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77-569: The idea for the trail was originally developed and promoted in 1985 by Dale Shewalter , a Flagstaff, Arizona , teacher. The Arizona Trail was designated as a National Scenic Trail on March 30, 2009 by the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 . It forms part of the shortened version of the 6,875-mile (11,064 km) Great Western Loop . This version includes the Grand Canyon National Park . The Arizona Trail

154-522: A pre-Columbian culture that occupied a large area in Arizona between circa 500 and 1425 CE . The Northern Sinagua were living in the pine forests of northern Arizona before moving into the area that is now Flagstaff about 700 CE. The 1064 and 1066 eruptions of Sunset Crater covered the area in ash, which greatly enriched the soil for farming; this also caused a population growth in the area, with Ancestral Puebloans and Cohonina people also moving to

231-584: A warm dry-summer Mediterranean climate ( Csb ), a Hemiboreal climate ( Dsb and Dfb ), and a cold semi-arid climate ( BSk ). It is consistently described as "semi-arid". Flagstaff's Köppen type is recorded as Dsb in the city center, with areas of BSk , Csb , Csa ( hot-summer Mediterranean ), Cwa ( monsoon-influenced humid subtropical ), Cwb ( subtropical highland ), Dwa ( monsoon-influenced hot summer humid continental ), Dwb ( monsoon-influenced warm summer humid continental ), and Dsa ( Mediterranean-influenced hot summer humid continental ) on

308-749: A city in 1928, with over 3,000 residents, and in 1929, the city's first motel, the Motel Du Beau, was built at the intersection of Beaver Street and Phoenix Avenue. Flagstaff became a popular tourist stop along Route 66, particularly due to its proximity to the natural wonders. In the last years of the 1920s, tourism took over from traditional industries. During the Great Depression , Route 66 brought unemployed workers heading to California, known as "auto nomads" in Flagstaff, who became unpopular as they could not afford to buy gas or food, financially damaging

385-621: A diverse cityscape and exists in distinct areas. Downtown Flagstaff is a "narrow and slender" area between the NAU campus at its south and the Museum of Northern Arizona at the north. Flagstaff is a smaller city, so its downtown is largely local and independent. The city's mall is found in East Flagstaff, as is a Harkins movie theater and a country club and golf course. Residential properties in East Flagstaff are larger and more rural than other parts of

462-452: A name given after a fire destroyed much of the town, with a new community then raised a few hundred yards away called 'New Town'. Another version of the Old and New Town names says that the railroad depot was moved by half a mile to prevent hill starts, and business owners soon followed it, displacing the commerce of the town to Front Street of 'New Town' while the houses were still in 'Old Town' with

539-495: A regular summer averages a very mild 59 °F (15 °C) for the warmest low. Cold daily maximums are occasional, but rarely severe. The record low high is 5 °F (−15 °C) from January 1963, but the mean for the coldest maximum is relatively close to freezing at 24 °F (−4 °C). Like most of the state, Northern Arizona experiences a summer monsoon season from July to September, with Flagstaff's wettest months being July and August, and its driest being June, all in

616-809: A sacred site in Hopi culture. Until western expansion in the 1860s , the Yavapai , specifically the Wi:pukba (Northeastern Yavapai), occupied the land up to the San Francisco Peaks. The Yavapai land in the area saw overlap with the land of the Northern Tonto Apache that stretched across the San Francisco Peaks to the Little Colorado River . Of the Northern Tonto Apache, two tribes lived within

693-418: A thru-hike with pack goats. As of 2015, fewer than twenty people have ridden the entire trail. Some rode the trail all at once; others who rode the trail in segments, taking up to six years. In general, it takes approximately fifty days to hike the trail. The speed record for completing the trail is held by Jeff Garmire, who completed the Arizona trail in fifteen days, thirteen hours. A 21-mile section along

770-486: A trail experience consistent with National Scenic Trail values. Some hikers enjoy the company of their canine companions when hiking the trail. However, the rough terrain, venomous snakes, sharp vegetation, hot ground during the summer, and lack of water in many trail segments can make the Arizona Trail unsuitable for most dogs, and in some sections, they are not allowed. Hikers wanting to bring their dogs should check with

847-463: A variable "semi-arid" climate and a monsoon season in summer. The San Francisco Peaks are a main aspect of Flagstaff's local geography and can be seen from everywhere in the city. Humphreys Peak is the highest point in Arizona at 12,637 feet (3,852 m). Several trails around the peaks provide views of the Grand Canyon. While the most popular access point is Arizona Snowbowl (southwest face),

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924-460: Is a distinctive feature of Flagstaff, as it was used as a building material from the 1880s because of its fire retardant properties. The source used for quarrying most of this rock was a deposit 1 mile east of the town, which fell under the control of Charles Begg in 1887, who then began selling the stone across the southwest – after he made a successful sale in California that expanded the business, he

1001-551: Is also home to a variety of bird species, which is further diversified by species from desert climates south of the Mogollon Rim still mixing in the area. The nearby lakes also attract wildlife. Birds that live around or visit Flagstaff include the thick-billed kingbird , only documented in the area since 2016, the red-faced warbler , a Madrean species, and waterfowl including the Eurasian wigeon and American wigeon . Flagstaff has

1078-589: Is at the heart of the Coconino National Forest. Within the Transition zone of the forest, including in the city, there are huge stands of ponderosa pine. Other species scattered among this region include Gambel oak , quaking aspen , and Rocky Mountain juniper trees. The Coconino National Forest and Flagstaff are within the largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest in North America. Here, this tree type

1155-429: Is formed as a climax forest , with groups of trees containing different ages spread among the forest. Some of the groups are only a few trees, some are acres large; other groups are even-aged. The irregularity of the tree groups leaves natural openings in the forest, allowing for other plants to thrive. A grass cover of Arizona fescue grows around the area and shrub exists, but there are few other tree species. As well as

1232-445: Is in the Transition life zone ; the concept of life zones was first observed in the Flagstaff area. Wind in Flagstaff typically blows southwesterly throughout the year, based on topographical features. The city's climate data is observed from Flagstaff Pulliam Airport. The city receives precipitation every year, with two distinct wet periods in the summer and winter; the summer monsoon season accounts for 34% of annual rainfall, with

1309-611: Is next to Mount Elden , just south of the San Francisco Peaks , the highest mountain range in the state of Arizona. Humphreys Peak , the highest point in Arizona at 12,637 feet (3,852 m), is about 10 miles (16 km) north of Flagstaff in Kachina Peaks Wilderness . The geology of the area includes exposed rock from the Mesozoic and Paleozoic eras, with Moenkopi Formation red sandstone having once been quarried in

1386-527: Is primarily attributable to the city's proximity to several Native American reservations . Flagstaff's Native American community is chiefly Navajo , and there are about 5,500 people of Navajo ancestry living in the city. A 1970 study found that while the Native American population of Flagstaff was generally under-counted in censuses, the Native residents found that Flagstaff as a border city with reservations

1463-558: Is typically mild and dry, lasting until early June. The summer is warm, measured between days when freezing temperatures occur, beginning in June – the last freezing temperature generally in early June – and ending in September. Flagstaff's summer will receive a few days of daytime temperatures above 90 °F (32 °C), with much cooler nighttime temperatures typically in the region of 40 °F (4 °C). Flagstaff's summers are also notable for

1540-561: Is water. Flagstaff lies at approximately 7,000 feet (2,130 m) elevation, and is surrounded by the largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest in North America. It is in a mountainous area, and lies along the Rio de Flag watercourse. It is about 130 miles (210 km) north of the State capital, Phoenix. The geology of the area is in line with that of the Colorado Plateau on which it lies, with

1617-770: The Arizona Trail in 1985. Shewalter was born in Geneva, Illinois , on May 16, 1950. He served in the United States Marine Corps 1st Battalion, 7th Marines during the Vietnam War . Shewalter worked as a teacher for the Flagstaff Unified School District . Shewalter, who began his career as a teacher and educator , led the effort to create the Arizona Trail , a hiking , mountain bike (except Wilderness areas) and horseback trail which extends from

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1694-731: The Four Corners region this pushed up the preexisting layers and ultimately formed the Colorado Plateau (and the Rocky Mountains ). Around Flagstaff more specifically, this process deformed flat rock layers into folds, and allowed surface rivers to cut deep canyons in the younger rock layers. From about 25 million years ago, more faults were broken again in Flagstaff, and volcanic activity began about 6 million years ago with magma flowing up these faults to create lava flows . Eruptions occurred between 3 million and 1,000 years ago, affecting

