Flagstaff is the principal city of theFlagstaff metropolitan area, which includes all ofCoconino County, and has a population of 145,101. Flagstaff lies near the southwestern edge of theColorado Plateau and within theSan Francisco volcanic field, along the western side of the largest contiguousponderosa pine forest in the continental United States. The city sits at around 7,000 feet (2,100 m) and is next toMount Elden, just south of theSan 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 inKachina Peaks Wilderness. The geology of the area includes exposed rock from theMesozoic andPaleozoic eras, withMoenkopi Formation red sandstone having once been quarried in the city; many of the historic downtown buildings were constructed with it. TheRio de Flag river runs through the city, but only flows in response to rain or snowmelt.
Originally settled by thepre-Columbian nativeSinagua 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 forRoute 66 to pass through the city, which it did, turning the local industry from lumber to tourism and developingdowntown 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 chooseMoon landing sites for theApollo missions. Through the 1970s and 1980s, the downtown fell into disrepair, but was revitalized with a major cultural heritage project in the 1990s.
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).[4][5][6][7] The name Flagstaff comes from an actualflagstaff made from a stripped pine tree that was erected at the spring, which McMillan was using as his sheep camp, onJuly 4, 1876.[8]
The common story tells that theflag-raising for which the town was named occurred when aponderosa pine flagpole made by a scouting party fromBoston (known as the "Second Boston Party") was raised to celebrate the United States Centennial.[6][9][10] Various other stories have been told of the circumstances.[5] 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,[11] with another saying it was Beale's men who raised the flag in 1859.[4] The town was still known as Antelope Spring in 1871.[5][4][6]
After the town took the name Flagstaff, it began to be known as 'Old Town'[a] for a period, and was known by different names when theAtlantic and Pacific Railroad was being built through the area in 1882.[5][6] It may have been known as Flagstaff Spring for a while, and 'Old Town Spring' 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'.[4] 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 the spring; when the fire burned down 'Old Town', 'New Town' remained.[12] The name Flagstaff was reinstated in 1884 when a post office was introduced alongside the railroad depot.[4][5][6]
The city has different names in local Native languages. InNavajo, it is known asKinłání Dookʼoʼoosłííd Biyaagi. This name is formed fromKinłání, meaning "many houses" or city,Dookʼoʼoosłííd, the name for 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 toDurango, Colorado.[13] InHavasupai, Flagstaff is known asWii Hagnbaj. This is also a name for the San Francisco Peaks, and literally means "snowy mountain".[14]
TheSinagua people were apre-Columbian culture that occupied a large area in Arizona[15] betweenc. 500 and 1425 CE.[16] The Northern Sinagua were living in the pine forests of northern Arizona before moving into the area that is now Flagstaff about 700 CE.[17] The 1064 and 1066 eruptions ofSunset Crater covered the area in ash, which greatly enriched the soil for farming;[15][16] this also caused a population growth in the area, withAncestral Puebloans andCohonina people also moving to theWupatki site near the city.[18][19]
Untilwestern expansion in the 1860s, theYavapai, specifically the Wi:pukba (Northeastern Yavapai), occupied the land up to the San Francisco Peaks.[22] The Yavapai land in the area saw overlap with the land of the NorthernTonto Apache that stretched across the San Francisco Peaks to theLittle Colorado River.[23][24][25] Of the Northern Tonto Apache, two tribes lived within the area of present-day Flagstaff: theOak Creek band and theMormon Lake band.[26][27][28][29] The Mormon Lake band were centered around Flagstaff and were exclusively hunter-gatherers, traveling around places like the foot of the San Francisco Peaks, atMount Elden,Lake Mary,Stoneman Lake, and Padre Canyon.[30]
The Bank Hotel, also known as the McMillan building, in 2012
The area of Flagstaff hada wagon road to California in the 1800s, constructed byEdward Fitzgerald Beale's men.[4] The first White (non-Native) settlement in the area was established by Edward Whipple, who opened a saloon on the wagon road in 1871.[5] The first permanent settlement came in 1876, when Thomas F. McMillan built a cabin just north of the present-day main town.[8] McMillan was a key developer of Northern Arizona.[8]
During the 1880s, Flagstaff began to grow,[5] and by 1886, Flagstaff was the largest city on the railroad line betweenAlbuquerque and the West Coast of the United States.[11] In 1888, McMillan purchased an unfinished building that sits at the present-day intersection of Leroux Street andRoute 66/Santa Fe Avenue, turning it into a bank and hotel known as the Bank Hotel.[8]Coconino County was created in 1891, and Flagstaff was chosen as itscounty seat over nearbyWilliams.[5]
In 1894,A. E. Douglass recommended Flagstaff toPercival Lowell as the site for theLowell Observatory,[31] where it was built on Mars Hill.[32] Flagstaff also became incorporated as a town in 1894.[4] The city grew rapidly, primarily due to its location along the east–west transcontinental railroad line in the United States.[33]: 65–67 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 the town for this purpose.[5] The Riordan brothers established the first library in Flagstaff.[34] The CO Bar Ranch was opened in about 1886 by the Babbitt brothers for cattle.[35] The Babbitt family would be very influential in northern Arizona for decades.[35][36] In 1899, the Northern Arizona Normal School was established; it was renamed toNorthern Arizona University (NAU) in 1966.[11]
