Jerome

Perched on Cleopatra Hill in the Black Hills of Yavapai County, Arizona, Jerome is a historic town with a dramatic past. Copper mining fueled its growth into a bustling community of more than 10,000 residents during the 1920s, making it one of the more populous places in the territory at its peak. When the mines declined, so did the population, and the town shrank to a fraction of its former self — just 464 people as of the 2020 census.

Today Jerome sits roughly 100 miles north of Phoenix along State Route 89A, positioned between Sedona and Prescott in the Verde Valley corridor. Visitors find a living remnant rather than a true ghost town in the abandoned sense — historic buildings, sweeping valley views, and a compact downtown that reflects both the boom years and the long quiet that followed. It remains accessible by car year-round via 89A, though the winding mountain road warrants caution in winter weather.