Wickenburg is located 50 miles northwest of Phoenix. It’s pretty far out from the city so that it would be tough to try to include it within one’s idea of the greater metropolitan area. However, with the galloping growth of the Phoenix area, Wickenburg is getting closer and closer every day. Wickenburg is at an elevation of 2,100 feet- and this is a good thing because it offers some relief from the scorching temperatures that mercilessly pound down upon the dusty desert plain.

Residents of Wickenburg can high-tail it into, or out of, town by taking State Highway 93 (Grand Avenue), which travels northwest diagonally from metropolitan Phoenix. This route is the quick way to go.
Wickenburg is right next to Hassayampa River, which means “river that flows upside down.” The Native Americans living in the area gave the river its name, due to the fact that the river actually flows 20 feet below the surface for most of its 100-mile course through the desert. Today, it is still one of the last free-flowing rivers in the Arizona desert.
Water in the desert? What a concept! This makes the area unique and attractive in a very remarkable way and the river makes the town of Wickenburg is a great place to live.
Nestled in the foothills of the Bradshaw Mountains, along with the Hassayampa River, the town of Wickenburg has grown to become a popular place to call home. It was the first town built north of Tucson, making it one of the oldest towns in Arizona. Wickenburg is a progressive community that carefully maintains a high quality of life.
Climate

The climate is typical of the southwest. There is a mild winter that is balanced by a long hot, dry summer. Many have claimed that the dry, hot summer conditions have helped to relive many of their allergy symptoms.

Summer days are clear and spectacular and the temperatures are truly remarkable. Spring and autumn are mild transitions into the other seasons. There is a brief monsoon season that is truly extraordinary.
Wickenburg Properties
Wickenburg gives residents all the joy the privacy of western life. You can rest your weary bones and just settle on down to some of a gorgeous scenery the desert has to offer. Large lots, estates, ranches, southwestern styled homes are all available. Properties can be found in every price range. Prospective residents will discover that there is something waiting there just for them.
Families and retirees have discovered Wickenburg and have made it their home. The warm spirit of friendliness reflects the desert climate, with its abundant sunshine to make Wickenburg the perfect community to live.
To find out more about properties in Wickenburg, click here.
The Market

The spectacular amount of market activity in Arizona over the past decade has been well documented. People of all walks of life have been moving to Arizona, and particularly Phoenix, in numbers unmatched in recent memory.

Figures from 2000-2005 show nothing but increased construction, development, unit sales and unit sales prices in virtually every category of structure offered on the market.

The greatest degree of growth occurred during fiscal 2005, where previous growth statistics, impressive in their own rights, spiked sharply to even higher levels.

Of particular note to the residential home seller/buyer was the record appreciation in new and resale home values. These rates were up for new homes and resales, rentals and condominium units, the only difference being one of degree.

While it is true that not all Phoenix area real estate markets showed the same amount of increase it is true that the degree of growth for each area was roughly proportional.

Then along came 2006 and equally well documented has been the decline in the rate of growth of some key market indicators. The greater Phoenix resale home market is showing marked decreases in sales figures for comparable periods last year across the valley and across most unit categories.

One interesting exception is the median price for resale units has risen slightly. This rising price accompanied by a decrease in sales seems to be more in keeping with normal market tendencies. One would expect spectacular growth to lead eventually to a degree of scarcity that would be reflected in higher prices. Could this indicate that the market has reached its peak?

Let’s look at another indicator to see what it may tell us.
Since 1985, the Arizona Real Estate Center has computed what it calls “affordability indexes” for the Greater Phoenix area and several nearby cities.

The index was invented as a guide to predict market activity. When the index value is 100, the typical home buyer (based on the current median resale price and household income) would be able to afford a median-priced home at the stated effective interest rate. A lower index value indicates less availability of affordable single-family homes.

The affordability index for the areas selected for study shows a significant reduction in the availability of that this type of housing within the means of the ordinary consumer. Whether this data can be used as a reliable indicator for other groups and other types of housing is arguable, but it does beg the question “how much longer will the market be able to sustain a situation where both sellers and buyers can apparently benefit by getting involved in the market?

The short answer is that these conditions can remain so long as they are supported by the market.

