Prescott, Arizona

Prescott, Arizona

Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States, and is the main city of the county. As of the 2020 Census, about 45,827 people live there.

In the past, Prescott was the capital of the Arizona Territory for some time in the 1800s. Today, Prescott is known for its history as a place where people searched for gold and silver. Many famous events from the "wild west" happened here, including stories about well-known people like Doc Holliday and Virgil Earp.

The city is famous for holding what is called the "World's Oldest Rodeo." This rodeo has happened every year since 1888. Many people visit each year. Nearby towns such as Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, and Dewey-Humboldt, together with Prescott, form an area known as the "Quad-City" region.

History

Prescott was first home to the Yavapai people, who had split from Patayan groups around 1300 AD. In 1583, a Spaniard named Antonio de Espejo came looking for gold, marking the first European contact. Gold discoveries in nearby creeks in 1863 brought many settlers. That same year, Fort Whipple was built and became the temporary capital of the Arizona Territory.

In 1864, the capital moved to a new town named Prescott, chosen by Governor John Noble Goodwin. The town grew quickly, becoming an important place in northern Arizona because of its gold and silver. Over time, Prescott served as the capital of the Arizona Territory until the capital moved to Phoenix in 1889. Today, Prescott has many historic buildings and is a place for cultural events.

The area has seen wildfires, such as the Yarnell Hill Fire in 2013 and the Goodwin Fire in 2017.

Geography

Prescott is located 55 miles west-northwest of the center of Arizona. The city covers about 41.5 square miles, most of which is land with a small amount of water.

Prescott is part of North Central Arizona, just north of the Bradshaw Mountains and east of the Sierra Prieta range. The Granite Dells area, known for its interesting rock shapes, is north of the city center. This area includes small lakes like Watson, Willow, Lynx, Granite Basin, and Goldwater Lakes. These lakes are popular for activities like hiking, biking, and picnicking, though swimming is not allowed due to water quality concerns. Granite Creek flows through the city toward the Verde River.

Climate

Prescott has a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The city experiences a summer wet season due to the North American Monsoon, bringing rain and thunderstorms from June to September. Annual precipitation averages about 16.5 inches, with the most rain falling during monsoon season. Snow is light and uncommon, with an average of about 10 inches each year. Temperatures stay above freezing all year, though nights can be quite cool.

Monsoon season

Each year, Prescott is affected by the North American Monsoon from June 15 to September 15. This season brings rain, wind, hail, thunderstorms, and sometimes flooding. While monsoon season can bring cooler temperatures, it also carries risks of flash floods.

Flood risk

Prescott has a history of dealing with heavy rain and flash flooding. Since the 1800s, floods have damaged homes, roads, and railways. In 1983, Tropical Storm Octave brought heavy rain, causing damage. Flooding in 2004 led to a state of emergency. Many homes in Prescott are in areas considered high risk for flooding.

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

The 2020 census said Prescott had 45,827 people. The average age was 60.2 years. About 10.8% were younger than 18, and 41.1% were 65 or older. For every 100 females, there were 96.7 males.

Most people lived in cities. Many families had children under 18, and many adults lived alone.

The most common ancestries were English (23.6%), German (21.1%), Irish (17.3%), Mexican (6.5%), Italian (5.6%), and Scottish (5.2%).

2000 census

In 2000, Prescott had 33,938 people. Most were White. Smaller groups included Black or African American people, Native American people, and Asian people.

Many households had children under 18. The average household had 2.11 people. The median age was 48 years. Some people lived below the poverty line.

The population density was 915.6 people per square mile. The per capita income for the city was $22,565.

Economy

The Pineridge Marketplace opened in 2002. It replaced Ponderosa Plaza, which opened in 1980.

Downtown Prescott has many shops owned by individuals.

Prescott is home to a Pure Wafer silicon foundry.

Top employers

The top employers in Prescott are listed in the city's 2021 report.

Other major employers include the Yavapai-Prescott Tribe, the James Family Prescott YMCA, and Fann Contracting.

Places of interest and culture

The Sharlot Hall Museum shows Prescott’s history from its early days, and other museums keep local traditions alive.

Prescott has many beautiful Victorian style homes. Over 800 buildings in the city are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The tallest house in North America, Falcon Nest, stands on the slope of Thumb Butte.

The city is famous for its historic downtown area called Whiskey Row. In 1900, a fire destroyed most of the buildings there. People watched from across the street, and later the area was rebuilt. Whiskey Row has many old hotels and lively places to visit. Prescott holds the “World’s Oldest Rodeo” each year before the Fourth of July. It’s a big event that many people come to see. The city also has many festivals and special events, like a big Easter Egg-Stravaganza, a Bluegrass Festival, and a Cinco de Mayo celebration.

Prescott has several places to learn and grow, including Prescott College, a small school focused on the environment and helping others. The city also has parks, zoos, and golf courses for everyone to enjoy.

Designations

Prescott has received many special honors. In 1989, it was named “Arizona’s Christmas City.” Other awards include being named a “Preserve American Community” in 2004 and one of the “Dozen Distinctive Destinations” by a group that protects historic places. In 2008, its Yavapai Courthouse Plaza was named one of the best public spaces in America. In 2012, it was called the “Number 1 True Western Town of the Year.”

Government

Prescott has a special way of running its city called a council-manager government. This means there is a group of six people, called the council, and a mayor. All of these leaders are chosen by the people of Prescott to help make decisions.

The council picks a city manager to take care of the city's everyday work. Right now, the city manager is Katie Gregory, and the mayor is Cathey Rusing.

Education

Prescott has many schools for children of all ages. There are colleges like Yavapai College, Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, and Prescott College. For younger students, the Prescott Unified School District includes most of the city, with some parts in the Chino Valley Unified School District.

Schools in Prescott include Prescott High School, Mile High Middle School, Granite Mountain Middle School, BASIS Schools, Northpoint Expeditionary Learning Academy, and Tri-City College Prep High School. There are public and private schools in the area.

Transportation

Prescott Regional Airport, Ernest A. Love Field (PRC) is located seven miles north of downtown. As of 2021, United Airlines offers flights from Prescott to Denver and Los Angeles.

The main roads in and around Prescott are Arizona State Route 89A, Arizona State Route 69, and Arizona State Route 89. State Route 89A links Sedona and Cottonwood to northern Prescott and meets State Route 89 near the airport. State Route 69 connects Prescott to Prescott Valley and later reaches Interstate 17. State Route 89 runs north–south, connecting Prescott to Chino Valley and Paulden before joining Interstate 40 near Ash Fork.

Yavapai Regional Transit runs local buses between Prescott and Chino Valley.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Prescott, Arizona

Prescott, Arizona, has been home to many interesting people. Some of these people have done important work in areas like entertainment, sports, and public service. The city is still a place where many well-known people have lived or grown up.

Nearest cities and towns

Some nearby places to Prescott include Chino Valley, Groom Creek, Iron Springs, Highland Park, Yavapai County, Arizona, Prescott Valley, Wildwood Estates, and Yavapai Hills.

Sister cities

As of 2015, Prescott has three sister cities. These are special friends from different parts of the world. They are:

• Caborca, Sonora, Mexico
• Suchitoto, El Salvador
• Zeitz, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany