History of Yuma, Arizona

History of Yuma

The history of Yuma, Arizona can be traced back to 1540, when the Spanish Army, with Hernando de Alarcon and Melchior Diaz. They sailed through Colorado River. In Yuma, the Spanish Army encountered the Quechan and Cocopah Tribes. These Indian tribes were skilled in hunting, gathering, fishing, and planting crops. Quechan and Cocopah had a small community in Yuma. Yuma was included as a Spanish continent. In the 1680s the first priest named Father Eusebio Kino helped the Indian tribes of Arizona convert into Christianity.

In 1774, Yuma was given to Mexico by the Spanish Government. The first conflict between the Spanish Army, and the Indian tribes occurred in 1781. The Quechan tribes rebelled against the Spanish Army’s brutality and oppression. The Spanish communities were killed, and they were forced to leave Yuma forever. The first that led to the war was the Indian tribes’ opposition to Christianity. In 1821, the Mexico won their battle for independence against Spain. The Mexicans planned to expand in the U.S. In 1852. The U.S. Army planned to expand in the U.S settled in Yuma along with the American travelers. During the Civil War, President Lincoln ordered the U.S. Army to move to west to make a colonial government.  The American troops began to fight in World War 2 in 1943. There is a military air base in Yuma. Yuma’s first city was built in 1871 in Yuma County, close to the Colorado River (Gila River). Yuma was named after the Spanish saw the Quechan tribe created a smoke, “humo”. At that time, Yuma became well known for its large irrigation district from the Colorado River. They also have sizeable agricultural farming within the desert farmland. Yuma's agricultural practices include agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism as the main way for Yuma counties to earn money. According to the census, Yuma’s population is over 203,247 Yuma is about 106.7 square miles. The people, who live in Yuma, believed that it is one of the hottest places to live in. 
The following are the percentages of the demographics in Yuma:

•      White Race: 68.3%

•      Africans: 3.2%

•      Native Americans: 1.5%

•      Asians: .2%

•      Another Race: 3.9%

•      Hispanics or Latino: 45.7%