Prescott, Arizona

Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States, and serves as the county's main city. As of the 2020 Census, the city was home to 45,827 people.

In the past, Prescott played an important role as the capital of the Arizona Territory for different periods during the 1800s. Today, Prescott is known for its interesting history as a place where people searched for gold and silver. Many famous events from the "wild west" happened here, including stories involving well-known figures like Doc Holliday and Virgil Earp.

The city is also famous for holding what is called the "World's Oldest Rodeo," which has been happening every year since 1888. This rodeo attracts around 35,000 visitors annually. Nearby towns such as Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, and Dewey-Humboldt together with Prescott form an area known locally 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 also saw 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. The warmest temperature ever recorded was 105°F, and the coldest was −21°F.

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 and wildfires.

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 significant 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

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

Most people lived in urban areas, with 95.6% in cities and 4.4% in rural places. Many families lived in Prescott, with 12.7% of households having children under 18. Many adults lived alone, with about 35.7% of households consisting of one person.

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

2000 census

In the year 2000, Prescott had 33,938 people living there. The city was mostly White, making up 92.9% of the population. Smaller groups included Black or African American people at 0.5%, Native American people at 1.3%, and Asian people at 0.8%.

Many households had children under 18, and almost half were married couples living together. The average household had 2.11 people, and families had 2.62 people on average. The median age was 48 years, and the median income for a household was $35,446. Some people lived below the poverty line, especially younger children.

The population density was 915.6 people per square mile, and there were 17,144 housing units. The per capita income for the city was $22,565.

Economy

The Pineridge Marketplace, previously called the Prescott Gateway Mall, opened in 2002. It replaced Ponderosa Plaza, which was Prescott's first enclosed shopping mall and opened in 1980.

Downtown Prescott has many shops that are owned and run by individuals.

Prescott is home to a Pure Wafer silicon foundry.

Top employers

According to the city's 2021 report, the top employers in Prescott are:

Other major area 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 big fire destroyed most of the buildings there. People moved their drinks across the street to watch, and later rebuilt the area. 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. They are elected for different amounts of time, with the mayor serving for two years and council members serving for four years.

The council picks a city manager to take care of the city's everyday work, like making sure fire services are running well. Right now, the city manager is Katie Gregory, and the mayor is Cathey Rusing, who was elected in 2025.

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 18 public schools and four private schools in the area.

Transportation

Prescott Regional Airport, Ernest A. Love Field (PRC) is located seven miles north of the downtown courthouse. 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 and accomplished people throughout its history. Some of these individuals have made significant contributions in fields such as entertainment, sports, and public service. The city continues to be a place where many notable figures 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