Prescott Valley, Arizona
Encyclopedia
Prescott Valley is a town in Yavapai County
, Arizona
, United States
, just east of Prescott. Prescott Valley was the seventh fastest-growing place among all cities and towns in Arizona between 1990 and 2000. According to 2010 Census, the population of the town is 38,822.
, about 8 miles west.
One of PV’s landmarks, Glassford Hill (elevation 6,177 feet) was once an active volcano
between 10 and 14 million years ago. Colonel William A. Glassford traveled the area in the 1880s and helped build a system of 27 heliograph
stations to monitor the movements of Apache
Indians, U.S. military troops and civilians. Glassford Hill was a part of that early communications system.
people who inhabited the area some 14,000 years ago.
The Walker party discovered gold along Lynx Creek in 1863. The Lynx Creek placers went on to produce a recorded 29000 troy ounces (902 kg) of gold. Estimates of actual production range up to 80000 troy ounces (2,488.3 kg), which would be worth about $85 million at 2011 prices.
Prescott Valley, formerly known as Lonesome Valley, was settled by ranchers in the 1880s, raising beef to supply the miners and new settlers. The Fain family, pioneer ranchers, still ranch in the valley.
Thomas Gibson Barlow-Massicks arrived in the area in the early 1890s and built the historic "castle" that still stands in Fain Park. Massicks had a hydraulic gold mining
operation in Lynx Creek Canyon and built the company mining camp of Massicks, Arizona just east of his Victorian home, the Castle. The fireplace with chimney just inside the Castle's fence is all that remains of the Massicks store. Massicks accidentally shot himself and died in April 1899 at the age of 37. In the 1930s, there was a gold dredging
operation, the Doodle Bug Diggings, farther east in Lynx Creek Canyon.
In the mid 1960s, Prescott Valley Incorporated, a real-estate company from Phoenix, purchased land in an area 10 miles east of Prescott known as Lonesome Valley. In 1966, representatives from Prescott Valley Inc. began traveling to the Midwest to sell home lots. By 1978, more than 1,500 residents were living in the unincorporated area now known as Prescott Valley. In 1978, 80% of the voters of Prescott Valley voted for incorporation as a town.
, with lakes, fishing, hiking and camping. The Entertainment District is located downtown and offers a variety of restaurants, a 6,000-seat events center, a multi-screen movie theater, and retail shops. Fain Park preserves remnants of early 20th century gold mining along Lynx Creek.
The Arizona Sundogs
Hockey Team has called Prescott Valley its home since 2006. The team won the Central Hockey League
championship in 2008.
The Arizona Adrenaline
Football team plays in the Tim's Toyota Center
Yavapai County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*89.3% White*0.6% Black*1.7% Native American*0.8% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.5% Two or more races*5.0% Other races*13.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, just east of Prescott. Prescott Valley was the seventh fastest-growing place among all cities and towns in Arizona between 1990 and 2000. According to 2010 Census, the population of the town is 38,822.
Geography
Prescott Valley (locally, PV) is located in central Arizona approximately 85 miles north of Phoenix at 5100 ft. elevation. PV has good access to Arizona State Route 89, SR-89A and SR-69 , connecting to Interstates I-17 and I-40. Air service is available at Ernest A. Love FieldErnest A. Love Field
Prescott Municipal Airport, Ernest A. Love Field is a city-owned public-use airport located seven nautical miles north of the central business district of the City of Prescott, in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States...
, about 8 miles west.
One of PV’s landmarks, Glassford Hill (elevation 6,177 feet) was once an active volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
between 10 and 14 million years ago. Colonel William A. Glassford traveled the area in the 1880s and helped build a system of 27 heliograph
Heliograph
A heliograph is a wireless solar telegraph that signals by flashes of sunlight reflected by a mirror. The flashes are produced by momentarily pivoting the mirror, or by interrupting the beam with a shutter...
stations to monitor the movements of Apache
Apache
Apache is the collective term for several culturally related groups of Native Americans in the United States originally from the Southwest United States. These indigenous peoples of North America speak a Southern Athabaskan language, which is related linguistically to the languages of Athabaskan...
Indians, U.S. military troops and civilians. Glassford Hill was a part of that early communications system.
History
Prescott Valley’s Fitzmaurice Ruins contain artifacts from the early Mountain PatayanPatayan
Patayan is a term used by archaeologists to describe prehistoric and historic Native American cultures who inhabited parts of modern day Arizona, west to Lake Cahuilla in California, and in Baja California, between 700–1550 CE...
people who inhabited the area some 14,000 years ago.
The Walker party discovered gold along Lynx Creek in 1863. The Lynx Creek placers went on to produce a recorded 29000 troy ounces (902 kg) of gold. Estimates of actual production range up to 80000 troy ounces (2,488.3 kg), which would be worth about $85 million at 2011 prices.
Prescott Valley, formerly known as Lonesome Valley, was settled by ranchers in the 1880s, raising beef to supply the miners and new settlers. The Fain family, pioneer ranchers, still ranch in the valley.
Thomas Gibson Barlow-Massicks arrived in the area in the early 1890s and built the historic "castle" that still stands in Fain Park. Massicks had a hydraulic gold mining
Hydraulic mining
Hydraulic mining, or hydraulicking, is a form of mining that uses high-pressure jets of water to dislodge rock material or move sediment. In the placer mining of gold or tin, the resulting water-sediment slurry is directed through sluice boxes to remove the gold.-Precursor - ground...
operation in Lynx Creek Canyon and built the company mining camp of Massicks, Arizona just east of his Victorian home, the Castle. The fireplace with chimney just inside the Castle's fence is all that remains of the Massicks store. Massicks accidentally shot himself and died in April 1899 at the age of 37. In the 1930s, there was a gold dredging
Gold dredge
A gold dredge is a placer mining machine that extracts gold from sand, gravel, and dirt using water and mechanical methods.The original gold dredges were large, multi-story machines built in the first half of the 1900s....
operation, the Doodle Bug Diggings, farther east in Lynx Creek Canyon.
In the mid 1960s, Prescott Valley Incorporated, a real-estate company from Phoenix, purchased land in an area 10 miles east of Prescott known as Lonesome Valley. In 1966, representatives from Prescott Valley Inc. began traveling to the Midwest to sell home lots. By 1978, more than 1,500 residents were living in the unincorporated area now known as Prescott Valley. In 1978, 80% of the voters of Prescott Valley voted for incorporation as a town.
Economy
PV's economy consists of industrial, manufacturing, retail and service businesses. PV also serves as a bedroom community for Prescott. Many retirees live here due to relatively inexpensive housing and the mild climate. Recent major community additions include a $61M regional medical center and a $15M regional rehabilitation hospital.Attractions
Prescott Valley is located within 10 minutes of the Prescott National ForestPrescott National Forest
The Prescott National Forest is a 1.25 million acre United States National Forest located in north central Arizona in the vicinity of Prescott. The forest is located in the mountains southwest of Flagstaff and north of Phoenix in Yavapai County, with a small portion extending into southwestern...
, with lakes, fishing, hiking and camping. The Entertainment District is located downtown and offers a variety of restaurants, a 6,000-seat events center, a multi-screen movie theater, and retail shops. Fain Park preserves remnants of early 20th century gold mining along Lynx Creek.
The Arizona Sundogs
Arizona Sundogs
The Arizona Sundogs are a double-A minor-league professional ice hockey team based in Prescott Valley, Arizona that began play in the Central Hockey League in 2006 and celebrated its fifth anniversary season in 2010-11...
Hockey Team has called Prescott Valley its home since 2006. The team won the Central Hockey League
Central Hockey League
The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
championship in 2008.
The Arizona Adrenaline
Arizona Adrenaline
The Arizona Adrenaline were a professional indoor football team of the Indoor Football League. The team was based in Prescott Valley, Arizona, with home games played at the Tim's Toyota Center....
Football team plays in the Tim's Toyota Center
Notable residents
- Sharlot HallSharlot HallSharlot Mabridth Hall was an American journalist, poet and historian. She was the first woman to hold an office in the Arizona Territorial government and her personal collection of photographs and artifacts served as the starting collection for a history museum which bears her...
's family had a ranch between present-day PV and Dewey. She lived there from 1890 to about 1925. The site is now the Orchard Ranch trailer park.