Prescott history
Founding (1864)
Prescott was named the first territorial capital of Arizona Territory in 1864. The site was chosen for proximity to gold mining in the Bradshaw Mountains and federal reluctance to base capital operations near Confederate-leaning Tucson.
Territorial period (1864-1889)
The capital operated from Prescott until 1889 when it moved to Phoenix. The original 1864 Governor's Mansion still stands on the Sharlot Hall Museum campus, the oldest log structure of its type in Arizona.
The 1900 Whiskey Row fire
On July 14, 1900, fire destroyed most of Whiskey Row and the surrounding blocks. Patrons reportedly carried The Palace's bar across Montezuma Street to keep drinking on the plaza grass while the building burned. The carved-wood bar back was saved and remains in use.
Frontier Days (1888-present)
Prescott Frontier Days, recognized as the world's oldest continuous rodeo, has run every July since 1888. The event drew Theodore Roosevelt's attention and helped cement Prescott's Western identity.
The 1916 courthouse
The current Yavapai County Courthouse, completed in 1916, replaced an earlier structure. The granite-and-sandstone building anchors the plaza and remains the working county courthouse.
Modern era
Population growth picked up in the 1980s and 1990s as retirees and Phoenix-area workers discovered the cooler climate. Population grew from about 20,000 in 1980 to 46,000 today.
Frequently asked
When was Prescott founded?+
1864 as the Arizona Territorial Capital.
Who chose Prescott?+
Federal appointees of the Lincoln administration.
When did the capital move?+
1889 to Phoenix.
What burned in 1900?+
Most of Whiskey Row and surrounding blocks.
How old is Frontier Days?+
Running every year since 1888, the world's oldest continuous rodeo.
How old is the courthouse?+
Completed in 1916.
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