Wickenburg is one hour northwest of Phoenix and one hour southwest of Prescott. Its high Sonoran desert setting, relaxing lifestyle, rich arts and cultural resources make Wickenburg a destination for visitors, new residents and employers. The town boasts a rich history that lives on today. In 1863, Henry Wickenburg discovered gold in the area where townsfolk had established their homes and businesses. Incorporated in 1909, many of the town’s historic buildings are from the heyday of the Vulture Mine, the richest gold producer in Arizona history. In the early 1900s, local ranchers began ushering in tourists who wanted to experience the American west. Wickenburg became the “Dude Ranch Capital of the World” and is now approaching another status as the “Team Roping Capital of Arizona.”

Principal Economic Activities

Wickenburg is the trading area for the Hassayampa Valley region. This area touts a diversified economy based on tourism, second-home residents and behavioral health and other medical facilities including the award-winning Wickenburg Community Hospital and Surgical Center. The community is the center of a 30,000-person trade area, and is also home to companies producing products for national and international markets. Wickenburg has an in-town business airpark and an outlying area for a proposed rail-based park. It is located on Highways 60 and 93 as well as the proposed I-11 route connecting Phoenix and Las Vegas.

Scenic Attractions

Wickenburg has something to offer everyone, including guest ranches, brand name motels, quaint family-run bed & breakfast inns, unique shops, art and cultural attractions and a historic downtown area where many of the heritage events are held annually. Outdoor destinations include the Hassayampa River Preserve, managed by Maricopa County Parks & Recreation Department, and a riparian habitat where bird watching and hiking are offered. The Wickenburg area offers biking, golfing, team roping and jeep trails. Historic sites include Vulture Mine, Saguaro Movie Theatre, Garcia Little Red Schoolhouse, Robson’s Ranch & Mining Camp and more than 25 structures on the National Historic Register. Visitors can enjoy a self-guided walking tour of historic buildings, outdoor art and bronze statues. The Webb Center for the Performing Arts brings in national entertainment from November through April in a 600 seat state-of-the-art center. The Desert Caballeros Western Museum is a national destination for western art and annually hosts Cowgirl Up!, a who’s who of today’s western women artists.

Community Facilities

Wickenburg offers a wide range of amenities such as parks, picnic ramadas, playgrounds, basketball courts, tennis courts, pickleball, a swimming pool, multi-complex softball and baseball fields, soccer fields, a skate board park, rodeo grounds, team roping arenas, hiking trails, a Tesla Supercharger station, state-of-the art medical facilities, a performing arts center, digital learning programs, senior citizen services and three golf courses. The Wickenburg Visitor’s Center is housed in the 1895 restored Santa Fe Depot on Frontier Street. Nearby is the Wickenburg Public Library, Town of Wickenburg Complex, Desert Caballeros Western Museum, parks, restaurants, retail stores and Wickenburg Art Club Studio. The community combines facilities to host annual heritage events including the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce sponsored Gold Rush Days & Rodeo each February.

Basic Information

Founded 1863 Incorporated 1909
Elevation 2,070 ft. Location Maricopa County
      Yavapai County
Distance to major cities:
Phoenix 58 miles San Diego 330 miles
Tucson 169 miles Los Angeles 337 miles
Las Vegas 233 miles  

Population

2000 2010 2023 (est.)
Wickenburg 5,082 6,353 6,687
Maricopa County 3,072,149 3,824,058 4,507,419
Yavapai County 167,517 210,899 241,173
State of Arizona 5,130,632 6,401,569 7,285,370

Office of Economic Opportunity

Arizona Dept. of Revenue & Arizona Tax Research Foundation

SALES TAX / TRANSACTION PRIVILEGE TAX

Wickenburg 2.20%
Maricopa County 0.70%
Yavapai County 0.75%
State 5.60%

Arizona Dept. of Revenue & Arizona Tax Research Foundation

Labor Force

2000 2010 2022
Civilian Labor Force 2,157 2,388 3,319
Unemployed 31 245 43
Unemployment Rate 1.4% 10.3% 1.3%

Office of Economic Opportunity

Workforce Education Attainment

Count Share
Less than high school 443 6.9%
High school or equivalent, no college 1,731 27.0%
Some college or Associate degree 2,298 35.9%
Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree 1,932 30.2%

American Community Survey

Industry (ranked by employment)

  Count Share
Education, health care & social assistance 986 31.2%
Construction 464 14.7%
Professional, scientific, & administrative services 383 12.1%
Arts, entertainment, food & recreation services 367 11.6%
Retail trade 323 10.2%
Finance, insurance & real estate 146 4.6%
Other services, except public administration 130 4.1%
Manufacturing 110 3.5%
Public administration 108 3.4%
Transportation, warehousing, & utilities 69 2.2%
Wholesale trade 30 1.0%
Information 26 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, & mining 15 0.5%

American Community Survey

This profile was prepared by the Arizona Commerce Authority in cooperation with local sources. For further information, please contact:

Town of Wickenburg
Tim Suan
155 N Tegner Street
Wickenburg, AZ 85396
Phone: 928-668-0522
Email: [email protected]
Website: wickenburgaz.org
Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce
Sheila Goode, Executive Director
216 Frontier Street
Wickenburg, AZ 85390
Phone: 928-684-5479
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.wickenburgchamber.com
Western Maricopa Coalition
Denise Steiger, Executive Director
6751 N Sunset Blvd #210
Glendale, AZ 85305
Phone: 623-435-0431
Email: [email protected]
Website: westmarc.org
Arizona Commerce Authority
Statewide Economic Development Group
100 N. 7th Ave., Suite 400
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: 602-845-1200
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.azcommerce.com



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