On January 1, 1900, John Weatherford opened theWeatherford 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 theOrpheum Theater. The Weatherford Hotel and Orpheum Theater are still in use today.[5]
In 1926,Route 66 was completed andran through Flagstaff; the Babbitts and Riordans had staunchly supported it for the town. The railroad, which became theSanta Fe Railroad, had largely controlled Flagstaff until this point. The Santa Fe Railroad opened anew depot in Flagstaff in 1926, to combat Route 66. As part of the celebrations, Front Street was renamed Santa Fe Avenue.[40] The people of Flagstaff collectively funded theHotel Monte Vista, which opened on January 1, 1927, preparing for the next tourism boom.[40][41] Flagstaff was then incorporated as a city in 1928,[11] with over 3,000 residents,[40] and in 1929, the city's first motel, the Motel Du Beau, was built at the intersection of Beaver Street and Phoenix Avenue.[33]: 244–245 Flagstaff became a popular tourist stop along Route 66, particularly due to its proximity to the natural wonders.[40][42] In the last years of the 1920s, tourism took over from traditional industries.[40]
During theGreat Depression, Route 66 broughtunemployed 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 the city by taxing its resources and not contributing to the economy.[40] Flagstaff had also been highlighted on the map byClyde Tombaugh's 1930 discovery ofPluto from the Lowell Observatory.[43][41] 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.[40]
In 1955, theUnited States Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station was established.[43] Through the 1950s the city conducted the Urban Renewal Project, improving housing quality in the Southside neighborhood that was largely populated by people ofSpanish,Basque, andMexican heritage.[44] Flagstaff grew and prospered through the 1960s.[41] During theApollo program in the 1960s, the Lowell Observatory Clark Telescope was used by theUnited States Geological Survey (USGS) to map theMoon for the lunar expeditions, enabling the mission planners to choose a safe landing site for the lunar modules.[32][41][45]
Benches commemorating Flagstaff's traditional labor forces in Heritage Square
As thebaby 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 the many educated individuals moving to the city.[46] 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.[46][47]Downtown Flagstaff became an uninviting place,[46] and many businesses started to move out of the area, causing an economic and social decline.[33]: 161–167 [46]
During the 1990s, the city redeveloped. Store owners in downtown supported theMain Street programs of preservation-based revitalization,[46] 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.[33] Heritage Square was built as the center of the revitalized downtown,[47] the localFlagstaff Pulliam Airport began running more flights toPhoenix, and the school district was expanded with a third high school,Sinagua High School.[46]
Flagstaff is the county seat of Coconino County.[50] According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 63.9 square miles (165.5 km2), of which only 0.03 square miles (0.08 km2) (0.08%) 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,[51][52] and lies along the Rio de Flag watercourse.[53] It is about 146 miles (235 km) north of the State capital, Phoenix.[54]
The geology of the area is in line with that of theColorado Plateau on which it lies,[55] with theMoenkopi 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.[56][33] Flagstaff is one of the United States' sunniest and snowiest cities, with a variable "semi-arid" climate and amonsoon season in summer.[57]
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 isArizona Snowbowl (southwest face), the peaks can also be approached from the north and east.[58][59] The peaks are about 10 miles (16 km) northwest of downtown Flagstaff, with the Snowbowl resort just southwest of Humphreys Peak.[54] The wildlife of the peaks includemule deer,elk,turkey vultures, andblack bears, all visible from public trails.[59]
Local rockstrata monument in Heritage Square of downtown Flagstaff
Flagstaff lies on the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau, and is largelylimestone underSan Francisco volcanic field. The oldest rock types of the area are part of North America's original crust,Precambriangranite andschist from 1.7 to 1.8 billion years ago. On top of this isPaleozoicsandstone, limestone,shale andsiltstone 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 andMuav Limestone,Martin Formation,Redwall Limestone,Supai Group,Coconino Sandstone,Toroweap Formation, andKaibab Limestone. The last three of these are still exposed. On top of the Paleozoic rock isMesozoic 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.[55] A soft basalt layer covers some of the rock at the surface.[55][60]
Moenkopi Formation red sandstone 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 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,[56] Weatherford Hotel, Babbitt Brothers Building, Coconino County Courthouse,[33] and various NAU buildings, including Old Main.[56]
In theLaramide orogeny, which began about 65–75 million years ago, theWestern United States underwent stress in rock formation; in theFour Corners region this pushed up the preexisting layers and ultimately formed the Colorado Plateau (and theRocky 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, morefaults were broken again in Flagstaff, and volcanic activity began about 6 million years ago withmagma flowing up these faults to createlava flows.Eruptions occurred between 3 million and 1,000 years ago, affecting the Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks. The city's Mount Elden is alava dome made ofdacite, Sunset Crater is the youngest feature of the San Francisco volcanic field and formed in the last 1,000 years by anexplosive eruption, while S P Crater was formed between 75,000 and 70,000 years ago by piles oflapilli andvolcanic bombs spouting from alava lake.[55]
