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Reload this page Prescott, Arizona

My wife's favorite place on earth.

According to the US Census Bureau, the town of Prescott has a population of about 25,000 in 1987 and 33,938 in 2000. 2006 population is about 42,000. (enough for two Wal-marts!)

But 85,000 people live in the "tri-city" area within Yavapai county, which includes Prescott Valley to the East (on the way to Phoenix, with 33,000 people now) and Chino Valley (with 10,000).

In total, 93,000 are now in the Prescott "Quad-City" Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) which includes the towns of Dewey and Humboldt (also on the way to Phoenix), have combined to form the town of "Dewey-Humboldt" (D-H for short), with a population close to 8,000.

Comment from readers on April 28, 2006 and Feb 1, 2007: Young's farm in D-H was sold and the land was to a developer. This one development was slated to add about 580 new homes (1,300 more people) to D-H. More developments was in the works were to drive the "Quad-City" population over 100,000. The traffic and accidents on Hwy 69 between Prescott and Prescott Valley are so bad that the local media has named that stretch of road "Blood Alley." Prescott is no longer a small town, and it is losing the distinctive character that once made it "Everybody's Home Town."
Later in 2006, the town voted down the Young's Farm development. Several members of the city council resigned.

 

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    Thumb Butte is Prescott's most distinctive landmark.

    screen captured Photo album by rcaesar on Webshots.com

    Set screen Proposition for Distinctiveness

      One of the best things I like about Prescott are hand painted sign in front of stores — something that I've never seen on Chicago's Michigan Avenue, New York city's Fifth Avenue, Bevely Hills' Rodeo Drive, where the same brand names and merchandise appear all over the world.

      In Prescott, I like being able to walk in a store and talk with the owner rather than oblivious teenagers punching timeclocks for minimum wage.

      I like needing only to walk a few steps to a store after parking my car. (Rather than in big cities where I often had to choose between paying for valet parking or leaving after circling the parking lot for 10 minutes.)

      In 2007 the words on signs around town for and against Proposition 400 seem to be talking about this. But I think their sound bites ("super size" and "smart growth") are misleading because the official wording is about supermajority and time for public review.

      The mailings about Proposition 400 smells of the big-city big-money deceptiveness that I had hoped Prescott could avoid.

      To me, Prop. 400 is a decision about whether real estate money lust should be allowed to dominate over dissenting voices.

      I voted "YES" because to me the boundaries of a city is a rather serious issue that deserves a good bit of concensus and more than a few minutes of discussion — much like adopting a new baby into the family.

      I voted "YES" because the "NO" campaign's scare-tactic statements insult my intelligence. Implying Prop. 400 will bring uncontrolled water usage seems far fetched (and almost dishonest) to me. That water is outside the city limits. And uncontrolled development would create much worst water problems than wildcat wells. Is such verbal "slight of hand" indicative of how they will operate in office?

      Where is the discussion about how many residents can the water supply really support? What is their plan?

      Big-city professional planning expertise and foresight is what will help us toward true "smart growth", not big-city type mass-mailing campaigns and the ability to tell those in the minority "I don't need to listen to you".

      I wish I had more information from both sides about the single-bid projects and pattern of city council decisions that made the proposition necessary.

      But the 57% YES vote for Prop. 400 doesn't resolve what I think is the most important issue:

        What is distinctive about Prescott and how will city government maintain it?

      Answering this question requires the dialogue and creating thinking that "good ole boy" politics are not known to foster.

      The more Prescott grows, the less distinctive and more crowded it will become. Increase in population attract big-city stores which force independent shop owners out of business and into being employees who can't complain when they hang the same signs that we'll see in every city across the world.

      webpage article Big business vs. local owners
    Local business struggle to succeed in Prescott
    by Geoff Boyce, 11/01/2002
    notes that the city gave millions in tax incentives and free work to Wal-Mart when it hasn't helped local businesses.

    prescottconnections.org meets at 11:30 am every Wednesday at Pete's Family Restaurant, 1355 W Iron Springs Rd, Prescott AZ.


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    Set screen Guidebooks

    After strolling through art gallaries downtown, have dinner at one of several excellent restaurants. The Rose Restaurant is next to Hotel Vendrome.



      All of Arizona is on Mountain Standard Time year round.

      Prescott has a southwestern climate that is moderated by its mile-high (5,000 foot) elevation next to the Prescott National Forest of ponderosa pines North of Phoenix along Highway 89. Get maps of designated dispersed campsites available for ) at 344 S. Cortez St. 520.771-4700.