1771-514: The Moenkopi red sandstone abundant in the city also used to build many of the distinctive buildings forming its cityscape. The cityscape of Flagstaff is its historic downtown area centered on Heritage Square, with the historic nature of its restored buildings and local theme iconic to the city and representative of its culture. Flagstaff is one of the United States' sunniest and snowiest cities, with

1848-526: The Santa Fe Railroad , had largely controlled Flagstaff until this point. The Santa Fe Railroad opened a new depot in Flagstaff in 1926, to combat Route 66. As part of the celebrations, Front Street was renamed Santa Fe Avenue. The people of Flagstaff collectively funded the Hotel Monte Vista , which opened on January 1, 1927, preparing for the next tourism boom. Flagstaff was then incorporated as

1925-572: The Southern United States in the middle of the 20th century during the Great Migration . Though most moved to California, there was a significant number that settled in Flagstaff after hearing that the lumber industry of northern Arizona was some of the best paid work going, and a familiar vocation for those from southern states. Flagstaff has two police departments: Flagstaff PD and NAU PD. NAU PD employs 30 officers and 25 students, and

2002-741: The United States Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station was established. Through the 1950s the city conducted the Urban Renewal Project, improving housing quality in the Southside neighborhood that was largely populated by people of Spanish , Basque , and Mexican heritage. Flagstaff grew and prospered through the 1960s. During the Apollo program in the 1960s, the Lowell Observatory Clark Telescope

2079-579: The Weatherford Hotel in Flagstaff. Weatherford opened the town's first movie theater in 1911; it collapsed under heavy snowfall a few years later, but he soon replaced it with the Orpheum Theater . The Weatherford Hotel and Orpheum Theater are still in use today. The state of Arizona was admitted to the Union in 1912. Flagstaff saw its first tourism boom in the early years of the 1900s, becoming known as

2156-644: The Wupatki site near the city. The Northern Sinagua had various cultural phases, including Sunset Crater, the Rio de Flag (leaving the Picture Canyon site), Angell and Winona , Padre Canyon , Elden Pueblo , Turkey Hill Pueblo, Clear Creek , and Walnut Canyon . The Sinagua peoples left the area by the early 15th century, likely moving north and later becoming the Hopi . The San Francisco Peaks , which overlook Flagstaff, are

2233-505: The 1990s, the city redeveloped. Store owners in downtown supported the Main Street programs of preservation-based revitalization, and in 1992, the city hired a new manager to improve the area: a different mix of shops and restaurants opened up to take advantage of the area's historical appeal. Heritage Square was built as the center of the revitalized downtown, the local Flagstaff Pulliam Airport began running more flights to Phoenix , and

2310-476: The 1990s. The city remains an important distribution hub for companies such as Nestlé Purina PetCare , and is home to the U.S. Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station , the U.S. Geological Survey , and Northern Arizona University . Flagstaff has a strong tourism sector, due to its proximity to Grand Canyon National Park , Oak Creek Canyon , the Arizona Snowbowl , Meteor Crater , and Historic Route 66 . At

2387-652: The Arizona Trail Association, which recommends that dog owners plan day trips in areas where dogs are allowed and when conditions (particularly heat and water) are suitable for them. Pack goats are sometimes used as companions on the trail, and can help lessen the pain of carrying a heavy backpack. They are allowed on some parts of the Arizona Trail, but prohibited on other segments due to the possibility of diseases from domestic goats spreading to sensitive bighorn sheep populations. Pack goats are not allowed anywhere bighorn sheep live. Therefore, it's not possible to do

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2464-525: The Arizona Trail provides views in the Grand Canyon region, particularly on the Kaibab Plateau. The trail connects the East Rim View and Murray trailheads. 35°57′28″N 111°57′17″W  /  35.95778°N 111.95472°W  / 35.95778; -111.95472 Dale Shewalter Dale Richard Shewalter (May 16, 1950 – January 10, 2010) was an American teacher who founded and promoted

2541-485: The Arizona Trail. They receive a copper belt buckle (or pin/pendant) in celebration of their accomplishment. This list includes: The “AZT Gateway” provides community information (i.e., lodging, staple stores, access information, urgent care, etc.). There are many scenic communities that have fun areas of interest along the Arizona Trail. Mountain biking is allowed but segments are off-limits due to wilderness restrictions. Preferred biking routes have been developed to retain

