ZIP Code 86004

Flagstaff is a city in Coconino County in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States. In 2019, the city's estimated population was 75,038. 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 U.S. The city sits at about 7,000 feet (2,100 m) and is next to Mount Elden, the highest mountain range in the state of Arizona. The Rio de Flag river runs through the city, but only flows in response to rain or snowmelt. 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. In Navajo, it is known as Kináníídán, meaning "many houses" or "many places" The city has names in local Native languages, including Biyaagiagi, which means "below the summit" and "see" in different translations of a different place in the city. In 1930, Pluto was discovered from Flagstaff, and 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. 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, and Northern Arizona University.

Etymology

At 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 city has different names in local Native languages. In Navajo, it is known as Kinání Dookooosííd Biyaagi. This is also a name for the San Francisco Peaks, and literally means "snowy mountain". In Havasupai, Flagstaff is also known as Wii Hagnbaj. The word Kináni may refer to Flagstaff, but also can refer to Durango, Colorado. The name was reinstated in 1884 when a post office was introduced alongside the railroad depot. It may have been known as Flagstaff Spring for a while, and'old Town' after this before simply 'Old Town', 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' When the fire burned down'Old Town','new Town' remained. 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.

History

The Sinagua people were a pre-Columbian culture that occupied a large area in Arizona between circa 500 and 1425 CE. The 1064 and 1066 eruptions of Sunset Crater covered the area in ash, which greatly enriched the soil for farming. The first permanent settlement came in 1876, when Thomas F. McMillan built a cabin just north of the present-day main town. The city grew rapidly, primarily due to its location along the eastwest transcontinental railroad line in the United States.:6567 In the 1890s, the Arizona Lumber and Timber Company was founded by the Riordan brothers to process timber. 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 the Weatherford Hotel in Flagstaff. In the early years of the 1900s, Flagstaff became known as the "Seven Wonders" of the wider Flagstaff area, as the Coconino National Forest, Grand Canyon, and Wupatki National Canyon were more widely known. In 1926, Route 66 was completed and Flagstaff supported it for the first time. The Santa Fe Railroad became a depot for the Flagstaff Monument in 1926, which is now part of the Santa Fe Museum of American History. The Flagstaff Hotel and Orpheum Theater, which are still in use today, are still listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The San Francisco Peaks, which overlook Flagstaff, are a sacred site in Hopi culture. The Mormon Lake band were centered around Flagstaff and were exclusively hunter-gatherers.

Geography

Flagstaff is one of the United States' sunniest and snowiest cities, with a variable "semi-arid" climate and a monsoon season in summer. The geology of the area is in line with that of the Colorado Plateau on which it lies, with the Moenkopi red sandstone abundant in the city also used to build many of the distinctive buildings forming its cityscape. 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); from trails up this mountain, the entire State can be see on a clear day. The wildlife of the peaks include mule deer, elk, turkey vultures, and black bears, all visible from public trails. The oldest rock types in 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 city's Mount Elden is a dome of dacite, made of lava flows flowing up from magma flows between 3 million and 1,000,000 years ago, affecting the Paleozoics and Mesozoic rocks.

Demographics

According to the 2010 census, the population of the city was 65,870. The city's African American population is considerably lower than the U.S. average (1.9% versus 12.6%) The Native American population of Flagstaff is markedly higher (11.7% vs. 0.9%). This is primarily attributable to the city's proximity to several Native American reservations. In 2018, Flagstaff had a rate of 469.44 cases of all crimes per 100,000 people, up 10.69% on the total in 2017; this was below the average for Arizona, but above the US average for the US. The average earnings for people inFlagstaff is $36,536 p.a., rising to $55,258 for people with a graduate degree, with the low at $22,079 for people without a high school diploma. Flagstaff has two police departments: Flagstaff PD and NAU PD. NAUPD employs 30 officers and 25 students, and is responsible for law enforcement on the campus. The majority of crimes are related to alcohol and drugs, with hundreds of arrests each year relating to narcotics. In 2016, it became a tobacco-free campus, with restrictions on alcohol possession for resident residents over 21 within certain areas of certain residence halls. The safest neighborhood in Flagstaff was Elden Pueblo, with several downtown areas, NAU and the surrounding neighborhoods, Fort Valley, and Cosnino all in the top ten.

Economy

Lowell Observatory, Northern Arizona University, the United States Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station (NOFS) and the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Flagstaff campus are all based in the city. The city has a thriving tourism industry, and has since the early 1900s, primarily stemming from its proximity to the Grand Canyon National Park and other natural wonders. In 1996, 39% of Coconino County residents were employed in tourism. Flagstaff is said to attract a lot of the tourism for the entire county as it is the only large population center that can cater to tourists, as well as being the location of information points for the National Park Service. In 2000, about 5 million people visiting the Grand canyon also visited Flagstaff. The Snowbowl is a popular destination for visitors, with more than 100,000 people visited in both 2018 and 2019. The first hotel of the Ramada Inn chain opened in 1954 at the intersection of Routes 66, 89, and 89A, adjacent to what was then Arizona State College (now NAU). The original building is still intact, operating as a Super 8 motel. The Grand Canyon, a Wonder of the World, is about 80 miles (130 km) northwest of Flagstaff, and the first stagecoach tours to the canyon began running from the Bank Hotel in 1892. In 2012 the observatory commissioned its Lowell Discovery Telescope, a 4.3-meter telescope with an instrument cube that can hold five instruments at once. The observatory celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2019.

