Lake Havasu City, home of the historic London Bridge, is on the east shore of Lake Havasu on the Colorado River border of California and Arizona. McCulloch Properties, Inc. established the town in 1963 as a self-sufficient, planned community. It is the major population center of southern Mohave County, one of the fastest growing counties in the United States. Lake Havasu City incorporated in 1978.
The city's founding company, McCulloch Corporation (wholly owned by Shop-Vac, Inc.), employs approximately 900 workers in the manufacture of chain saws, string trimmers and related products. Sterlite Corporation, the largest U.S. independent manufacturer of plastic houseware products, employs more than 100 people and occupies the second largest facility which consists of approximately 400,000 square feet. In addition, a cluster of boat manufacturers, including high performance and leisure craft like Advantage, Campbell, Nordic, Starlite and Conquest, have found a natural home by the lake. Other manufactured products include engines for model airplanes and boats, metal mirrors for laser applications, custom cabinets, counter tops, tools and components for electronics, computer and aircraft industries.
Forty-five-mile-long Lake Havasu, formed by Parker Dam on the Colorado River, offers abundant attractions to its visitors. The deep blue water, with its coves and inlets, makes the lake a good fishing spot for striped and large-mouth bass, bluegil and crappie. Open stretched of water are the scene of annual national outboard championships, sailing competitions, water skiing and jet ski championships.
Early mines and mining towns are scattered in the desert east of Havasu; the most famous of these is Oatman. Lake Havasu State Park and Lake Havasu National Wildlife Refuge provide areas where one can explore the rugged terrain where birds and small game flourish.
For those interested in geological phenomena, the area surrounding Lake Havasu City is ideal. Within a ten-mile radius of the city such specimens as volcanic rock, geodes, jaspers, obsidian, turquoise, and agate can be uncovered. Hikers will enjoy a trek into the area's rocks, Indian ruins and abandoned mines.