2618-597: The City of Seven Wonders, as the "Seven Wonders" of the wider Flagstaff area – listed as the Coconino National Forest , Grand Canyon , Oak Creek Canyon , San Francisco Peaks , Sunset Crater , Walnut Canyon , and Wupatki National Monument – were more widely known. In 1926, Route 66 was completed and ran through Flagstaff ; the Babbitts and Riordans had staunchly supported it for the town. The railroad, which became

2695-498: The Flagstaff area, including formations like Meteor Crater, was seen as similar to environments that would be encountered on the Moon in terms of planetary geology . The Astrogeology Research Program was therefore moved to Flagstaff in 1962, with the program completing in 1963, to train astronauts. Flagstaff's climate type on the Köppen climate classification system is variously reported as

2772-503: The Gambel oak, quaking aspen, and juniper trees, pinyons can be found among the pines. Some of the open forest space contains bunchgrass , and local animal species that roam on this include elk , mule deer , Merriam's Turkey , and Abert's squirrel . The arboretum in Flagstaff has an extensive regional collection of the Penstemon genus and hosts an annual Penstemon Festival. Coconino

2849-712: The Mexico border near Sierra Vista going 807 miles through Arizona's most remote and rugged areas to the Utah border near Kanab. It was designated a National Scenic Trail in 2009 by the U.S. Congress. A plaque stands in Buffalo Park in Flagstaff, Arizona, in recognition of Shewalter's work. Dale Shewalter died of cancer in Flagstaff, Arizona , on January 10, 2010, at the age of 59. He was survived by his wife, Madeleine Shewalter, son, Zane Shewalter and stepdaughter, Allison Hartman. His funeral

2926-519: The Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks. The city's Mount Elden is a lava dome made of dacite , Sunset Crater is the youngest feature of the San Francisco volcanic field and formed in the last 1,000 years by an explosive eruption , while S P Crater was formed between 75,000 and 70,000 years ago by piles of lapilli and volcanic bombs spouting from a lava lake . In the 1960s, the geology and topography of

3003-406: The Paleozoic rock is Mesozoic Moenkopi Formation, from 248 to 65 million years ago. Other Mesozoic layers formed on top of this, but were eroded away. In the Flagstaff area, layers of rock from the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras accumulated up to 10,000 feet (3,000 m) deep, but most of this was eroded. A soft basalt layer covers some of the rock at the surface. Moenkopi Formation red sandstone

3080-468: The San Francisco Peaks but literally "the summit which never melts", and Biyaagi, indicating 'below' (see translations of "below; in a place beneath" on wiktionary ): the city below the San Francisco Peaks. The word Kinłání alone may refer to Flagstaff, but also can refer to Durango, Colorado . In Havasupai , Flagstaff is known as Wii Hagnbaj . This is also a name for the San Francisco Peaks, and literally means "snowy mountain". The Sinagua people were

3157-528: The West Coast of the United States. In 1888, McMillan purchased an unfinished building that sits at the present-day intersection of Leroux Street and Route 66 /Santa Fe Avenue, turning it into a bank and hotel known as the Bank Hotel. Coconino County was created in 1891, and Flagstaff was chosen as its county seat over nearby Williams . In 1894, A. E. Douglass recommended Flagstaff to Percival Lowell as

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3234-685: The area are part of North America's original crust, Precambrian granite and schist from 1.7 to 1.8 billion years ago. On top of this is Paleozoic sandstone , limestone, shale and siltstone deposited on what was then (544 to 248 million years ago) different surfaces, including a shallow seabed, muddy land, and sandy desert. The rock layers from this period are (bottom to top): Tapeats Sandstone , Bright Angel Shale and Muav Limestone , Martin Formation , Redwall Limestone , Supai Group , Coconino Sandstone , Toroweap Formation , and Kaibab Limestone . The last three of these are still exposed. On top of

3311-578: The area of present-day Flagstaff: the Oak Creek band and the Mormon Lake band. The Mormon Lake band were centered around Flagstaff and were exclusively hunter-gatherers, traveling around places like the foot of the San Francisco Peaks, at Mount Elden , Lake Mary , Stoneman Lake , and Padre Canyon. The area of Flagstaff had a wagon road to California in the 1800s, constructed by Edward Fitzgerald Beale 's men. The first White (non-Native) settlement in

