Flagstaff is an attractive and active city with a population of over 50,000. Flagstaff serves as the geographical, cultural and recreational center of Northern Arizona. It is surrounded by national forests and sits at the foot of Arizona’s highest mountain, the 12,634 foot Humphrey’s Peak, which provides a wonderful backdrop. Located at an elevation of 7,000 feet, Flagstaff offers year-round activites. In summer there is hiking and mountain biking in the cool air of the mountains. Winter brings plenty of snow with cross-country and downhill skiing. Three national monuments are nearby and a little further away are the Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest national parks.
Flagstaff is conveniently located along Interstate 40 and Interstate17 in the northern of Arizona. It is 80 miles south of the Grand Canyon and 150 miles north of Phoenix.
History & Culture
There are many stories surrounding the manner in which Flagstaff got its name. Perhaps the most commonly heard story refers to a lofty pine stripped of its branches and used to hang an American flag with rawhide strings for a Fourth of July celebration. The flagstaff became a symbol for the valley and could be spotted miles away. It was said that those journeying west were told to travel straight west, until you come to a flagstaff where you will find a good place to camp. In 1876, Thomas F. McMillan arrived and set up his home near a spring. He is recognized as being the town’s first permanent settler. He built a cabin at the base of Mars Hill. Then in 1881, the first post office opened and the railroad barreled into town. Flagstaff began to grow. The town had timber, sheep and cattle and, by 1886, Flagstaff was the biggest city on the main line between Albuquerque and the PacificBy 1891, Flagstaff had grown to 1,500 and Coconino County was established. The county soon became the second largest county seat in the United States. The famous Lowell Observatory was built in 1894. Dr. Percival Lowell chose Flagstaff for its great visibility. This proved to be correct when the planet Pluto was discovered at the observatory in 1930.
The Arizona Teachers College began in 1899, becoming Northern Arizona University in 1966. During the 1920’s, Route 66 was built and passed right through town making Flagstaff a popular tourist stop. Flagstaff was incorporated as a city in 1928 with the help of Route 66 tourism dollars. Flagstaff continues to grow today and over 50,000 people call it home.
Weather
The weather in Flagstaff can change on a moment’s notice. Clear skies can give way to high clouds to rain. For the most part, however, the conditions are mild, the air clean and crisp. In the summer, the temperatures can climb to the low to mid-90’s, with lows reaching the 40’s. Bring sunscreen and a light sweater or windbreaker to be on the safe side and drink plenty of water the dry air can quickly dehydrate you.
In the winter, snow can freeze pipes and make driving hazardous, especially on the highway, where “black ice” can make roads exceptionally slick. At the height of winter, lows can dip to minus-20 and even lower.
