Sedona, Arizona
City of Sedona | ||
---|---|---|
FIPS code 04-65350 | | |
GNIS feature ID | 2411858[1] | |
Website | www |
Sedona
Sedona's main attraction is its array of red sandstone formations. The formations appear to glow in brilliant orange and red when illuminated by the rising or setting sun. The red rocks form a popular backdrop for many activities, ranging from spiritual pursuits to the hundreds of hiking and mountain biking trails. Sedona is also the home to the nationally recognized McDonald's with turquoise arches, instead of the traditional Golden Arches.[4]
Sedona was named after Sedona Schnebly whose husband, Theodore Carlton Schnebly, was the city's first postmaster. She was celebrated for her hospitality and industriousness.[5] Her mother, Amanda Miller, claimed to have made the name up because "it sounded pretty".[6]
History
Anglo-American settlement
The first Anglo settler, John J. Thompson, moved to Oak Creek Canyon in 1876, an area well known for its peach and apple orchards. The early settlers were farmers and ranchers. In 1902, when the Sedona post office was established, there were 55 residents. In the mid-1950s, the first telephone directory listed 155 names. Some parts of the Sedona area were not electrified until the 1960s.
Sedona began to develop as a tourist destination, vacation-home and retirement center in the 1950s. Most of the development seen today was constructed in the 1980s and 1990s. As of 2007, there are no large tracts of undeveloped land remaining.[7]
Important early settlers included the Steele family, originally of Scotland.
Chapel of the Holy Cross
In 1956, construction of the Chapel of the Holy Cross was completed. The chapel rises 70 feet (21 m) out of a 1,000-foot (300 m) redrock cliff.[8] The most prominent feature of the chapel is the cross. Later a chapel was added. Inside the chapel there is a window and a cross with benches and pews.[9]
Cinematic legacy
Sedona played host to more than sixty Hollywood productions from the first years of movies into the 1970s. Stretching as far back as 1923, Sedona's red rocks were a fixture in major Hollywood productions – including films such as Angel and the Badman, Desert Fury, Blood on the Moon, Johnny Guitar, The Last Wagon, 3:10 to Yuma and Broken Arrow. However, the surroundings typically were identified to audiences as the terrain of Texas, California, Nevada, and even Canada–US border territory.[10] The town lent its name to the 2011 film Sedona, which is set in the community.
Brins Fire
On June 18, 2006, a wildfire, reportedly started by campers, began about one mile (2 km) north of Sedona.
Slide Fire
On May 20, 2014, a wildfire started from an unknown cause began north of Sedona at Slide Rock State Park. The Slide Fire[13] spread across 21,227 acres in Oak Creek Canyon over nine days and prompted evacuations.[14] State Route 89A opened to Flagstaff in June, but all parking and canyon access was closed to the public until October 1, 2014.[15]
Geography
Sedona is located in the interior chaparral, semi-desert grassland, Great Basin conifer woodland biomes of northern Arizona.[16] Sedona has mild winters and warm summers.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.2 square miles (49.7 km2) of which 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.22%, is water.[3]
Flora
Sedona interior chaparral has many shrubs and small tree species of
Geology
The
Climate
Sedona has a temperate semi-arid climate. In January, the average high temperature is 57 °F (14 °C) with a low of 31 °F (−1 °C). In July, the average high temperature is 97 °F (34 °C) with a low of 64 °F (17 °C). Annual precipitation is just over 19 inches (480 mm).[19]