In the 1960s, the geology and topography of the Flagstaff area, including formations like Meteor Crater, was seen as similar to environments that would be encountered on the Moon in terms ofplanetary geology. TheAstrogeology Research Program was therefore moved to Flagstaff in 1962, with the program completing in 1963, to train astronauts.[61][62]
The hottest temperature on record is 97 °F (36 °C) in July 1973.[70] 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.[70] Warm summer nights are very uncommon with the all-time record being 68 °F (20 °C) in July 2002 and a regular summer averages a very mild 59 °F (15 °C) for the warmest low.[70] 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).[70]
Like most of the state, Northern Arizona experiences a summer monsoon season from July to September,[71] with Flagstaff's wettest months being July and August, and its driest being June, all in the summer;[63] Mediterranean climates havewet season only in the winter.[72] Mediterranean climate categorization does not consider snowfall.[73] Semi-arid climates will receive 10–20 inches (250–510 mm) of annual rainfall,[74] while Flagstaff experiences more.[c]
Flagstaff'shardiness zone is mostly 6a, with some areas 5b, meaning plants withstand temperatures down to −15 °F (−26 °C).[75] It is in the Transitionlife zone;[76] the concept of life zones was first observed in the Flagstaff area.[77] Wind in Flagstaff typically blows southwesterly throughout the year, based on topographical features.[57] The city's climate data is observed from Flagstaff Pulliam Airport.[78]
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 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 toEl Niño events. Comparatively,La Niña events have caused below-average rainfall.[78]
Since 1996 the city has been experiencing its driest period, known as the Early-21st Century Drought. As of 2007,[needs update?] 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 andglobal warming. The summer wet season is more reliable and consistent than other times of year, but due to the high temperatures of 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.[78]
Equally, snowfall has been lower during the extended dry period,[78] though the city set a new record for its highest daily snowfall on February 21, 2019, with 35.9 inches (91 cm)[79][80] and was still ranked as the United States' third-snowiest city in 2020 (based on 2018–19National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data). Flagstaff has consistently been among the snowiest cities in the United States,[81] and snow and winter culture is argued by Michael Weeks to be a large part of Flagstaff's identity.[68] The Arizona Snowbowl is a major attraction, though it has had to make artificial snow during warmer seasons, and the city tried to launch a bid to be the host city of the1960 Winter Olympics.[68] 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, persistentsnowpack into spring is rare.[11] One notable exception occurred during the severe winter of 1915–16, when successive Pacific storms buried the city under over 70 inches (178 cm) of snow, and some residents were snowbound in their homes for several days.[82] The earliest seasonal trace of snowfall occurred on September 19, 1965, and the latest on May 29 in both 1971 and 1990.[83]
Though one of the least-sunny cities in Arizona,[84] Flagstaff still ranks among the United States' sunniest cities, having sunshine for an average 78% of the year.[57] The city receives much more sunshine than other snowy cities, which are primarily in the north of the country.[85]
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).[78] Spring begins in April with cool or comfortable weather. Sometimes, snow reappears in May, but the spring period 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 the monsoon season in July and August, when thunderstorms occur almost daily. Thunderstorm activity happens mostly during the daytime.[57]
Freezing temperatures (below 32 °F or 0 °C) return towards the end of September, with the mild fall season having daytime temperatures around 60 °F (16 °C).[57] With its many trees, leaves do change color in Flagstaff's fall, with the change starting at the end of September and happening throughout October.[86] 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 andhigh pressure occurring during winter months will cause 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.[57]
Climate data forFlagstaff Pulliam Airport, Arizona (1991–2020 normals, sun 1981–2010, humidity 1961–1990,[d] extremes 1898–present)[e]
Flagstaff is an area "of great ecological variation" due to its diverse habitat life zones.[92] Tree species abound the area, which covers three arboreal life zones:Douglas fir and aspen forest,Ponderosa pine forest, andPinyon-juniper woodland.[92] It 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 includeGambel oak,quaking aspen, andRocky Mountain juniper trees.[93]
The Coconino National Forest and Flagstaff are within the largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest in North America.[52] Here, this tree type is formed as aclimax 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 ofArizona fescue grows around the area and shrub exists, but there are few other tree species. As well as the Gambel oak, quaking aspen, and juniper trees,pinyons can be found among the pines. Some of the open forest space containsbunchgrass, and local animal species that roam on this includeelk,mule deer,Merriam's Turkey, andAbert's squirrel.[94]
Coconino 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 thethick-billed kingbird, only documented in the area since 2016, thered-faced warbler, aMadrean species, and waterfowl including theEurasian wigeon andAmerican wigeon.[96]
