Map of Yavapai County, Arizona

Yavapai County is near the center of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2020 census, its population was 236,209, making it the fourth-most populous county in Arizona. The county seat is Prescott.

Yavapai County comprises the Prescott, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the northern portions of Peoria and Wickenburg, the balance of which are in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area.

Yavapai County overview:
Name:	Yavapai County
FIPS code:	04-025
State:	Arizona
Founded:	November 9, 1864
Named for:	Yavapai people
Seat:	Prescott
Largest city:	Prescott Valley (entirely within Yavapai County)
Total Area:	8,128 sq mi (21,050 km²)
Land Area:	8,123 sq mi (21,040 km²)
Total Population:	236,209
Population Density:	29/sq mi (11/km²)
Time zone:	UTC−7 (Mountain)
Website:	yavapaiaz.gov

Yavapai County location map. Where is Yavapai County?

Yavapai County location on the U.S. Map. Where is Yavapai County. — Location of Yavapai County in the the United States.

Yavapai County location on the Arizona map. Where is Yavapai County. — Location of Yavapai County in Arizona.

History

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. 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.

Yavapai County Road Map

Yavapai CountyStreet Map. — Street map of Yavapai County, Arizona. Source: OpenStreetMap (OSM)

Yavapai CountyMap — Yavapai Countypolitical map.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 8,128 square miles (21,050 km), of which 8,123 square miles (21,040 km) is land and 4.4 square miles (11 km) (0.05%) is water. 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 7,979 ft (2,432 m) and the lowest is Agua Fria River drainage, now under Lake Pleasant.

Adjacent counties

Mohave County – west
La Paz County – southwest
Maricopa County – south
Gila County – south/southeast
Coconino County – north/northeast

Major highways

Interstate 17
Interstate 40
U.S. Route 93
State Route 69
State Route 71
State Route 89
State Route 169
State Route 179
State Route 260
State Route 279

National protected areas

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)

Land ownership and management

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

Flora and fauna

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. Yavapai County is also the location of several groves of the near-threatened California Fan Palm, Washingtonia filifera.