Prescott, Arizona
Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. Locals prefer to pronounce the name PRES-skit as opposed to PRES-cott. It was designated 'Arizona's Christmas City' by Arizona Governor Rose Mofford in the late 1980s it is also 'The Cowboy Slaying Capital of the World'.According to 2009 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 43,217. The city is the county seat of Yavapai County. In 1864 Prescott was designated as the capital of the Arizona Territory, replacing the temporary capital at Fort Whipple. The Territorial Capital was moved to Tucson in 1867. Prescott again became the Territorial Capital in 1877, until Phoenix became the capital in 1889.The towns of Prescott Valley (7 miles east) and Chino Valley (16 miles north), Dewey-Humboldt (13 miles east) and Prescott, together comprise what is locally known as the 'Quad-City' area. This also sometimes refers to central Yavapai County in general, which would include the towns of: Mayer, Paulden, Wilhoit, and Wlliamson Valley. Combined with these smaller communities the area had a population of 103,260 as of 2007. Prescott is the center of the Prescott Metropolitan Area, defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as all of Yavapai County. In 2009 Yavapai County was estimated to have 229,640 residents by the U.S. Census Bureau, making Prescott the third-largest metropolitan area in Arizona, after Phoenix (4.2 million) and Tucson (1 million).
Weather
Prescott's four-season climate is generally moderate, its altitude of 5,354 ft (1,632 m) making it significantly cooler than the lower southern areas of the state yet without the harsher winters of higher altitudes.
Reservations of the Area
The Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe reservation is located adjacent to and partially within the borders of Prescott.
History
Governor John Noble Goodwin selected the original site of Prescott following his first tour of the new territory. Goodwin replaced Governor John A. Gurley, appointed by Abraham Lincoln, who died before taking office. Downtown streets in Prescott are named in honor of each of them. Goodwin selected a site 20 miles (32 km) south of the temporary capital on the west side of Granite Creek near a number of mining camps. The territorial capital was later moved to the new site along with Fort Whipple, with the new town named in honor of historian William H. Prescott during a public meeting on May 30, 1864. Robert W. Groom surveyed the new community, and an initial auction sold 73 lots on June 4, 1864. By July 4, 1864 a total of 232 lots had been sold within the new community. Prescott was officially incorporated in 1883.Prescott served as capital of Arizona Territory until November 1, 1867, when the capital was moved to Tucson by act of the 4th Arizona Territorial Legislature. The capital was returned to Prescott in 1877 by the 9th Arizona Territorial Legislature. The capital was finally moved to Phoenix on February 4, 1889 by the 15th Arizona Territorial Legislature.The Sharlot Hall Museum houses much of Prescott's territorial history, and the Smoki and Phippen museums also maintain local collections. Whiskey Row in downtown Prescott boasts many historic buildings, including The Palace, Arizona's oldest restaurant and bar, and many other buildings that have been converted to boutiques, art galleries, bookstores, and restaurants. The City is named after author William H. Prescott, whose writings were popular during the Civil War.After several major fires in the early part of the century, downtown Prescott was rebuilt with brick. The central courthouse plaza, a lawn under huge old elm trees, is a good gathering and meeting place. Cultural events and performances take place on many nights in the summer on the plaza.Prescott received national media attention in 2010 after local talk-radio host and city councilman Steve Blair criticized a mural depicting children of different ethnicities on a Miller Valley Elementary School (Prescott Unified School District #1) building. Blair was temporarily removed from the radio show due to the ensuing controversy, which was stirred up by political archrival, former Mayor Jack Wilson.
Government
The City of Prescott, like many municipalities in the United States, operates under a council-manager form of government. The council has six council members and a mayor, all elected at-large by the people of Prescott. Council members are elected to staggered four-year terms, and the mayor to a two-year term. Elections for mayor and council members are held in the first year after the national presidential and mid-term elections to keep national issues from overshadowing local concerns. Mayoral and council elections are non-partisan. There are no term limits for council members or the mayor. The council appoints a professional city manager to oversee the daily administrative operations of city services and their respective departments. The current city manager is Steve Norwood. The current mayor is Marlin Kuykendall, elected in 2009. Council members elected in 2009 are Steve Blair, Tammy Linn, and John Hanna. Council members up for reelection in 2011 along with the mayor are Lora Lopas, Jim Lamerson, and Mary Ann Suttles .
2009 Mayoral Election
Jack Wilson sought a second term as mayor in 2009 but lost to challenger Marlin Kuykendall, a previous council member. Marlin Kuykendall, Jack Wilson and Glenn Gooding were the only candidates for mayor on the ballot. Kuykendall won 7,365 votes, Wilson won 2,662 votes and Gooding won 3,197 votes. Since Kuykendall won a majority of the 13,255 votes cast for mayor, he became the mayor-elect negating the need for a general election .