3388-526: The area this rainfall is quickly lost to evaporation. During the Early-21st Century Drought, rainfall has been consistently below average in all but the summer season, with temperature averages for all but the summer (which has remained consistent) also increasing. Equally, snowfall has been lower during the extended dry period, though the city set a new record for its highest daily snowfall on February 21, 2019, with 35.9 inches (91 cm) and

3465-404: The area was established by Edward Whipple, who opened a saloon on the wagon road in 1871. The first permanent settlement came in 1876, when Thomas F. McMillan built a cabin just north of the present-day main town. McMillan was a key developer of Northern Arizona. During the 1880s, Flagstaff began to grow, and by 1886, Flagstaff was the largest city on the railroad line between Albuquerque and

3542-755: The city by taxing its resources and not contributing to the economy. Flagstaff had also been highlighted on the map by Clyde Tombaugh 's 1930 discovery of Pluto from the Lowell Observatory. However, the importance of Route 66 to cross-country travel, and thus to Arizona's interests on a national level, did mean that it received a large share of state funding through the Depression, with highway maintenance and unemployment acts providing over $ 1 million of funding in May 1933. In 1935, many residents had enough disposable income to remodel their homes or build new ones. In 1955,

3619-406: The city has been experiencing its driest period, known as the Early-21st Century Drought. As of 2007, Richard Hereford of USGS speculated that the effects of the drought, predicted to last until the late 2020s, may be severe because of Flagstaff's growing population and global warming . The summer wet season is more reliable and consistent than other times of year, but due to the high temperatures of

3696-581: The city proper, these urban areas have a "mountain-town feel". Flagstaff has an "urban forest park", Buffalo Park, which sits on top of McMillan Mesa and used to be home to a zoo in the 1960s. Buffalo Park/McMillan Mesa bisects the city, separating East Flagstaff from West Flagstaff and downtown. According to the 2010 census , the population of the city was 65,870. This accounted for a population density of 831.9 people per square mile (321.2 people/km ), with 26,254 housing units at an average density of 336.5 per square mile (129.9/km ). The racial makeup of

3773-458: The city tried to launch a bid to be the host city of the 1960 Winter Olympics . The maximum daily snow cover was 83 inches (210 cm) on December 20, 1967, although the mean maximum for a full winter is only 20 inches (51 cm). However, due to the infrequent and scattered nature of the snowstorms, persistent snowpack into spring is rare. One notable exception occurred during the severe winter of 1915–16, when successive Pacific storms buried

3850-491: The city under over 70 inches (178 cm) of snow, and some residents were snowbound in their homes for several days. The earliest seasonal trace of snowfall occurred on September 19, 1965, and the latest on May 29 in both 1971 and 1990. Though one of the least-sunny cities in Arizona, Flagstaff still ranks among the United States' sunniest cities, having sunshine for an average 78% of the year. The city receives much more sunshine than other snowy cities, which are primarily in

3927-429: The city was 73.4% White , 1.9% Black or African American , 11.7% Native American, 1.9% Asian , 0.2% Pacific Islander , 7.3% from other races , and 3.6% from two or more races; 18.4% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. The city's African American population is considerably lower than the U.S. average (1.9% versus 12.6%), while the Native American population is markedly higher (11.7% vs. 0.9%). This

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4004-434: The city, which it did, turning the local industry from lumber to tourism and developing downtown Flagstaff . In 1930, Pluto was discovered from Flagstaff. The city developed further through to the end of the 1960s, with various observatories also used to choose Moon landing sites for the Apollo missions . Through the 1970s and 1980s, downtown fell into disrepair, but was revitalized with a major cultural heritage project in

4081-591: The city. North West Flagstaff is directly north of downtown, and is where the Snowbowl and Museum of Northern Arizona are found. West Flagstaff encompasses the area south and west of downtown, including NAU and the Lake Mary neighborhood. It also covers the airport and Fort Tuthill (county park and the Pepsi Amphitheater), being bordered to the south by the urban areas of Kachina Village and Mountainaire . Outside of

4158-444: The city; many of the historic downtown buildings were constructed with it. The Rio de Flag river runs through the city, but only flows in response to rain or snowmelt. Originally settled by the pre-Columbian native Sinagua people, the area of Flagstaff has fertile land from volcanic ash after eruptions in the 11th century. It was first settled as the present-day city in 1876. Local businessmen lobbied for Route 66 to pass through

