Flagstaff incorporated as a city in 1928 is located in northern Arizona. The city is named after a Ponderosa Pine flagpole made by a scouting party from Boston to celebrate the United States Centennial on July 4, 1876. Located adjacent to Mount Elden, Flagstaff is just south of the San Francisco Peaks, the highest mountain range in the state of Arizona, and Humphreys Peak is the highest point in Arizona at 12,633 feet and is located about 10 miles north of Flagstaff.
Flagstaff began life as a lumber, railroad, and ranching center and by 1886, was the largest city on the railroad line between Albuquerque and the west coast of the United States. Even today, the city remains an important road and rail hub. But presently, Flagstaff's economy is largely tourism, education, government, and transportation. Some of the larger employers in Flagstaff are Northern Arizona University, the Flagstaff Medical Center, and the Flagstaff Unified School District. Tourism is a large contributor to the economy, as the city receives over 5 million visitors per year.
The city is home to Lowell Observatory and Northern Arizona University and has a strong tourism sector, due to its proximity to Grand Canyon National Park, Oak Creek Canyon, and historic Route 66 (completed in 1926).
The Northern Arizona Normal School was established in 1899, renamed Northern Arizona University in 1966.
As home to Lowell Observatory, the city has recognized an interest in preserving its dark skies by keeping light pollution to a minimum. In 1958, the city council passed the nation's first ordinance governing outdoor lighting, and similar ordinances in the latter half of the 20th century have maintained this commitment to preserving Flagstaff's dark skies. In 2001, Flagstaff was recognized by the International Dark-Sky Association as the world's first "International Dark Sky Community".
At 7,000 feet elevation, located adjacent to the largest contiguous Ponderosa Pine forest in North America, the area around Flagstaff is considered a high altitude semi-desert. However, ecosystems ranging from pinon-juniper studded plateaus, high desert, green alpine forest and barren tundra can all be found within a short drive of Flagstaff.
Flagstaff has a highland semi-arid climate with four distinct seasons. The combination of high altitude and low humidity provide mild weather conditions throughout most of the year, and the predominantly clear air radiates daytime heating effectively. Temperatures often fall precipitously after sunset throughout the year, and winter nights can be very cold. Summer temperatures are moderate and high temperatures average around 80 °F.
The city enjoys an average of 283 days without precipitation each year, and the climate is officially classified as "semi-arid." Although snow often covers the ground for weeks after major winter storms, Flagstaff's relatively low latitude and plentiful winter sunshine quickly melt much of what falls, and persistent deep snowpack is unusual.
Despite the town's small size, Flagstaff has an active cultural scene. The Orpheum Theater in downtown Flagstaff features a wide variety of concerts and other performances. The city is home to the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, which is popular among classical music enthusiasts. Concerts are held from September through April at Ardrey Auditorium on the NAU campus.
The city also attracts folk and contemporary acoustic musicians, and offers several annual music festivals during the summer months, such as the Flagstaff Friends of Traditional Music Festival, the Flagstaff Music Festival, and Pickin' in the Pines, a three-day bluegrass and acoustic music festival held at the Pine Mountain Amphitheater at Fort Tuthill Fairgrounds. Popular bands play throughout the year at the Orpheum Theater, and free concerts are held during the summer months at Heritage Square.
Flagstaff is home to an active theater scene, featuring several groups. Theatrikos, the community theater company, was founded in 1972 in the basement of the Weatherford Hotel, and today puts on five major productions per year. Since 1995, the Flagstaff Light Opera Company has performed a variety of musical theatre and light opera productions throughout the year at the Sinagua High School auditorium.
There are several dance companies in Flagstaff, including the Northern Arizona Preparatory Company and Canyon Movement, which present periodic concerts and collaborate with the Flagstaff Symphony for free concerts during the summer and holiday seasons.
A variety of weekend festivals occur throughout the year. The Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival is held every spring, featuring outdoors, environmental, and other experimental films. The summer months feature several festivals, including Hopi and Navajo Festivals of Arts and Crafts, the Arizona Highland Celtic Festival, and the Made in the Shade Beer Tasting Festival. The Coconino County Fair is held every September at the Fort Tuthill County Fairgrounds, featuring a demolition derby, livestock auction, carnival rides, and other activities.
The Museum of Northern Arizona includes displays of the biology, archeology, photography, anthropology, and native art of the Colorado Plateau. The Arboretum at Flagstaff is a 200 acre arboretum featuring 2,500 species of drought-tolerant native plants representative of the high-desert region.