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    Set screen State of Arizona, USA

      Office Name Contact
      Senior (Class III)
      U.S. Senator since 1985
      John McCain (R) mccain.senate.gov
      (202) 224-2235 241 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
      Junior U.S. Senator since 1994 Jon Kyle (R) kyl.senate.gov
      (202) 224-4521 730 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
      U.S. Congress
      1st District of AZ since 2009
      Ann Kirkpatrick (D) won with 56% kirkpatrick.house.gov Prescott Office: 240South Montezuma Street #101 Prescott, AZ 86303 Phone: (928) 445-3434 Fax: (928) 445-4160
      In Washington, DC 20515 1123 Longworth HOB (202) 225-2315

      Arizona State Song

      © 1915 Written by Margaret Rowe Clifford Composed by Maurice Blumenthal

      Come to this land of sunshine To this land where life is young. Where the wide, wide world is waiting, The songs that will now be sung. Where the golden sun is flaming Into warm, white shining day, And the sons of men are blazing Their priceless right of way.

      Come stand beside the rivers Within our valley broad. Stand here with heads uncovered, In the presence of our God! While all around, about us The brave, unconquered band, As guardians and landmarks The giant mountains stand.

      Not alone for gold and silver Is Arizona great. But with graves of heroes sleeping, All the land is consecrate! O, come and live beside us However far ye roam Come and help us build up temples And name those temples "home."

      Sing the song that's in your hearts Sing of the great Southwest, Thank God, for Arizona In splendid sunshine dressed. For thy beauty and thy grandeur, For thy regal robes so sheen We hail thee Arizona Our Goddess and our queen.




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      PatchLink.com 3370 N Hayden Road #123-175 Scottsdale, AZ 85251 480-970-1025


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    Set screen Yavapai County & City Governments



    The town centers around the Yavapai County courthouse. Named after historian William Hickling Prescott, the town was established in 1864 as the Arizona territorial capital after gold was discovered in the area.

    Phone area code is 928 (was 520)

    -- -- 86314
    86305 Downtown 86301 86303


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    Set screen Utilities

    • Electricity from Arizona Public Service 928.776-3636
    • Qwest telephone 800.244-1111 at 120 N. Marina St.
    • Water, Gas, Sewer, and Garbage Sanitation collection is done by utility.billing@cityofprescott.net 928.777-1291
      For water emergencies: 928.778-1444
      Sewer and Garbage 928.777-1116 at 2800 Sundog Ranch Road
    • State Motor Vehicle Department
    • The Earthlink dialup number is 928.277-4492
    • Sprint and Alltell offer wireless services
    • T-Mobile WiFi hotspot at Starbucks on 377 N Montezuma Street, Suite A Prescott AZ 86301-3020


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    Set screen Businesses

      Media

    • CableOne.net 928.541-7530 Public channel 13 TV $39.95+/mo, broadband Tech Support 877-692-2253 tool Test their network speed using tool PC Pitstop.com
    • KGCB Christian Radio 90.9FM Central "Arizona's Lighthouse" 800.720-0909
    • Commercial radio
    • KQNA-Radio 1130 AM CNN News-Talk Radio 800-264-5449
    • KYCA-Radio 1490 AM 928-445-1700
    • Daily Courier is the local paper.

      Set screen Transportation

      Prescott has an airport (code PRC) north of town. United/Mesa (previously America West) operates small prop planes to the Phoenix airport. Booked separetely they're $296 round trip. When booked as part of a longer itinerary, they're about $100.

      One-way/Round trip fares by shuttle companies going to the Phoenix Sky Harbor airport 1 hr 45 min. from Prescott.

    • $31/$52 Shuttle U 800.304-6114 has 8 per day. At the airport, call 800.606-6575.
    • $25/$40 Prescott Transit 800-445-7978 928-445-5470 at 820 East Sheldon has the latest pickup (at 9:30pm) and offers commuter discounts of 5 round trips for $172, but I don't recommend it because their management is not at all customer focused.
    • $35/$65 Van Go Shuttle Service 866.448-2646

