| Ft. Yuma Reservation Ethnology-Language: Quechan Established: 1884 County: Imperial Acreage: 43,942 Population: 2,086 Location: Situated along the Colorado River in southeastern Imperial County, California and Yuma County, Arizona, Ft. Yuma. After much struggle, the reservation established itself at the site of an old mission in 1884. The old fort housed U. S. Calvary soldiers and was built in 1789 has been refurbished and used for tribal functions. Until very recently, water rights have been an issue for this warm weather agricultural community. Now, a flourishing agricultural enterprise can be seen for miles as you stand on the hill near the Tribal Center. Ft. Yuma has a museum occupying the old Officer's Mess Hall of 1851 and has a casino, RV parks and camping. Library: According to the tribe's Economic Development Specialist, there was a library, or at least, a plan for a library, at one time. The small library associated with the Balboa Naval Hospital closed down in the late 1960s, early 1970s, so the tribe brought four truckloads of books to the reservation to serve as a core for their library. Nothing has ever come of those library plans. Reservation kids are stuck in the middle of issues pertaining to Ft. Yuma's shared state status. Their clocks are set to Arizona time but, they are considered non-residents at Yuma's Public Library, the closest public library, which requires a $25.00 users fee for non-residents. The library in Yuma is trying to work with their board to reduce the fees to $15.00 for children. |
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