YAVAPAI COUNTY
County Offices
1015 Fair Street
Prescott 928-771-3200
www.co.yavapai.az.us
Chamber of Commerce
117 W. Goodwin Street
Prescott 800-266-7534
www.prescott.org
The city of Prescott serves as the heartbeat of the Tri-City region that also encompasses the communities of Prescott Valley and Chino Valley. More than 100,000 people now call this beautiful area their home, and the census continues to swell. New services and amenities have developed along with the growing population, enhancing the quality of life with cultural, educational, shopping, dining, and entertainment attractions.
Surrounded by breathtakingly beautiful Prescott National Forest, this area excels in hiking trails and opportunities for world-class rock climbing. Antique shopping, fine art galleries, a ghost town that has transformed into an artist’s colony, the alpine city of Flagstaff, and the internationally famous resort and arts community of Sedona are just a few of the highlights in this spectacular swath of Arizona. Gracious Southwestern hospitality converges with ancient Native American lore, Old West historic sites and heritage, and contemporary amenities around every corner.
Services
While Yavapai County enjoys a comfortable distance from the fifth-largest city in the nation, this panoramic county ensures a convenient lifestyle and state-of-the-art services. Approximately 80 miles from Metropolitan Phoenix and Arizona’s Valley of the Sun, Prescott Municipal Airport provides commuter air service on several major carriers. Healthcare facilities and services are anchored by Yavapai Regional Medical Center West, the cornerstone of a locally owned and operated not-for-profit multi-faceted institution. More than 160 physicians contribute their skills in practices that cover a wide range of specialties and sub-specialties. The system encompasses the Del E. Webb Outpatient Center in Prescott Valley, which is adjacent to the site for a new 50-bed hospital scheduled to open in 2006.
YRMC is home to a full selection of leading-edge services, including 24-hour emergency care, a cardiac catheterization lab, angiography service, and advanced imaging. An impressive array of specialized services complement a full spectrum of healthcare programs, ranging from preventive medicine and family-centered obstetrics to cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, inpatient and outpatient surgical specialties, home health, and hospice. Contributing to the healthcare system’s growing reputation for excellence and innovation, the highly respected Pendleton Wellness Centers are models for health maintenance and rehabilitation in a friendly and supportive atmosphere. Whether the goal is improved fitness or post-injury rehabilitation, these centers feature the equipment, guidance, and personal attention that make the critical difference.
Other important healthcare services in the Prescott Area include the Good Samaritan Society’s Prescott Valley Samaritan Center for long-term and specialized care and the Northern Arizona VA Health Care System. The community of Cottonwood in Yavapai County is home to the Verde Valley Medical Center, a hospital in the Northern Arizona Healthcare system based in Flagstaff. Nearly 100 beds and a technologically advanced campus serve residents in the Verde Valley, Sedona, and Yavapai County communities.
Students of all ages receive a first-rate education in the Prescott Area, home to quality public and private schools from preschool through 12th grade as well as institutions of higher education. Yavapai College is consistently recognized for academic excellence, favorable environment, and affordable tuition. Prescott and Verde Valley campuses combine with three centers to offer nearly 50 programs of study and thousands of classes. Career development, specialized training, certifications and two-year degrees, continuing education, and college-track programs are all available close to home. Chino Valley features the Agribusiness and Science Technology Center, Prescott Valley offers another educational center, and the Sedona Center for Arts & Technology is located minutes away in Sedona.
The internationally renowned Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott claims an elite position among those universities that are recognized as “best in field.” Specializing in the science, practice, and business of aviation, aerospace, and engineering, the university maintains Prescott as one of its two residential campuses. The private liberal arts institution of Prescott College offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees and teacher certification in a setting that reflects a commitment to the environment and social justice. Northern Arizona University based in Flagstaff partners with Yavapai Community College to provide opportunities for four-year undergraduate and even graduate programs. Northcentral University based in Prescott moves education into the digital age by offering 100 percent online distance-learning degree programs on every level including doctoral. Flagstaff is home to Northern Arizona University, while the city of Tempe in Metropolitan Phoenix features the sprawling main campus for Arizona State University. Auxiliary ASU campuses combine with a host of private colleges, universities, and institutes in the Valley of the Sun for virtually unlimited higher-education opportunities.
Lifestyle
Sun-drenched days, cool evenings, starlit skies, forested beauty, and four distinct but mild seasons make the Prescott Tri-City region one of Arizona’s most livable and desirable. Brief easy winters with very little snow, antelope playing in the back yard, an ideal elevation near 5,000 feet, and some of the state’s finest recreational land are just a few of the delights that await newcomers. Steeped in historic significance and lore, Prescott is the original Territorial Capital of Arizona and the home of the World’s Oldest Rodeo, Whiskey Row, Thumb Butte, and the charming Courthouse Plaza. Rapidly growing communities feature a wide variety of housing opportunities, from beautiful two-story family homes with Midwestern front porches in the heart of Prescott to sprawling ranches and contemporaries. New subdivisions, historic properties, upscale enclaves, rustic log homes, cozy cabins, and magnificent custom manors secluded by lush woods are just a few of the options in this developing area.
Yavapai College plays an important role in this region, enriching the entire community through its theater, music, and visual art resources and performances. The Prescott Fine Arts Association promotes and presents a full complement of performing and visual arts through its gallery, theatre, music, and family theatre. Complementing the sculpture garden and fine arts center at Yavapai College, the Prescott Valley Civic Center serves as a showcase for famous sculptures through its Art at the Center exhibits. Wonderful museums and historic sites dot the region, from intriguing ghost towns that have transformed into an artist’s colony like Jerome to ancient petroglyphs in hauntingly beautiful canyons.
Recreational opportunities in and near this region are some of the finest in Arizona, ensuring four-season outdoor adventures against scenic backdrops. Boating and fishing enthusiasts will enjoy the five lakes in this area, while the 1.2 million-acre Prescott National Forest is filled with miles of trails. Hiking, bike touring, camping, off-roading, horseback riding, mountain biking, hot air balloon riding, cross-country skiing, sledding, downhill skiing and snowboarding are all close to home. Golfing and tennis combine with city-sponsored recreational programs and sports leagues to promote a healthy and active lifestyle for all ages. The Courthouse Square in Prescott and the immediate surrounding neighborhoods are reminiscent of yesterday’s “town square” model, serving as a focal point for colorful festivals and celebrations. Regardless of the community you choose to call home, the Prescott Tri-City region is a crown jewel in Arizona’s diverse and spectacular landscape.
City of Prescott
Municipal Offices
928-777-1100
www.cityofprescott.net
Chamber of Commerce
928-445-2000
www.prescott.org
Deserving of the title, “Everybody’s Hometown,” Prescott features a charming Courthouse Plaza in true Midwestern tradition with Victorian architectural charm. In addition to unique attractions like the famous Whiskey Row, the Sharlott Hall Museum, and Phippen Art Museum, the city hosts colorful annual events that include Frontier Days, the World’s Oldest Rodeo, the Folk Arts Fair, and Territorial Days. Officially designated as “Arizona’s Christmas City” by the state, Prescott nestles in a scenic valley surrounded by mountains that reach 8,000 feet in elevation. Miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding meander through forested beauty. An active arts community ensures a delightful mix of theatre, musical concerts, art shows, and special events. Two private colleges, an extension for Northern Arizona University, the two-year Yavapai College, and a major healthcare institution add to the quality of life in this rapidly growing city that represents the heartbeat of Yavapai County.
Clarkdale
Municipal Offices
39 North 9th St
Clarkdale 928-639-2459
www.clarkdale.az.us
Chamber of Commerce
Clarkdale 928-634-9438
www.clarkdalechamber.com
Clarkdale is at the upper end of the Verde Valley in Yavapai County. Topography is characterized by numerous mesas and buttes along the rise from 3,300 feet at the Verde River on the east to the 7,000-foot Mingus Mountains on the west. Clarkdale is approximately 110 miles north of Phoenix and 25 miles southwest of Sedona, a contiguous neighbor of Cottonwood, and a short drive from Jerome. The current residential population is a little over 3,900 people. Clarkdale is a small town that believes in a family oriented environment. The Clarkdale-Jerome School District and Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District provide quality education from kindergarten through 8th grade, and Mingus Union High School provides 9 through 12 grade education. Yavapai College’s Verde Campus is located in Clarkdale. There is a historic downtown area with many galleries and shops to explore. Residents also enjoy a varied selection of outdoor activities thanks to the towns scenic location and close proximity to literally millions of acres of parkland, and it location close to Sedona and Flagstaff. Clarkdale maintains a close tie to its history as a mining town and residents take great pride in maintaining its small town feel.
Cottonwood
City Offices
928-634-5526
www.ci.cottonwood.az.us
Chamber of Commerce
928-634-7593
https://www.cottonwoodchamberaz.org/
Located between Prescott and Sedona, Cottonwood is home to more than 11,000 residents. It is surrounded by jagged mountains on the south, east and west, and to the north by mesas and buttes. Named for the Cottonwood trees that grow along the Verde River, the town is the Verde Valley’s center of population. It is a quiet community with convenient shopping, hotels, and restaurants. It is home to a picturesque Historic Old Town, complete with high sidewalks and buildings that give it an old west feel. The Verde River runs through town offer residents an opportunity for outdoor adventure. The area is rich with hiking trails, golfing and camping opportunities. It is also an ideal location for exploring this rugged section of Arizona. The town sits at an elevation of 3,314 feet and has a mild year round climate.
Cottonwood receives approximately 11 inches of rain a year and 4 inches of snow. The City is home to a school district with a Middle School and three elementary schools. Older kids go to Mingus Union High School also in the district. The city also maintains a full parks and recreation dept with several facilities throughout the area including a municipal pool. There are numerous services and manufacturing facilities in the city as well so residents have everything they need close to home.
Town of Chino Valley
Municipal Offices
928-636-2646
www.chinoaz.net
Chamber of Commerce
928-636-2493
www.chinovalley.org
Located along Highway 89 in the mountains of north-central Arizona, the growing town of Chino Valley boasts a rich tradition and a progressive attitude toward quality development. Four gentle seasons are punctuated by spring tulips and daffodils, bountiful gardens, light dustings of winter snow, magnificent autumns, and more than 300 days of sunshine. Housing in this area supports a wide range of lifestyles, ranging from tree-shaded neighborhoods to small farms, horse properties, and large ranches. This rural community offers convenient amenities that include parks, ball fields, tennis courts, a teen center, a community center, a senior center, and a well-stocked library. The local economy blends retail, services, agriculture, and government employers that include the U.S. Forest Service. This family-friendly environment also holds strong appeal for retirees who appreciate the serene atmosphere and relaxed pace.
Town of Prescott Valley
Municipal Offices
928-772-9207
www.pvaz.net
Chamber of Commerce
928-772-8857
www.pvchamber.org
Closely associated with the city of Prescott, the nearby town of Prescott Valley shares the same idyllic location in north-central Arizona with its 5,400-foot elevation and mild, sun-drenched climate. Recreational amenities are abundant in the area surrounding the town, encouraging four-season outdoor activities. Hiking, biking, camping, backpacking, fishing, nature study, horseback riding, off-roading, gold-panning, boating, and winter sports are common pastimes. Adding to nature’s bounty are panoramic golf courses and ten public parks filled with sports facilities and amenities. Among them are Olympic-style soccer fields, softball fields, a public swimming pool with a 100-foot slide, and a 3,000-seat outdoor amphitheater in Mountain Valley Park. Prescott Valley Town Center offers a multi-screen cinema and commercial conveniences, although the crowning glory of the community is the Prescott Valley Civic Center and its fine-art displays. Nearby Prescott City expands the cultural attractions with visual and performing arts, fine museums, and colorful annual celebrations and festivals.
