Needlepoint, Nevada, is an affluent community of more than 100,000 people. The population of Needles is about 49% married. Needles has the lowest divorce rate in the United States and ranks third in the world among all communities. The city is located in a desert environment with low unemployment and low crime rates. Needles is home to several major universities, including Colorado State University and the San Manuel Indian Community College.
Despite being an extremely remote location, Needles is home to numerous tourist attractions. It is located along the infamous Route 66, and is often referred to as the "Eastern Gateway to California". It is the fictional town in John Steinbeck's famous novel The Grapes of Wrath; it was the place where the Joad family crossed from Arizona to California after being evicted from Oklahoma. It also houses the home of the creator of the Peanuts comic strip, Charles Schulz.
The area between Needles and Barstow is often referred to as the Lonesome Triangle. To the west/southwest, the Sacramento Mountains stand out as the backdrop. To the south, the Chemehuevi Mountains tower above Lake Havasu. The climate in Needles is dry, and wind-blown sandstorms are common, particularly in spring and early summer. You can expect windy weather throughout the year.