Sister cities
Caborca, Sonora,Mexico
Suchitoto,El Salvador
Culture
Prescott has many Victorian style homes and, perhaps because of that, has been called the most Midwestern-appearing city in the Southwest. Prescott has 809 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.Prescott is home to the historical area known as Whiskey Row, until 1956 a notorious red-light district. In 1900, a great fire destroyed most of the buildings on Whiskey Row. As legend has it, the patrons of the various bars simply took their drinks across the street to the Courthouse square and watched it burn. At the time of the fire, the entire bar and back-bar of the Palace Hotel was removed to the square by the patrons as the fire approached, re-installing it after the gutted brick structure was rebuilt. (The size of the back-bar is impressive, and appears not easily moved, even by many hands.) Whiskey Row runs north and south on S. Montezuma St. between Gurley and Goodwin St., directly west of the county courthouse. This single city block has been the home of the St. Michael's Hotel and the Palace Hotel since the late 19th century along with other colorful purveyors of night-life. Merchant Sam Hill's hardware store was located near Whiskey Row, famous for its extensive stock in its downtown location and out-of-town warehouse.There are four golf courses within the city limits: Antelope Hills Golf Course, which consist of the City of Prescott South Course and the City of Prescott North Course, Hassayampa Golf Club, and Prescott Lakes Golf Club. More courses are located nearby in surrounding towns.Prescott is home to The Arizona Pioneers’ Home, a continuing care retirement home, operated and funded by the State of Arizona, originally intended for impoverished Arizona founders from Territorial days. Initially the home was built to house 40 men, but in 1916 an addition of a women’s wing was completed to provide for 20 women. Later, in 1929, the home again expanded to include Arizona’s Hospital for Disabled Miners (current total capacity is 150 beds). Scenes from the 2008 movie Jolene were filmed in the Pioneer's Home in 2006. The Home has had many colorful residents, including a John Miller, who had claimed to be Billy the Kid, and who was exhumed from the Pioneer's Home Cemetery in 2005 in an attempt to identify DNA evidence. Another resident was 'Big Nose Kate' Elder, who would also be laid to rest in the Pioneer's Home Cemetery, though not without controversy.Prescott hosts annual events such as Frontier Days, The World's Oldest Rodeo (1888), Easter Egg-Stravaganza, the Bluegrass Festival, Earth Day, July 4 Celebration, Tsunami on the Square, art festivals, a Cinco de Mayo celebration, Navajo Rug Auction, Pumpkin Patch Carnival, World’s Largest Gingerbread Village (actually on the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe reservation), Prescott Film Festival, Folk Arts Fair, parades, the Acker Music Festival, The Cowboy Poets Gathering, the Prescott Highland Games, Courthouse Lighting, Whiskey Off Road and Ragnar Relay Del Sol. Also located in Prescott is the Heritage Park Zoo.
Geography
Prescott is located at 34°34′6″N 112°27′41″W / 34.56833°N 112.46139°W / 34.56833; -112.46139 (34.568210, -112.461482). Prescott is 55 mi (89 km) WNW of the State of Arizona's geographic center.According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 41.5 square miles (107.5 km²), of which, 40.7 square miles (105.4 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it is water.Prescott is considered part of North Central Arizona. It is located just south of the Granite Dells.
Climate
Prescott is located in the Bradshaw Mountains of central Arizona, at an altitude of 5,400 feet (1,600 m). The city has a Mediterranean climate (Koppen Csa). The city has a four-season climate, with relatively mild winters and hot summers. Highs range from 50 °F (10 °C) in January to 89 °F (32 °C) in July, but nighttime temperatures are significantly lower due to the aridity.Historical average annual precipitation is 19.2 inches (488 mm), with spring and early summer the driest times of the year. Snowfall is typically light and snow cover usually melts away quickly due to the high altitude; the average seasonal total is 22 inches (56 cm), but the median is less than half that. Average snowfall is 25.4 inches (650 mm). Despite the 'Mediterranean' classification, the largest portion of precipitation falls during the July–August monsoon season. Spring and early summer are the driest times of the year.There has been a severe drought from 1999 to present (2009); precipitation has dropped dramatically. Some evidence of this is the lack of snowpack in the Bradshaw mountains. Local creeks do not contain water except immediately after the rare rains. Nevertheless, at the start of 2007 lakes were reported as full. The winter of 2005/2006 had less than 3 inches of snow, compared to an average snowfall of 24 inches.
Education
Prescott is the main site of Yavapai College's campuses in the county. Yavapai College was established as a community college in 1965 and held its first classes in 1969. It offers more than 30 certificate, degree , and transfer options to students in more than 60 different programs of study.Prescott College is 'an independent liberal arts college offering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees, as well as teacher certification. The College's educational programs reflect its commitment to the environment and social justice. Prescott College is also one of the few colleges in the United States that offers adventure education as a major.'The western campus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is located here. ERAU teaches 'the science, practice, and business of the world of aviation and aerospace.' In recent years ERAU Prescott has also developed a research-oriented Space Physics Department.Northern Arizona University and Old Dominion University also have specialty campuses here as well as the online university, Northcentral University.There are 20 public schools in grades K-12, four private schools, and five charter schools. Prescott High School, is home of the Prescott Badgers.Tri-City College Prep High School, a charter school, is rated as 'Excelling' by the Department of Education. Abia Judd Elementary, Granite Mountain Middle School, Prescott High School, Taylor Hicks Elementary, and Washington Traditional School, all in the Prescott Unified School District, also rate 'Excelling.' Lincoln Elementary and Mile High Middle School are considered 'Highly Performing.'