4235-541: The end of September and happening throughout October. Fall lasts only until the snow comes in November, with winter marked between periods of snowfall, typically from November until mid-April at the latest. Temperatures in winter are usually below freezing, going no higher than around 40 °F (4 °C) in the day, even in sunshine. Nights can regularly plummet below 20 °F (−7 °C). A combination of snow cover and high pressure occurring during winter months will cause

4312-424: The many educated individuals moving to the city. The city did not expand its infrastructure downtown despite the growing population, causing problems. Several historic buildings from the 1800s were also destroyed for construction of new ones, or leveled completely. Downtown Flagstaff became an uninviting place, and many businesses started to move out of the area, causing an economic and social decline. During

4389-454: The monsoon season in July and August, when thunderstorms occur almost daily. Thunderstorm activity happens mostly during the daytime. Freezing temperatures (below 32 °F (0 °C)) return towards the end of September, with the mild fall season having daytime temperatures around 60 °F (16 °C). With its many trees, leaves do change color in Flagstaff's fall, with the change starting at

4466-452: The north of the country. There are four seasons in Flagstaff, with cool to cold winter temperatures averaging 45 °F (7 °C) and warm summer temperatures averaging 80 °F (27 °C), much cooler than much of Arizona; the average annual snowfall is 97 inches (250 cm). Spring begins in April with cool or comfortable weather. Sometimes, snow reappears in May, but the spring period

4543-463: The outskirts and bordering the city; it is mostly Dsb , BSk , and Csb . The hottest temperature on record is 97 °F (36 °C) in July 1973. This is far below a normal summer day in lowland areas of the state. The coldest temperature on record is −30 °F (−34 °C) in January 1937. Warm summer nights are very uncommon with the all-time record being 68 °F (20 °C) in July 2002 and

4620-472: The peaks can also be approached from the north and east. The peaks are about 10 miles (16 km) northwest of downtown Flagstaff, with the Snowbowl resort just southwest of Humphreys Peak. The wildlife of the peaks include mule deer , elk , turkey vultures , and black bears , all visible from public trails. Flagstaff lies on the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau, and is largely limestone under San Francisco volcanic field . The oldest rock types of

4697-595: The school district was expanded with a third high school, Sinagua High School . On October 24, 2001, Flagstaff was recognized by the International Dark-Sky Association as the world's first "International Dark-Sky City". Flagstaff is the county seat of Coconino County. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 63.9 square miles (165.5 km ), of which only 0.03 square miles (0.08 km ) (0.08%)

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4774-605: The site for the Lowell Observatory , where it was built on Mars Hill. Flagstaff also became incorporated as a town in 1894. The city grew rapidly, primarily due to its location along the east–west transcontinental railroad line in the United States. In the 1890s, the Arizona Lumber and Timber Company was founded by the Riordan brothers to process timber. Michael and Tim Riordan worked in Flagstaff, and introduced electricity to

4851-404: The spring; when the fire burned down 'Old Town', 'New Town' remained. The name Flagstaff was reinstated in 1884 when a post office was introduced alongside the railroad depot. The city has different names in local Native languages. In Navajo , it is known as Kinłání Dookʼoʼoosłííd Biyaagi . This name is formed from Kinłání , meaning "many houses" or city, Dookʼoʼoosłííd , the name for

4928-402: The summer; Mediterranean climates have wet season only in the winter. Mediterranean climate categorization does not consider snowfall. Semi-arid climates will receive 10–20 inches (250–510 mm) of annual rainfall, while Flagstaff experiences more. Flagstaff's hardiness zone is mostly 6a, with some areas 5b, meaning plants withstand temperatures down to −15 °F (−26 °C). It

5005-480: The temperature to drop further, once reaching a record low of −30 °F (−34 °C). Flagstaff's winter wet season is caused by Pacific storms and lasts from November through April. See or edit raw graph data . Flagstaff is an area "of great ecological variation" due to its diverse habitat life zones. Tree species abound the area, which covers three arboreal life zones: Douglas fir and aspen forest , Ponderosa pine forest , and Pinyon-juniper woodland . It