Climate data for Sedona, Arizona (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1943–2010) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 81 (27) |
85 (29) |
88 (31) |
93 (34) |
102 (39) |
111 (44) |
115 (46) |
108 (42) |
106 (41) |
100 (38) |
88 (31) |
80 (27) |
110 (43) |
Mean maximum °F (°C) | 70.3 (21.3) |
74.3 (23.5) |
78.8 (26.0) |
86.9 (30.5) |
94.0 (34.4) |
103.4 (39.7) |
104.4 (40.2) |
102.8 (39.3) |
98.0 (36.7) |
89.9 (32.2) |
79.6 (26.4) |
73.0 (22.8) |
105.9 (41.1) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 57.6 (14.2) |
61.2 (16.2) |
65.5 (18.6) |
72.8 (22.7) |
81.7 (27.6) |
92.0 (33.3) |
95.6 (35.3) |
93.3 (34.1) |
87.9 (31.1) |
77.6 (25.3) |
63.6 (17.6) |
58.5 (14.7) |
75.6 (24.2) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 45.0 (7.2) |
47.9 (8.8) |
51.2 (10.7) |
57.3 (14.1) |
65.0 (18.3) |
74.8 (23.8) |
80.1 (26.7) |
78.7 (25.9) |
73.1 (22.8) |
62.6 (17.0) |
51.5 (10.8) |
45.5 (7.5) |
61.1 (16.1) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 32.9 (0.5) |
34.9 (1.6) |
37.5 (3.1) |
41.7 (5.4) |
48.7 (9.3) |
57.2 (14.0) |
64.5 (18.1) |
64.0 (17.8) |
58.1 (14.5) |
48.5 (9.2) |
37.2 (2.9) |
33.1 (0.6) |
46.5 (8.1) |
Mean minimum °F (°C) | 22.0 (−5.6) |
23.8 (−4.6) |
27.5 (−2.5) |
31.9 (−0.1) |
38.6 (3.7) |
47.3 (8.5) |
58.4 (14.7) |
57.8 (14.3) |
49.7 (9.8) |
38.2 (3.4) |
28.3 (−2.1) |
23.0 (−5.0) |
18.4 (−7.6) |
Record low °F (°C) | 4 (−16) |
8 (−13) |
15 (−9) |
23 (−5) |
29 (−2) |
36 (2) |
48 (9) |
48 (9) |
38 (3) |
23 (−5) |
12 (−11) |
8 (−13) |
4 (−16) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.76 (45) |
1.88 (48) |
1.48 (38) |
0.60 (15) |
0.40 (10) |
0.30 (7.6) |
1.72 (44) |
2.36 (60) |
1.88 (48) |
1.03 (26) |
1.23 (31) |
1.59 (40) |
16.23 (412.6) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.7 (1.8) |
0.3 (0.76) |
0.2 (0.51) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.2 (0.51) |
0.4 (1.0) |
1.9 (4.83) |
Source: WRCC[20] |
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1970 | 2,022 | — | |
1980 | 5,368 | 165.5% | |
1990 | 7,720 | 43.8% | |
2000 | 10,192 | 32.0% | |
2010 | 10,031 | −1.6% | |
2020 | 9,684 | −3.5% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[21] |
As of the
At the 2000 census there were 7,229 people living in the Yavapai County (western) portion of the city (70.9% of its population) and 2,963 living in the Coconino County (eastern) portion (29.1%). By land area Yavapai had 66.2% of its area, versus 33.8% for Coconino.
There were 4,928 households, out of which 15.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.9% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.52.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 13.7% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 21.2% from 25 to 44, 35.0% from 45 to 64, and 25.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,042, and the median income for a family was $52,659. Males had a median income of $32,067 versus $24,453 for females. The
Arts and culture
The Sedona area hosts numerous events annually, including:
- St. Patrick's Parade, Celebration of Spring, Sedona Food Truck Festival, Red Dirt Concerts, Pumpkin Splash, and WagFest and Fair are just a few of the community events offered by the local Parks and Recreation Department.[22]
- Sedona Marathon[23]
- The Sedona Miracle Annual Charity Fundraiser[24]
- Sedona Bluegrass Festival[25] (2007–2014)
- Sedona Hummingbird Festival (2012–present);
- The Sedona Solstice Festivals (Summer and Winter) at Unity of Sedona (2012–present)[26]
Sedona hosts several notable arts organizations in Northern Arizona:
- Chamber Music Sedona sponsors a chamber-music program annually from October to May. The 2012–2013 season marked the 30th anniversary for the organization.