    • Enterprise Rent-A-Car downtown at 202 S. Montezuma St. 918.778-6506

      Services

    • Educational Opportunity Centers at Yavapai College POBOx 1235 Clarkdale, AZ 86324
      Wed. in Prescott at 445-5231 Manuel.Inigo@nau.edu 520-634-6569
    • Prescott.org Chamber of Commerce
    • Ernest A. Love Field Airport, North of town on 89A, has America West airlines flights to/from Kingman.
    • Moving to Prescott
    • Katie Baird, Virtual Assistant, former teacher
    • Dwayne Warrick, www.yfplan.com Yavapai Financial Planning, LLC 925 Fair St. 928.445-1673
    • Prescott Computer Systems
    • Prescott Computer Society
    • PC Wizards on 550 South Montezuma St. Suite B

      Food Stores

    • Groceries: Safeway, Fry's, Wal-Mart
    • Magpie Natural Food Co-op and Buying Club, 500 W Gurley St 778-5880
    • Prescott Meals on Wheels 335 E Aubrey St. serving 11:15 - 12:30
    • Whiskey Row downtown includes Antiques & Collectibles
    • Gateway Mall has Dillards, Sears
    • Food Bank: Feed the Hungry of Prescott at 237 S. Montezuma, 928.445-1067
      Prescott Community Cupboard Food Bank at 116 N. Summit St. 918.778-2531


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    Set screen Things To Do




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    Set screen Seasonal Events



    A website external to this site Arizona Events

    A website external to this site Sierra Club of Arizona is based in Phoenix Grand Canyon Chapter, 202 E. McDowell Rd, Suite 277, Phoenix, AZ 85004, (602) 253-8633

     
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    Set screen Lodging

      Scanning from the Eastern outskirts of town (on the drive in on Route 69 from Phoenix):

      On the outskirts of town near the largest shopping in the area (the Gateway Mall with upscale Dillard's, downscale Wal-Mart, and "forget stepping on scales" Costco) — plus Lynx lake picnic areas, hiking trails, Indian ruins, fishing, boat rentals and camping — is

        Forest Villas Hotel has the best ammentities of any hotel in town — in room jacuzzi, fireplace, and private balcony. Rooms also have data ports, good shower heads, and fluffy towels. On site is a fitness room, outdoor swimming pool, whirlpool, laundry facilities, same day dry cleaning service, and free garage parking. Request a room facing the courtyard rather than the busy street which leads you into the center of town. 800-223-3449 local (928) 717-1200 [Trip Advisor comments]

      At the top of the highest hill of the town sits the Prescott Resort. IMHO, it has the finest restaurant in the area, serving a great Sunday brunch buffet with live musicians and a commanding view of the town's distinctive landmark, "Thumb Butte". But the smoke filling the casino on site may find its way into rooms as well.

      North on Hwy 89 among the picturesque "Granite Dells" (several miles from town) is

      On Gurley Street, the main road into town, are several motels:

      There are no hotels among the victorian houses along Mt. Vernon Avenue, the most prestigious address in town. But ...

        Briar Wreath Inn, on 232 South Arizona Street one street East, serves gourmet full breakfasts amid tasteful gardens around a Jacuzzi and interiors within a "Craftsman" style bungalow. Call (928) 778-6048 about lunches.

      Along Sheldon Street 2 blocks north of the town square are motels in an area frequented by locals. Within wallking distance is a pharmacy, grocery store, a Staples, video store, ... and pawn shops.

      Near the center of town are quaintly historic small hotels (with historically small rooms):

        Hassayampa Inn has a restaurant with white table cloths and a small pub. [Trip Advisor comments] generally say that the red brick and antiques are not worth the money.

        Hotel Vendome offers many options in its continental breakfast, but its best feature (other than that it was built in 1917) is that it's next door to the fancy
        Rose Restaurant.

        The 4 room Victorian Pleasant Street Inn B&B ($110-$150) is on the other side of the Rose Restaurant.

        Hotel St. Michael is the place to stay for convenience. It's the only hotel right on the town square's Whiskey Row of shops. It's also close to the Shalot Hall museum. If you sit in its cafe and look out on the square you will eventually see everyone in town ... if you drink coffee and eat quiche long enough.

      On Montezuma Street going West out of town to the mountain road toward Los Angeles:

      A full list of B&B's in Prescott

      South of Prescott are cabins in the Lynx Creek area near the Prescott National Forest maintained by the Forest Service

     
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    Set screen Golf

    • Antelope Hills Golf Course by airport 1 Perkins Dr Prescott, AZ 86301 928-776-7888 Ping fitter of Wood/Metal
    • Hassayampa Golf Club 2060 Golf Club Ln Prescott, AZ 86303 Pro Shop 928-443-1958
    • Prescott Lakes Golf Club 315 E Smoketree Ln Prescott, AZ 86301 Pro Shop 928-443-3500
    • Stoneridge Golf Course 1601 N Bluff Top Dr Prescott Valley, AZ 86314 Pro Shop 928-772-6500

     
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    Set screen Driving West to LA and San Diego

      The most direct route to Los Angeles and San Diego is to take Montezuma West out of Prescott and go through the Prescott National Forest and its winding roads down 89 until the town of Wilholt.

    • If you're driving in the summer, bring plenty of water (and self-defense skills) in case your car breaks down. BTW, speaking of self defense, California does not recognize Arizonans with CCW (Concealed Carry Weapon) permits, but under the federal interstate Safe Passage Act, an unloaded gun can be in a locked case in another compartment from the driver/passenger (not the glove compartment) with bullets in another locked case.
    • Map: Prescott to Blythe The 89 turns into 71 at the town of Congress. You then get on the 60 before picking up US highway 10.

      [2] For a bit of gold mining history, visit the Vulture Mine. At Congress go South on 89 then the 93 around Wickenberg, which is named for the person who found the mine after shooting a vulture there. From Sept. through June (for a fee) the private owners of today conduct a tour of the ghost town buildings that remain.

      [3] Near the California/Arizona border, before you get into Blythe, in Ehrenberg (33°36'06"N, 114°31'23"W) past Quartzsite (at hwy 95) —236 miles from Prescott— big truck stops ( Flying J, Love's, and Pilot are popular and low-cost places to fill up (or take a shower) in an area that is otherwise desolate. So before you go, apply for a loyalty card to save a few cents.

      [1] If you're passing through Prescott from the East side of town (from Phoenix), I suggest you fill up at the Costco near the Prescott/Prescott Valley border.

     
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    Set screen Driving to Los Angeles

      If you don't like long rides, stay overnight in the Palm Springs area.

      If you'd rather not drive through city streets along 111, the Aqua Caliente Casino right off hwy 10 at Ramon Road is well air-conditioned and offers shows and spa services. Their food is good, but I did once get a stomach ache eating the food there.

     
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    Set screen From Prescott to San Diego - The All-Desert Route

      Map: Blythe to San Diego Directions calculated by Microsoft Streets and Trips 2008 is an all-desert route of 376 miles that travels down 78 outside Blythe through Brawley and El Centro, then near the Mexican border along interstate 8 into San Diego.

      WARNING: The sign for the exit onto 78 (Neighbours Blvd) is on the side of the road, not on top of the freeway.

      Cell phone reception on Verizon dropped off 15 miles from hwy 10, then becomes available 15 miles from Brawley. But having a Wilson antenna will enable you to use signals 100 miles away in the desert, which means a continuously available signal.

      CAUTION: Avoid this route during monsoon season (June - Sep) when flash floods can rage through dips in the road, causing cars to be washed away.

     
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    Set screen From Prescott to San Diego Through Julian

      Map: To San Diego via Julian A more scenic alternative to San Diego takes an extra 20 miles to go through Julian, a cute small old-time mountain mining town where you can drink a glass of hand-made Sassparilla. It's marked with a red [3] above.

      To get there, continue West on 78 from Brawley.

      Don't take the automatically generated route taking you from the exit off 89 (Box Canyon Road) toward Mecca West of Blythe on the 10.

      That's unless you want to stop by the Salton Sea beach to appreciate its desolute beauty as you zig-zag around and through Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. You'll reach San Diego by joining interstate hwy 8 which turns into hwy 9.

      You'll drive through sand dunes, alfalfa fields, bee farms, and a cattle yard (at the 115 junction).

      From Julian, if you are headed for North San Diego (like Del Mar or Solana Beach), and get the timing right in the Spring, you can take an extra afternoon to continue on 78 West to see the pageant at Ramona or events in the stadium where it's held.

      On the way there, stop by Dudley's Bakery for fresh bread in the village of Santa Ysabel. Sheephearderder's bread has lots of cheese. My fav is the raisan bread.

     
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    Set screen Driving Eastward

      Here's a tip from my wife: If you're driving East to Alberquerque/Santa Fe and points East, rather than taking fwy 17, I recommend going from Prescott North to 40 through Williams up 89 rather than 17. Hwy 89 is a much prettier drive among the trees and you're not going down in elevation to drag your car back up those steep grades on the 17.

