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Blythe, California

Blythe is a city in eastern Riverside County, California, United States.
Population 18,317

Top Events in Blythe History

1
1850History
Calloway made preliminary surveys and filed land claims under the Swamp Land Act of 1850.
2
1877Government
Blythe was named after Thomas Henry Blythe, a San Francisco financier, who established primary water rights to the Colorado River in the region in 1877.
3
1880Civil Rights
Calloway died in a Chemehuevi attack on March 28, 1880, and was replaced by C.C.
4
1883History
Thomas Blythe died on April 4, 1883; his only revisit to the valley was in November 1882.
5
1889History
After his death, the work in the valley halted and Blythe's estate subsequently went into litigation between his illegitimate daughter Florence and other claimants, the trial be...
6
1904Economy
=== 20th century === Frank Murphy and Ed Williams, who were involved with the cattle industry in southeastern Arizona, came to the area in 1904 and were convinced it was well-su...
7
1908Architecture
The town was originally named Blythe City, by Thomas Blythe, but the name was shortened to simply Blythe around the time the first post office was opened in 1908.
8
1911History
During 1911–1912, W.F.
9
1916Government
The city was incorporated on July 21, 1916.
10
1920History
The lower cotton prices in 1920 ended this prosperous time.

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Historical Timeline

1850History
Calloway made preliminary surveys and filed land claims under the Swamp Land Act of 1850.
1877Government
Blythe was named after Thomas Henry Blythe, a San Francisco financier, who established primary water rights to the Colorado River in the region in 1877.
1880Civil Rights
Calloway died in a Chemehuevi attack on March 28, 1880, and was replaced by C.C.
1883History
Thomas Blythe died on April 4, 1883; his only revisit to the valley was in November 1882.
1889History
After his death, the work in the valley halted and Blythe's estate subsequently went into litigation between his illegitimate daughter Florence and other claimants, the trial be...
1904Economy
=== 20th century === Frank Murphy and Ed Williams, who were involved with the cattle industry in southeastern Arizona, came to the area in 1904 and were convinced it was well-su...
1908Architecture
The town was originally named Blythe City, by Thomas Blythe, but the name was shortened to simply Blythe around the time the first post office was opened in 1908.
1911History
During 1911–1912, W.F.
1916Government
The city was incorporated on July 21, 1916.
1920History
The lower cotton prices in 1920 ended this prosperous time.
1921Infrastructure
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway began leasing the line in 1921 and acquired it at the end of 1942.
1928Architecture
The first automobile bridge over the Colorado River between Blythe and Ehrenberg was constructed in 1928 to replace a cable ferry service.
1935Disaster
In 1935, the completion of Boulder Dam extinguished the annual destructive floods in the valley.
1947History
As of 1947, the Fisher ranch had the biggest herd of registered Brahman cattle in California, the breeding stock having been sold to western states and other countries.
1951History
The most rainfall in one month was 5.92 inches (150.4 mm) in August 1951, which included the 24-hour record rainfall of 3 inches (76.2 mm) on August 26.
1971History
The record low temperature was 20 °F (−6.7 °C) on January 8, 1971.
1972Architecture
In 1972, Interstate 10 was built through the city, replacing US 60 and the previously decommissioned US 70 on Hobsonway as the main thoroughfare.
1974Architecture
The bridge's successor was built in the early 1960s and was expanded to four lanes and a pedestrian walkway in early 1974.
1992History
The wettest year was 1992 with 9.16 inches (232.7 mm) and the driest year was 1950 with 0.31 inches (7.9 mm).
2007Infrastructure
Blythe was served in rail by the Arizona and California Railroad but currently has no rail service since an embargo in late 2007 and abandonment in 2009.
2009Sports
Some games of the Lake Havasu Heat (folded in 2009) of the semi-pro Pacific Southwest Baseball League played in Blythe during the summer months.
2016History
Until 2016, the record high temperature was 122 °F (50 °C) on July 7, 1920, and June 24, 1929.
2017Infrastructure
== Sports == The Blythe Heat was a winter professional minor league baseball team of the Arizona Winter League, and also a member of the Arizona Summer League, but the leagues f...

Did You Know?

1
Blythe is located in the state of California.
2
Blythe has a population of 18,317 residents.
3
Blythe was named after Thomas Henry Blythe, a San Francisco financier, who established primary water rights to the Colorado River in the region in 1877.

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Famous People from Blythe, California

TE
Tony Eason
Football Player · Born Oct 8, 1959 · Age 66
GW
Glynn Wolfe
Baptist Minister · Born Jul 25, 1908 · Died Jun 10, 1997 (age 88)
GG
Gary Goddard
Producer, Director · Born Jul 18, 1954 · Age 71
RS
Ramón "Chunky" Sánchez
Chicano Musician, Activist · Born Oct 30, 1951 · Died Oct 28, 2016 (age 64)
PB
Paul Banke
Boxer
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