Flagstaff has a diverse cityscape and exists in distinct areas.Downtown Flagstaff is a "narrow and slender" area between the NAU campus at its south and theMuseum of Northern Arizona at the north.[97] Flagstaff is a smaller city, so its downtown is largely local and independent.[98] The city's mall is found in East Flagstaff, as is aHarkins movie theater and acountry club and golf course. Residential properties in East Flagstaff are larger and more rural than other parts of 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 theLake Mary neighborhood. It also covers the airport andFort Tuthill (county park and the Pepsi Amphitheater), being bordered to the south by the urban areas ofKachina Village andMountainaire. Outside of the city proper, these urban areas have a "mountain-town feel".[99] Flagstaff has an "urban forest park", Buffalo Park,[100] which sits on top of McMillan Mesa and used to be home to a zoo in the 1960s.[101][102] Buffalo Park/McMillan Mesa bisects the city, separating East Flagstaff from West Flagstaff and downtown.[54]
Flagstaff city, Arizona – Racial composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
According to the2010 census, the population of the city was 65,870.[109] This accounted for a population density of 831.9 people per square mile (321.2 people/km2), with 26,254 housing units at an average density of 336.5 per square mile (129.9/km2). The racial makeup of 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% fromother races, and 3.6% from two or more races; 18.4% of the population wereHispanics 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 is primarily attributable to the city's proximity to severalNative American reservations. Flagstaff's Native American community is chieflyNavajo, and there are about 5,500 people of Navajo ancestry living in the city.[110]
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 aborder city with reservations was much more welcoming than similar towns, particularly notingGallup, 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.[111]
Though Flagstaff has a low African American population, it had seen large immigration of black people from theSouthern United States in the middle of the 20th century during theGreat 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.[112]
Flagstaff has two police departments: Flagstaff PD and NAU PD.[113][114] NAU PD employs 30 officers and 25 students, and is responsible for law enforcement on the campus. Flagstaff PD will share information of concern about the neighborhoods surrounding the NAU campus to the NAU PD, and NAU PD may also respond to situations off-campus that involve students; NAU PD also investigates the missing person reports of students who are registered as resident on campus. From campus phones, all911 calls will go to NAU PD.[115]
The rate of crime in Flagstaff is above average, while itsviolent crime rate is below average, for the United States. For 2017, theFBI'sUniform Crime Report indicated for Flagstaff a rate of 290 cases of violent crime per 100,000 people and 2,710 cases of property crime per 100,000 population;[116] the violent crime rate across the US was 382.9 per 100,000.[117] In 2018, Flagstaff had a rate of 469.4 cases of all crimes per 100,000 people, up 10.7% on the total in 2017; this was below the average for Arizona, but above the average for the US. Until 2017, Flagstaff's crime rate was typically in line with the US average.[118]
The safest neighborhood in Flagstaff is Elden Pueblo, with several downtown areas, NAU and the surrounding neighborhoods,Fort Valley, andCosnino all in the top ten.[119] In 2017, Flagstaff PD responded to four hostage situations, including inTuba City, and fifteen explosive device removal calls. There were 3,262 criminal investigations.[120] The Flagstaff narcotics task force headed up 'Operation Nightfall' between 2015 and 2017, aiming to prevent the use of I-40 through the city being used by Mexican drug cartels for trafficking, successfully seizing over 138 kg (304 lb) of cocaine. Within Flagstaff, there were over 100 arrests relating to other narcotics crimes.[120]
NAU operates as a weapon-free and drug-free campus (evenmedical marijuana), with restrictions on alcohol possession for resident students over 21 within certain private areas of certain residence halls.[115] In 2016, it became a tobacco-free campus.[121] Additionally, alcohol may not be consumed in public on the campus. The overwhelming majority of NAU PD recorded crimes are related to drugs and alcohol, with hundreds of arrests each year and over 1500 disciplinary referrals in 2018. The second-most recorded area of crime on the campus is gender based violence (rape, domestic abuse), with a few dozen cases. There are over 160blue light phones on the campus; each has a large button that connects directly to NAU PD and provides the location of the call to them.[115]
The police in Flagstaff also deal with skunk-related problems, including suspected burglaries that turn out to be skunks.[122] The skunks can be an issue in the city, as they start rabies epidemics among animals every few years.[123]
In its early days, the city's economic base comprised thelumber, railroad, andranching industries. Today, that has largely been replaced by tourism, education, government, and transportation. Some of the larger employers in Flagstaff are Northern Arizona University, theFlagstaff 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.[11]
Scientific and high tech research and development operations are in the city, including Lowell Observatory, Northern Arizona University, the United States Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station (NOFS) and the United States Geological Survey's (USGS) Flagstaff campus. Research is involved in observations of near-Earth phenomena such as asteroids and comets.[124] In 2012 the observatory commissioned itsLowell Discovery Telescope, a 4.3-meter telescope with an instrument cube that can hold five instruments at once.[125] Lowell Observatory and NOFS also are collaborators on theNavy Precision Optical Interferometer, on nearby Anderson Mesa. NOFS is heavily involved with the science ofstar catalogs andastrometry, or the positions and distances of stars and celestial objects.[124]
