Prescott is 90 miles north of Phoenix in the central highlands of Arizona, amid the largest stand of Ponderosa Pines in the world. Prescott’s mile-high elevation brings four mild seasons, with an average annual daytime temperature of about 70 degrees and more than 300 days of sunshine. Prescott is the headquarters of the Prescott National Forest and is the Yavapai County seat. The city is named in honor of William Hickling Prescott, a noted historian, and was Arizona’s first Territorial Capital, established in 1864.

Principal Economic Activities

Prescott is the center for trade in the region, with abundant retail establishments, professional services, non-profit service agencies, health care, government, light manufacturing, and distribution centers. Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center and the Northern Arizona Veterans Administration Hospital are excellent diagnostic, emergency and treatment centers. Education is a vital industry to Prescott. The city houses Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott College and Yavapai College, which has a state-of-the-art Career & Technical Education Center. Manufacturing firms such as Sturm Ruger, CP Technologies, Ester-C, Pure Wafer and Canyon Aero Connect, all call Prescott home. Travel, tourism, cultural institutions, performing art centers, sporting events and government offices are important to Prescott's economy.

Scenic Attractions

Prescott is rich in historic and scenic attractions. Sharlot Hall Museum and the Smoki Museum contain pioneer and Native American artifacts. Adding to the cultural experience are more than 800 buildings on the National Register of Historic Buildings. The city boasts numerous events throughout the year including the Whiskey Off-Road and Whiskey Row Marathon starting in late April. The Phippen Western Art Show takes place on Memorial Day weekend. The Bluegrass Festival and All-Indian Pow Wow occur in June. Prescott Frontier Days Rodeo coincides with the celebration of the Fourth of July. The County Fair and the Faire on the Square kick off in September. As Arizona's official Christmas City, the Christmas Parade and Courthouse Lighting illuminate the holiday season. During the summer months, the Courthouse Plaza hosts community events, arts, crafts and car shows. Prescott's Courthouse Plaza has been honored as one of the Top Ten Public Spaces in the United States by the prestigious American Planning Association. Prescott was also recently named one of the "Coolest Downtowns in North America" by Expedia.

Community Facilities

Prescott offers a wide range of community facilities. The city has five scenic lakes, 16 municipal parks, 15 lighted baseball and softball diamonds and six open-space nature preserves. A network of more than 450 miles of hiking, biking and horseback riding trails wind through the city and into the adjacent Prescott National Forest. In recent years, these amenities earned Prescott the title of “Top Outdoor Adventure Town.” Additionally, Prescott has libraries, museums, performing arts theaters, art galleries, public and private 18-hole golf courses, racquet ball courts, skate parks, tennis courts and eight newly opened pickleball courts.

Basic Information

Founded 1864 Incorporated 1883
Elevation 5,410 ft. Location Yavapai County
     
Distance to major cities:
Phoenix 102 miles San Diego 373 miles
Tucson 213 miles Los Angeles 379 miles
Las Vegas 252 miles  

Population

2000 2010 2023 (est.)
Prescott 33,938 39,771 46,826
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

Prescott 2.00%
Yavapai County 0.75%
State 5.60%

Arizona Dept. of Revenue & Arizona Tax Research Foundation

Labor Force

2000 2010 2022
Civilian Labor Force 14,573 16,497 18,234
Unemployed 524 1,668 817
Unemployment Rate 3.6% 10.1% 4.5%

Office of Economic Opportunity

Workforce Education Attainment

Count Share
Less than high school 1,640 4.7%
High school or equivalent, no college 6,221 17.9%
Some college or Associate degree 13,770 39.7%
Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree 13,081 37.7%

American Community Survey

Industry (ranked by employment)

  Count Share
Education, health care & social assistance 4,079 27.3%
Retail trade 2,232 14.9%
Professional, scientific, & administrative services 1,645 11.0%
Arts, entertainment, food & recreation services 1,517 10.2%
Construction 1,275 8.5%
Finance, insurance & real estate 1,117 7.5%
Other services, except public administration 881 5.9%
Public administration 820 5.5%
Manufacturing 561 3.8%
Transportation, warehousing, & utilities 368 2.5%
Wholesale trade 231 1.5%
Information 183 1.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, & mining 36 0.2%

American Community Survey

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

City of Prescott
Ann Steward
201 S. Cortez
Prescott, AZ 86303
Phone: 928-777-1259
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.prescott-az.gov
Greater Prescott Regional
Economic Partnership

Ginger Johnson
7351 East Civic Circle, Suite 143
Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
Phone: 928-772-4883
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.gprepaz.com
Prescott Chamber of Commerce
117 W. Goodwin St.
Prescott, AZ 86303
Phone: 928-445-2000
Email: [email protected] 
Website: www.prescott.org


Local First Arizona
407 E. Roosevelt St.
Phoenix, AZ 85004
Phone: 602-956-0909
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.localfirstaz.com
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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