Yavapai County, Arizona#Metropolitan Statistical Area

File:Gold-Quartz-188388.jpg

Yavapai County was one of the four original Arizona counties created by the 1st Arizona Territorial Legislature. The county territory was defined as being east of longitude 113° 20' and north of the Gila River.{{cite book | last = Wagoner | first = Jay J. | title = Arizona Territory 1863–1912: A Political history | publisher = University of Arizona Press | location = Tucson | year = 1970 | isbn = 0-8165-0176-9 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/arizonaterritory00wago/page/58 58] | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/arizonaterritory00wago/page/58 }} Soon thereafter, the counties of Apache, Coconino, Maricopa, and Navajo were carved from the original Yavapai County. Yavapai County's present boundaries were established in 1891.

The county is named after the Yavapai people, who were the principal inhabitants at the time the United States annexed the area.

County level law enforcement services have been provided by Yavapai County Sheriff's Office since 1864.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|8128|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|8123|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|4.4|sqmi}} (0.05%) is water.{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_04.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 23, 2015|date=August 23, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126040915/http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_04.txt|archive-date=January 26, 2016}} It has about 93% of the area of the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is larger than three U.S. states (Rhode Island, Delaware and Connecticut) and the District of Columbia combined.

The county's topography makes a dramatic transition from the lower Sonoran Desert to the south to the heights of the Coconino Plateau to the north, and the Mogollon Rim to the east. The highest point above sea level (MSL) in Yavapai County is Mount Union at an elevation of {{convert|7,979|ft|m|abbr=on}} and the lowest is Agua Fria River drainage, now under Lake Pleasant.

• Mohave County{{snd}}west
• La Paz County{{snd}}southwest
• Maricopa County{{snd}}south
• Gila County{{snd}}south/southeast
• Coconino County{{snd}}north/northeast

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• 20px Interstate 17
• 20px Interstate 40
• 20px U.S. Route 93
• 20px State Route 66
• 20px State Route 69
• 20px State Route 71
• 20px State Route 89
• 25px State Route 169
• 25px State Route 179
• 25px State Route 260
• 25px State Route 279

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File:West Clear Creek Wilderness (5009364401).jpg|upright ]]

File:West Fork of Oak Creek, reflections.jpg, in the Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness ]]

• Agua Fria National Monument
• Coconino National Forest (part)
• Kaibab National Forest (part)
• Montezuma Castle National Monument
• Prescott National Forest (part)
• Tonto National Forest (part)
• Tuzigoot National Monument

There are nineteen official wilderness areas in Yavapai County that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Fourteen of these are integral parts of National Forests listed above, whereas five are managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Some of these extend into neighboring counties (as indicated below):

• Apache Creek Wilderness (Prescott NF)
• Arrastra Mountain Wilderness (BLM) mostly in Mohave County; also partly in La Paz County
• Castle Creek Wilderness (Prescott NF)
• Cedar Bench Wilderness (Prescott NF)
• Fossil Springs Wilderness (Coconino NF) mostly in Coconino County
• Granite Mountain Wilderness (Arizona) (Prescott NF)
• Hassayampa River Canyon Wilderness (BLM)
• Hells Canyon Wilderness (Arizona) (BLM) partly in Maricopa County
• Juniper Mesa Wilderness (Prescott NF)
• Mazatzal Wilderness (Tonto NF / Coconino NF) partly in Gila County; Maricopa County
• Munds Mountain Wilderness (Coconino NF) mostly in Coconino County
• Pine Mountain Wilderness (Tonto NF/Prescott NF)
• Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness (Coconino NF) partly in Coconino County
• Sycamore Canyon Wilderness (Prescott NF/Coconino NF / Kaibab NF) mostly in Coconino County
• Tres Alamos Wilderness (BLM)
• Upper Burro Creek Wilderness (BLM) partly in Mohave County
• West Clear Creek Wilderness (Coconino NF) partly in Coconino County
• Wet Beaver Wilderness (Coconino NF) partly in Coconino County
• Woodchute Wilderness (Prescott NF)

{{seealso|Baca land grants}}

• Private ownership: about 25% of Yavapai County's land (by area) is privately owned.
• Public land: about 75% of the county's area is publicly owned, including

:*Federal ownership: about 50% of the county's area is owned by the federal government of the United States, including

::*National Forest lands, managed by the US Forest Service: 38% of the county's area

::*Federal lands managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management: 11.6% of the county's area

::*Small areas of federal land are managed by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs and the National Park Service: less than 0.5% of the county's area.