Route 66, which originally ran between Chicago and Los Angeles, greatly increased the accessibility to the area, and enhanced the culture and tourism in Flagstaff. Route 66 remains a historic route, passing through the city between Barstow, California, and Albuquerque, New Mexico. In early September, the city hosts an annual event, Route 66 Days, to highlight its connection to the famous highway.
Winter sports including snowshoeing, alpine and nordic skiing are also popular in the area, and the surrounding National Forests provide an extensive network of roads and trails for winter use. The Arizona Snowbowl ski resort is 15 miles to the north of the city on the San Francisco Peaks. The resort had plans to expand their facilities, adding a fifth chair lift.
Parks and outdoor recreation
Flagstaff has acquired a reputation as a magnet for outdoor enthusiasts, and the region's varied terrain, high elevation, and amenable weather attract campers, backpackers, climbers, and mountain bikers from throughout the southwestern United States. There are 679.2 acres of city parks in Flagstaff, the largest of which are Thorpe Park and Buffalo Park.
Wheeler Park, located adjacent to city hall, is the location of summer concerts and other events. The city maintains an extensive urban trail system, consisting of surface trails for hiking, running, or cycling. The trail network extends throughout the city, connecting the downtown area with the Fort Tuthill Fairgrounds, and extends to Peaks View County Park in Doney Park and Sawmill Multicultural Art and Nature County Park.
Trail running and road cycling clubs, organized triathlon events, and annual cross country ski races attest to the area's status as a recreational hub. Several major river running operators are headquartered in Flagstaff, and the city serves as a base for Grand Canyon and Colorado River expeditions.
Flagstaff's nearby outdoor attractions include Walnut Canyon National Monument, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, Wupatki National Monument, and Barringer Crater. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Lake Powell are both about 135 mi north along U.S. Route 89.
Passenger rail service is provided by Amtrak at the downtown station, connecting on east-west routes to Los Angeles and Albuquerque via the Southwest Chief line. Amtrak also provides connecting Thruway Motorcoach service via Open Road Tours, which has an office inside the Flagstaff depot. Local bus service is provided throughout the city by the Mountain Line.
Air travel is available through Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, located just south of the city. The airport is primarily a small, general aviation airport with a single 6,999 feet runway. The airport recently underwent a major expansion project to add 1,800 feet to the north end of the current runway and lengthen the taxiway, to increase its viability for commercial and regional jets. The expansion is to be finished by December, 2007. Service to connecting flights at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is provided by US Airways Express operated by Mesa Airlines.
Flagstaff began life as a lumber, railroad, and ranching center and by 1886, was the largest city on the railroad line between Albuquerque and the west coast of the United States. Even today, the city remains an important road and rail hub. But presently, Flagstaff's economy is largely tourism, education, government, and transportation. Some of the larger employers in Flagstaff are Northern Arizona University, the Flagstaff Medical Center, and the Flagstaff Unified School District. Tourism is a large contributor to the economy, as the city receives over 5 million visitors per year.
The city is home to Lowell Observatory and Northern Arizona University and has a strong tourism sector, due to its proximity to Grand Canyon National Park, Oak Creek Canyon, and historic Route 66 (completed in 1926).
The Northern Arizona Normal School was established in 1899, renamed Northern Arizona University in 1966.
As home to Lowell Observatory, the city has recognized an interest in preserving its dark skies by keeping light pollution to a minimum. In 1958, the city council passed the nation's first ordinance governing outdoor lighting, and similar ordinances in the latter half of the 20th century have maintained this commitment to preserving Flagstaff's dark skies. In 2001, Flagstaff was recognized by the International Dark-Sky Association as the world's first "International Dark Sky Community".
At 7,000 feet elevation, located adjacent to the largest contiguous Ponderosa Pine forest in North America, the area around Flagstaff is considered a high altitude semi-desert. However, ecosystems ranging from pinon-juniper studded plateaus, high desert, green alpine forest and barren tundra can all be found within a short drive of Flagstaff.
Flagstaff has a highland semi-arid climate with four distinct seasons. The combination of high altitude and low humidity provide mild weather conditions throughout most of the year, and the predominantly clear air radiates daytime heating effectively. Temperatures often fall precipitously after sunset throughout the year, and winter nights can be very cold. Summer temperatures are moderate and high temperatures average around 80 °F.
The city enjoys an average of 283 days without precipitation each year, and the climate is officially classified as "semi-arid." Although snow often covers the ground for weeks after major winter storms, Flagstaff's relatively low latitude and plentiful winter sunshine quickly melt much of what falls, and persistent deep snowpack is unusual.
