Census Data for Prescott Valley
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Prescott Valley a population of 46,769 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Prescott Valley a population of 38,822 people.
The town of Prescott Valley is located in Yavapai County. The 2010 Census gave Yavapai County; a population of 211,033 people. This means that Prescott Valley had 18.4% of the county's total population, making it Yavapai's 2nd most populous community.
At the same time, Arizona had a population of 6,392,017 people, meaning that Prescott Valley had 0.61% of the total population of Arizona - making it the state's 23rd most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Prescott Valley has a total area of 38.65 square miles [100.1 km²].
Yavapai County has a land area of 8,123 square miles [21,039.8 km²]. At 38.65 square miles [100.1 km²], Prescott Valley has 0.48% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a town like Prescott Valley, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the town.
- Things like population, area and housing for Prescott Valley reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Prescott Valley might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
- Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
- Lat: 34° 35' 51" (or 34.6°)
- Lon: -112° 18' 56" (or -112.32°)
- More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Housing Units ...
At the time of the 2010 Census, Prescott Valley had 17,494 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 38,822 people, this averages 2.22 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Prescott Valley had a land area of 38.65 square miles [100.1 km²]. This translates to 452.6 Housing Units per square mile [174.7 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Prescott Valley had 9,484 Housing Units, a population of 23,535 people and a land area of 31.72 square miles [82.2 km²]. This gives a density of 2.48 people per Housing Unit and 299 Housing Units per square mile [115.4 housing units/km²].
- Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for Prescott Valley and you need to be careful when comparing values between the censuses. More information about these differences can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Yavapai County ...
The community of Prescott Valley is located in Yavapai County<4>.
The county had a population of 211,033 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 38,822 people, Prescott Valley represented 18.4% of the county's total.
In addition, where the town of Prescott Valley has a population density of 1,004 people per square mile [387.8 people/km²], Yavapai County averages 25.98 people per square mile [10.03 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Yavapai County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Prescott Valley, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of Prescott Valley. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.
- Continue Reading ...
- Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for Prescott Valley or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
- If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.
Location ...
While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of Prescott Valley, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Prescott Valley.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 34.597689° (or 34°35'51" N)
- Lon: -112.315561° (or -112°18'56" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 34.602229° (or 34°36'8" N)
- Lon: -112.321922° (or -112°19'18" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 2,526 feet to the southeast<5> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#2412507) to Prescott Valley. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Prescott Valley. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 34.597386° (or 34°35'50" N)
- Lon: -112.316030° (or -112°18'57" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 178.9 feet to the northeast<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Prescott Valley. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Prescott Valley.
Miscellaneous Information for Prescott Valley ...
The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either Yavapai County or the town of Prescott Valley:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 04 (Arizona)
- County Code: 025 (Yavapai County)
- Place Code: 57450 (Prescott Valley)
- State & County Code: 04/025 (Arizona / Yavapai County)
- State & Place Code: 04/57450 (Arizona / Prescott Valley)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Prescott Valley is located in Census Region #4 (the West Region) and Division #8 (the Mountain Division).
- The US Postal Service ZIP Code ...
- While some people have used ZIP codes to identify a community, the ZIP codes were actually created to make mail delivery more efficient by grouping addresses together. Although a ZIP Code doesn't specifically identify a town like Prescott Valley, they do identify addresses that are in (or near) the town. It's important to remember that the boundaries of the ZIP Code can be changed, re-assigned, eliminated or overlapped with other ZIP Codes.
- Our list of ZIP codes for Prescott Valley:<7>
- & .
- Census ZCTA Codes ...
- The US Census Bureau created statistical entities that they call ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) and these ZCTAs are frequently confused with the ZIP codes that come from the US Postal Service (USPS).
- ZCTAs were first created for the 2000 Census and at that time, they were based upon the USPS ZIP codes. While largely covering the same areas, the boundaries of a ZCTA do not necessarily match the boundaries of a postal ZIP code with the same number. For example, while a postal ZIP code can cross a county or state line, a Census ZCTA can not. They should be treated as separate entities with no correlation between them.
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Prescott Valley.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Prescott Valley: www.pvaz.net/
The official website for Yavapai County: www.co.yavapai.az.us/
The official website for State of Arizona: https://az.gov/
The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau
The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)
The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Footnotes ...
| <1> | Every year, the US Census Bureau creates a population estimate for the preceeding year. Keep in mind that this value is an estimate and not an actual count. The most recent Census estimate is for the year 2019. |
| <2> | Every 10 years (eg- 1990, 2000, 2010), the US Census Bureau conducts a Constitutionally-mandated count (or enumeration) of people living within the United States. This count is called a Decennial Census. The last Decennial Census was the 2010 Census, with the next one planned for 2020. |
| <3> | A Housing Unit is a broad term for those places where people live (whether occupied or temporarily vacant), such as a house, an apartment, a mobile home, or an area that is considered as a separate living quarter. Separate living quarters (consisting of one or more rooms) are considered to be those places where people live, sleep and eat separately from others and that have access to the outside (either directly or by a shared hallway). |
| <4> | If you're interested in how the shape of Arizona's counties, including Yavapai, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 229 degrees and a distance of 2,526 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 308 degrees and a distance of 178.9 feet. |
| <7> | When looking for a ZIP Code, whether Prescott Valley or elsewhere, it's always best to check the website of the United States Postal Service (USPS). |