Located in the mountains of north central Arizona and approximately 96 miles northwest of Phoenix and 90 miles southwest of Flagstaff, the city borders the Prescott National Forest to the south and west. Las Vegas is approximately 260 miles to the northwest and the Grand Canyon is a hour and a half drive to the north. San Diego and Disneyland in Anaheim are within a day's drive.

 

Prescott and the nearby towns of Chino Valley and Prescott Valley form what is known locally as the Tri-City area.

Prescott's average elevation is 5,400 feet. The local climate is mild, with average temperatures ranging from 50 degrees in the winter to 90 degrees in the summer.

 

The average precipitation is 19.8 inches, most of which is rain.

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.

 

Dubbed "Everybody's Hometown," Prescott is home to the downtown Courthouse Plaza, famous Whiskey Row, World's Oldest Rodeo, Prescott Fine Arts Association, Sharlot Hail Museum, Phippen Art Museum, Folk Arts Fair, Frontier Days, and Territorial Days. It 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 Midwestern downtown square.

Recreational opportunities abound in central Yavapai County. 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 myriad hiking trails and other outdoor recreational opportunities.

 

Prescott History

Prescott was founded in 1863 and incorporated in 1883. During the late 1800s, Prescott twice served as the territorial capital, and the Governor's Mansion is now preserved at the Sharlot Hall Museum.

 

In 1864, the townsite of Prescott was surveyed and laid out along Granite Creek where gold had been panned. The town was designated the capital of the new territory of Arizona after Arizona was separated from New Mexico. President Lincoln wanted the territorial capital in the northern part of the territory, far away from the Confederate sympathizing cities to the south.

 

Lincoln also decided to populate this new capital with Northerners and Midwesterners and this decision resulted in Prescott being the most Midwestern-looking city in Arizona. Victorian homes and peaked roof homes were built, a far cry from the adobe structures that were more common in the Southwest.

 

The early economy of the area centered on cattle ranching and mining. In July 1900, a fire destroyed much of Prescott's commercial district. Within hours, makeshift shelters were erected on the Courthouse Plaza and businesses began rebuilding. Following the fire, most buildings in the downtown area were reconstructed of brick, providing today's rich architectural heritage.

The city places great emphasis on historic preservation, with more than 500 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.

 

-Information provided from the Official City of Prescott website.