Welcome to Everybody’s Hometown
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Prescott is the place you want to Visit, Live, Shop and Work
Discover the ultimate mountain town experience that encompasses Western Heritage, outdoor adventures, community celebrations, and distinctive dining options—all in one place: Prescott.
The downtown area and Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza, exuding Western culture and charm, attract visitors with their unique appeal. Newcomers quickly notice the welcoming nature of the residents and the strong sense of community prevalent in Prescott. Conveniently situated midway between Phoenix and Flagstaff, Prescott, perched at a mile-high elevation, maintains a climate that is approximately 10 to 15 degrees cooler than Phoenix and 10 to 15 degrees warmer than Flagstaff. This makes it an ideal locale with a mild, four-season climate. Prescott's natural allure is mirrored in its five lakes: Watson, Willow, Lynx, Granite Basin, and Goldwater. Additionally, renowned outdoor features like Thumb Butte, the Granite Dells, Granite Mountain, and Prescott National Forest showcase the city's picturesque landscapes, each with well-maintained hiking trails designed for non-motorized exploration. A haven for outdoor enthusiasts, Prescott offers a plethora of recreational activities, including hiking, horseback riding, camping, fishing, and mountain biking, among others. But that's not all—this vibrant area boasts an array of shopping and dining options. Whether you seek antiques or modern art galleries, Prescott has something to fulfill your desires. The city is home to numerous unique, locally-owned businesses offering a diverse range of products and services, complemented by a selection of nationally recognized stores. |
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Our Community in a Snapshot
We are Arizona’s Christmas City
Prescott shows off its holiday spirit in grand style. The area around the Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza is home for unequaled holiday festivities that begin in late November. The first is the colorful Holiday Light Parade, where decorated floats and holiday music will have you smiling. To warm up after the evening parade, you can head over to the community bonfire, at Prescott Mile High Middle School.
The first Saturday of December features the colorful daytime Prescott Chamber Christmas Parade, with over 75 entries. If you’re lucky enough to be here in early December, you’ll always remember when the Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza lights turn the dark into a kaleidoscope of holiday colors. A Frontier Christmas is staged by the Sharlot Hall Museum just a couple of blocks away, allowing you to experience how pioneers celebrated Christmas.
Other community Christmas Events you won't want to miss: Wild Lights & Animal Sights at Heritage Park Zoo, Enchanted Christmas, and Storytellers at Smoki Museum.
To add one more special effect, it often snows in December.
The first Saturday of December features the colorful daytime Prescott Chamber Christmas Parade, with over 75 entries. If you’re lucky enough to be here in early December, you’ll always remember when the Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza lights turn the dark into a kaleidoscope of holiday colors. A Frontier Christmas is staged by the Sharlot Hall Museum just a couple of blocks away, allowing you to experience how pioneers celebrated Christmas.
Other community Christmas Events you won't want to miss: Wild Lights & Animal Sights at Heritage Park Zoo, Enchanted Christmas, and Storytellers at Smoki Museum.
To add one more special effect, it often snows in December.
Pictures by Michael Wilson and the Prescott Office of Tourism
Getting to Know Prescott
We are Everybody’s Hometown
The City of Prescott’s motto is Everybody’s Hometown and many visitors say it feels just like home and more often than not, regular visitors become residents. Here are just a few reasons why Prescott is Everybody’s Hometown and why you should consider making the move here.
Home of the World’s Oldest Rodeo
Photo courtesy of Prescott Frontier Days®
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If you’re in Prescott over the Fourth of July holidays, you can be a part of rich Western history at the World’s Oldest Rodeo®. The World’s Oldest Rodeo® has eight performances of world-class rodeo during Prescott Frontier Days. Prescott is known for its history and culture that stems from this historical event that not only brings professional rodeo, but also Arizona’s second largest parade in downtown Prescott, a rodeo dance, a kiddie parade and traditional events that draw people from all over the world. More information and tickets are available at Prescott Frontier Days:
worldsoldestrodeo.com |
Four Fantastic Seasons
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Nestled mile-high at an elevation of 5,200 feet above sea level with the largest stand of ponderosa pine forests in the United States, Prescott’s perfect weather provides an average temperature of 70 degrees, 300 days of sunshine a year, four distinct seasons and breathtaking landscapes complete with granite mountains, lakes, streams and meadows filled with wildlife.
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Most Patriotic City
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We are the winner of the Insurify’s Most Patriotic Cities Award. Insurify analyzed over 900,000 auto insurance applications that
indicated whether any individual named on the policy was a current or former service member. The resulting data set was analyzed to determine the percentage of residents in each community who identify as current or former military, and the top-ranking city in each state was identified. |
Our Small Town Charm
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Prescott is “Everybody’s Hometown” because most people find something here that reminds them of where they grew up. To many, it is the Yavapai County Courthouse’s tree-lined plaza and surrounding shops in the downtown area. To others, it is the overall small-town charm and hospitality. People are friendly here, and you’ll notice it no matter where you are in our community.
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Territorial Capital
First Territorial Capital and Governor's Mansion built in 1864
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President Lincoln chose Prescott as the Territorial Capital after separating New Mexico from Arizona in 1863. Named for historian William Hickling Prescott, the town was a strategic choice: Away from Confederate sympathizers in Tucson and also the site of a recent gold discovery. During the fall of 1864, construction was completed on many buildings of Fort Whipple and on the Territorial Governor’s Mansion. That Mansion is still in its same location at the center of the Sharlot Hall Museum campus. In late May or early June of 1864, Prescott became the formal name of the territorial capital.
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Whiskey Row
Photo courtesy of Jim David
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Across from the Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza, this block on Montezuma Street is named for the large number of saloons in the
area. At one point, there were 40 saloons on the block. Walk down the street and picture the cowboys, prospectors, gamblers and outlaws strolling through the swinging doors. Today, the block boasts eateries, unique shops, candy stores and … don’t worry … there are still saloons! |
Continue Exploring
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