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,938 people, 15,098 households, and 8,968 families residing in the city. The population density was 915.6 people per square mile (353.5/km²). There were 17,144 housing units at an average density of 462.5/sq mi (178.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.93% White, 0.50% Black or African American, 1.27% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.77% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. 8.17% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.There were 15,098 households out of which 18.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.6% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.62.In the city the population was spread out with 15.9% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 18.9% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 26.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.The median income for a household in the city was $35,446, and the median income for a family was $46,481. Males had a median income of $31,834 versus $22,982 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,565. About 7.4% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.4% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
The city has a municipal airport, Ernest A. Love Field, located seven miles (11 km) north of the downtown courthouse. Local public transit system information here: http://www.prescotttransit.com/prescott-citibus-service.html The two main thoroughfares in and around Prescott are Arizona State Route 69 and Arizona State Route 89. Route 69 connects Prescott with Prescott Valley to the east, eventually curving southeast before reaching Interstate 17 at mile marker 262. Route 89 travels mostly north-south and connects Prescott with Chino Valley and Paulden to the north, continuing northward until it joins Interstate 40 at mile marker 146.
Notable residents
Alan Dean Foster, popularscience fictionauthor
Sam Steiger, formerU.S. Congressmanand former Mayor of Prescott, 1999–2001
Ken Bennett, currentArizona Secretary of State
BishopPeter D. Robinson-United Episcopal Church of North America, rector of St. Paul's Anglican Church
Daryl DragonandToni Tennille,The Captain and Tennilleduo, residents since 2007.
John Kinney (outlaw), was an outlaw of the Old West, who formed the John Kinney Gang. The gang was a rival to Billy the Kid'sLincoln County Regulators
Cody Lundin, survival expert, author, and co-star of the Discovery Channel seriesDual Survival
New York CityMayorFiorello LaGuardiaspent part of his childhood in Prescott, where his father was stationed as an Army bandleader. Abridge on North Montezuma Avenueis named for him.
Notes and references
^'Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places in Arizona'.United States Census Bureau. 2008-07-10.http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2007-04-04.csv. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
^'Annual Estimates of the Population for All Incorporated Places in Arizona'(CSV).2006 Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division.http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2006-04-04.csv.
^'Find a County'. National Association of Counties.http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/usamap.cfm. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
^abWagoner, Jay J. (1970).Arizona Territory 1863-1912: A Political history. Tucson: University of Arizona Press. p. 36.ISBN 0-8165-0176-9.
^Wagoner, Jay J. (1970).Arizona Territory 1863-1912: A Political history. Tucson: University of Arizona Press. p. 36,38.ISBN 0-8165-0176-9.
^Wagoner, Jay J. (1970).Arizona Territory 1863-1912: A Political history. Tucson: University of Arizona Press. p. 70.ISBN 0-8165-0176-9.
^Wagoner, Jay J. (1970).Arizona Territory 1863-1912: A Political history. Tucson: University of Arizona Press. p. 113.ISBN 0-8165-0176-9.
^Wagoner, Jay J. (1970).Arizona Territory 1863-1912: A Political history. Tucson: University of Arizona Press. p. 245.ISBN 0-8165-0176-9.
^http://www.prescottenews.com/news/current-news/miller-valley-mural-fact-sheet
^http://dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1086&ArticleID=81753
^A volunteer docent statement from the free official downtown Prescott guided historical and architectural tour claims this is the origin of the phrase, 'Where in the Sam Hill did you get that?'. This may not be accurate, since 'Sam Hill' is also aeuphemistic referencetoHellpredating Prescott, being a polite way of saying 'Where in the Hell did you get that?'. However, there was indeed a Sam Hill Hardware store, attested to by the bronze letters embedded in the concrete sidewalk spelling out 'SAM HILL' inset in the sidewalk at each boundary of the property. The courthouse square is also home to historic Bashford mall.
^'US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990'.United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03.http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
^Updated North American map of the Koppen climate classification system.
^ab'Climatography of the United States No. 20 (1971–2000)'(PDF).National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2004.http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim20/az/026796.pdf. Retrieved 2010-05-31.
^Microsoft Word - CLIMATE_PRC_07.doc
^abArizona Department of Education.
^'American FactFinder'.United States Census Bureau.http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
^Roberts, Sam (08/02/2010),'Way Back Machine : If Not for Bias in Ariz., N.Y. Might Be Good for Organ Grinders',New York Times,http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/way-back-machine-immigrant-bias-in-ariz-organ-grinder-ban-in-n-y-c/?ref=nyregion, retrieved 08/02/2010
