Dewey-Humboldt -- Arizona’s Country Town
When people think of Dewey-Humboldt, they envision a rural community with historic
buildings, scenic vistas and wildlife. They also envision the stars on a dark night.
Dewey-Humboldt is located in the high desert of Northern Arizona and is 85 miles north of
Phoenix and 12 miles east of Prescott. At an elevation of 4556 ft., residents enjoy a mild
four-season climate which includes an occasional snowfall during the winter months.
The Town of Dewey-Humboldt was incorporated in December, 2004. Dewey and Humboldt
represented two distinct communities during the last 100+ years with Dewey providing an
agricultural and ranching economy while the Humboldt area had an economy based in mining.
As the Town of Prescott Valley continued to grow since its founding in the mid 1960’s, the
people within the Dewey and Humboldt areas became concerned that Prescott Valley’s growth and
annexation strategy might continue along Highway 69 and could ultimately jeopardize the very
low density, rural flavor of the area. The town’s City Council is committed to maintaining the
rural flavor of the area (residential lot sizes are typically greater than ½ acre with most
areas 1.6 acres or greater).
A total of 117 miles of roads exist within the Dewey-Humboldt town limits. Only 28 miles of
those roads are paved and 20 miles are considered "hard surface" and are maintained by the
Town. The remainder is considered private and is not maintained by the Town.
Privacy and self-sufficiency are leading enticements for prospective Dewey-Humboldt
residents. Each prospective resident must decide how to balance the seclusion and dramatic
views provided by a hillside lot with the access needed for routine travel as well as delivery
and emergency vehicles.
Given its proximity to both urbanized areas and truly rural areas, The Town of
Dewey-Humboldt offers a balance of both. That lifestyle is a compromise between rural privacy
and easy access to public services.
Dewey-Humboldt is steeped in a rich history that started back in the 1870's when the first
white settler, King Woolsey, recognized the beauty and richness of the land along the Aqua
Fria. From becoming a small town in 1899 to a boomtown in 1905, settlers blazed the trail for
the citizens of today and have left behind a unique legacy. Many of the commercial buildings
date back over 100 years and have remained much unchanged.
The Humboldt Historical Society for Dewey-Humboldt was formed to collect, preserve, educate
and maintain the connection to the past and document the present so 100 years from now there
is a record.
Dewey-Humboldt businesses include:
- Affinity RV Service, Sales & Rentals
- Heritage Memorial Park
- Hospice of the Pines
- J.T.'s Backhoe & Septic
- Leff-T's Steakkhouse
- Gas station, restaurants, real estate offices and antique stores