So when we take a long look at the larger picture, we must ask ourselves whether we can realistically expect to realize more potential gain or value now or at some time in the future and it is very reasonable to conclude that the best possible time to buy or sell Arizona really is now.
History of Wickenburg
Town historians have agreed to begin Wickenburg’s city timeline in 1863. It was then that Henry Wickenburg, a German immigrant, came to the area and discovered gold. This discovery eventually became the well chronicled Vulture Mine. Henry found his fortune in the stark Arizona plains so long ago as the Vulture Mine proved to be the most profitable gold and silver mine in the desert. And people have continued to pass through this cozy town ever since on the way to their destinies in the important metropolitan areas farther west.
The few settlers, names unknown, that first dwelt here were small time ranchers. Then the gold fever hit and this nondescript area shone brightly for its 15 minutes., In the 1920’s and 1930’s, dude ranches, offered cookouts, trail rides, and hayrides, started popping up in Wickenburg. These dude ranches probably provided much of the material to the series of delightful comedies that have appeared on film recently in these settings
Today several functioning dude ranches remain on the edge of the town playing their assortment of goods and services for the voracious appetite of eager tourists from all over the globe. It’s a living chronicle- a town run amuck in history and tradition. And it’s all just a small part of Wickenburg’s idea of how to keep the old west feeling alive.
Wickenburg can offer you desert, history, and the promise of a changing future. If you’re looking at Arizona then that’s what you’re interested in the first analysis, right?
The town gives its residents the comforts of city living. An adjacent airport, curbed streets, town utilities, and paved streets are some of the benefits this small town provides. Wickenburg has reconciled with the past and is ready to play an active part in the changing Arizona tapestry. So find your pleasant paradise as you sit blissfully along the banks of the lazy Hassayampa River watching time march by.
Wickenburg Entertainment
There are a wide range of services available in Wickenburg, along with a relaxing Western lifestyle that so many residents enjoy. With more than 400 businesses in town, residents have a full range of services, stores, and specialty shops at their disposal
Wickenburg is no “plains Jane”- the people just prefer a low profile style with a minimum of commotion. The Desert Caballeros Western Museum situated in downtown showcases acclaimed collections of Western art and artifacts. Modest and tasteful special events and shows are offered throughout the year at the museum for residents and visitors.
Main Street has been preserved. Luckily for the historically minded visitor, the problems posed by growth and imaginative development were never overheard here. Not even a whisper- so that you can be here, and see here, what people were all about when some folks were advising others to save their Confederate currencies!
Even the old Santa Fe Train Station has been converted into the Chamber of Commerce building. Wickenburg residents spend most of their time strolling uncluttered downtown streets, talking about the weather and sharing the hospitality they’ve brought along from so many other wonderful places.
Wickenburg Outdoor Recreation
The town of Wickenburg once held the title of Dude Ranch Capital of the World. It is hard to imagine who could have wrestled this distinction away- but the matter must certainly be under appeal.
Today, the town still has several dude ranches. However, one of the biggest pastimes in town is the sport of golf. There are several courses available in and around the surrounding area that are available play year round. With warm weather and sunny skies, a round of golf is the perfect way to spend a day in Wickenburg.
Outdoor recreation is something everyone likes to do. It is good for you, too. Probably 9 out of 10 doctors would say that active participation in exercise strengthens the body; helps stave off disease and lengthens life. Just be careful of injuries! Hiking, horseback riding, fishing, and much more are part of living in Wickenburg. Residents enjoy spending time outside. People often say, “You will be sure to find it all out Wickenburg way!”
The Hassayampa River Preserve is a popular outdoor spot for many people. A nature trail along the Hassayampa River allows hikers an opportunity to get a glimpse of some of the 220 species of birds that call this preserve home. Wickenburg is a terrific place for those who want to combine the history of the old west with an outdoor lifestyle.
Wickenburg is 50 miles northwest of Phoenix at an
elevation of 2,100 feet. Nestled in the foothills of the Bradshaw
Mountains, and along the banks of the Hassayampa River,
Wickenburg boasts a rich Western history that is still evident
today. The town is the oldest north of Tucson.
In 1863, Henry Wickenburg discovered the Vulture Mine which
in time became the richest gold producing mine in Arizona's history.
In the early 1900s, as the mine played out, ranching and
tourism took over as economic mainstays in the area.
Wickenburg was incorporated in 1909. Today, Wickenburg
offers a relaxing Western life style with a full range of municipal
and private sector services.

Traditionally, tourism, cattle ranching, and agriculture have been
the main economic activities in Wickenburg.
In 1964, Wickenburg began to diversify its economic base by
developing an industrial airpark to encourage manufacturing
firms to locate in the town. Today, nine light industrial users
occupy parts of the park. Hoping to encourage more diversification,
the town has developed and sold Phase II (15 acres) of the
industrial airpark with complete curb-high infrastructure and
town services adjacent to established manufacturers.
Tourism is an important component of Wickenburg's economy.
Currently, 275 firms provide services to tourists. The combined
sectors of service and retail trade employ approximately 75 percent
of the total number of workers in the Wickenburg area.

Visitors and residents can find a wide range of activities in the
Wickenburg area. One of the most popular attractions is the
Vulture Mine, where over $30 million in gold has been dug
from the ground. A hiking guide detailing Vulture Park information,
including the grave of the German refugee who found the
Vulture Gold Mine and from whom the town gets its name,
Henry Wickenburg, is available from the Chamber of Commerce.
The Desert Caballeros Western Museum showcases an acclaimed
collection of Western art and artifacts and offers downtown visitors
a landscaped park and rest area with statuary. A walking
tour of historic buildings is also a highlight of the downtown
area.

The Hassayampa River Preserve provides a self-guided nature
trail along spring fed Palm Lake and the banks of the
Hassayampa River. The preserve is home to over 220 species of
birds. Unique natural features, including the Saguaro Forest,
Joshua Tree Forest and Ocotillo Flat are nearby as is Lake
Pleasant, with swimming, boating, and fishing. Other cultural
events such as theater, symphony, professional sports, can be
found in Phoenix 50 miles away.