When you combine a mild, four-season climate with a small-town feel and plenty of business and recreational opportunities, you have Prescott Arizona, “Everybody’s Hometown”!  

Feeling friendly and safe, the community remembers the legacy of its pioneer past, when words were few and actions mattered.  Surrounded by national forests, Prescott offers clean fresh air, along with breathtaking scenery. 

Prescott is home to the downtown Courthouse Plaza, famous Whiskey Row, World's Oldest Rodeo, Prescott Fine Arts Association, Sharlot Hall Museum, Phippen Art Museum, Folk Arts Fair, Frontier Days, and Territorial Days. Prescott has been officially designated as "Arizona's Christmas City" by the State of Arizona.

The Courthouse Plaza, located in the center of the downtown and framed by towering elms, is the focal point for myriad activities, including crafts fairs, antique shows and art shows. The plaza and Yavapai County Courthouse are well-known throughout Arizona as symbolizing the quintessential mid-western downtown square

Facts and Figures

Location - Located in the mountains of north central Arizona and approximately 96 miles northwest of Phoenix, Flagstaff is just 90 miles to the northeast, and the Grand Canyon is only about an hour and three-quarters drive to the north.  The City borders the Prescott National Forest to the south and west.  Prescott is the county seat of Yavapai County. To the north are the Granite Dells, looking more like sculptured gardens than natural rock formations. Mountain views abound - from Prescott's landmark Thumb Butte to Granite Mountain and the snow-capped San Francisco Peaks 75 miles to the north.

 Climate - Prescott's average elevation is 5,400 feet. The local climate is mild, with average temperatures ranging from fifty degrees to ninety degrees F and the average precipitation recorded at 19.8 inches, most of which is rain.  Humidity is very low year-round, and winter snow is only occasional and moderate.

Population/Size - The City has experienced moderate growth since 1975 with the population increasing from 16,888 to 33,938 in 2001. As of July 1, 2001 the city encompasses 38.40 square miles.  Together with the nearby towns of Prescott Valley and Chino Valley, it forms what is called locally the Tri-City area.

Major Employers - Include the City of Prescott are: Sturm Ruger Manufacturing, County of Yavapai, Prescott Unified School District, Yavapai College, U. S. Forest Service, PriceCostco, City of Prescott, Yavapai Regional Medical Center, Veterans Administration, State of Arizona, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, West Yavapai Guidance Clinic, Sears, and Dillards.

History – Founded in 1864, Prescott is Arizona's first territorial capital.  Named for       William Hickling Prescott, a noted historian, Prescott contains over 500 buildings in    the National Register of Historic Places.  Many beautifully restored Victorian-era homes and bungalows of a later time are preserved in her historic districts. There are 637 buildings and more than 60 objects in Prescott listed in the National Register of Historic Places, more than any other community its size in Arizona.

Recreational Opportunities - Abound in central Yavapai County for all ages, from toddlers to seniors. Summer visitors seeking relief from the hot weather of the desert come to Prescott to camp, fish, picnic, hike and ride. The main recreation season generally runs from May to October; however, winter daytime temperatures are moderate and the Prescott National Forest can be enjoyed all year.  Five area lakes within 10 miles of downtown Prescott provide boating and fishing.  The 1.2 million-acre Prescott National Forest, which surrounds the city on three sides, contains 10 campgrounds, 4 group reservation campgrounds, 7 picnic areas, and 2 group reservation picnic areas.  There are several developed sites which offer barrier-free access for users with limited mobility.  For hiking enthusiasts, nearly 450 miles of scenic trails are available.  Opportunities for hang gliding, technical rock climbing, whitewater rafting, camping, mountain and street biking, golf, tennis, fishing, boating and swimming are abundant.  The City of Prescott also offers an active Parks and Recreation Department, plus an Adult Center for active seniors.

 Real Estate - In 2002 there were 1,182 home sale transactions, with an average sale price of $214,662. The median price was $185,000, with the highest being $1,500,000 and the lowest $22,500.  In 2004, property appreciation is reflected in the average sales price for a single family residence which has risen to $250,000.00 in Prescott.   An average selling time of 30 days reflects how strong the local market remains.  The addition of several new master planned communities in Prescott has driven new home sales up, with the average cost of new construction starting at $145.00 in Prescott including lot.

Schools and Colleges - The Prescott Unified School District offers six elementary schools (grades K thru 5), two middle schools (grades 6 thru 8) and one high school (grades 9 thru 12). Total enrollment at Prescott High School is approximately 1,850 students. Kindergarten classes average 20 students per class, while elementary school classes average 25 students.

Prescott Schools offers an excellent basic curriculum, enhanced by several special programs including gifted education, special education, creative arts, Title 1 reading, computer education, music education, Math Counts and nature education.  Prescott students consistently score above the national average in standardized testing.

Higher education is available at Yavapai College, a public two-year institution offering both university transfer education and occupation education; Prescott College, a four-year liberal arts college; Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, a four-year University offering bachelor degrees in the field of aviation and engineering; and Northern Arizona University.

 
Shopping - Prescott, Arizona is fertile ground for a thriving arts community, and is home to many art galleries and boutique shops, most of which are located in the downtown and shopping districts.  Quaint shops, fantastic restaurants and an eclectic array of galleries featuring local, regional and national artists surround the Courthouse Plaza.

Health Care - Prescott has an array of health care services, anchored by Yavapai Regional Medical Center (www.yrmc.org), which the largest hospital in north central Arizona.  It has 117 beds and all are fully accredited.  166 physicians on staff include Family Practice, Internists, Orthopedists, Ophthalmologists, Pediatricians and a variety of specialists. For more information you may call toll free: 1-877-THE-YRMC.  Additionally, there are more than 150 practicing physicians in Prescott, as well as many dentists, chiropractors, opticians and optometrists. 

The Northern Arizona VA Health Care System facility (928) 445-4860), located in Prescott, is the largest veteran health care facility within a 60,000 square mile area and is the fourth largest employer in the area.  NAVAHCS provides a continuum of primary and secondary level medical, rehabilitative and long-term care to veterans residing in northern Arizona. Acute medical care consists of primary and secondary inpatient medicine and ambulatory care, which includes general medicine, ambulatory surgery, mental hygiene, and selected specialized outpatient clinics. Primary level ambulatory care and screening services are provided at the main hospital and four CBOC sites. Rehabilitative care consists of a rehabilitation medicine unit, an outpatient substance abuse treatment program, vocational rehabilitation/job training program and a very active outpatient rehabilitative therapy program.