Mohave County is a vast, split landscape defined by the Grand Canyon's deep divide

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Occupying the northwestern corner of Arizona, Mohave County is the fifth-largest county in the contiguous United States. It is a land of striking geographic separation, where the Grand Canyon splits the territory into two distinct sections with no direct land connection, creating a unique administrative and physical challenge.

Established as one of Arizona's four original counties by the 1st Territorial Legislature, Mohave County has undergone significant boundary shifts throughout its history. Its current borders were finalized in 1881, following a period of territorial flux that saw parts of the region ceded to Nevada in 1866. The county seat has moved five times since 1864, settling in Kingman in 1887. Today, the county spans 13,461 square miles, with the Colorado River forming the majority of its western boundary.

The county's geography is defined by its fragmentation. The northern section is part of the Arizona Strip, a remote area bordering Utah and Nevada, while the larger southern section includes the Mojave Desert and the county's major population centers. This vast expanse is sparsely populated, with a 2020 census population of 213,267. The region is heavily protected, containing parts of Grand Canyon National Park, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, and the entirety of the Grand Canyon–Parashant National Monument, alongside 18 official wilderness areas.

Politically, the county has maintained a consistent conservative trend for decades. No Democratic presidential candidate has won the county since 1964, when Lyndon Johnson secured a narrow victory of 152 votes over Barry Goldwater. Beyond its political history, the county is characterized by its diverse demographic makeup and its role as a hub for both urban and rural living, with 76.1% of residents residing in urban areas as of 2020. It remains a significant piece of the American West, contributing to a massive block of large counties that, combined, exceed the land area of Idaho.

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