Payson Arizona Info (Tucson, Prescott: earthquakes, property taxes, place to live)

[KurtAZ]

Well a few other things:

1) Internet access. There is one path in/out for Internet access to Payson, through Camp Verde. There is a Group trying to get CTL or any other provider to provide a redundant loop into Payson but as of right now...if they fiber to Camp Verde goes down, the town goes "dark". No Internet, no POS systems in the stores, no Cellular Phone service...nada. It has happened a few times in the past couple of years.

2) Schools. Kind of standard issues for a small town...schools aren't the greatest but it is all going to depend on parental involvement in their children's education.

3) Stuff for the kids: Decidedly limited. If they are into the outdoors...lots. If they want something else to do...probably not much available.

[Baking.Bigfoot]

Is Payson windy compared to Prescott valley? How about allergies? My allergies have been horrible in PV. The wind just stirs up everything in PV.

About Fire season. I was actually evacuated from my home last year because of a fire near Humboldt- Dewey area.
Has Payson had problems with fires in the past. I know there was a fire just recently close to Payson, but it didn't come into Payson. (Thank God)

Fire season sucks.

[AZDesertBrat]

Originally Posted by Baking.Bigfoot

Is Payson windy compared to Prescott valley? How about allergies? My allergies have been horrible in PV. The wind just stirs up everything in PV.

About Fire season. I was actually evacuated from my home last year because of a fire near Humboldt- Dewey area.
Has Payson had problems with fires in the past. I know there was a fire just recently close to Payson, but it didn't come into Payson. (Thank God)

Fire season sucks.

I lived in Payson for about 14 years and I don't remember it being that windy. It does get windy, of course at times, but since it's not flat like PV I don't think it's nearly as bad. Allergies happen to lots of people everywhere and even in Payson. I thought that last fire was closer to Winslow?


My daughter lives in Mayer and was evacuated as well. She came and stayed with me a few days.


Payson has had it's share of fires. Mostly up on the Rim like the Rodeo-Chediski fire in 2002. Up to that time it was the biggest one ever. In 1990 we had the Dude fire and several of my friends lost their homes in that one. Also Zane Grey's historic cabin burned and it got 'too close' to Kohl's Ranch where I worked at the time. Any time you are surrounded by forests there's a fire danger so it pays to be extremely careful and follow 'the rules' for campfires, etc.. The Dude fire was started by dry lightning though so not man caused unlike the Rodeo-Chediski fire. My ex worked for the USFS and was on the Dude fire. Sadly we lost six firefighters that year. There was also a big fire up by Show Low. That one was started by an out of work firefighter so he'd have a job! Stupid people.

[Baking.Bigfoot]

Originally Posted by AZDesertBrat

My ex worked for the USFS and was on the Dude fire. Sadly we lost six firefighters that year.

I believe I just saw that movie about those firefighters who lost their lives to that Arizona fire. Excellent movie. But way too sad.

[AZDesertBrat]

Originally Posted by Baking.Bigfoot

I believe I just saw that movie about those firefighters who lost their lives to that Arizona fire. Excellent movie. But way too sad.

That was the fire west of Prescott a couple of years ago. We've had too many bad fires here. People are so careless and, I guess, think "It won't happen to me!". You just never know.

[teddyearp]

Just because. The movie, Only the Brave, was about the Yarnell hill fire and the Granite Mountain Hotshots. The out of work firefighter who started a fire to make money started the Rodeo Fire. The Chediski fire was started a couple days later and they merged. Payson was one evacuation center, other than that, not affected by the Rodeo-Chediski.

[Tall Traveler]

Originally Posted by Baking.Bigfoot

Is Payson windy compared to Prescott valley? How about allergies? My allergies have been horrible in PV. The wind just stirs up everything in PV.

About Fire season. I was actually evacuated from my home last year because of a fire near Humboldt- Dewey area.
Has Payson had problems with fires in the past. I know there was a fire just recently close to Payson, but it didn't come into Payson. (Thank God)

Fire season sucks.

According to my research, Payson gets less wind, more rain, and is just a bit warmer than Prescott. I've been looking at possibly locating (retired) in both of these cities but to us the lower wind and proximity to the Valley make Payson the better choice. Fire, smoke and air quality are the last big concerns about locating there as my wife has severe asthma.

[Code Stemi]

Originally Posted by Tall Traveler

According to my research, Payson gets less wind, more rain, and is just a bit warmer than Prescott. I've been looking at possibly locating (retired) in both of these cities but to us the lower wind and proximity to the Valley make Payson the better choice. Fire, smoke and air quality are the last big concerns about locating there as my wife has severe asthma.

Payson also receives more rain on average than Flagstaff does, according to Wikipedia. Surprising. And yes, from Payson you can reach the outskirts of the Phoenix Valley in about an hour of driving.

[okie bird dog]

My wife said there was too much winter in Prescott and Payson last year, at least more than she wants. As much as I like Payson, we are now headed for SE Arizona where there is less winter. Selling last of everything now. who would have thought it would take three years to get everything in order for the move. We will be happy there too

[Tall Traveler]

Originally Posted by okie bird dog

My wife said there was too much winter in Prescott and Payson last year, at least more than she wants. As much as I like Payson, we are now headed for SE Arizona where there is less winter. Selling last of everything now. who would have thought it would take three years to get everything in order for the move. We will be happy there too

You seem like me in that climate is very important in where you would like to live. Is it Sierra Vista you're planning to move to? We were also considering SV (still at least considering it) and was alerted by someone that moved from SV to Prescott that the winds in SV are quite high. I checked it out and came up with average yearly wind speeds of 5.4 mph in Payson and 7.7 mph in SV. SO even though the winter temps are warmer in SV than Payson, it may not feel that way after factoring the wind.