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Jerome, Arizona
A Funky Old Copper Mining Town and National Historic District, Jerome is a Tourist Destination and Home to an Eclectic Mix of People
Chock full of history and Old West character, Jerome is a funky old copper mining town and National Historic District atop Cleopatra Hill in the rugged Black Hills of northwestern Arizona, about half way between Flagstaff and Prescott. Founded in 1876, it was known as the "wickedest town in the West" and has a story of boom and bust.
When the mines finally closed in the 1950s, locals began promoting Jerome as a ghost town, and today it is a tourist destination and home to an eclectic mix of artists, B&B proprietors, writers, craftspeople, museum directors, ghost tour guides, mom and pop merchants, hippies and even a few hermits. Some Victorian commercial buildings have been colorfully renovated and house fun galleries, pubs, restaurants and shops that cater to vacationers. Other buildings are in a state of elegant decay (parts of Jerome sit on a 30 degree angle, so many buildings have slid down the mountain and crumbled or disappeared over the years). Still other structures are quite modern.
The town plays up its Old West ghost town atmosphere by displaying authentic but empty Old West brick and clapboard buildings, abandoned gas stations and automobile graveyards with rusting Fords and Chevys from the 1930s. Views of the surrounding valley from the stately Mission Revival-style Jerome Grand Hotel, and from most spots in town, are awe-inspiring. For amenities not found in Jerome (more merchants, dining venues, etc.), Cottonwood is nine miles to the east.
Neighborhoods are a little haphazard, and homes range from modern adobe town houses and comfortable ranch ramblers to hillside mansions and turn-of-the-20th-century bungalows in need of repair.
Population: 480 (city proper)
Age 45 or Better: 53%
Cost of Living: 34% above the national average
Median Home Price: $600,000 (Varies greatly in a town this small)
Climate: Summer temperatures are in the 80s and 90s, and winter temperatures are in the 30s and 40s. On average, the area receives 18 inches of rain and 17 inches of snow per year. The elevation is elevation 5,000 feet above sea level.
Public Transit: No
At Least One Hospital Accepts Medicare Patients? No, but Verde Valley Medical Center is eight miles away in Cottonwood and accepts Medicare patients.
At Least One Hospital Accredited by Joint Commission? No, but Verde Valley Medical Center, eight miles away in Cottonwood, is accredited by DNV Healthcare, an accreditation organization approved by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in 2008.
Crime Rate: Slightly above the national average
Public Library: Yes
Political Leanings: Conservative
College Educated: 23%
Is Arizona Considered Tax Friendly for Retirement? Yes
Cons: None
Notes: There is one two-lane, well maintained road in and out of town. Local restaurants are known more for their ambiance than their food. The town has maintained its population in the last decade. Home prices have increased 9% since last year.
Recommended as a Retirement Spot? Yes
Arizona:
The Grand Canyon State was originally part of New Mexico. After the land was ceded to the U.S. in 1848, it became a separate territory. It did not enter the union until February 14, 1912. Copper was discovered in the area in 1848, and metals mining continues to be an important part of the economy. Cattle and tourism are two of the states other vital industries.
Although Arizona can be one of the hottest states in the union, air conditioning continues to bring more and more people to the urban areas. The Colorado Plateau spreads through Arizona from the north and is interspersed with remnants of the Rocky Mountains. The land flattens into desert near Phoenix. The Colorado River forms the state's western borders and snakes through the Grand Canyon.
Arizona is home to places with names like Nothing, a ghost town in western Arizona, and the Horspitality Resort.
The state is stubborn when it comes to time. It observes Mountain Standard Time on a year round basis.
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