Editing Golden Valley, Arizona

{{Short description|CDP in Mohave County, Arizona}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Golden Valley, Arizona
|settlement_type          = [[Census-designated place]]
|image_skyline            = Golden Valley Arizona.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_map                = Mohave_County_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Golden_Valley_highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Mohave County]] and the state of [[Arizona]]
|pushpin_map              = Arizona#USA
|pushpin_label            = Golden Valley
|pushpin_map_caption      = 
<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[Countries of the World|Country]]
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Arizona|County]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_name1        = [[Arizona]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Mohave County, Arizona|Mohave]]
<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|established_date         = 
<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021">{{cite web |title=2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Arizona |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2021_Gazetteer/2021_gaz_place_04.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=May 23, 2022}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 203.95
|area_total_sq_mi         = 78.75
|area_land_km2            = 203.95
|area_land_sq_mi          = 78.75
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=1600000US0428195&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=P1. Race – Golden Valley CDP, Arizona: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=May 23, 2022}}</ref>
|population_total         = 8801
|population_density_km2   = 43.15
|population_density_sq_mi = 111.77
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Mountain Standard Time Zone|MST]]Arizona Time (no [[Daylight savings time|DST]]
|utc_offset               = -7
|elevation_ft             = 2717
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|coordinates              = {{coord|35|12|22|N|114|15|20|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 86413
|area_code                = [[Area code 928|928]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 04-28195
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2408307<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2408307}}</ref>
|footnotes                = 
|website                  = 
}}
[[File:1960 Magazine Ad.jpg|thumb|1960 magazine ad]]
'''Golden Valley''' is an [[unincorporated area]] and [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[Mohave County, Arizona|Mohave County]], [[Arizona]], United States, located halfway between [[Kingman, Arizona|Kingman]] and [[Bullhead City]]. The population was 8,801 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020"/>

==History==
Golden Valley was named after a company from [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]], California, that went into partnership with Crystal Collins to develop most of the land south of [[Arizona State Route 68]] into {{convert|2.5|acre|adj=on}} parcels. The company's name was Golden Valley Development Company. The land was split into 2.5 acre parcels and sold for $695 each: $10 down and $10 per month.

==Geography==
The community of Golden Valley lies in the [[Sacramento Valley (Arizona)|Sacramento Valley]], separated from the larger neighboring cities of [[Kingman, Arizona|Kingman]] and [[Bullhead City, Arizona|Bullhead City]] by the surrounding mountain ranges. State Route 68 runs through the heart of Golden Valley, leading east {{convert|10|mi|0}} to Kingman and west over the [[Black Mountains (Arizona)|Black Mountains]] {{convert|23|mi}} to Bullhead City. At the eastern end of Golden Valley, Arizona 68 terminates at [[U.S. Route 93 in Arizona|U.S. Route 93]], which leads to Kingman to the south, or [[Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]], to the north.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the Golden Valley CDP has a total area {{convert|78.7|sqmi}}, all of it land.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021"/> The Golden Valley [[ZIP Code]] (86413) extends {{convert|10|mi|0}} north and {{convert|15|mi}} south of the CDP proper, but all population statistics refer to the CDP area only.

Residents work in Golden Valley, Kingman, Bullhead, [[Laughlin, Nevada|Laughlin]], [[Lake Havasu City, Arizona|Lake Havasu]] and even as far as Las Vegas.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|2000 = 4515
|2010 = 8370
|2020 = 8801
|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, 2016}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 4,515 people, 1,822 households, and 1,288 families residing in the CDP.  The population density was {{convert|161.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 2,175 housing units at an average density of {{convert|77.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the CDP was 94.0% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.5% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 1.0% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.7% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.2% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.8% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.8% from two or more races.  8.0% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 1,822 households, out of which 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 22.4% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 21.7% from 25 to 44, 33.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.3 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.7 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $27,857, and the median income for a family was $30,662. Males had a median income of $26,319 versus $19,556 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $13,948.  About 10.6% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 22.3% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Infrastructure==
Golden Valley is an unincorporated area and is administered directly by Mohave County. Police protection is provided by the Mohave County Sheriff's Office; fire protection is provided by the Golden Valley Fire Department. K–12 education is provided by Kingman Unified School District. One elementary school, Black Mountain Elementary, is located in Golden Valley, but older students must be bused to Kingman for high school.