      Easward on hwy 40, spend $15 to see the Meteor Crater (a tourist trap), take a picture of you in front of the Winslow, Arizona sign (and sing the song). The Petrified Forest (created by Theodore Roosevelt in 1906) is more than a bunch of dead trees, but also the Agate House Pueblo and Petroglyphs of kachinas.

     
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    Set screen Comments from readers of this web page

      11/26/2005 7:01:31 AM by anonymous

      I wonder why people like you don't stay in your own country and address your own political issues in order to make your home country a better place to live. Instead, you seem to be content in moving enmass to the US and driving up the cost of real estate while bringing the social problems of the cities like LA to the quiet western US country lifestyle.

      11/26/2005 11:51:12 AM by wilsonmar

      Whenever I read an idiotic racist comment like this, I appreciate the freedom of the internet more.

      But the internet also gives ignorant people voice, people are still today fighting the civil war or whatever war has them filled with fear and hate.

      I read from a historian writing about Bisbee that during pioneer days, blacks were not allowed to work certain jobs, Native Americans and the Chinese were not even allowed in town, etc.

      Are these prejudices part of your "quiet western US country lifestyle?"

      In fact, immigration brings talented cooks, doctors, and others with something to contribute.

      Immigration does not mean a higher rate of crime, just as a large group of Hells Angels bikes mean higher crime.

      Freedom of movement is what enables Katrina and victims of other natural disasters to build new lives.

      A lot of Arizonians appreciate the rise in real estate value.

      Nevertheless, growth is a concern. But it's not legal, moral, or helpful to control it by the skin color or national origin of immigrants.

      Those attributes have no relation to the conjestion and other issues of real concern.

      12/03/2005 6:26:34 PM annoymously

      I do agree with some of the things the first commentator stated. Immigration is out of hand. 400k a year from Mx....the list goes on. The negatives outweigh the positives, any half educated lunk knows that. I am from Northern AZ and am disheartened at the amount of move'ins from primarily SOCAL. The question should be why cannot Mex and CA maintain states that people want to stay in? They have resources galore, beauty, climate, how is it that so many places fail to create a state that people want to stay in?

      Regarding the housing prices, AZ is like a giddy little working stiff who suddenly came into money and attention. The property increase in value is not all roses. There are taxes, the little people (workers through teacher/cop) types get the short end when some family sells their house in Chino Hills ca for 600G then pay anything out here? Why, because the teacher next door would have to sell their house and move to Dakotas to reap benefit. Only thing that happens is their taxes and escrow accounts go up.

      Your justifications for immigration (be it from LA or MX or any where are unsubstantial to say the least. Traffic is horrendous in Prescott/Prescott Valley, accidents are up, illegal workers abound, lower income areas are trashed with 10 people to a house, 8 or 10 new house permits are California buyers, this brings companies buying houses to lease rent which increases crime, it makes it impossible for a cop to buy a house; sad especially if you are from here and have family. Cannot even afford to live here. The LA attitude is imposed on this town and issues such as those we are talking of are now part of debate. Exactly the kind of thing the locals do not want any part of. Move-ins are the guests in a sense. I do not care how sophisticated of civil planners there are and how much realestate has "benefited" the region.

      If you are moving now due to financial windfall from the retarded Cal market, then you should come in quietly and leave your liberal rhetoric behind. The first commenter did not bring up race, you did. He or she had a valid question, why don't move ins stay in their own community and work it out there. And by the way "staying in your own country" as the commentor said does not imply race. The fact you associate home country with race is telling of your attitude. Citizenship is hardly race based in any country aside from a few who tie religion and state together and by proxy race. I am no country bumpkin, I have several degrees and have spent time in europe, asia/china/mongolia, central America, lived in mex for a summer....studied cultural geog, intl affairs, Spanish......so I am familiar with the knee jerk arguments.

      BOTTOM Line: mass move in immigration be it international or interstate, is not always healthy.

      At the very least the new guests should control their impulse to stir up the "diversity" pot and control their desire to impute what they self perceive as sophistication. We would not need more sophistication to deal with crushing populations, traffic, crime, language barriers, watered down education, increased taxes, and blurring of the local culture if Y'all were not so giddingly cashing in on your California equity to get a bigger house here in Arizona. Greed is bottom line......People just wonder why Yall do not stay home and work it out. No offense meant. It just cuts deeply to see home state taken over by Cal. regards....

     
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