There are five industrial parks in the city, situated near I-40 and I-17. Major manufacturers in Flagstaff includeW. L. Gore & Associates, widely known as the maker ofGore-Tex;Nestlé Purina PetCare, manufacturer of pet food;SenesTech, a biotechnology research lab and manufacturer; SCA Tissue, a majortissue paper producer; and Joy Cone, manufacturer of ice cream cones.[126][127]Walgreens operated a distribution center in the city until 2014.[11][128][129]
Flagstaff has a thriving tourism industry, and has since the early 1900s, primarily stemming from its proximity to theGrand Canyon National Park and other natural wonders, giving it the nickname 'City of Seven Wonders'.[5] Other natural wonders and native ruins, Route 66, and its astronomical history also bring tourism from out of state, while people from further south in Arizona visit Flagstaff because of its cooler climate in the summer and its ski resort in the winter.[39] The city has several hotels and restaurants, including its historic hotels. The first hotel of theRamada 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 aSuper 8 motel.[130] 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 theNational Park Service (NPS). In 1996, 39% of Coconino County residents were employed in tourism. There are large service sectors, particularly hotels and restaurants, in Flagstaff, with many of these companies having a close connection to NAU's School of Hotel and Restaurant Management, to employ these students.[39]
Tourism to Flagstaff is a well-established industry, but still relies on environmental forces. Nature and weather conditions can damage tourism; having a mild but warm summer temperature attracts tourists from many locales, but storms and forest fires in its climate can be a detraction. Flagstaff also experiences very cold winters, and despite a successful ski resort still sees less tourism in this period; decreasing snow levels also threaten the winter industry. The pristine condition of the natural sites can also experience degradation due to overuse through tourism, losing its main selling point. The development ofTusayan into the Grand Canyon gateway town also affected Flagstaff's capture of some overnight tourists.[39]
The Grand Canyon, aWonder of the World, is about 80 miles (130 km) northwest of Flagstaff.[39] The first stagecoach tours to the Grand Canyon from the city began running from the Bank Hotel in 1892.[8] In 2000, about 5 million people visiting the Grand Canyon also visited Flagstaff. As Rick Heffernon wrote, "the world recognizes only one Grand Canyon, and northern Arizona has it".[39] However, he also suggested this can act to the area's detriment, as the Grand Canyon is a world-class marvel and competes with other attractions of the same prestige for visitors, which are all equally impressive; Flagstaff itself also competes with its nearby towns for access to the Grand Canyon, several of which have growing themes based on it (like Tusayan and theGrand Canyon Village).[39]
Lowell Observatory celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2019 and continues to be a leading astronomical research center, as well as a popular destination for visitors. More than 100,000 people visited in both 2018 and 2019; in 2019 the observatory opened its new Giovale Open Deck Observatory, an observation plaza with a suite of six advanced telescopes.[131][132]
Arizona Snowbowl does not publish their revenue or make it public knowledge, which makes it hard to calculate its impact on the Flagstaff economy.[133] The Snowbowl supports approximately 200 full-time jobs and $12.08 million in economic output for the city of Flagstaff.[134]
Heffernon suggested that the perception of tourism from the residents of Flagstaff could affect the industry,[39] something researched in 1990 by NAU's Tim Schroeder. Schroeder saw six main areas of concern from Flagstaff residents: "Standard of Living for Residents; Future Use of Parks; Quality of Fire Protection; Occurrences of Crime; Changes in Community Values, Norms and Customs; and Population Density".[135] He acknowledged that the focus on fire protection was anomalous, and likely caused by a particularly high concern surrounding recent wildfires at the time the survey had been conducted. The respondents to Schroeder's survey generally found that their "Opportunity for Jobs, Opportunity for Shopping, Quality of Fire Protection, Understanding Different People, Quality of Health Care, Availability of Cultural Arts, and Overall Quality of Life" had improved because of tourism to the area, but that standards in terms of "Traffic and Road Conditions, General Prices for Goods and Services, Future Use of Forests, Noise, Litter, Air Quality, and Occurrences of Crime" had worsened.[135]
Weatherford Hotel with its pine cone and a countdown in December 2010
Flagstaff has its own New Year's Eve tradition; in the city, people gather around the Weatherford Hotel as a 70-pound (32 kg), 6-foot (1.8 m) tall, metallicpine 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 the roof of their building to mark the new millennium. By 2003 the event had become tradition, and the current metallic pine cone was designed and built by Frank Mayorga of Mayorga Welding in the city.[136]
Local museums include theMuseum of Northern Arizona, which features displays of the biology, archeology, photography, anthropology, and native art of the Colorado Plateau, and the Arboretum at Flagstaff, a 200-acre (81 ha)arboretum containing 2,500 species of drought-tolerant native plants representative of the high desert region.[137][138]
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.[139] Route 66 remains a historic route, passing through the city betweenBarstow, California, andAlbuquerque, New Mexico. In early September, the city hosts an annual event, Route 66 Days, to highlight its connection to the famous highway.[140]
Flagstaff takes one of its nicknames from its designation as the world's first International Dark Sky City, with deliberate measures to reducelight pollution beginning in 1958[141] supported by the environmentally-aware population and community advocates, government and elected officials, and the assistance of observatories in the area – including the United States Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station and Lowell Observatory.[142][143][144][145]
The city's designation as an International Dark Sky City was on October 24, 2001, by theInternational Dark-Sky Association, after a proposal by the Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition to start the recognition program. It is seen as a world precedent in dark sky preservation.[146] Before this, it had been nicknamed the "Skylight City" in the 1890s, the same decade that the Lowell Observatory was founded.[147] In 1958, it passed Ordinance 400,[141] which outlawed using large or powerful searchlights within city limits. In the 1980s a series of measures were introduced for the city and Coconino County, and the Dark Sky Coalition was founded in 1999 by Chris Luginbuhl and Lance Diskan. Luginbuhl is a former U.S. Naval astronomer,[148] and Diskan had originally moved to Flagstaff from Los Angeles so that his children could grow up able to see stars, saying that "part of being human is looking up at the stars and being awestruck."[147] It was reported that even though greater restrictions on types of public lighting were introduced in 1989,[149] requiring them all to be low-emission, some public buildings like gas stations hadn't updated by 2002, after the Dark Sky designation.[150]
Flagstaff and the surrounding area is split into four zones, each permitted different levels of light emissions. The highest restrictions are in south and west Flagstaff (near NAU and its observatory), and at the Naval, Braeside, and Lowell Observatories.[56] Photographs detecting emissions taken in 2017 show that Flagstaff's light is 14 times less than another Western city of comparable size,Cheyenne, Wyoming, which Luginbuhl described as "even better than [they] might have expected".[148]
Flagstaff has an active cultural scene. The city is home to theFlagstaff Symphony Orchestra, which plays concerts from September through April at Ardrey Auditorium on the NAU campus.[151] 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.[152][153][154] Popular bands play throughout the year at the Orpheum Theater, and free concerts are held during the summer months at Heritage Square.[155]
Beyond music, Flagstaff has a popular theater scene, featuring several groups. Northern Arizona University's Department of Theatre produces productions for the community as well as the campus.[citation needed] The department has won awards, including multiple invitations to theKennedy Center American College Theater Festival.[citation needed] NAU Theatre performs in two facilities: the Clifford E. White Theatre (named for long-time professor Clifford E. White) and the Studio Theatre. Both facilities are housed in the Fine and Performing Arts Building on campus.[citation needed] A local community theater company called Theatrikos was founded in 1972 in the basement of the Weatherford Hotel, and today puts on six major productions per year. In 2002, the company moved into a new venue now known as the Doris-Harper White Community Playhouse, a downtown building which was built in 1923 as anElks Lodge and later became the Flagstaff library.[156] Since 1995, the Flagstaff Light Opera Company has performed a variety of musical theater and light opera productions throughout the year at the Sinagua Middle School auditorium.[157] There are several dance companies in Flagstaff, including Coconino Community College Dance Program, 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.[158][verification needed]
A variety of weekend festivals occur throughout the year. The annual Northern Arizona Book Festival, held in the spring, brings together authors to read and display their works.[159] The Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival is held every October, and features a variety of independent films and documentaries focusing on extreme sports, environmental issues, and global topics. The festival is four days long and consists of several sessions of films. The screenings are held at the Orpheum Theater in the historic downtown area.[160] The summer months feature several festivals, including Hopi and Navajo Festivals of Arts and Crafts,[citation needed] the Arizona Highland Celtic Festival,[citation needed] Pride in the Pines,[161] and the Made in the Shade Beer Tasting Festival.[162] For more than 20 years Flagstaff has hosted the 10-day Flagstaff Festival of Science in September. It is a family event which features open houses, lectures, informal talks, and hands-on activities at area museums, observatories, other scientific facilities, and the university. In-school programs also are an important part of the festival. The festival begins with the annualEugene Shoemaker keynote address. Guest speakers have included famous astronauts, arctic explorers, storm chasers, and scientists from many disciplines.[citation needed] The Coconino County Fair is held every September at the Fort Tuthill County Fairgrounds, featuring ademolition derby, livestock auction, carnival rides, and other activities.[163]
Northern Arizona University'sWalkup Skydome and central campus
Flagstaff has no professional sports of its own, but is home to the college sports teams of Northern Arizona University. It is a popular training destination for a variety of sports, largely due to its altitude and climate.
