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Flagstaff

[Flagstaff, Arizona]

San Francisco Peaks
Flagstaff is located at the foot of the San Francisco Peaks, an extinct volcano and highest feature in Arizona.

Photo © 2006 Deborah Lee Soltesz, used with permission

High in the cool pines of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff is nestled at the base of the San Francisco Peaks. At nearly 7,000 feet, Flagstaff is one of the highest elevation cities in the United States, receives enough snow to support winter recreation facilities, and is surrounded by one of the largest pine forests on Earth. Due to the beautiful location, temperate climate, and proximity to major attractions, such as the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff is a year-round mecca for visitors and many Arizonans maintain second homes here.

Big City in a Small Town

Home to over 60,000 people, Flagstaff is the largest city in Northern Arizona, and serves as a regional center, providing goods and services to the surrounding rural areas and smaller towns. Flagstaff manages to keep its small town feel while offering many of the comforts of larger cities, including:

  • Medical Facilties: Flagstaff Medical Center
  • Shopping: Flagstaff Mall, several department stores, and unique locally owned shops.
  • Dining: A wide variety of mom-and-pop diners, chain restaurants, locally owned and culturally diverse dining experiences, from Thai to pizza to multi-course gourmet feasts can be found around Flagstaff.
  • More Business Info: visit the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce more information about businesses in and around Flagstaff.

Flagstaff Science

Arizona's dry, clear climate and Flagstaff's elevation and low light and air pollution levels has made it an attractive location for astronomers. The city and surrounding area host a number of observatories, including:

About Flagstaff, Coconino County, and Arizona

In addition to the USGS and observatories, Flagstaff has several large public and private manufacturing and research organizations, including Nestle Purina, W.L. Gore, the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and Walgreens Distribution, and thousands of small businesses that serve the residents and tourist industry. For more information about Flagstaff and surrounding area, see the following web sites:

Just two hours away is Phoenix, Arizona, a city of over a million people, which is home to numerous major sports teams and large entertainment venues, is a popular weekend destination for Flagstaff residents. With the elevation dropping from 7,000 feet in Flagstaff to 1,100 in the desert around Phoenix, many Arizonans enjoy the wide range of climates available within a two-hour drive, taking advantage of Flagstaff's snow in the winter and cool temperatures in the summer, the early arrival of spring in the lower elevations, and warm winter temperatures of the desert. Arizonans flock to Northern Arizona in the autumn to enjoy the colorful reds and yellows of the turning leaves. For more information about Arizona, see the following web sites:

Flagstaff Tour

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