:::Yavapai-Prescott Tribe {{convert|1413|acre|ha}}

:::Yavapai-Apache Nation {{convert|685|acre|ha}}

:*About 25% of Yavapai County is owned by the State of Arizona as state trust lands, managed by the Arizona State Land Department.[http://www.azcommerce.com/doclib/commune/yavapai%20county.pdf Yavapai County Profile]

There are numerous flora and fauna species within Yavapai County. For example, a number of plants within the genus Ephedra and Coreopsis are found in the county.T. Kearney, Robert H. Peebles and Elizabeth McClintock. Arizona Flora. 2nd ed. Berkeley: U of California P, 1940, 61 et seq., {{ISBN|978-0-520-00637-9}} Yavapai County is also the location of several groves of the near-threatened California Fan Palm, Washingtonia filifera.C. Michael Hogan. 2009. [http://globaltwitcher.auderis.se/artspec_information.asp?thingid=90942 California Fan Palm: Washingtonia filifera, GlobalTwitcher.com, ed. Nicklas Stromberg] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930184850/http://globaltwitcher.auderis.se/artspec_information.asp?thingid=90942 |date=September 30, 2009}}

File:Enchantment Resort near Sedona.jpg

Yavapai County is home to Arcosanti, a prototype arcology, developed by Paolo Soleri, and under construction since 1970. Arcosanti is just north of Cordes Junction, Arizona.

Out of Africa Wildlife Park is a private zoo. The park moved to the Camp Verde area from the East Valley in 2005.

Approximately {{convert|10|mi|km|0}} northwest of the town of Bagdad lies the Upper Burro Creek Wilderness Area, a {{convert|27440|acre|ha|0|adj=on}} protected area home to at least 150 species of birds and featuring one of the Arizona desert's few undammed perennial streams.[http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS&sec=wildView&wname=Upper%20Burro%20Creek%20Wilderness Upper Burro Creek Wilderness] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611101709/http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS&sec=wildView&wname=Upper%20Burro%20Creek%20Wilderness |date=June 11, 2011}}—Wilderness.net

{{US Census population

|1870= 2142

|1880= 5013

|1890= 8685

|1900= 13799

|1910= 15996

|1920= 24016

|1930= 28470

|1940= 26511

|1950= 24991

|1960= 28912

|1970= 36733

|1980= 68145

|1990= 107714

|2000= 167517

|2010= 211033

|2020= 236209

|estyear=2024

|estimate=252013

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 15, 2025}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 18, 2014}}
1790–1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=May 18, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|archive-date=August 11, 2012}} 1900–1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/az190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 18, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222140038/http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/az190090.txt|archive-date=February 22, 2015}}
1990–2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 18, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218203824/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|archive-date=December 18, 2014}} 2010–2020

}}

As of the census of 2010, there were 211,033 people, 90,903 households, and 57,597 families living in the county.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US04025

|title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data

|access-date=January 20, 2016

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213010716/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US04025

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} The population density was {{convert|26.0|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|inhabitants |inhabitants|}}. There were 110,432 housing units at an average density of {{convert|13.6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US04025

|access-date=January 20, 2016

|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213183955/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US04025

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} The racial makeup of the county was 89.3% white, 1.7% American Indian, 0.8% Asian, 0.6% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 4.9% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 13.6% of the population. The largest ancestry groups were:{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US04025

|title=DP02 Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

|access-date=January 20, 2016

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213010150/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US04025

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}

• 22.5% German
• 16.0% Irish
• 15.8% English
• 11.5% Mexican
• 5.4% Italian
• 5.0% American
• 4.7% French
• 3.4% Scottish
• 3.1% Polish
• 2.9% Swedish
• 2.6% Norwegian
• 2.6% Scotch-Irish
• 2.5% Dutch
• 1.2% Russian
• 1.0% Welsh
• 1.0% Danish

{{div col end}}

Of the 90,903 households, 22.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.6% were non-families, and 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.78. The median age was 49.2 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,290 and the median income for a family was $53,499. Males had a median income of $40,854 versus $31,705 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,527. About 8.8% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.1% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US04025

|title=DP03 Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

|access-date=January 20, 2016

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213030418/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US04025

