LOCATED in Arizona’s Central Mountains 95 miles from Grand Canyon National Park, amid the largest stand of ponderosa pines in the world, Prescott's four mild seasons offer just enough variation to make the weather interesting. With occasional light snows in winter, the Prescott area becomes a picture postcard setting that fits perfectly in a holiday season filled with a variety of celebrations.

Typical, changeable spring weather ranges from rain to sun in a few hours. It is 96 miles northwest of Phoenix and summers are warm and sunny, with occasional cooling thunderstorms. Autumns are cool, crisp and golden, typical of its southwestern location- 90 miles southwest of Flagstaff.

The weather conditions are favorable owing to the altitude of 5354 ft, being significantly cooler than the lower southern areas of the state and yet without the harsher winters found at higher altitudes. The Prescott area's moderate year-round climate adds up to more than 300 days of sunshine a year.

History Highlights of Prescott, Arizona Prescott is home of the world's oldest rodeo, and is Arizona's first territorial capital. It was founded in 1864, and then incorporated into Arizona in 1881. The city was named for William Hickling Prescott, a noted Arizona historian.

Prescott is rich with culture, containing nearly 800 buildings in the National Register of Historic Places, including many beautifully restored Victorian-era homes and bungalows. Its territorial heritage is preserved in historic districts containing lovely Victorian homes.

Prescott is Arizona's Christmas City where it, and the surrounding communities have a plethora of holiday activities, for children and for adults, for free and for not-so-free. One activity is the Holiday Light Parade on the Saturday after Thanksgiving on the Courthouse Square.

Another event is the nearby Prescott Valley “Valley of Lights.” Drive past holiday scenes made of lights, drive through tunnels of lit snowflakes, listen to the OOOs and AHHs of your passengers, remember the unbridled joy of the holiday season as a child.

• Prescott was named one of the Top 100 Art Towns by author John Villani

• Prescott’s Courthouse Plaza was named as one of 10 Great Public Spaces in America by the American 
Planning Association

• Prescott was named one of the best 50 places to live by National Geographic Adventure

• Prescott was named one of the nation’s top ten Dream Cities by Sunset Magazine

• Prescott was ranked number 47 by forbes.com for Best Small Places for Businesses and Careers

• Prescott was ranked number 5 by forbes.com for Fastest Growing Small Metros

• Prescott was named one of Seven Great Places to Live by Bottom Line

• Prescott was named one of America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations by the National
Trust for Historic Preservation

• Prescott was named one of America’s Top Western Art Towns by True West magazine

• Prescott was named one of the nation’s best retirement communities by authors Arthur and Mary Griffith

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