Flagstaff Overview

Flagstaff, Arizona is located at the intersection of Interstate 17 and Interstate 40, and is the largest city in Northern Arizona. Acting as the regional center and county seat for Coconino County, the city sits in the second largest county in the 48 contiguous states.  The City of Flagstaff became a town in 1894 and was incorporated as a city in 1928. Currently Flagstaff is comprised of just over 64 square miles, is nestled at the base of the beautiful San Francisco Peaks and is surrounded by one of the largest pine forests in the world.  Flagstaff drew its name from a very tall pine tree made into a flagpole in 1876 to celebrate our nations centennial.  At nearly 7,000 feet, Flagstaff is also one of the highest elevation cities in the United States.  The city is a year-round Mecca for visitors and many Arizonans maintain second homes here.

History

In 1855 Lieutenant Beale, in surveying a road from the Rio Grande in New Mexico to Fort Tejon in California, passed over the spot where Flagstaff now stands.  While camping at the Eastern extremity of the present town, the lieutenant had his men cut the limbs from a straight pine tree in order to fly the United States flag.

The towns first recognized permanent settler, Thomas F. McMillan, arrived in 1876 and built a cabin at the base of Mars Hill.  During the 1880s Flagstaff began to grow, opening its first post office and welcoming the booming railroad industry. The town had timber, sheep and cattle and by 1886 Flagstaff was the biggest city on the main line between Albuquerque and the West Coast. 

In 1894, Dr. Percival Lowell chose Flagstaff, due to its great visibility, as the site for the now famous Lowell Observatory.  Thirty-six years later, Pluto was discovered through the observatorys telescopes.  The Arizona Teachers College began in 1899, later becoming Northern Arizona University (1966).  During the 1920s, Route 66 was built and passed right through town making Flagstaff a popular tourist stop.  Flagstaff was incorporated as a city in 1928.

Today, Flagstaff is a community rich with cultural diversity, beauty and history, as well as amazing educational, recreational and scientific opportunities.

Weather

Flagstaff enjoys four distinct seasons. Moderate summer temperatures average twenty degrees less than Phoenix, and are punctuated with afternoon rain showers in July and August.  The winter brings an average annual snowfall of 99 inches, much to the enjoyment of skiers, ice skaters and snowboarders. As the snow thaws into spring, blooming wildflowers are abundant and fragrant along Flagstaff’s many hiking trails. Autumn is highlighted with the changing of the aspen leaves that transform the surrounding mountains into a golden tapestry of color.  Flagstaff averages nearly 300 days of sunshine each year, so it is not surprising that our residents love the great outdoors, and the mild climate encourages year-round outdoor activities.