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

As of the census of 2000, there were 167,517 people, 70,171 households, and 46,733 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|21|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|inhabitants |inhabitants|}}. There were 81,730 housing units at an average density of {{convert|10|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 91.9% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 1.6% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.6% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. 9.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 70,171 households, out of which 23.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.1% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,901, and the median income for a family was $40,910. Males had a median income of $30,738 versus $22,114 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,727. About 7.9% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

Yavapai County is defined as the Prescott Metropolitan Statistical Area by the United States Census Bureau.{{cite web|url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/bulletins/fy2007/b07-01.pdf|title=OMB Bulletin No. 07-01: Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses|publisher=United States Office of Management and Budget|date=December 18, 2006|access-date=April 9, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070317105743/http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/bulletins/fy2007/b07-01.pdf |archive-date=March 17, 2007}}

Yavapai has historically been the most Republican county in Arizona, though it has become rivalled by Graham and exceeded by Mohave since the turn of the century. No Democratic presidential nominee has won Yavapai County since Harry S. Truman in 1948, and even when the county did go Democratic in the Truman and Roosevelt eras, it typically did so by a smaller margin than any other county in the state.

{{PresHead|place=Yavapai County, Arizona|source={{cite web |title = Dave Leip's Atlas of United States Presidential Elections |access-date=June 11, 2011 |url = http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110604224433/http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ |archive-date=June 4, 2011}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/ContainerHistory.html?ContainerID=199|title=Our Campaigns|access-date=June 22, 2025}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Republican|99,346|48,717|1,365|Arizona}}

{{PresRow|2020|Republican|91,527|49,602|2,511|Arizona}}

{{PresRow|2016|Republican|71,330|35,590|7,530|Arizona}}

{{PresRow|2012|Republican|64,468|33,918|2,281|Arizona}}

{{PresRow|2008|Republican|61,192|36,889|2,104|Arizona}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|53,468|33,127|988|Arizona}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|40,144|24,063|4,021|Arizona}}

{{PresRow|1996|Republican|29,921|21,801|7,773|Arizona}}

{{PresRow|1992|Republican|23,419|18,268|17,728|Arizona}}

{{PresRow|1988|Republican|27,842|14,514|850|Arizona}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|24,802|9,609|577|Arizona}}

{{PresRow|1980|Republican|19,823|6,664|2,507|Arizona}}

{{PresRow|1976|Republican|12,998|7,685|917|Arizona}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|12,277|3,977|2,413|Arizona}}

{{PresRow|1968|Republican|8,296|3,989|1,911|Arizona}}

{{PresRow|1964|Republican|7,749|5,747|60|Arizona}}

{{PresRow|1960|Republican|6,813|4,325|9|Arizona}}

{{PresRow|1956|Republican|6,339|3,315|0|Arizona}}

{{PresRow|1952|Republican|6,567|3,628|0|Arizona}}

{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|4,287|4,439|196|Arizona}}

{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|3,529|4,395|36|Arizona}}

{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|3,987|6,217|78|Arizona}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,794|6,628|504|Arizona}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,626|6,326|189|Arizona}}

{{PresRow|1928|Republican|4,507|3,285|2|Arizona}}

{{PresRow|1924|Republican|2,827|1,800|2,136|Arizona}}

{{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,625|2,251|0|Arizona}}

{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,716|2,893|374|Arizona}}

{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|445|1,001|916|Arizona}}

File:Superintendent's Residence (Cottonwood, Arizona).jpg. ]]

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}

• Cottonwood
• Peoria (mostly in Maricopa County)
• Prescott (county seat)
• Sedona (partly in Coconino County)

{{div col end}}

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}

• Camp Verde
• Chino Valley
• Clarkdale
• Dewey-Humboldt
• Jerome
• Prescott Valley
• Wickenburg (partly in Maricopa County)

{{div col end}}

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}

• Ash Fork
• Bagdad
• Black Canyon City
• Congress
• Cordes Lakes
• Cornville
• Lake Montezuma
• Mayer
• Paulden
• Peeples Valley
• Seligman
• Spring Valley
• Verde Village
• Village of Oak Creek
• Wilhoit
• Williamson
• Yarnell

{{div col end}}

• Yavapai-Apache Nation
• Yavapai-Prescott Tribe

File:Crown King Saloon at dusk.jpg

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}

• Arcosanti
• Bumble Bee
• Cherry
• Cleator
• Clemenceau
• Cordes
• Crown King
• Drake
• Groom Creek
• Iron Springs
• Kirkland
• Ponderosa Park
• Skull Valley
• Tip Top

