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Flagstaff, AZ

Flagstaff is a city in, and the county seat of Coconino County, Arizona, in the southwestern United States. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 76,831. Flagstaff is the principal city of the Flagstaff metropolitan area, which includes all of Coconino County, and has a population of 145,101. It 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 United States. 

The city sits at about 7,000 feet (2,100 m) and is next to Mount Elden, just south of the San 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 in Kachina Peaks Wilderness. The geology of the Flagstaff area includes exposed rock from the Mesozoic and Paleozoic eras, with Moenkopi Formation red sandstone having once been quarried in the city; many of the historic downtown buildings were constructed with it. The Rio de Flag River runs through the city but only flows in response to rain or snowmelt.

Flagstaff lies on the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau and is largely limestone under the San Francisco volcanic field. The oldest rock types of 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 rock layers from this period are (bottom to top): Tapeats Sandstone, Bright Angel Shale and Muav Limestone, Martin Formation, Redwall Limestone, Supai Group, Coconino Sandstone, Toroweap Formation, and Kaibab Limestone. The last three of these are still exposed. On top of the Paleozoic rock is the Mesozoic Moenkopi Formation, from 248 to 65 million years ago. Other Mesozoic layers formed on top of this, but were eroded. 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. A soft basalt layer covers some of the rock at the surface.

Flagstaff, AZ has amazing health and wellness facilities and services for its residents. Flagstaff Medical Center is the main hospital in Flagstaff, part of the Northern Arizona Healthcare system. It offers a wide range of medical services, including emergency care, surgery, maternity care, and specialized treatments. Northern Arizona Healthcare operates wellness centers in Flagstaff, providing services such as fitness programs, nutrition counseling, preventive screenings, and wellness education. Flagstaff Bone & Joint specializes in orthopedic care, offering services such as joint replacements, sports medicine, spine surgery, and rehabilitation. Flagstaff Surgical Associates is a group of surgeons that provide various surgical services, including general surgery, vascular surgery, breast surgery, and more. Flagstaff Family Care Clinic provides primary care services, including preventive care, chronic disease management, vaccinations, and wellness screenings. Massage Envy provides complete massage and spa packages for wellness benefits. 

Top sites in Flagstaff, AZ are Museum of Northern Arizona, Riordan Mansion, and Meteor Crater.

Population: 76,586 (2023). ZIP codes: 86001–86002, 86004–86005, 86011. Area code: 928. Elevation: 6,909 ft. Area: 63.9 square miles (165.5 km2). 

FAQs

What is special about Flagstaff, AZ?

As the first International Dark Sky City, Flagstaff is home to the Lowell Observatory, known for the discovery of Pluto. Some of the best star-gazing in the country takes place in Flagstaff and the observatory is just the place to do it. Just outside of Flagstaff are the Lava Tube Caves, Meteor Crater, and Walnut Canyon. It also has the Arboretum which is home to 2,500 species of plants in greenhouses, gardens, and natural habitats. The Arboretum offers guided tours, school programs, and other events. 

What is the early history of Flagstaff, AZ?

The Sinagua people were a pre-Columbian culture that occupied a large area in Arizona between circa 500 and 1425 CE. The Northern Sinagua were living in the pine forests of northern Arizona before moving into the area that is now Flagstaff about 700 CE. The 1064 and 1066 eruptions of Sunset Crater covered the area in ash, which greatly enriched the soil for farming. This also caused population growth in the area, with Ancestral Puebloans and Cohonina people also moving to the Wupatki site near the city. The Northern Sinagua had various cultural phases, including Sunset Crater, the Rio de Flag (leaving the Picture Canyon site), Angell and Winona, Padre Canyon, Elden Pueblo, Turkey Hill Pueblo, Clear Creek, and Walnut Canyon. 

What is the oldest house in Flagstaff, AZ?

Long considered the oldest remaining Anglo-American residence in Flagstaff, the McMillan Homestead was built in 1886 by Thomas Forsythe McMillan. He used 15-inch diameter logs, hand-hewn and hand-squared at the homestead site and chinked with mud. It was a big building for the times, and the local Champion newspaper called it large and strong enough for a feudal castle. However, when he married a widow from San Francisco in 1888, his new bride was not impressed by the log cabin. McMillan then put up the siding, the porches, and the lean-to in the back half of the house. The original logs can still be seen inside the kitchen.

Sources

City of Flagstaff

Wikipedia

Musnaz

Flagstaff

Museum of Northern Arizona

Riordan Mansion

Meteor Crater

Flagstaff Medical Center

Northern Arizona Healthcare

Flagstaff Bone & Joint

Flagstaff Surgical Associates

Flagstaff Family Care Clinic

Massage Envy

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