==Education==
The CDP is in the [[Kingman Unified School District]]<!--UNI 00295-->.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st04_az/schooldistrict_maps/c04015_mohave/DC20SD_C04015.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Mohave County, AZ|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|page=3 (PDF p. 4/4)|access-date=2024-10-04}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st04_az/schooldistrict_maps/c04015_mohave/DC20SD_C04015_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

==State prison==
The [[Arizona State Prison – Kingman]] has a Golden Valley address and is {{convert|10|mi|0}} south of the community. When it was being sold to the residents of Golden Valley it was promised it would be a prison for DUI offenders only. Due to control of the inmate population problems the contract for the prison has changed hands since its opening. It is a for-profit prison operated by GEO Group under contract to hold inmates for the [[Arizona Department of Corrections]].<ref name="az_corrections_kingman">{{cite web|url=http://www.azcorrections.gov/prisons/Zoya_kingman1.aspx|title=Arizona State Prison – Kingman (MTC)|access-date=August 13, 2010|archive-date=October 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012232651/http://www.azcorrections.gov/prisons/Zoya_kingman1.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>"[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US0428195&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on Golden Valley CDP, Arizona] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608201424/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US0428195&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on |date=2011-06-08 }}." [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on August 13, 2010.</ref>

===2010 escapes===
{{main|2010 Arizona prison escape}}
On July 30, 2010, three inmates, two incarcerated for murders, one for attempted homicides, escaped from the facility.<ref name=msnbc1>{{cite news|title=Ariz. police hunt for three escaped murderers|publisher=AP|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna38502099}}</ref>  One was recaptured in western Colorado on August 1, after a shootout with a [[Garfield County, Colorado|Garfield County]] deputy and city police in [[Rifle, Colorado]].  A second was recaptured by [[United States Marshals Service|U.S. Marshals]] on August 9 in [[Meeteetse, Wyoming]].<ref name=cnn1>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/08/09/arizona.escapees/?hpt=Sbin |title=One Arizona escapee recaptured in Wyoming |publisher=CNN |date=August 9, 2010}}</ref>  The third escapee and his accomplice cousin were captured near [[Springerville, Arizona|Springerville]]  on August 19, 2010, also by U.S. Marshals, in an east-central Arizona, [[White Mountains (Arizona)|White Mountains]], [[United States Forest Service|U.S. Forest Service]] campground.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/09/21/Arizona-releases-report-on-prison-escapes/UPI-68361285094969/ |title=Arizona releases report on prison escapes |publisher=[[United Press International]] |date=September 21, 2010}}</ref>

===July 2015 riots===
On July 1, 2 and 4, riots broke out once again at the Arizona State Prison – Kingman, at Golden Valley, which had "a long history of problems." Nine guards and seven inmates were injured, and the state brought in 96 members of its special tactical unit to quell the disturbances.<ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/hundreds-arizona-inmates-moved-riot-32216623 Hundreds of Arizona inmates to be moved following riots ], [[Associated Press]], July 3, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2015.</ref><ref>[http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2015/07/04/kingman-prison-experiencing-disturbance-abrk/29716859/ State sends special forces to quell Kingman Prison Riot], [[Arizona Republic|Arizona Central]], Craig Harris and Jerod MacDonald-Evoy, July 5, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2015.</ref>

===MTC contract termination===
In August 2015, Arizona [[List of governors of Arizona|governor]] [[Doug Ducey]] terminated the contract with MTC after an Arizona Department of Corrections investigative report revealed the company had "a culture of disorganization, disengagement, and disregard" of DOC policies.<ref>Craig Harris (August 27, 2015). [http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/arizona/politics/2015/08/26/arizona-kingman-riot-cause-corrections-department-report/32432963/ Arizona cuts ties with private-prison operator over Kingman riot]. ''The Arizona Republic.'' Retrieved September 2, 2015.</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Arizona}}
* [[List of census-designated places in Arizona]]

==References==
{{reflist|22em}}

==External links==
*[https://www.goldenvalleyfire.org/ Golden Valley Fire District]
{{commons category-inline|Golden Valley, Arizona}}

{{Mohave County, Arizona}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Mohave County, Arizona]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Arizona]]