Ehrenberg, Arizona

Ehrenberg, Arizona
CDP
Ehrenberg in 1911.
Location in La Paz County and the state of Arizona
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Arizona
County	La Paz
Area
• Total	12.2 sq mi (31.6 km2)
• Land	11.9 sq mi (30.9 km2)
• Water	0.3 sq mi (0.7 km2)
Elevation	305 ft (93 m)
Population (2000)
• Total	1,357
• Density	111.2/sq mi (42.9/km2)
Time zone	MST (no DST) (UTC-7)
ZIP code	85334
Area code(s)	928
FIPS code	04-21800
GNIS feature ID	0004361

Ehrenberg, also historically spelled "Ehrenburg" is a census-designated place (CDP) in La Paz County, Arizona, United States. The population was 1,357 at the 2000 census. Ehrenberg is named for its founder, Herman Ehrenberg.

Ehrenberg is located on the Colorado River, which forms the border with California, near the city of Blythe. It is situated close to Interstate 10, at the southern end of Parker Valley and next to the Palo Verde Valley.

History

In 1863, German mining engineer Herman Ehrenberg was hired to survey a new townsite along the Colorado River, approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) from La Paz, Arizona. The town, named Mineral City, began to grow in 1866, after a new landing was established there, supported by the steamboat captains of the George A. Johnson Company. Mineral City now attracted miners and many businessmen away from La Paz and by September 20, 1869 had grown large enough to win a post office. The same year it was renamed Ehrenberg.

Over the next several years the town continued to grow, surpassing La Paz. By 1875 there were 500 residents. The population of La Paz dwindled, and many storekeepers relocated to Ehrenberg.

Around the start of the 20th century, railroads began to bypass the river as the major means of transporting goods. The town's population declined, and it lost its post office on December 31, 1913.

Many of the surviving older buildings in town were torn down in the 1950s to make way for a trailer park.

Geography

Ehrenberg is located at (33.614617, -114.514766).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 12.2 square miles (32 km²), of which, 11.9 square miles (31 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km²) of it (2.13%) is water.

Ehrenberg is located on the Colorado River and border of Arizona and California, on the Arizona side. Ehrenberg is approximately 145 miles west of Phoenix.

Although Ehrenberg is geographically located in the Mountain Time Zone, due to its proximity to Blythe CA and the fact that Arizona does not observe Daylight savings, Ehrenberg observes Pacific Time year round.

Climate

This are has a large amount of sunshine year round due to its stable descending air and high pressure. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Ehrenberg has a mild desert climate, abbreviated "Bwh" on climate maps.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,357 people, 545 households, and 348 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 113.7 people per square mile (43.9/km²). There were 824 housing units at an average density of 69.1 per square mile (26.7/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 82.76% White, 1.11% Black or African American, 1.62% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 10.54% from other races, and 3.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 30.14% of the population.

There were 545 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 110.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.6 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $27,000, and the median income for a family was $28,000. Males had a median income of $35,956 versus $18,100 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $14,372. About 17.0% of families and 22.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.7% of those under age 18 and 17.9% of those age 65 or over.

Further reading

• Setzler, Grady. Ramblings of a Country Editor. Mesa: Central, 1970.
• Setzler, Grady. Another Wilderness Conquered. Blythe: Palo Verde Times, 1967.
• Dekens, Camile. Riverman, Desertman. Riverside: Press Enterprise, 1962.