Jerome was once a roaring mining town with 15,000 people, multi-storied buildings and fine homes. With the fall of copper prices and the closing of the Phelps Dodge Mine in 1953, it became the world's largest “ghost city.” Jerome is situated in the foothills of central Arizona's Verde Valley, surrounded by the Coconino and Prescott National Forest lands, popular for camping, fishing and hunting. Recreation areas within the Prescott Forest include Horse Thief Basin, Lynx Lake and Mingus Mountain. Jerome can be reached from Phoenix by taking Interstate 17 to state Highway 260 to Cottonwood. From Cottonwood, state Highway 89A goes to Jerome.
Jerome produced more than $1 billion worth of copper, gold, silver and zinc in its 70-year active life. Today, life is quite different. Designated a National Historical Landmark in 1967, the town’s economy is now based on tourism and recreation. Antique, craft and gift shops, a wine tasting room, small boutiques and art galleries are located in the once deserted stores along Main Street. Jerome also has one of Arizona's oldest saloon-style bars.
Jerome State Historic Park features the former Douglas Mansion, currently a museum featuring the area's history. The Jerome Historical Society Mine Museum exhibits ore collections and mining equipment of the past. The Jerome Home and Building Tour, which completed its 52nd annual tour in 2017, is held the third weekend in May. In October, a three-day reunion for former mining families is held with performances by a local mariachi band. The Ghost Walk is held during the reunion, reenacting historical events. Light Up the Mountain occurs on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving. The event features the lighting of luminarias throughout the town, a light display in the main park and caroling. Visitors can tour Jerome's famous traveling jail, which has moved down Cleopatra Hill almost 300 feet since it was built. Other nearby attractions include the Verde Canyon Railroad, Gold King Mine, the 42-acre Tuzigoot Monument which houses three Indian pueblos occupied from the 12th to 14th centuries and Montezuma's Castle, among the nation's best preserved Indian structures. The five-story structure, built about 1050, was abandoned in 1450.
Jerome offers a range of community facilities including two museums, three parks, a library and an archive research center.
| Founded | 1876 | Incorporated | 1899 |
| Elevation | 5,435 ft. | Location | Yavapai County |
| Phoenix | 110 miles | San Diego | 457 miles |
| Tucson | 224 miles | Los Angeles | 414 miles |
| Las Vegas | 270 miles |
| 2000 | 2010 | 2023 (est.) | |
| Jerome | 329 | 441 | 467 |
| 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
| Jerome | 3.50% |
| Yavapai County | 0.75% |
| State | 5.60% |
Arizona Dept. of Revenue & Arizona Tax Research Foundation
| 2000 | 2010 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian Labor Force | 213 | 285 | 277 |
| Unemployed | 9 | 7 | 16 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2% | 2.5% | 5.8% |
Office of Economic Opportunity
| Count | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| Less than high school | 4 | 1.1% |
| High school or equivalent, no college | 69 | 18.4% |
| Some college or Associate degree | 235 | 62.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree | 68 | 18.1% |
American Community Survey
| Count | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| Education, health care & social assistance | 69 | 29.6% |
| Retail trade | 43 | 18.5% |
| Arts, entertainment, food & recreation services | 28 | 12.0% |
| Construction | 25 | 10.7% |
| Public administration | 23 | 9.9% |
| Other services, except public administration | 15 | 6.4% |
| Finance, insurance & real estate | 12 | 5.2% |
| Professional, scientific, & administrative services | 10 | 4.3% |
| Manufacturing | 4 | 1.7% |
| Transportation, warehousing, & utilities | 4 | 1.7% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, & mining | 0 | 0.0% |
| Information | 0 | 0.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 0 | 0.0% |
American Community Survey
This profile was prepared by the Arizona Commerce Authority in cooperation with local sources. For further information, please contact: