160 years after his death, Abraham Lincoln is remembered as a humanitarian, a visionary, and one of the most forward-thinking politicians in American history. The 16th President of the United States is esteemed by most for issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing all Confederate territory slaves, and being a remarkable debater. Others praise his legacy as a leader during the American Civil War.
But then there’s Dallin Kimble, who also admires President Lincoln because he established the mountain-ringed City of Prescott, Arizona. “It started because Abraham Lincoln said so,” Kimble says. “It didn’t start the usual way, and there’s a little bit of attitude with that.”
City Manager for the present-day Prescott, Kimble is also intrigued with the history of the area. Unlike similar communities, which started because of ranchers sharing water and other resources, a key factor in Prescott’s founding was that gold and silver were discovered in the surrounding mountains. Wanting to secure resources for the union and concerned about Confederate sympathizers in Tucson, Lincoln initiated the inception of this new community.
Named in honor of renowned historian William Hickling Prescott, the community became the capital of the Arizona Territory from 1864 to 1867, and again from 1877 to 1889, when it was replaced by Phoenix. Famous residents, such as gunfighter, dentist, and gambler Doc Holliday and lawman Virgil Earp—both playing a role in the gunfight at the O.K. Corral—helped secure Prescott’s Wild West reputation, which endures to this day.
“We have several draws for tourism, and history and Western heritage are a big part of that,” says Community Outreach Director John Heiney. “That complements our historic downtown, outdoor lifestyle, recreation, hiking and biking, and lakes for kayaking.”
The popular Phippen Museum, which boasts art, a Western heritage gallery, and more, appeals to visitors and residents alike, while other attractions include Fort Whipple and the Sharlot Hall Museum, a heritage site which was founded as the Gubernatorial Mansion Museum in 1928 by journalist and historian Sharlot M. Hall. A large, four-acre, open-air museum and heritage site, the grounds encompass 11 exhibit buildings, including Victorian-era homes and the 1864 log pine Governor’s Mansion. “We have a great history and rich historic preservation in Prescott,” says City Manager Kimble. “Several hundred historic structures are registered with our historic preservation agency.”
Other local draws include the Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza and Whiskey Row. Considered the jewel of downtown Prescott, the Courthouse Plaza is a popular spot for community events, concerts, arts and craft fairs, and the annual Christmas lighting celebration.
Across the street is the world-famous Whiskey Row, home to myriad Old West saloons and bars. The area is also home to the Palace Restaurant and Saloon, which has the distinction of being the oldest business and oldest bar operating in Arizona. A testament to Prescott’s resilience, the original saloon opened in 1877, burned down in 1900, and was rebuilt a year later.
One of the area’s biggest attractions is the annual Prescott Frontier Days® rodeo. First held in 1888, it is the World’s Oldest Rodeo® and brings in top riders from around the world. Along with the Rodeo, other events like an art fair and parade bring tens of thousands to Prescott. “It’s a time when our hotels are filled for the week,” says Kimble of the Rodeo, which will next be held June 29 to July 5, 2026. “It is a big draw, and it certainly boosts our tourism economy.”
To ensure the City of Prescott remains attractive to visitors and residents alike, the tourism office and the public works department teamed up about a year ago to launch a downtown beautification program. “We love our historic downtown, and it’s a major tourist attraction, and we want to make sure it is clean, neat, and tidy for our visitors,” says Heiney. A local company was contracted to regularly powerwash sidewalks, pick up trash, and ensure the downtown is in good order. “That’s one of the investments we’ve made.”
From mountains and valleys to canyons and desert, Arizona’s geography, ideal climate, scenic beauty, and rich history make it ideal for tourism and businesses alike. Arizona’s taxes are lower than those of neighboring states, and Prescott, in particular, has relatively low property tax rates.
While some communities promote themselves as being business-friendly, the City of Prescott goes the extra mile by arranging a Pre-Application Conference (PAC). A free process, a PAC helps interested businesses coming to the area looking for land or a building, with discussion around building locations, adjacent zoning, parking, landscaping, outdoor lighting, survey requirements, historic preservation and archeology, water and sewer lines, drainage and fire requirements, and more. If a business wants to turn a building into a manufacturing warehouse, for example, it goes through the Pre-Application Conference, with no need to spend money on drawings or other expensive preparation. Before even making a purchase, they get valuable feedback about everything from fire inspection to public works.
“We are trying to give them a leg up before they dive into the purchase or acquisition of property; it really helps,” says Kimble. “And it’s a free process. If they don’t like what they hear the first time, they can go back to the drawing board and do it as many times as they want before they formally submit a plan. This helps them get off on the right foot before they get into the permitting process.”
The PAC process also allows prospective businesses to speak directly with managers and department directors. “This way, the people who are making decisions about your application are the people you know, have had conversations with, have directly pitched to, and who understand what’s going on,” he adds. “That kind of access is unique for cities, but it’s part of our commitment—we want people to be wildly successful.”
The area is home to several well-respected academic institutions, including Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Ranked the #1 regional college in the west by U.S. News & World Report, Embry-Riddle is famous for programs in space, aviation, applied science, computers, technology, engineering, business, security, intelligence, and safety. Owing to the school’s reputation for top-quality grads, businesses in engineering, aerospace, and technology are coming to Prescott to find employees, and the university, which also conducts flight training at the regional airport, is expanding its operations. The move represents millions of dollars in investment.
“They provide a very skilled workforce for us and give us a pipeline to really bright students—not just pilots, but degrees in engineering and cybersecurity,” says Heiney. “So we have a flow of highly trained workforce, and part of our goal is to find great jobs for them, bring companies right here who will hire them in Prescott.”
Other area institutions include Yavapai College and its Career and Technical Education Center, CTEC. Here, a 100,000-square-foot facility teaches students skills such as auto body work and how to operate CNC machines and 3D printers. “If a company comes to Prescott and they need training for a certain machine they’re bringing in, CTEC or the College can create a curriculum for them,” Heiney explains. “For the workforce, that’s another pipeline of skilled trades.”
Together with Yavapai College and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the area is home to Prescott College. A private institution, Prescott College focuses on environmental courses, offering Entrepreneurial Leadership and Organizational Management, Environmental Studies and Sustainability, Field Ecology and Conservation, and other disciplines.
“We have a nice balance of these three institutions right here in Prescott. We have all kinds of students here learning these different skill sets and contributing to the economy,” says Heiney.
“Prescott acts like a small town,” he continues, “so relationships matter. Our partnerships with organizations like the Prescott Chamber of Commerce, Yavapai College Regional Economic Development Center and Small Business Development Center, and numerous non-profit organizations helps us give business the help they need when they are moving or expanding here.
With a population of 47,750, the City of Prescott is growing at about two percent per year, and one of its economic development goals is to create jobs that bring young professionals and young families in search of a rewarding career to the area. To this end, one of Prescott’s biggest draws is its quality of life. It is possible to get almost anywhere in the area with just a brief drive, including five gorgeous lakes and more than 600 miles of bike trails.
All these natural advantages, combined with a four-season climate and mild winters, make Prescott a great place to work, live, and raise a family. “We have a great work-life balance,” says Heiney. “You can take your lunch break and drive 15 minutes to the trailhead—that’s a huge selling point. Whether you are an executive thinking about moving your company here, or thinking about coming here to work, it’s a great lifestyle that we have,” he shares.
“We are launching an advertising campaign that focuses on ‘Prescott Bold.’ Prescott was founded by bold leaders with a bold vision. Whether you are a visitor enjoying our outdoor adventure, or a business looking to expand, we like to think that bold spirit lives on in Prescott today.” Stop by prescottbusiness.com to find out more.