Arts and culture

Flagstaff is home to the Museum of Northern Arizona and the Arboretum at Flagstaff. The city is known as the world's first International Dark Sky City, a deliberate dark sky preserve area with measures to reduce light pollution. Flagstaff and the surrounding area is split into four zones, each permitted different levels of light emissions. In early September, the city hosts an annual event, Route 66 Days, to highlight its connection to the famous highway. The Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra plays concerts from September through April at Ardrey Auditorium on the NAU campus. The Northern Arizona University's Department of Theatre produces community productions for the community as well as the campus. A local community theater company performs in the Clifford E. White Theatre in NAU's Fine and Performing Arts Building on campus. In the city, people gather around the Weatherford Hotel as a 70-pound (32 kg), 6-foot (1.8 m) tall, metallic pine cone is dropped from the roof at midnight. The tradition originated in 1999, when Henry Taylor and Sam Green (owners of the hotel) decorated a garbage can with paint, lights, and pine cones, and dropped it from their building to mark the new millennium. A lot of the local culture is also focused on 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, and remains a historic route. The City of Flagstaff has an active cultural scene, and offers several annual music festivals.

Sports

Northern Arizona University sponsors 15 sports at the NCAA Division I level, including a football team that competes at the Division I Football Championship Subdivision level. The track and field team has been home to several All-Americans, including NCAA Champion and Olympian Lopez Lomong. The Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League held their summer training camp at Northern Arizona University from 1988 to 2012. The Cardinals left Flagstaff in summer 2013, placing NAU at fault after the team was put in the visitors' facilities, though NAU had offered the home facilities. The city is a popular training destination for a variety of sports, largely due to its altitude and climate. The popularity among runners is because of the altitude and pleasant climate, making it "for distance runners [...] a practically unparalleled paradise", known as the "running mecca" A 2009 analysis showed that groups of 35 athletes spent three to eight weeks training in Flagstaff, to positive effect. Australian rules football team Collingwood Magpies regularly train at NAU facilities, as does the Olympic-medal-winning Team GB British Swimming team. As of 2019, over 85 Olympic medalists trained at the HYPO2 altitude training center, which closed in 2009. In 2016, the city and NAU advertised the Road to Rio Runs Through Flagstaff with promotions saying that if Flagstaff was a country, it would be in the top 10 of Olympic winning nations since 1996, and that it was a "running paradise" for distance runners.

Parks and recreation

There are 679.2 acres (274.9 ha) of city parks in Flagstaff, the largest of which are Thorpe Park and Buffalo Park. The city maintains an extensive network of trails, the Flagstaff Urban Trails System, or "FUTS" includes more than 50 miles of paved and unpaved trails for hiking, running, and cycling. The area is a recreational hub for road cycling and mountain biking clubs, organized triathlon events, and annual cross country ski races. Grand Canyon National Park, about 75 miles (121 km) north of the city, has made it a popular tourist destination since the mid-19th century. Other nearby outdoor attractions include Walnut Canyon National Monument, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and Wupatki National Monument. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Lake Powell are both about 135 mi (217 km)north along U.S. Route 89. Several major river running operators are headquartered in FlagStaff, and the city serves as a base for Grand Canyon and Colorado River expeditions. There are over 56 miles (90 km) of urban trails in Flag Staff, with many more on the way to and from the Grand Canyon, which is about 135 miles (200 km) from the city. The town has a reputation as a magnet for outdoor enthusiasts, with the region's varied terrain, high elevation, and amenable weather attracting campers, backpackers, climbers, recreation and elite runners, and mountain bikers from throughout the southwestern United States.

Government

The mayor of Flagstaff is Paul Deasy, who was elected in November 2020. The town council consists of the mayor and six councilmembers: Becky Daggett (vice mayor), Adam Shimoni, Regina Salas, Miranda Sweet, Jim McCarthy and Austin Aslan. On July 2, 2019, the city council named Greg Clifton as city manager among 50 candidates. The next mayoral election is scheduled to occur in November 2022. The city is in Arizona's 1st congressional district, which is the tenth largest congressional district covering nearly 60,000 sq. miles. The minimum wage in Flagstaff on July 1, 2017, was $10.50, fifty cents more than the Arizona state minimum wage. On January 1, 2021, the minimum wage rose to $15.00. In the Arizona State Senate, the 6th is represented by Wendy Rogers (R) and Walter Blackman (R), and in the House of Representatives, Brenda Barton (R) of Payson and WalterBlackman (r) of Snowflake. At the state level, Flagstaff is in the6th legislative district. The 6th district is also the largest state legislative district in the United States, covering nearly 80,000 square miles. In Arizona, the 1st district is the second largest state district, covering almost 70,000sq. miles, and is represented in the U.S. Congress by Tom O'Halleran (D) of Sedona. The state Senate is also home to the Arizona House of Reps.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Flagstaff, Coconino County, Arizona = 86.1. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 57. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 98. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Flagstaff = 6.3 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 76,831 individuals with a median age of 30.5 age the population grows by 17.95% in Flagstaff, Coconino County, Arizona population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 1,163.59 residents per square mile of area (449.26/km²). There are average 2.56 people per household in the 23,241 households with an average household income of $46,643 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 5.70% of the available work force and has dropped -2.09% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 30.12%. The number of physicians in Flagstaff per 100,000 population = 230.3.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Flagstaff = 21.3 inches and the annual snowfall = 99.5 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 82. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 266. 82 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 15.9 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 72, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Flagstaff, Coconino County, Arizona which are owned by the occupant = 43.01%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 22 years with median home cost = $264,430 and home appreciation of -4.34%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $5.87 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $4,209 per student. There are 21 students for each teacher in the school, 85 students for each Librarian and 385 students for each Counselor. 6.26% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 24.78% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 14.86% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).