About Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff’s first
permanent settler, Thomas F. McMillian, built his cabin in 1876. During
the 1880’s the town began its growth mainly due to the availability of
timber, its location in regards to major highways, and the coming of the
railroad. By 1886, Flagstaff had become the biggest city on the
Albuquerque to the West Coast main line. In 1894, Dr. Percival Lowell
chose Flagstaff as the site of the now famous Lowell Observatory because
of Flagstaff’s great visibility. During the 1920’s, Route 66 was built
passing directly through the town, making Flagstaff a popular tourist spot
and bringing it national notoriety. In 1928, Flagstaff was incorporated as
a city and the population increased significantly.
Being situated at 7,000 feet above sea level, and located at the
intersection of major US Highways including I-17 and I-40, the now largest
city in northern Arizona was designated as the county seat. Its
relationship to these highways along with the bustling railroad made it a
major trucking and shipping mecca for the west.
Surrounded by one of the largest pine forests in the world, and offering
a moderate four season climate, the outdoor recreational opportunities in
the Flagstaff region are endless. Its Aspen leaves give the area wonderful
color during the autumn, and making the miles of hiking trails very
attractive; and the 90 plus inches of snow in the winter months provide
excellent skiing and snowboarding fun.
Only
80 miles from the Grand Canyon, the Flagstaff region also features the
Meteor Crater, the San Francisco Peaks, Wupatki National Monument, Sunset
Crater, and many Native American communities including the Hopi Tribe and
Navajo Nation.
Weather

Directions & Distances
Flagstaff is located
between Williams and Winslow, at the intersection of I-40 and I-17, and is
north of Sedona, and south of the Grand Canyon.
From Williams, AZ: Head east
on I-40 for 28 miles.
From Winslow, AZ: Head west
on I-40 for about an hour.
From Sedona, AZ: Head north
on Hwy. 89A
From Grand Canyon, AZ: Head
south on Hwy. 64. Go east on Rte. 180, then west to I-40 and Flagstaff.
Nearby Towns & Cities
Grand Canyon, AZ;
Sedona, AZ; Williams, AZ;
Winslow, AZ