{{div col end}}

File:Cherry cemetery-2.jpg

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}

• Alexandra
• American Ranch
• Apron Crossing
• Big Bug
• Bradshaw City
• Bumble Bee
• Chaparral
• Catoctin
• Cherry
• Cleator
• Clemenceau
• Congress
• Cordes
• Curtis
• Gillett
• Jerome Junction
• Octave
• Simmons
• Stanton
• Stoddard
• Tip Top
• Weaver
• Columbia

{{div col end}}

• Sunset Point is a cliff adjacent to Interstate 17. It has an elevation of {{cvt|3091|ft}}.{{gnis|34976|Sunset Point (cliff)}} The Sunset Point Rest Area, located at the top of the cliff, provides travelers with a scenic view.{{gnis|38852|Sunset Point Rest Area}}

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Yavapai County.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.2010.html|title=This site has been redesigned and relocated. |last=CNMP|website=U.S. Census Bureau}}{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/maps/block/2010/|title=2010 Census Block Maps |website=US Census Bureau |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229025439/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/maps/block/2010/|archive-date=December 29, 2014}}

† county seat

School districts include:{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st04_az/schooldistrict_maps/c04025_yavapai/DC20SD_C04025.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st04_az/schooldistrict_maps/c04025_yavapai/DC20SD_C04025.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Yavapai County, AZ|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=July 28, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st04_az/schooldistrict_maps/c04025_yavapai/DC20SD_C04025_SD2MS.txt Text list] - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st04_az/c04025_yavapai/DC10SD_C04025_000.pdf 2010 map] (pages [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st04_az/c04025_yavapai/DC10SD_C04025_001.pdf 1] and [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st04_az/c04025_yavapai/DC10SD_C04025_002.pdf 2]), [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st04_az/c04025_yavapai/DC10SD_C04025_SD2MS.txt 2021 text list] - These maps indicate boundaries of municipalities and CDPs.{{cite web|url=https://gis.yavapaiaz.gov/docs/share/School_Districts_36x48_2023.pdf|title=School District Map|publisher=Yavapai County|access-date=2024-12-28}} - Indicates locations of unincorporated communities. [https://ycesa.com/schools-and-charters/districtboundaries/ See also detailed school district boundaries].

Unified:

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Ash Fork Joint Unified District
• Bagdad Unified School District
• Camp Verde Unified District
• Chino Valley Unified District
• Humboldt Unified District
• Mayer Unified District
• Prescott Unified District
• Seligman Unified District
• Sedona-Oak Creek Joint Unified District
• Wickenburg Unified District

{{div col end}}

Secondary:

• Mingus Union High School District

Elementary:

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Beaver Creek Elementary District
• Canon Elementary District
• Clarkdale-Jerome Elementary District
• Congress Elementary District
• Cottonwood-Oak Creek Elementary District
• Crown King Elementary District
• Hillside Elementary District
• Kirkland Elementary District
• Pine Strawberry Elementary District
• Skull Valley Elementary District
• Williamson Valley Elementary School District
• Yarnell Elementary District

{{div col end}}

Former school districts:

• Walnut Grove Elementary District - Closed in 2021{{cite web|last=Turner|first=Scott|url=https://wickenburgsun.com/news/9150/wusd-expands-in-yavapai-county/|title=WUSD expands in Yavapai County|newspaper=Wickenburg Sun|date=March 16, 2021|accessdate=July 9, 2021}}

{{Portal|Arizona}}

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Yavapai County, Arizona

{{reflist}}

• Fuis, G. S. (1996). [https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/pp1266 The geology and mechanics of formation of the Fort Rock dome, Yavapai County, Arizona]. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1266. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior. {{doi|10.3133/pp1266}}.

{{Commons category}}

• {{osmrelation|1832215}}
• [http://www.azcommerce.com/doclib/commune/yavapai%20county.pdf Yavapai County Profile] by [http://www.azcommerce.com/ Arizona Department of Commerce]
• [http://prescottenews.com/ Prescott eNews]{{snd}}original local news Web site for Prescott (the county seat) and the surrounding communities.
• [http://www.co.yavapai.az.us/ Yavapai County government website]

{{Yavapai County, Arizona}}

{{Arizona}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Arizona placenames of Native American origin

Category:1864 establishments in Arizona Territory

Category:Populated places established in 1864