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Moving To Flagstaff, Arizona

Literally surrounded by seven natural wonders, Flagstaff, Arizona is often called the “The City of Seven Wonders” because it sits in the midst of the Coconino National Forest and is surrounded by the Grand Canyon, Oak Creek Canyon, Walnut Canyon, Wupatki National Monument, Sunset Crater National Monument, and the San Francisco Peaks.

How Flagstaff obtained its name has several versions, all having to do with stripping a lone pine tree and making it into a flagpole. The spring and its small settlement underwent several names beginning with Antelope Spring, then Flagstaff, and then Old Town. 

By the time the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad (now the Santa Fe) came through in 1882 there were ten buildings in Old Town, but they soon moved closer to the new railroad depot. In no time at all, Old Town was almost deserted and when a post office was established near the new train depot, it assumed the name of Flagstaff. With the new railroad, the lumber and cattle businesses began to thrive, assuring the growth of the community.

Lumber quickly grew into the main industry in Coconino Forest, making some entrepreneurs very rich in the process, notably lumber magnate Michael Riordan, whose legacy is well preserved in his mansion at Riordan State Historic Park. The man also gained some notoriety for being one of the first known pot-hunters, exploring and looting the Walnut Canyon ruins until local citizens became alarmed at the extent of the destruction wreaked on the cliff dwellings. The Chamber of Commerce, now acknowledging the tourist value of the ruins, denounced the mutilation in 1891, and in 1904, the site became part of the San Francisco Mountain Preserve.

While timber still remains one of the backbones for Flagstaffs economy, and the county provides more than half of Arizonas domestic sheep, tourism has now become the citys most important enterprise. Located at an altitude of more than 7,000 feet, in close proximity to the Grand Canyon in cool, fresh mountain air, Flagstaff has long attracted health seekers as well as people from around the world eager to explore its natural beauty. Today, the town is much more than just an overnight stop for tourists on historic Route 66 en route to the Grand Canyon. Inhabitants of the megalopolis of Phoenix, just a two hours drive to the south, frequently come here to escape the stifling summer heat of the Southern Arizona deserts.

At the heart of the Flagstaff community for over 50 years, their efforts advocating for progressive improvements included educational facilities such as the Normal School, which grew into today's Northern Arizona University and the creation of Coconino County with Flagstaff as its county seat.

In addition to the numerous public schools, there are several charter schools operating in the Flagstaff area including Flagstaff Junior Academy, Northland Preparatory Academy (ranked No. 52 in USA News's America's Top 100 Best High Schools), the Flagstaff 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 the Montessori Schools of Flagstaff.

Though the year-round population of the city sits comfortably at around 67,000, when the NAU students leave for the summer, the overheated desert tourists come streaming in. Combine that with the leaf peepers in the fall months and snow bums in the winter and it's easy to understand how the cars of 5 million annual tourists have a tendency to congest local roadways.

n 1992, the city hired a new manager, Dave Wilcox, who had previously worked at revitalizing the downtown areas of Beloit, Wisconsin and Missoula, Montana During the 1990s, the downtown area underwent a revitalization, many of the city sidewalks were repaved with decorative brick facing, and a different mix of shops and restaurants opened up to take advantage of the area's historical appeal.

Downtown Flagstaff lies immediately to the east of Mars Hill, the location of Lowell Observatory Streets in the downtown area are laid out in a grid pattern, parallel to Route 66 and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Rail Line , running east-west through the city.

One day may not be enough time to do and see all the one-of-a-kind attractions, activities and restaurants in Flagstaff AND fully adopt the mountain town attitude and culture; but if you jam-pack your visit using the following suggestions, you're sure to go home with treasured travel memories and stories of northern Arizona's mountain town jewel.

In the summer, visitors can enjoy many activities such as riding on the Scenic Skyride chairlift, which affords a stunning view of the Grand Canyon some 70 miles away and hiking on trails such as the Humphreys Peak Trail, which leads to the highest peak in Arizona.

As a result the International Dark-Sky Association named Flagstaff the world's first International Dark-Sky City.” So when you find yourself outdoors at night in Flag, look up and take it all in—you'll likely see more up there than ever before.

If you're moving to Flagstaff to join their current residency of more than 60,000, you and you're new home will be located at 7,000 feet elevation near the southwestern edge of the Colorado Plateau and along the western side of the Ponderosa Pine Forest. Many Discount Moving Companies frequent the area do to its ideal location along the southern U.S. boarder and as a result many good moving deals are to be had.