5082-402: The time of Beale's wagon road, the area was known as Antelope Spring, after the spring at the foot of Mars Hill (now called Antelope/Old Town Spring). The name Flagstaff comes from an actual flagstaff made from a stripped pine tree that was erected at the spring, which McMillan was using as his sheep camp, on July 4 , 1876. The common story tells that the flag-raising for which the town

5159-424: The town for this purpose. The Riordan brothers established the first library in Flagstaff. The CO Bar Ranch was opened in about 1886 by the Babbitt brothers for cattle. The Babbitt family would be very influential in northern Arizona for decades. In 1899, the Northern Arizona Normal School was established; it was renamed to Northern Arizona University (NAU) in 1966. On January 1, 1900, John Weatherford opened

5236-500: The winter producing 28%. The summer monsoon season, originating from the Mexican monsoon period, is also wetter than winter, with an average 7 inches (180 mm) compared to the winter's 6 inches (150 mm). Before the summer monsoon each year there is a dry period in May and June. Long-term average precipitation is 21.6 inches (550 mm) annually, with much heavier rainfall attributed to El Niño events. Comparatively, La Niña events have caused below-average rainfall. Since 1996

5313-432: Was 76,831. Flagstaff is the principal city of the Flagstaff metropolitan area , which includes all of Coconino County , and has a population of 145,101. Flagstaff lies near the southwestern edge of the Colorado Plateau and within the San Francisco volcanic field , along the western side of the largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest in the continental United States. The city sits at about 7,000 feet (2,100 m) and

5390-426: Was Beale's men who raised the flag in 1859. The town was still known as Antelope Spring in 1871. After the town took the name Flagstaff, it began to be known as 'Old Town' for a period, and was known by different names when the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad was being built through the area in 1882. It may have been known as Flagstaff Spring for a while, and 'Old Town Spring' after this before simply 'Old Town',

5467-470: Was created by interconnecting preexisting trails. In 1994, the Arizona Trail Association incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to bring volunteers and the necessary resources to create maps, identify water sources, build and maintain the trail, and help raise funds for the trail. The Arizona Trail is divided into 43 passages, and categorized into Southern, Central, and Northern sections. Trail finishers are individuals who have reported completing

5544-517: Was held at the Ashurst Auditorium at Northern Arizona University . Shewalter's niece was Amy Biehl , who was murdered in South Africa in 1993. Flagstaff, Arizona Flagstaff ( / ˈ f l æ ɡ . s t æ f / FLAG -staf ) is the county seat of Coconino County, Arizona , in the southwestern United States. As of the 2020 United States census , the city's population

5621-437: Was much more welcoming than similar towns, particularly noting Gallup, New Mexico , as one that was worse. The study also documented that while there was a distinctly Native neighborhood in the poorer Southside area of Flagstaff, the housing quality varied greatly, with middle class Native residencies elsewhere in the city. Though Flagstaff has a low African American population, it had seen large immigration of black people from

5698-497: Was named occurred when a ponderosa pine flagpole made by a scouting party from Boston (known as the "Second Boston Party") was raised to celebrate the United States Centennial. Various other stories have been told of the circumstances. One says that on July 4, 1855, a surveyor for the railroad by the name of Samuel Clark Hudson, accompanied by his team, climbed a tall pine tree and tied a flag, with another saying it

5775-619: Was replaced in 1888 by a master quarryman. While it was used as building material across the West, some of Flagstaff's most prominent buildings are famous for the stone, including the Bank Hotel, Weatherford Hotel, Babbitt Brothers Building, Coconino County Courthouse, and various NAU buildings, including Old Main. In the Laramide orogeny , which began about 65–75 million years ago, the Western United States underwent stress in rock formation; in

5852-435: Was still ranked as the United States' third-snowiest city in 2020 (based on 2018–19 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data). Flagstaff has consistently been among the snowiest cities in the United States, and snow and winter culture is argued by Michael Weeks to be a large part of Flagstaff's identity. The Arizona Snowbowl is a major attraction, though it has had to make artificial snow during warmer seasons, and

5929-530: Was used by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to map the Moon for the lunar expeditions, enabling the mission planners to choose a safe landing site for the lunar modules. As the baby boomer generation began to start their own families in the 1970s and 1980s, many moved to Flagstaff based on its small-town feel, and the population began to grow again; there were not enough jobs to support

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