An hour north of Phoenix, less than an hour south of Flagstaff, an hour west of Payson and less than an hour east of Prescott sits Camp Verde, the geographical center of Arizona. The town sits astride Interstate 17 with 18 miles of the Verde River flowing through its corporate borders. Camp Verde is surrounded by nine federal wilderness areas, six state parks, four national monuments, two wild and scenic rivers and the spectacular landscape that makes the Verde Valley a world-class destination.
The Camp Verde area was settled in 1865 and served as the breadbasket for much of north-central Arizona. Due to an extensive network of irrigation canals, Camp Verde still carries on its agricultural traditions. Area farms produce sweet corn, alfalfa, pecans, garden vegetables and the latest offering of barley for the craft brewing industry and wineries. Camp Verde’s economy relies on light manufacturing, the nearby Cliff Castle Casino, the Out of Africa Wildlife Park and tourism. Camp Verde is now serviced by 100 Gbs fiber optic broadband internet, connecting it with the rest of the world.
Camp Verde’s historic downtown, built around the Fort Verde State Historic Park, is transforming into a pedestrian-friendly shopping area with a microbrewery, restaurants and several antique dealers. The Out of Africa Wildlife Park attracts more than 145,000 visitors a year and Montezuma Castle National Monument attracts another 600,000. Cliff Castle Casino’s 126-room hotel is a favorite stopping-off place for visitors to Northern Arizona. The area is becoming more popular every year with its numerous outdoor recreational opportunities, which include dozens of hiking trails such as Fossil Creek Wild and Scenic Area and canoeing and kayaking on the Verde River. Camp Verde is home to the Verde Valley Archaeology Center. The center was founded in 2010, and the museum researches, interprets and curates the legacy of the ancient cultures that inhabited the Verde Valley.
Camp Verde offers a broad range of community facilities including riverfront parks, museums, ball fields, equestrian facilities, a community swimming pool, a skateboard park and several public access points to the Verde River. Camp Verde recently added a new $4 million, 17,000 square-foot community library and a $10 million, 26,000 square-foot Northern Arizona Healthcare medical clinic.
| Founded | 1865 | Incorporated | 1986 |
| Elevation | 3,160 ft. | Location | Yavapai County |
| Phoenix | 92 miles | San Diego | 438 miles |
| Tucson | 205 miles | Los Angeles | 456 miles |
| Las Vegas | 305 miles |
| 2000 | 2010 | 2023 (est.) | |
| Camp Verde | 9,451 | 10,875 | 12,216 |
| Yavapai County | 167,517 | 210,899 | 241,173 |
| State of Arizona | 5,130,632 | 6,401,569 | 7,285,370 |
Office of Economic Opportunity
Arizona Dept. of Revenue & Arizona Tax Research Foundation
| Camp Verde | 3.65% |
| Yavapai County | 0.75% |
| State | 5.60% |
Arizona Dept. of Revenue & Arizona Tax Research Foundation
| 2000 | 2010 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian Labor Force | 4,225 | 5,039 | 4,724 |
| Unemployed | 235 | 605 | 260 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6% | 12.0% | 5.5% |
Office of Economic Opportunity
| Count | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| Less than high school | 1,183 | 14.8% |
| High school or equivalent, no college | 2,412 | 30.2% |
| Some college or Associate degree | 2,946 | 36.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree | 1,450 | 18.1% |
American Community Survey
| Count | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| Arts, entertainment, food & recreation services | 1,203 | 30.1% |
| Education, health care & social assistance | 718 | 18.0% |
| Professional, scientific, & administrative services | 380 | 9.5% |
| Retail trade | 379 | 9.5% |
| Construction | 308 | 7.7% |
| Finance, insurance & real estate | 224 | 5.6% |
| Other services, except public administration | 194 | 4.9% |
| Manufacturing | 187 | 4.7% |
| Public administration | 148 | 3.7% |
| Transportation, warehousing, & utilities | 78 | 2.0% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, & mining | 69 | 1.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 65 | 1.6% |
| Information | 39 | 1.0% |
American Community Survey
This profile was prepared by the Arizona Commerce Authority in cooperation with local sources. For further information, please contact: