Overview

Introduction to Flagstaff, Arizona

The city of Flagstaff, located in northern Arizona, is the county seat of Coconino County. It is served by two interstate highways, Interstate 17 which connects the city to Phoenix (145 miles to the south) and Interstate 40 leading to Albuquerque, New Mexico (322 miles to the east). Surrounded by national forests and situated only 80 miles south of the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff sits at the foot of Arizona's highest mountain, the 12,634-foot tall Humphrey's Peak.

Local lore has it that the town acquired its name from a pole made from a stripped Ponderosa pine tree and hoisted as a flag on July 4, 1876 to mark the U.S. Centennial. The 1880s saw early signs of Flagstaff's growth, including the opening of its first post office and the introduction of the booming railroad industry into the city. By the 1890s, Flagstaff had become the largest city on the main line between Albuquerque and the West Coast. In 1894, astronomer Percival Lowell leveraged the benefits of the city's high altitude and clear astronomical sighting conditions when he chose Flagstaff to be the site of the now famous Lowell Observatory. It was at this observatory that Pluto would be discovered 36 years later. The year 1899 saw the establishment of the Northern Arizona Normal School, an institution that evolved into the present-day Northern Arizona University. Flagstaff became incorporated as a city in 1928.

Flagstaff Attractions

Flagstaff is home to several attractions, starting with the Lowell Observatory, which welcomes visitors year-round for tours and telescope viewing. Winter at the Arizona Snowbowl means snow skiing and summer means scenic sky rides and disc golf. The Arboretum at Flagstaff is a 200-acre botanical garden and nature preserve offering visitors spectacular views and nature trail hikes through ponderosa pine forests. The Arizona Historical Society-Pioneer Museum explores the history of Flagstaff and northern Arizona. Coconino National Forest is the world's largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest and is home to a variety of wildlife. Annual events in Flagstaff include the Flagstaff Wool Festival, Independence Day Festival, the Coconino County Fair, and the Flagstaff Winterfest.

Flagstaff is an ideal starting point for day trips to attractions in neighboring areas. The Walnut Canyon National Monument, located 10 miles east of Flagstaff, offers a look at the dwellings and vegetation of life as it was over 800 years ago. Sunset Crater, named for the remarkable hue of its cone, is 12 miles outside of Flagstaff on US-89. Thirty miles north of Flagstaff is Wupatki National Monument, the ancient home of several tribal groups. Other nearby attractions include Oak Creek Canyon, The Arboretum at Flagstaff, Barringer Crater, and the Museum of Northern Arizona. Grand Canyon National Park lies 80 miles north of Flagstaff along U.S. Route 180. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area can be found about 135 miles north of the city along U.S. Route 89.

Baseball fans visiting Flagstaff during the month of March may want to make a day-trip about 145 miles south to the Phoenix area, where there is an abundance of Major League team Spring Training (Cactus League) sites, including:

  • Oakland A's and Milwaukee Brewers (Phoenix)
  • Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals (Surprise)
  • Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres (Peoria)
  • Chicago Cubs (Mesa)
  • Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (Tempe)
  • San Francisco Giants (Scottsdale)

Summertime brings Major League regular-season baseball action to Phoenix, home of the National League's Arizona Diamondbacks. At other times of the year, visitors to Phoenix can see a variety of sports played by local professional teams, including the National Basketball Association's Phoenix Suns, the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association), and the National Hockey League's Phoenix Coyotes. Tempe, located 10 miles outside of Phoenix, is home to the National Football League's Arizona Cardinals.

Demographics

People

Total Population71,202
Male Share of the Population49.5%
Female Share of the Population50.5%
Senior Citizens8.3%
Employed Population 16+36,224
Age of the Population25

Families

% of people married32.3%
Average household size2

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher35.1%
Median Earnings25+$36,536
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$22,079
Median Earnings With High School Degree$26,867

Wealth

Median Family Income$75,951
% Above Poverty Level80.3%
% Below Poverty Level19.7%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time16 minutes
% Working from Home3.6%
% Walking and Biking to Work15.1%
% Using Public Transportation1.9%

Housing

People Living Alone25.9%
Median Gross Rent$1,200
Median House Value$323,200

Ancestry

Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)38.5%
German14.8%
Irish10.4%
English7.6%
Italian5.3%
Polish3.3%
Scottish2.6%
French Except Basque2.4%
Swedish1.8%
Norwegian1.7%
Dutch1.6%
Russian0.9%
Welsh0.8%
Arab0.7%
Danishn0.7%
Hungarian0.6%
Swiss0.6%
Canadian0.5%
Czech0.4%
African0.3%
Iranian0.3%
Lithuanian0.3%
Greek0.3%
Lebanese0.3%
US/American0.3%
Finnish0.2%
Portuguese0.2%
West Indian0.1%
Nigerian0.1%
South African0.1%
Australian0.1%
Ukrainian0.1%
Austrian0.1%
Slovak0.1%
Croatian0.1%
Estonian0.1%
Brazilian0.1%
Romanian0.1%
Basque0.1%
Belgian0.1%
Slovene0.1%
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Flagstaff Almanac

CategoryValue
CountyCoconino County
Standard Zip Codes86001, 86004, 86005, 86038, 86024
P.O. Box Zip Codes86002, 86003, 86015, 86017, 86018
Company Zip Codes86011
Phone Area Codes928, 5, 20
Time ZoneAmerica/Phoenix
Approximate Latitude35.56
Approximate Longitude-112.58

Flagstaff Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

  • Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
  • Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

StationFLAGSTAFF PULLIAM AP
Distance4.6 miles
Jan Temp17 to 43 F
Apr Temp27 to 58 F
Jul Temp50 to 82 F
Oct Temp31 to 63 F
Annual Precip22.9 inches
StationFLAGSTAFF 4 SW
Distance5.2 miles
Jan Temp8 to 43 F
Apr Temp22 to 56 F
Jul Temp43 to 80 F
Oct Temp25 to 62 F
Annual Precip23.2 inches
StationFORT VALLEY
Distance7.4 miles
Jan Temp11 to 43 F
Apr Temp23 to 57 F
Jul Temp43 to 81 F
Oct Temp26 to 63 F
Annual Precip22.1 inches

Flagstaff Public Libraries

Flagstaff City-coconino County Public Library
300 WEST ASPEN AVENUE
Flagstaff, Arizona
(928) 213-2331

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More Information for Librarians

Flagstaff Hospitals

Flagstaff Medical Center
(Non-profit)
1200 N Beaver
(928) 639-6400
Guidance Center, The
2187 N. Vickey Street
(928) 527-1900

Flagstaff Public Schools

Basis Flagstaff
1700 N. Gemini Drive
ZIP: 86001
Other
Total Enrollment 533
Caviat - Ccc Central Campus
2800 S Lone Tree Rd
ZIP: 86001
High
Total Enrollment 13
Caviat - Flagstaff High School
400 W Elm Ave, Unit 4
ZIP: 86001
High
Charles W Sechrist Elementary School
2230 Fort Valley Rd.
ZIP: 86001
Primary
Total Enrollment 481
County Jail Education Program
911 E. Sawmill Road
ZIP: 86001
High
Total Enrollment 3
Eva Marshall Elementary School
850 N. Bonito St.
ZIP: 86001
Primary
Total Enrollment 573
Flagstaff Arts And Leadership Academy
3401 N Fort Valley Road
ZIP: 86001
High
Total Enrollment 326
Flagstaff High School
400 W Elm Street
ZIP: 86001
High
Total Enrollment 1484
Flagstaff Junior Academy
306 W. Cedar Avenue
ZIP: 86001
Primary
Total Enrollment 279
Flagstaff Middle School - Closed
755 N Bonito Street
ZIP: 86001
Haven Montessori Charter School
621 W. Clay Ave.
ZIP: 86001
Primary
Total Enrollment 84
Juvenile Detention Education Program
911 E. Sawmill Road
ZIP: 86001
Other
Total Enrollment 17
Lura Kinsey Elementary School
1601 S. Lonetree Rd.
ZIP: 86001
Primary
Total Enrollment 357
Manuel Demiguel Elementary School
3500 S Gillenwater Dr
ZIP: 86001
Primary
Total Enrollment 702
Montessori Charter School Of Flagstaff - Campus
850 N. Locust
ZIP: 86001
Primary
Total Enrollment 258
Mountain School
311 W Cattle Drive Trail
ZIP: 86001
Primary
Total Enrollment 194
North Central Region
1000 E Butler Ave
ZIP: 86001
Other
Total Enrollment 128
Pine Forest School
1120 West Kaibab Lane
ZIP: 86001
Primary
Total Enrollment 259
South Beaver Elementary School - Closed
506 S. Beaver St.
ZIP: 86001
Caviat - Coconino High School
2801 N Izabel, Unit 4
ZIP: 86004
High
Total Enrollment 1
Caviat - Flagstaff Central Campus
3950 E. Butler Ave.
ZIP: 86004
Other
Total Enrollment 1
Coconino High School
2801 N Izabel Street
ZIP: 86004
High
Total Enrollment 1374
John Q Thomas Elementary School
3330 E. Lockett Rd.
ZIP: 86004
Primary
Total Enrollment 505
Leupp Public School
3285 E Sparrow
ZIP: 86004
Primary
Total Enrollment 130
Mount Elden Middle School
3223 N 4th Street
ZIP: 86004
Middle
Total Enrollment 813
Neil V Christensen School - Closed
4000 North Cummings Street
ZIP: 86004
Northland Preparatory Academy
3300 W. Sparrow Ave.
ZIP: 86004
Other
Total Enrollment 640
Ponderosa High School
2384 N. Steves Blvd.
ZIP: 86004
High
Total Enrollment 68
Renaissance Magnet Middle School - Closed
3223 N. 4th Street
ZIP: 86004
Sinagua High School - Closed
3950 E Butler Ave
ZIP: 86004
Sinagua Middle School
3950 East Butler Avenue
ZIP: 86004
Middle
Total Enrollment 991
Star Charter School
145 Leupp Road
ZIP: 86004
Primary
Total Enrollment 99
Sturgeon Cromer Elementary School
7150 E Silver Saddle Road
ZIP: 86004
Primary
Total Enrollment 677
Summit High School
4000 N. Cummings Street
ZIP: 86004
High
Total Enrollment 126
The Peak School
2016 North First Street A & B
ZIP: 86004
Primary
Total Enrollment 167
Thomas M Knoles Elementary School
4005 E Butler
ZIP: 86004
Primary
Total Enrollment 637
W F Killip Elementary School
2300 E 6th Ave
ZIP: 86004
Primary
Total Enrollment 509
Weitzel's Puente De Hozho Bilingual Magnet School
3401 N. Fourth Street
ZIP: 86004
Primary
Total Enrollment 382

Flagstaff Private Schools

Mt Calvary Lutheran School
2605 N Fort Valley Rd
ZIP: 86001
Elementary
Total Enrollment 27
San Francisco De Asis
320 N Humphreys St
ZIP: 86001
Elementary
Total Enrollment 184
Flagstaff Community Christian School
3500 N 4th St
ZIP: 86004
Elementary
Total Enrollment 73
Sources :
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