What's Prescott like and why isn't it larger than Phoenix due to milder climate? (Tempe: living, airport)

[wretched wrench]

Originally Posted by keninaz

First of all you are required, more of less , to have a dog to be in the park area, or so it seems most times.

In the Courthouse park area, any dog will do. Great way to meet the people there.

In Granite park, a large dog is good. Great way not to meet not to meet the people there..

[azdr0710]

Originally Posted by LarryUSA

Also puzzling that it doesn't seem to be near an interstate?

the US federal highways were built/consolidated in the 1920s to connect major population centers and areas of heavy industry....US 89 goes thru Prescott and was the main road connecting areas of N and S Arizona until the 1960s.....

the interstate highways, approved in the mid-1950s, were built with limited access points to speed traffic across the country....I-17, completed about 1967, bypasses Prescott because of easier terrain to the east and the already-existing Black Canyon Highway into the Verde Valley

wow, imagine what Prescott would be like if an interstate had been built there (where do you think the interchanges would be???!!!)

[DellNec]

Originally Posted by azdr0710

the US federal highways were built/consolidated in the 1920s to connect major population centers and areas of heavy industry....US 89 goes thru Prescott and was the main road connecting areas of N and S Arizona until the 1960s.....

the interstate highways, approved in the mid-1950s, were built with limited access points to speed traffic across the country....I-17, completed about 1967, bypasses Prescott because of easier terrain to the east and the already-existing Black Canyon Highway into the Verde Valley

wow, imagine what Prescott would be like if an interstate had been built there (where do you think the interchanges would be???!!!)

Prescott would have never been able to be developed fully because of the water issue. Phoenix relies on the Colorado, Salt and Verde rivers for its water source. Also, areas surrounding Phoenix (suburbs) use well water, as the water table is only 100 feet or so below the ground in the PHX area. Prescott does not have that luxury. It relies on well water only.

Currently, the population in the Prescott area has grown to levels that the current wells will not support, eventually they will run dry. Hence the Chino Valley/Big Chino Aquifer project/debate. There is a large aquifer in Chino Valley that Prescott wants to tap into. It needs to build a pipeline from Prescott to CV in order to do so. That is why the debate rages, as the BC Aquifer feeds the Verde and people are worried about that and possible ground fissures (caused by pumping ground water at rates that cause the ground to collapse and form sink holes).

[ErikCortez]

Originally Posted by wretched wrench

I'll put up with the winter and skip Phoenix.

Originally Posted by keninaz

Too many people down there for me!

Originally Posted by wretched wrench

And some of them are not very nice.

Yep. You hit it.

[sun queen]

Originally Posted by BriansPerspective

According to Bill Nye, the Science Guy, you CAN cook an egg on a sidewalk
http://www.billnye.com/so-hot-you-could-fry-an-egg/

Now I don't know about every place in the Metro Phx area, but at my house if u want cook an egg outside in the heat of the day u can... I freaking super hot and there's no trees, so I think that makes the heat a bit more intense.

Now as far as not living in Prescott I can only answer for myself. It is very lovely to visit, but too far away from everything I need like the airport, choice shopping, medical specialist etc... Would love to retire there though.

[keninaz]

Everybody has different needs, that's for sure.
Myself I am glad the interstate bypassed Prescott.
It's only grown at a moderate rate as a result and I don't think in my lifetime it well ever become a larger community with the problems that go with it.

[wretched wrench]

Yep. That is one of the reasons we chose Prescott. We have watched too many nice towns become cities.

[keninaz]

I know many old timers around here would prefer Prescott the way it was years ago.
But it is true, you can't go home again. It's just never the same. I know a few that have tried.
I suppose that's why I like it here as it reminds me somewhat of where I grew up.

[DellNec]

Originally Posted by LarryUSA

My question is: given southern Arizona's scalding hot climate, why the heck isn't Prescott Arizona's large metropolitan area, while Phoenix the outlier. I mean, mild winters, with relatively little snowfall, and cool (by Arizona standards) summers of like 90 or so, vs Phoenix 111 and with cool snaps of 90 in April (brr), people actually commented on how "cool" that was during a spring visit once.

I don't get people, lol.

One of the pressing issues is the lack of water. The problem is only getting worse:

State: Experts fear Arizona drought conditions could deepen - The Prescott Daily Courier - Prescott, Arizona

What we WILL see here in Prescott, for those NOT on unregulated private wells, is an increase in water bills. If you are on city water, the water will become VERY expensive up here.

We have a Ponderosa Pine Forest up here, the lack of snow and rain will make the Bark Beetle kill of a lot of trees and the remaining trees will start to dry out and die from lack of water. This makes for a bad forest fire waiting to happen, just like the one that struck the White Mountains this past summer.

[Zonie5]

Prescott IMO just does not have it . when i shop there i have a feeling of lot of things lacking .
as it is i am ready to relocate away from Ash Fork . i have found out from an unnamed source that we are overrun with rats (millions ) dopers , meth cookers , dealers and maybe a murderer or two . ground is supposed to be saturated with radon and god knows what else .
so i have a Uhaul truck reserved to make my getaway.