Needles, Desert city in San Bernardino County, California, United States.
Needles is a desert city in San Bernardino County, California, near the borders of Arizona and Nevada. The town spreads along the western bank of the Colorado River and serves as a transportation junction connecting the three states.
The settlement began in 1883 as a construction camp for a transcontinental railroad linking the western and eastern United States. It later grew into a river trade center where steamboats moved goods between California and Arizona.
The town's location along the river draws boaters and anglers, while its proximity to the Mojave Desert attracts hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. Local life moves at a slower pace shaped by extreme summer heat and the remote setting.
Main highways cross the town in east-west and north-south directions, offering connections to neighboring states. The train station receives daily long-distance services linking travelers to larger cities across California, Arizona, and beyond.
Summer temperatures here rank among the hottest in any inhabited place in North America, often climbing above 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 Celsius). The name refers to sharp rock spires rising from the desert landscape south of town.
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