Despite the town's small size, Flagstaff has an active cultural scene. The Orpheum Theater in downtown Flagstaff features a wide variety of concerts and other performances. The city is home to the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, which is popular among classical music enthusiasts. Concerts are held from September through April at Ardrey Auditorium on the NAU campus.
The city also attracts folk and contemporary acoustic musicians, and offers several annual music festivals during the summer months, such as the Flagstaff Friends of Traditional Music Festival, the Flagstaff Music Festival, and Pickin' in the Pines, a three-day bluegrass and acoustic music festival held at the Pine Mountain Amphitheater at Fort Tuthill Fairgrounds. Popular bands play throughout the year at the Orpheum Theater, and free concerts are held during the summer months at Heritage Square.
Flagstaff is home to an active theater scene, featuring several groups. Theatrikos, the community theater company, was founded in 1972 in the basement of the Weatherford Hotel, and today puts on five major productions per year. Since 1995, the Flagstaff Light Opera Company has performed a variety of musical theatre and light opera productions throughout the year at the Sinagua High School auditorium.
There are several dance companies in Flagstaff, including the Northern Arizona Preparatory Company and Canyon Movement, which present periodic concerts and collaborate with the Flagstaff Symphony for free concerts during the summer and holiday seasons.
A variety of weekend festivals occur throughout the year. The Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival is held every spring, featuring outdoors, environmental, and other experimental films. The summer months feature several festivals, including Hopi and Navajo Festivals of Arts and Crafts, the Arizona Highland Celtic Festival, and the Made in the Shade Beer Tasting Festival. The Coconino County Fair is held every September at the Fort Tuthill County Fairgrounds, featuring a demolition derby, livestock auction, carnival rides, and other activities.
The Museum of Northern Arizona includes displays of the biology, archeology, photography, anthropology, and native art of the Colorado Plateau. The Arboretum at Flagstaff is a 200 acre arboretum featuring 2,500 species of drought-tolerant native plants representative of the high-desert region.
Route 66, which originally ran between Chicago and Los Angeles, greatly increased the accessibility to the area, and enhanced the culture and tourism in Flagstaff. Route 66 remains a historic route, passing through the city between Barstow, California, and Albuquerque, New Mexico. In early September, the city hosts an annual event, Route 66 Days, to highlight its connection to the famous highway.
Winter sports including snowshoeing, alpine and nordic skiing are also popular in the area, and the surrounding National Forests provide an extensive network of roads and trails for winter use. The Arizona Snowbowl ski resort is 15 miles to the north of the city on the San Francisco Peaks. The resort had plans to expand their facilities, adding a fifth chair lift.
Parks and outdoor recreation
Flagstaff has acquired a reputation as a magnet for outdoor enthusiasts, and the region's varied terrain, high elevation, and amenable weather attract campers, backpackers, climbers, and mountain bikers from throughout the southwestern United States. There are 679.2 acres of city parks in Flagstaff, the largest of which are Thorpe Park and Buffalo Park.
Wheeler Park, located adjacent to city hall, is the location of summer concerts and other events. The city maintains an extensive urban trail system, consisting of surface trails for hiking, running, or cycling. The trail network extends throughout the city, connecting the downtown area with the Fort Tuthill Fairgrounds, and extends to Peaks View County Park in Doney Park and Sawmill Multicultural Art and Nature County Park.
Trail running and road cycling clubs, organized triathlon events, and annual cross country ski races attest to the area's status as a recreational hub. Several major river running operators are headquartered in Flagstaff, and the city serves as a base for Grand Canyon and Colorado River expeditions.
Flagstaff's nearby outdoor attractions include Walnut Canyon National Monument, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, Wupatki National Monument, and Barringer Crater. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Lake Powell are both about 135 mi north along U.S. Route 89.
Passenger rail service is provided by Amtrak at the downtown station, connecting on east-west routes to Los Angeles and Albuquerque via the Southwest Chief line. Amtrak also provides connecting Thruway Motorcoach service via Open Road Tours, which has an office inside the Flagstaff depot. Local bus service is provided throughout the city by the Mountain Line.
Air travel is available through Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, located just south of the city. The airport is primarily a small, general aviation airport with a single 6,999 feet runway. The airport recently underwent a major expansion project to add 1,800 feet to the north end of the current runway and lengthen the taxiway, to increase its viability for commercial and regional jets. The expansion is to be finished by December, 2007. Service to connecting flights at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is provided by US Airways Express operated by Mesa Airlines.
© 2006 by "DiscoveringArizona Inc." · All Rights Reserved · E-Mail: jayq@discoveringarizona.com
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