From 1988 to 2012 (with the exception of the 2005 season), theArizona Cardinals of theNational Football League held their summer training camp at Northern Arizona University.[178] The 2005 training camp relocated to Prescott because of anorovirus outbreak at the university that emerged from a summer wrestling training camp and infected over 100 people.[179][180] The NAU training camp was named as one of the top five training camps in the NFL bySports Illustrated, citing the cooler temperature, scenic area, and the possibility for fans to get close to athletes as key points.[181][182] Players have said that the altitude of Flagstaff was the key benefit, as well as seeing the dedication of fans traveling to the city, but that they did not enjoy living in the NAU dorm rooms.[183]
The Cardinals left Flagstaff in summer 2013,[184] placing NAU at fault after the team was put in the visitors' facilities, though NAU had offered the home facilities when the concern was raised,[179] and moved their training camp toState Farm Stadium inGlendale. At Glendale, they train in adomed stadium rather than outside,[f] which playerBertrand Berry said took away some of the feeling of training camp, saying "there really isn't that need to practice outside when most of the games are inside, but when you talk about building a team and going through adverse situations and bonding together, I think they miss out on a little bit of that".[183] The Cardinals had trained at NAU since the franchise moved to Arizona, withFox Sports reporting that "some argued they pulled the plug on the team's only Arizona tradition".[179]Bill Bidwill, owner of the Cardinals, was inducted into the Flagstaff Sports Foundation's Hall of Fame in 2009, after bringing the team and resultant tourism boost to the city for over 20 years.[178]
Flagstaff is also a popular destination foraltitude training. The first elite athletes to start altitude training in the city were those going to the1968 Summer Olympics inMexico City.[185] A 2009 analysis showed that groups of 35 athletes spent three to eight weeks training in Flagstaff, to positive effect. This was one of the highest number of athletes and longest periods among seventeen sites used in the research.[186]Australian rules football teamCollingwood Magpies regularly train at NAU facilities,[187] as does theOlympic-medal-winningTeam GBBritish Swimming team.[188] Another British Olympian,Mo Farah, trains in Flagstaff.[189]
Long-distance runnerAndrea Seccafien used to altitude train in Flagstaff but moved to Australia in 2018,[190][191] saying "We don't go to Flagstaff orSt. Moritz anymore which are more populated by runners and the general public. [...] Flagstaff feels quite metropolitan compared to where we are now"; the CanadianRunning Magazine noted that the city becomes host to many professional runners in the spring.[191] 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".[192] Runner Nick Hilton said that "Flagstaff andBoulder, Colorado, are probably the two biggest centers for elite distance runners in the country".[192]
The HYPO2 altitude training center in the city is used by swimmers and runners alike, and is an elite facility that attracts many teams from around the world.[188][192][193] HYPO2 was created in 2012, largely with staff from NAU's Center for High Altitude Training, which closed in 2009. As of 2019, over 85 Olympic medalists from 44 countries trained at the facility.[192] In 2016, the city advertised NAU and the HYPO2 with promotions saying "The Road to Rio Runs Through Flagstaff", prominently noting that if Flagstaff (with its training athletes) was a country, it would be in the top 10 of Olympic-medal winning nations since 1996.[185]
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, recreation and elite runners, and mountain bikers from throughout the southwestern United States. There are 679.2 acres (274.9 ha) of city parks in Flagstaff, the largest of which are Thorpe Park and Buffalo Park. Wheeler Park, next to city hall, is the location of summer concerts and other events.[194] 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 trail network extends throughout the city and is widely used for both recreation and transportation.[195] There are over 56 miles (90 km) of urban trails in Flagstaff.[192]
The area is a recreational hub for road cycling and mountain biking clubs, organized triathlon events, and annual cross country ski races. Several major river running operators are headquartered in Flagstaff, and the city serves as a base for Grand Canyon and Colorado River expeditions.[196]
The city government is organized under acouncil–manager form of government.[198] The mayor of Flagstaff is Becky Daggett, who was elected in November 2022. The town council consists of the mayor and six councilmembers: Austin Aslan (vice mayor), Jim McCarthy, Miranda Sweet, Lori Matthews, Deborah Harris, and Khara House (appointed as an interim councilmember in May 2022).[199] On July 2, 2019, the city council named Greg Clifton as city manager among 50 candidates.[200] Regular meetings of the city council are held on the first and third Tuesday of every month.[201] The last mayoral election occurred in November 2022.
The City of Flagstaff raised its minimum wage above the State minimum wage in 2017. This wage increase was the result of a ballot measure – Proposition 414 – on the November 8, 2016, ballot.[202] The City Council of Flagstaff then passed Title 15 of the City Ordinance, which provided for implementation of the new law.[203] The new minimum wage in Flagstaff on July 1, 2017, was $10.50, fifty cents more than the Arizona state minimum wage.[204] On January 1, 2021, the minimum wage rose to $15.00.
In 2023, the city prohibited gun range companies from airing ads at airport, but upon accusations of First Amendment violations,[205] subsequently banned all ads besides city ads.[206] Although some say this poses other Constitutional issues[207] since commercial speech has protection under theCentral Hudson Doctrine.[208]
The north campus area of NAU, showing the Science and Health buildings (center) and the Liberal Arts building (bottom right)[209]
There are 19public schools, with 11,500 students and 800 faculty and staff, in theFlagstaff Unified School District. In 1997, Mount Elden Middle School was named an A+ School, citing an outstanding school climate, progressive use of technology and zero-tolerance approach to discipline. The 1999 National Science Teacher of the Year, David Thompson, teaches physics atCoconino High School.[210] Three Arizona Teachers of the Year from 2001 through 2003 teach at Flagstaff High School.[211] In 2012, Flagstaff was named America's firstSTEM Community.[212]
In addition to the numerous public schools, there are severalcharter schools operating in the Flagstaff area including Flagstaff Junior Academy,Northland Preparatory Academy (ranked No. 52 inUS News's America's Top 100 Best High Schools), theFlagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy, Pine Forest Charter School, BASIS Flagstaff (ranked No. 2 in The Washington Post's America's Most Challenging High schools) and theMontessori Schools of Flagstaff.
