This was a ride in the old Nissan Rogue south to Needles, California. I’ve heard of this place many times as being the hottest place in the United States. It wasn’t hot that day as I recall, and I didn’t find much that was interesting either. So why is it called Needles? Below is what I found in a quick search:

Named for the nearby pointed mountain peaks, Needles was founded in 1883 to support the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The city’s location along the Western bank of the Colorado River, which serves as the California/Arizona border, was once its major draw. As in John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath, it was an important stopping point for travelers entering California in search of opportunity during the Dust Bowl era. Like the Joad family, thousands stopped in Needles for gas and supplies before crossing the Mojave Desert.

Its proximity to Arizona has since become a major factor behind the town’s decline. With corporate taxes and building regulations being significantly higher in California, many large businesses such as Walmart, Kmart, and Home Depot have chosen to open stores in Bullhead City, AZ, only a 20-minute drive from Needles. And for savvy travelers who know that gas is often a dollar per gallon cheaper east of the Colorado River, the decision to stop for fuel and lunch in Bullhead City instead of Needles in a no-brainer.

That’s not a very positive review of the city, is it? The comment on high taxes and regulations is to me, the best reason why this little town is slowly fading away thanks to the asswipes in Sacramento. I can’t see why people live in California, the taxes and rules, regulations are ludicrous and a great reason why Las Vegas has so many ex Californians here. That said, please, don’t California my Nevada! Here is the source of the excerpt above.