Mining and settlers brought frequent conflict with native American tribes in the area, including the Yavapai and Apache.

Prescott was a stereotypical "wild west" town during the latter half of the 19th century; famous residents included Doc Holliday and Virgil Earp of the gunfight at the O.K.

[10] This also sometimes refers to central Yavapai County in general, which would include the towns of: Mayer, Paulden, Wilhoit, and Williamson Valley.

Goodwin replaced Governor John A. Gurley, appointed by Abraham Lincoln, who died before taking office.

Goodwin selected a site south of the temporary capital on the east side of Granite Creek near a number of mining camps.

[2] The mineral wealth of Prescott included a good quantity of both gold and silver, and made the hamlet the most important city in northern Arizona.

Tribes also chose sides against each other, with the Maricopa and O'odham fighting alongside American and Mexican settlers against the Yavapai and Apache in brutal campaigns.

[15]: 79–81  The Hualapai War broke out in northern Arizona in 1865, which brought a period of guerilla warfare, though few pitched battles.

She later married a Mexican blacksmith, starting a boarding house with him; public opinion calmed down after this and she eventually became much loved.

[21][22] Whiskey Row in downtown Prescott boasts many historic buildings, including The Palace, Arizona's oldest restaurant and bar.

Barry Goldwater, the 1964 Republican nominee for president, launched his presidential campaign from the steps of Prescott's Yavapai County Courthouse.

[29] None of these lakes permit swimming due to a history of water quality problems,[30][31] however all are popular recreational destinations near Prescott.

However, unlike most other locations in this climate class, there is a pronounced summer wet season due to the North American Monsoon.

[39] Monsoon season is June 15 – Sep 15, and brings significant rain, wind, hail, thunderstorms, and flooding to the area.

In spite of the dangers of flash floods and wildfires, many locals enjoy monsoon season for the relief of cooler temperatures, which commonly result from storms during the height of summer heatwaves.

[citation needed] Prescott area residents have faced the challenges of extreme rain and flash flooding since the first prospectors arrived in search of gold in the late 1800s.

In 1863 Joseph R. Walker's original mining camp on the banks of Lynx Creek was completely swept away in a flash flood less than a year after arriving in Prescott.

The Verde, which has in some years been completely dry, gushed with 4,284 cubic meters per second of water on February 24, 1891, or about half the size of the Columbia river.

[50] A large number of homes in Prescott are located within FEMA designated "high risk flood zones A and AE".

Adjacent to Whiskey Row was the red-light district which operated until 1917, at which point prostitution was outlawed in the state of Arizona.

Whiskey Row runs north and south on Montezuma St. between Gurley and Goodwin St., directly west of the county courthouse.

Originally built in 1877, The Palace Restaurant and Saloon was rebuilt after the fire, and is now the state's oldest continuous business.

[64][65][66][67] Prescott hosts annual events such as Frontier Days, Easter Egg-Stravaganza, the Bluegrass Festival, Earth Day, July 4 Celebration, Tsunami on the Square, art festivals, a Cinco de Mayo celebration, Navajo Rug Auction, Pumpkin Patch Carnival, World's Largest Gingerbread Village at the Prescott Resort & Conference center (on the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe reservation), Prescott Film Festival, Folk Arts Fair, parades, the Acker Music Festival, The Cowboy Poets Gathering, the Prescott Highland Games, Courthouse Lighting, Whiskey Off Road and Ragnar Relay Del Sol.

The illuminated 6-foot (1.8 m) tall cowboy boot with multi-colored stars was lowered from the historic Palace Restaurant rooftop's 40-foot (12 m) flagpole to the delight and cheers of celebrants gathered on Montezuma Street which was closed for the occasion.

Later, in 1929, the home again expanded to include Arizona's Hospital for Disabled Miners (current total capacity is 150 beds).

Shows are hosted weekly at house venues, tattoo shops, and bars throughout downtown and the Dexter neighborhood.

[72] Prescott has been home to several nationally known punk bands, including Bueno, Life in Pictures, and Hour of the Wolf.

2008: Yavapai Courthouse Plaza recognized as one of the first ten "Great Public Places"[76] in America by the American Planning Association.

Council members as of June 2022 are Cathey Rusing, Connie Cantellme, Brandon Montoya (Mayor Pro-Tem), Eric Moore, Steve Sischka, and Clark Tenney.

State Route 89 travels mostly north–south and connects Prescott with Chino Valley and Paulden to the north, continuing northward until it joins Interstate 40 at mile marker 146, Ash Fork.