The major daily newspaper in Flagstaff is theArizona Daily Sun. Northern Arizona University's weekly newspaperThe Lumberjack also covers Flagstaff news, while the other publications that serve the city include weekliesFlagstaff Live and theNavajo Hopi Observer, and monthliesMountain Living Magazine andThe Noise.[citation needed] NAU runs several radio stations includingKNAU andKPUB and theirtranslator stations, which provideNPR andPRI news coverage, as well as classical music.[213]
Flagstaff is included in thePhoenixDesignated market area (DMA), the 13th largest in the U.S.[214] Over-the-air television service is provided mostly by low-powered repeaters of the Phoenix stations.[215] There are two local broadcast television stations serving the city,KNAZ-2 (NBC),[216] andKFPH-13 (UniMás).[217] In reality television,Extreme Makeover: Home Edition built a home just outside Flagstaff for slain soldierLori Piestewa's two children and parents in 2005.[218] In December 2007, talk show hostessEllen DeGeneres selected Flagstaff as the winner of her show's "Wish You Were Here" contest.[219]
Several films then used Flagstaff's Route 66 in scenes: the 1969 filmEasy Rider were filmed on Milton Road and Route 66 as well as near Sunset Crater; a moment in the filmNational Lampoon's Vacation was filmed at a truck stop gas station nearLittle America Hotel in 1983; a small scene inMidnight Run was filmed in Flagstaff at the train depot, and the city was referenced in the film; several of the running scenes inForrest Gump were filmed in and around the area, including a memorable scene in which Forrest is seen jogging in downtown Flagstaff and gives inspiration to a bumper sticker designer; parts of2007 Academy Award winnerLittle Miss Sunshine were filmed at the junction of I-40 and I-17 in Flagstaff; andTerminal Velocity was partially filmed in the city.[222] Grizzly Peak Films also filmedSasquatch Mountain, a feature-length film for theScience Fiction Channel about aYeti, in Flagstaff and Williams.[218]
The city is connected to Phoenix by Interstate 17 (I-17), and to Los Angeles,Las Vegas (viaRoute 93), and Albuquerque byInterstate 40 (I-40). Page can be reached viaRoute 89 from the city, as canSalt Lake City and, ultimately, Canada. The main road through Flagstaff is Route 66/Santa Fe Avenue, which runs parallel to theBurlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway line east–west through the city. Downtown Flagstaff and the surrounding neighborhoods are separated from East Flagstaff by Buffalo Park, with the city connected by Route 66 and I-40. Route 66 is connected to the interstates in downtown by Milton Road, running roughly south alongside the NAU campus; Milton Road then merges into I-17. Flagstaff is connected to Sedona andPrescott byState Route 89A, which Beulah Boulevard merges into, and to the Grand Canyon by Route 180, which Fort Valley Road merges into just northwest of the city. It is the northern terminus of I-17 and Route 89A, and the southern terminus of Route 89.[54]
Several towns are close to Flagstaff along I-40 and I-17. Approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) south are the small urban areas of Kachina Village (west of I-17) and Mountainaire (east of I-17; 2 miles (3.2 km)).[g] About 35 miles (56 km) to the west is Williams, 20 miles (32 km) to the south isMunds Park, and 30 miles (48 km) to the south on Route 89A is Sedona. 15 miles (24 km) to the east of Flagstaff is the town of Winona.[54]
The major rail corridor running through Flagstaff is theSouthern Transcon, originally built by the Santa Fe Railroad and now owned and operated by the BNSF Railway. Passenger rail service is provided by Amtrak at the downtownFlagstaff station, connecting on east–west routes to Los Angeles and Albuquerque via theSouthwest Chief line.[228]
Flagstaff is fairly bike-friendly; there are bike lanes on many major streets,[231] and the Flagstaff Urban Trails System (FUTS) includes more than 50 miles of off-street trails that wind throughout the community.[232] In 2006 Flagstaff was designated a Bicycle-Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists.[233] About nine percent of trips in Flagstaff are made by bicycle.[231]
Electricity generation in Flagstaff is provided byArizona Public Service, an electric utility subsidiary operated by parent company Pinnacle West. The primary generating station near Flagstaff is the coal-fired, 995-MWCholla Power Plant, nearHolbrook, which uses coal from the McKinley Mine in New Mexico. NearPage is the coal-fired, 750-MW Navajo Power Plant, supplied by anelectric railroad that delivers coal from a mine on theNavajo andHopi reservations in northern Arizona.[234] Flagstaff is also home to Arizona's first commercialsolar power generating station, which was built in 1997 and provides 87 kW of electricity. Combined with 16 other solar power locations in Arizona, the system provides over 5 MW of electricity statewide.[235]
Drinking water in Flagstaff is produced from conventional surface water treatment at the Lake Mary Water Treatment Plant, on Upper Lake Mary, as well as from springs at the inner basin of the San Francisco Peaks. Groundwater from severalwater wells throughout the city and surrounding area provide additional sources of drinking water.[236] Water and wastewater services are provided by the City of Flagstaff.
In 1936, Charles Sechrist opened the city's first hospital.[41] The city's primary hospital is the 267-bedFlagstaff Medical Center, on the north side of downtown Flagstaff. The hospital serves as the major regionaltrauma center for northern Arizona.
^Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
^Official records for Flagstaff were kept at the Weather Bureau in downtown from September 8, 1898 to January 11, 1950, and at Pulliam Airport since January 12, 1950. For more information, seeThreadEx
^While NAU's flagship facility is the Walkup Skydome, the Cardinals also trained on their outdoor football fields.[179]
^Kachina Village and Mountainaire are within Flagstaff city limits under the Flagstaff southern urban areas.
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