Flagstaff is located in Coconino County, Arizona. The city is located on the edge of the Ponderosa Pine forest and the Colorado Plateau close to Mount Elden, which is part of the state's highest mountain range. Flagstaff is named for the ponderosa pine flagpole made by a scouting party to celebrate the country's Centennial.
Flagstaff Diversity
Flagstaff has a notably large Native American population that is about 12x the national average. This is due to Flagstaff's proximity to several Native American reservations such as the Hopi, Yavapai, Navajo, and Havasupai. There are almost 5,500 people of Navajo ancestry in Flagstaff.
Flagstaff is a college town, which is reflected in the demographics. Almost 90% of the population has a high school diploma or GED compared to the national average of 80%. More than 39% of the population has a bachelor's degree or higher.
Flagstaff Facts
Flagstaff's economy mostly centers on education and tourism, receiving more than 5 million visitors every year.
Flagstaff is found near Grand Canyon National Park, which supports its thriving tourism industry.
The city is also known for its high-tech and science development centers such as the Lowell Observatory, the United States Geological Survey's Flagstaff campus, and the United States Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station (NOFS).
Flagstaff Population Growth
Flagstaff is one of the fastest-growing areas of Arizona, according to recent census figures. While Phoenix has been losing large numbers to the outlying suburbs, Flagstaff grew more than 4% between 2011 and 2012 alone. Its growth rate was so fast, in fact, that it was the 9th fastest-growing city in the United States at the time. Flagstaff has also grown by 25% between 2000 and 2010.
The growth in Flagstaff is expected to continue soon as more people move away from the city into the suburbs with a lower cost of living and more job opportunities.