Flagstaff was named after a flag-raising ceremony performed on the Fourth of July, 1876. Travelers from Boston chose a tall pine, trimmed the branches, and attached a flag to the top in honor of the United States centennial. Flagstaff was originally associated with the lumber, railway, and livestock industries. Northern Arizona University (NAU), which is located in Flagstaff Arizona, was originally known as the Northern Arizona Normal School at Flagstaff, and was built in 1899.
Nestled in the mountains of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff is not the southwest experience that comes to mind when you hear Arizona. Sitting at about 6,910-feet above sea level, Flagstaff sits in the shadow of the nearly 13,000 ft San Francisco Peaks. It is a hot spot for tourist and road trippers, with a location at the intersection of I-40 and I-17, 140 miles north of Phoenix, and the original Route 66 running through the heart of downtown Flagstaff.
The climate and proximity to Phoenix make it a destination for many of the state’s desert dwellers. Most years Flagstaff is recognized as the 8th snowiest city (with an annual average snowfall of 100.3 inches or 2.55 m) in the United States. But with on average 300 days of sunshine, it is an ideal cold weather paradise for winter sports enthusiasts. Summers are quite mild in comparison to the scorching heat found in most of Arizona. Flagstaff has relatively low humidity and cool breezy conditions for the majority of the year.
Attractions & Amenities
This mountain town is no stranger to culture. Flagstaff is home to the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, which performs regularly from September – April. Also known for it’s folk and contemporary acoustic musicians, Flagstaff Arizona offers multiple yearly music & arts festivals during the summer months. Popular local and national acts perform all year round at the storied Orpheum Theater, and free concerts are often held in the summer at Heritage Square downtown.
Our Flagstaff Urban Trails System (FUTS, pronounced “foots”) is a labyrinth of non-motorized, shared-use pathways and trails that are used by bikers, walkers, hikers, dog walkers, joggers, and anyone under the sun for transportation, recreation, and beautiful scenic views.
Right now there there are a little over 50 miles of the Flagstaff Urban Trails System, with plans in the future to extend it to 130 miles total. Perhaps this trail system will connect the Homes for Sale in Flagstaff AZ to wherever you want to go!