Flagstaff is Now Northern Arizona’s Economic Hub

To commemorate the United States’ centennial in 1876, a towering pine tree in northern Arizona in what is now Flagstaff  was made into a flagpole. The name Flagstaff stuck as the flagpole became a landmark for travelers.

Lumber and ranching became the economic drivers, supported by the railroad and Route 66, both of which used Flagstaff as a significant destination. With an elevation of 7,000 feet in the shadows of the San Francisco Peaks, Flagstaff has become the gateway to the state’s winter wonderland and year-round outdoor adventures. Today, Northern Arizona University, with 30,000 students, is the city’s largest employer.

– The Arizona 100 reports