Yavapai County was established in 1864 as one of the first counties in Territorial Arizona. Prescott became the County seat and was the first capital of Arizona. It lies centrally located in the state and enjoys mild climates in contrast to the heat of the lower deserts and the Colorado Plateau near Flagstaff to the North. Temperatures seldom reach over 90 degrees and only in the higher elevations does it get down into single digits. Yavapai is the 4th fastest growing county in Arizona and currently has a population of about 200,000 in an 8300 sq. mile area; larger than 4 states in size.
The county populace enjoys 9 historic districts, 27 school districts, 18 libraries, 32 communities, 3 colleges, 6 newspapers and 18 libraries. Elevations range from 1,900 feet in the deserts to about 8,000 feet in the mountains. Yavapai County real estate offers a location for nearly every lifestyle and with 32 communities commercial real estate investments are growing rapidly.
Yavapai County offers something for everyone on vacation in Arizona! Camping, hiking, cycling, hot air ballooning, horseback riding, boating, hunting, fishing, scenic drives, picnics, family outings and bird watching are available throughout Yavapai County.
Yavapai County contains the Prescott National Forest, which has one of the largest Ponderosa Pine Forests in the world, also the Coconino National Forest that covers the area east of Sycamore Creek and east of the Verde River. Yavapai County has total of19 wilderness areas. The Tonto National Forest covers the southeast portion of the county and the "Wild River" portion of the Verde River and into the Horseshoe Reservoir, and a small portion of the Kaibab near Ash Fork.
