Summer's harvest is celebrated at the annual corn dinner and dance held each Labor Day. Autumn's colors, enhanced by profuse evergreens native to the area, give a beautiful prelude to the mild winters.

The town is blessed with clean air, good soil, and an abundant supply of pure water, proven to require no treatment. Local wells provide most of the drinking water. Average well depths range between 200 to 500 feet. The Chino Valley Irrigation District, a 1,700 acre service area, provides water for agricultural purposes. Whether your dream is your own garden, a small farm or a large ranch, Chino Valley has the resources to support your desires.

Affordable living is enhanced by local facilities including parks, ball fields, free tennis courts, the Teen Center, Community Center, Senior Center and animal shelter. The community has a complete library, the fifth largest public library in Yavapai County. The library offers children's activities, and has an on line database linked with other libraries in the county.  A variety of religious denominations are also well represented in the area.

Incorporated in 1970, the community is served by a fire district facility as well as a local police department. We're also proud of our County Sheriff's Posse, and the Search and Rescue Team. Low drug and crime rates prevail.  Retirement in the quiet community is popular.

Location - Chino Valley is located in northern Arizona only 15 miles north of Prescott, 150 miles from Phoenix, 90 miles from Flagstaff, 30 miles from Jerome, 36 miles from Cottonwood, and about 50 miles from Sedona. You can even make a day trip to the Grand Canyon from Chino Valley.

Climate - Chino Valley has a mild climate and a gentle four seasons.  We enjoy 300 plus days of sunshine every year, and have an average rainfall of 10.6 inches. The average winter low temperature is 21 degrees and the summer high is 92 degrees.

Population/Size - Chino Valley's population growth rate from 1990 to 2000 was 62%. Current town residents number approximately 8,000.

Real Estate - Chino Valley offers many choice home sites for all citizens. From a 60 x 100 to a 5 acre parcel; single family homes, apartments, mobile home parks, and permanent mobile home sites are available. Except for a limit of one swine on certain one-acre minimum parcels, local town zoning permits any type or number of farm animals per acre, keeping within health department standards. Chino Valley regulations are less restrictive than the county's.

Major Employers - The economy of Chino Valley is based on a mix of retail, commercial and government activities.   Major employers include American Sandstone, the Chino Valley School District, Safeway, Town of Chino Valley, Performance Accessories, NAB Nursery, Willow Creek Greenhouse, U.S. Forest Service, Hunts True Value Lumber and Dewitt Brothers Trucking & Construction.   Twenty other businesses employ between five and 15 employees each, and there are numerous small business and service-type employers.  

With the significant growth in Chino Valley, employment has been created in construction, service and supplies.  Agriculture is also a viable business.   Willow Creek Greenhouses and other nurseries and agricultural producers are active in the area.  Affordable land and the availability of services will continue to attract new businesses in the future.

Education - Chino Valley has two elementary schools, one middle school, one high school and two state charter schools (grades 1-8).   Enrollment is approximately 2,300 students.   Also, Yavapai Community College (YCC) and two private colleges, Prescott College and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, are available.   Northern Arizona University, in partnership with YCC, offers undergraduate and graduate programs; for information call (928) 445-5231.

 
Health Care -   There are two hospitals with 217 and 127 beds, both 16 miles away in Prescott.   In-town ambulance service is available as is a new health facility.   Medical professionals in the area include five doctors, one physician's assistant, one dentist, one optometrist, four chiropractors and two veterinarians.  In addition counseling services are available.

Communication - In addition to communication resources from the rest of the state, Chino Valley has an area daily newspaper, a weekly and local interest magazine, a community access channel and receives several radio stations and television channels from Prescott, Phoenix, and Flagstaff. Chino Valley is completely wired with coaxial cable for cable TV.

 History - Chino Valley is the site of the first Territorial Capital of Arizona.   The capital moved to Prescott, 15 miles away, in 1864.  U.S. Army Cavalry Lt. Amiel W. Whipple, while traveling through the area in 1854, gave the community its name.  "Chino" is the Mexican name for the abundant curly grama grass growing in the area.

In 1895, a narrow gauge branch of the United Verde and Pacific Railroad to Jerome, joining the Prescott and Arizona Central, was completed, and Jerome Junction was established.   Between 1900 and 1925, the activities of Jerome Junction were absorbed by Chino Valley.

Chino Valley and the surrounding area have experienced explosive growth since the town was incorporated in 1970. The greater Chino area has over 12,000 residents who primarily shop in Chino Valley. Yavapai County is 40,000 square miles and is nearly half the size of North Dakota.

Recreation - Outdoor activities are plentiful close to Chino Valley. The Granite Mountain Wilderness is filled with hiking trails.  The Granite Dells are unique rock formations just outside of town. These formations are great for rock climbers and scenic place to admire nature’s beauty.  Cultural attractions abound near Chino Valley. The Sharlot Hall Museum tells the story of Arizona’s past through artifacts and buildings, while the Smoki Museum has many ancient artifacts of the Native Americans. These are great places to learn about the area.

The Senior Center - serves our retired population in a variety of ways. Daily lunches are served and the Meals on Wheels program provides meals for shut-ins. Their monthly calendar includes activities such as music, ceramics, pinochle, table games, exercise classes, line dancing, international folk dancing, bus trips, fabric painting, needle crafts and pot luck dinners. It is people like Ruth Gilpin, an area resident for over 70 years, and active in many civic projects, who give Chino Valley area that old-fashioned, neighborly approach to community leadership.