Developers in 1996 opened a new 200-unit town home community in Laughlin. Two shopping centers in Laughlin house more than 20 businesses including an auto repair garage, laundromat, three restaurants, eye care center, grocery store and local television station KLBC TV-2. Laughlin's town hall opened in 1992. The city's elementary school opened in 1986 and a high school opened in 1991. Previously, students were bussed across the Colorado River each morning to attend school in Arizona.
Bullhead City is the fastest growing city in Arizona.
Its population in 1984 was 13,836. In 1995 the city reported nearly 28,000 residents and officials estimate there will be 50,000 residents by the year 2000. Tourism provides jobs for more than half the work force in Bullhead City. Home construction is never-ending and new subdivisions are continually on the drawing boards. In 1996, two master-planned communities comprised of 600 homes opened in the city.