Chino Valley, Arizona

Chino Valley was actually the first Territorial Capital of Arizona before the capital was moved to Prescott in 1864. For many years after the narrow gauge line to Jerome was completed in 1895, this was basically a railroad junction between the United Verde & Pacific Railroad and the Prescott & Arizona Central. But by 1925, most of the site and business of "Jerome Junction" had been absorbed into the community of Chino Valley.

Since Chino Valley was incorporated in 1970 it has experienced almost explosive population growth, with a 33% surge in population just since 2000. Part of what the folks are coming for is the clean air and the wide open spaces... but because so much of the housing growth is developer driven, the mortgage crisis with the bank failures and market crash of October 2008 is causing some problems.