Dewey-Humboldt sits in Northern Arizona’s high desert, about 12 miles east of Prescott and 85 miles north of Phoenix. The town’s published profile lists its elevation as 4,556 feet and describes a four-season climate, including occasional winter snowfall. Its history is closely tied to two communities that developed around different local industries: agriculture and ranching in Dewey, and mining in Humboldt.
### Climate through the year
The town’s monthly climate averages show cooler conditions in winter and warmer temperatures in summer. Average temperatures are 40 degrees Fahrenheit in January and December, rising to 76 degrees in July. The averages for February through June are 42, 46, 53, 61 and 71 degrees; August through November average 74, 68, 58 and 47 degrees.
Average monthly highs range from 52 degrees in January to 90 degrees in July. The profile lists highs of 55 in February, 59 in March, 67 in April, 76 in May and 87 in June. After July, the monthly high averages are 88 in August, 82 in September, 72 in October, 60 in November and 53 in December.
Average lows are 27 degrees in January, climb to 61 in July and return to 27 in December. The figures for February through June are 30, 33, 38, 46 and 55 degrees. August through November average lows are 60, 54, 43 and 33 degrees.
The town’s precipitation figures range from 0.4 inches in June to 3.0 inches in August. May averages 0.6 inches, while April averages 0.8. January, February and March each record between 1.7 and 1.9 inches in the monthly averages. The listed amounts are 2.5 inches in July, 2.0 in September, 1.3 in October, 1.3 in November and 1.3 in December.
### From two communities to one town
Dewey and Humboldt had distinct identities for more than a century, according to the town’s account. Dewey’s economy centered on agriculture and ranching; Humboldt’s was based on mining. The two areas later joined under the name Dewey-Humboldt, with the town’s boundaries set through the incorporation initiative.
The incorporation effort began several years before the town was established. Residents became concerned that Prescott Valley’s growth and approach to annexation might extend along Highway 69 and affect the area’s low-density rural character. Some people involved in the effort also saw incorporation as a way for the community to have greater control over how local tax dollars were spent than it would have as an unincorporated area.
Voters approved the initiative, with 72 percent in favor. Dewey-Humboldt’s incorporation took effect on December 20, 2004. The town account says the initiative established both the name and the municipal limits.
### Early town government and population
The Yavapai County Board of Supervisors appointed the first Town Council. The first council election followed on September 13, 2005. Seven successful candidates met the election’s requirement of receiving at least 50 percent plus one vote in the primary, and the council members took their seats in November.
The council’s stated commitment is to preserve the area’s rural character. The town profile describes residential lots as typically larger than one-half acre, with most areas at 1.6 acres or more. It lists a population of 3,894 in the 2010 Census; that figure is a historical census count, not a current population estimate.