Prehistory: first humans lived here from about 4000 BC. Sinagua Indians flourished here 900-1350 AD, followed by the Yavapai and Apache from about 1400 AD. First anglo settler: J.J. Thompson in 1876 at Indian Gardens. First Post Office established, and the town named after Sedona Schnebly, wife of first postmaster T.C. Schnebly on June 26, 1902. Sedona incorporated as a City in 1988. Population in 2007: around 11,000. Between 1970 and 1987 the population increased from 2,700 to 9,000. Sedona has been the setting for many films especially Hollywood Westerns. The first was 1923's "Call of the Canyon". Sedona area is almost 19 square miles, only 51% private land with the rest belonging to Coconino National Forest (about 17% of the Verde Valley is privately owned). The climate is sunny and mild, and the elevation is at about 4300-4500 feet. We have anywhere from 2 to 4 million tourists per year. Sedona is nestled in lower Oak Creek Canyon just below the Mogollon Rim and about 35 miles south of Flagstaff. In fact, people often lump Sedona with Flagstaff (which is the nearest large city). This is nearly always a mistake, especially where weather is concerned. Flagstaff is rugged mountain terrain encircled by tall Ponderosa pines at a lofty elevation of about 7200 feet. Sedona, at about 4300 to 4500 feet is high desert terrain (and much milder of climate), punctuated with the Red Rock spires that make this one of the most unique and visually arresting landscapes in the world. Our famous formations can extend to more than a mile high (the highest point in Sedona is Coffee Pot Rock at about 5,600 feet). Sedona Airport, billed quite believably as "America's Most Scenic Airport" and situated atop Airport Mesa is at 4800 feet.
The City of Sedona has a year-round population of about 10,400, or so the official website proclaims, with a 'seasonal' population of about 11,300. As there are an awful lot of second homes and absentee owners of Sedona real estate, I imagine this is a difficult thing to track. These figures do not include the Village of Oak Creek/Big Park area in unincorporated Yavapai County (probably about another 5,000 residents and commonly considered as part of the Sedona area). As far as visitors go, they number in the millions, currently estimated from two to four million per year. Barely over half (51%) of Sedona's 19 square mile area is privately owned, with the rest set aside as Coconino National Forest land, and so Sedona continues to be less densely poplulated than most Arizona cities. Sedona has strict building height restrictions and a community plan, to preserve our open vistas, quality of life and small-town feeling.
Sedona is located partly in Coconino County and partly in Yavapai County, and prior to its incorporation as a city in January 1988 the government was handled by the two counties. Our first mayors were appointed, and in fact our current mayor, Pud Colquitt is the first to be elected to the office (in 2006). We are still very much a youngity in many ways!
To learn more about living in Sedona, Arizona and to view Sedona real estate, please visit www.ViewAzRE.com and Sedona-Blog.com.
The Walter Jordan House, now serving as the Sedona Heritage Museum at Jordan Historical Park.
Uptown Sedona just after an early Spring storm. You can see Elephant Rock to the left and Cathedral Rock to the right.
Read more...
How to Handle Red Rock Fever
Uptown Sedona Historic Walking Tour May 6th
13th Annual Sedona International Film Festival - Read about 2007's festival and anticipate 2008!
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