Photography by Franz Rosenberger
Location, Location, Location: Prescott, Arizona
November 3, 2003
Prescott is just 96 miles northwest of Phoenix, but it is a world unto itself. Surrounded by 1.2 million acres of national forest—and the world’s largest contiguous stand of ponderosa pines—Prescott revels in its western heritage and natural resources. At 5,347 feet above sea level, residents enjoy a mild climate year-round, and its 300 days of sunshine each year make it ideal for hiking the 450 miles of trails or golfing.; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc(); "Golf course")
It was gold that brought national attention to Prescott; the city lies next to Granite Creek, where gold was panned over a century ago. Prescott was founded in 1863, incorporated in 1883, and serves as the seat of government for Yavapai County. Named after noted historian William Hickling Prescott, the city was chosen as the capital of the Arizona Territory by Abraham Lincoln, who wanted the capital in the northern part of the territory, far away from the Confederate sympathizers in the south. (Click image to enlarge)
Midwestern and New England pioneers flocked to the area in the late 1800s, and their influence is still reflected today in the city’s architecture—turreted Victorian houses dot the city’s older residential streets, in stark contrast to the adobe structures so common in the Southwest. Due to Prescott’s emphasis on preservation, more than 500 buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Prescott’s population increased about 250 percent between 1990 and 2002. Retirees have long known about
Prescott’s attributes, even before Money magazine ranked it the top place to retire in 1994. Its climate and proximity to Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon and Sedona are attracting families as well as people purchasing second or third homes. And that has led to an explosion of new high-end construction in the area.
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