[Arizona Summer League]], but the leagues folded in 2017. They play on Alexander Field in Todd Park. Some games of the Lake Havasu Heat (folded in 2009) of the semi-pro [[Pacific Southwest Baseball League]] played in Blythe during the summer months.

==Public services==
[[File:Colorado River at Blythe main canal.jpg|thumb|Aerial view from the north of the [[Colorado River]] on the Arizona–California border, showing the small [[Palo Verde Diversion Dam]] that diverts water to the west (right) into the main canal  to irrigate the [[Palo Verde Valley]] around Blythe.  Canals on the Arizona side (left) in the [[Parker Valley]] are also visible, in the foreground.]]

===State and federal agencies===
State facilities in the town include the following:
* Resources Agency, [[California Department of Fish and Game]] office at 150 S. Main Street.
* [[California Highway Patrol]] office at 430 S. Broadway Street.
* [[California Department of Motor Vehicles]] office at 430 S. Broadway Street.
* [[California Department of Food and Agriculture]] office.
* California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation – [[Chuckawalla Valley State Prison]](Now Closed)
* [[California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation]] – [[Ironwood State Prison]]
* California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

Federal facilities in the town include the following:
* U.S. Border Patrol
* U.S. Department of Agriculture – Blythe Federal Building
* U.S. Postal Service – Blythe Federal Building

===Safety===
Blythe has its own police department and volunteer fire department. The [[Riverside County Sheriff's Department]] also has a regional station in Blythe.

Emergency medical services are provided by American Medical Response, which staffs two paramedic ambulances in the city 24 hours a day.

Blythe has its own police department, the Blythe Police Department who patrol Blythe. However the highways in and around Blythe are managed by [[California Highway Patrol]]  and the nearby Riverside County patrolled by [[Riverside County Sheriff's Department]] who also run the county jail.


===Education===
Blythe area public elementary and secondary schools comprise the [[Palo Verde Unified School District]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pvusd.us/|title=Palo Verde Unified School District|website=Palo Verde Unified School District|access-date=February 6, 2019}}</ref> which contains 3 elementary schools and 1 high school, and continuation/adult education school. Palo Verde Community College District is part of the [[California Community College]] system and includes [[Palo Verde College]] in Blythe and an educational center in Needles.

===Transportation===
[[Interstate 10 in California|Interstate 10]] crosses Blythe in an east–west direction. [[California State Route 78|State Route 78]]'s eastern terminus is west of the town. [[U.S. Route 95 (California)|U.S. Route 95]] crosses Blythe in the eastern side. Lovekin Boulevard and Midland Road serve the ghost town of [[Midland, CA|Midland]].

[[Blythe Airport]] (BLH) is just west of the town on [[Interstate 10 in California|Interstate 10]] and has a {{convert|6500|ft|m|adj=on}} runway.

Blythe was served in rail by the [[Arizona and California Railroad]] but currently has no rail service since an embargo in late 2007 and abandonment in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|title=Surface Transportation Board Decision|url=http://www.stb.dot.gov/decisions/readingroom.nsf/fc695db5bc7ebe2c852572b80040c45f/f2b2222848c9fc8b852575e400664e0a?OpenDocument|website=Stb.dot.gov|access-date=May 2, 2016|archive-date=October 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006182511/http://www.stb.dot.gov/decisions/readingroom.nsf/fc695db5bc7ebe2c852572b80040c45f/f2b2222848c9fc8b852575e400664e0a?OpenDocument|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Blythe is served by [[RidePV]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sites.google.com/site/pvvtablythe/|title=Palo Verde Valley Transit Agency|website=Sites.google.com|access-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref> [[Greyhound Lines|Greyhound]] stops in Blythe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://locations.greyhound.com/bus-stations/us/california/blythe/bus-station-890329|title=Blythe California Bus Station – Greyhound|website=Locations.greyhound.com|access-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref>

===Healthcare===
Health facilities in Blythe include [[Palo Verde Hospital]], a General Acute Care [[Hospital]] with 55 total beds and 24-hour standby emergency services, 23 physicians/surgeons, 2 dentists, 2 optometrists, 1 chiropractor, and 1 podiatrist.<ref>California Department of Health Services</ref>

===Cemetery===
The Palo Verde Cemetery District<ref>{{cite web|url=http://capc.info/members.html|title=California Association of Public Cemeteries|website=Capc.info|access-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref> maintains the Palo Verde Cemetery.<ref>{{Coord|33.6308572|-114.6007904|region:US|display=inline}} [http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=154:3:2918070220356094::NO:3:P3_FID,P3_TITLE:247172%2CPalo%20Verde%20Cemetery USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)]</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|California}}
* [[Blythe Intaglios]]
* [[Blythe Photovoltaic Power Plant]]
* [[Blythe Solar Power Project]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last1=Harkinson |first1=Marilee |title=A Short History of Blythe |series=The Riverside County Chronicles |date=Spring 2017 |issue=18 |pages=4–11 |publisher=Riverside County Heritage Association|isbn=978-1545144312}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Blythe}}
* {{Official website}}
<!-- * [https://www.imdb.com/search/name?birth_place=Blythe,+California,+USA&ref_=nmbio_ov_3 Actors born in Blythe] This might be a source for a Notable persons section-->

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Blythe
|North     = ''[[Big Maria Mountains]]''
|Northeast = ''[[Parker Valley]]''
|East      = ''[[Colorado River]]''<br />''[[Dome Rock Mountains]]'', Arizona
|Southeast = ''[[Trigo Mountains]]'', Arizona
|South     = ''[[Cibola Valley]]''
|Southwest = ''[[Palo Verde Mesa]]''
|West      = [[Desert Center, California]]
|Northwest = ''[[Eagle Mountains]]''
}}
{{Riverside County, California}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Blythe, California| ]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1916]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Colorado Desert]]
[[Category:Communities in the Lower Colorado River Valley]]
[[Category:Lower Colorado River Valley]]
[[Category:Cities in Riverside County, California]]
[[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California]]
[[Category:1916 establishments in California]]
[[Category:California populated places on the Colorado River]]