- The Sedona Arts Center, founded in 1958, is the oldest arts center in northern Arizona.
- Sedona International Film Festival & Workshop was established in 1995. The week-long annual festival takes place in late February and early March at Harkins Theatres, while supplemental events take place at area resorts and restaurants. The festival also hosts monthly events, and they sponsor the MET: Live in HD opera broadcasts in Sedona.
- NORAZ Poets, extant from 2003 to 2007, was a nonprofit poetry network based in Sedona.
- Greg Lawson Galleries,[27] a popular local art gallery in Sedona.[28]
A specialized
is a popular area for birding.Government
Politically, Uptown Sedona, the Gallery District and the Chapel area (all in Coconino County) and West Sedona (in Yavapai County) form the City of Sedona. Founded in 1902, it was incorporated as a city in 1988. The unincorporated
In 2013, Sedona became one of the Arizona municipalities to approve of civil unions for same-sex partners.[31]
Education
Sedona is served by the Sedona-Oak Creek Unified School District.
West Sedona School, serving grades K–6, is located at 570 Posse Ground Road.
Red Rock Early Learning Center[32] is a year-round Preschool program designed for children aged 3–5 years old. Their normal school year runs from August to May each year, with a summer session offered during June and July. It is licensed by the ADHS, and located in West Sedona Elementary School building 300.
Sedona Red Rock High School (SRRHS), built in 1994, is located on the western edge of town in West Sedona. The school's mascot is the Scorpion. The high school's new campus, a series of single-story buildings, is located opposite the Sedona campus of Yavapai College. As of 2016, Sedona Red Rock High School holds grades 7–8 in the Junior High portion of campus.
Sedona Charter School (SCS)
Yavapai College's Sedona Center for Arts & Technology includes the Sedona Film School, which offers certificates in independent filmmaking, the Business Partnership Program, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and the University of Arizona Mini Med School.
Infrastructure
Transportation
Healthcare
Verde Valley Medical Center – Sedona Campus is an outpatient facility providing 24/7 emergency services, cancer services, and primary and specialty healthcare to the Sedona/Oak Creek area. The facility is part of the Northern Arizona Healthcare system and is a subdivision of Verde Valley Medical Center in the nearby city of Cottonwood.[34]
Cemeteries
Sedona's oldest burial ground is the Schuerman–Red Rock Cemetery, dating from 1893. Another pioneer cemetery is the Cooks Cedar Gate Cemetery, with an initial burial in 1918. The Sedona Community Cemetery, also known as Sedona Memorial Park,[35] is on Pine Drive.
Notable people
- Advaitateacher
- Samaire Armstrong – actress
- Michelle Branch – singer/songwriter[36]
- Brandon Decker - singer/songwriter based in Sedona
- Gail Edwards – actress[37]
- Justin Frankel – computer programmer
- Kevin Geary – English portrait and abstract artist[38]
- Steve George – musician/songwriter (Mr. Mister)
- James Gregory – television actor
- James Horner – film composer (studied at the Verde Valley School in the 1970s)
- Greg Lawson – American photographer, author, and publisher
- Sagan Lewis – actress, former program director of the Sedona International Film Festival[39]
- Drunvalo Melchizedek – New Age author born Bernard Donald Perona
- Tom O'Halleran – U. S. representative
- Israel Regardie – writer, occultist, and sometime secretary to Aleister Crowley.
In popular culture
- In 1982 singer Glen D. Hardin (piano). Chris Hillman played mandolin. It was Loren's first recording since 1967, and subsequently appeared on her compilation, Magic: The 80's Collection.[40]
- "Sedona" is the title and subject of Houndmouth's first single from their second studio album, Little Neon Limelight.
- A film titled Sedona was released in 2012. It was the first feature film to be shot entirely in Sedona since the 1970s when the heyday of Hollywood filmmaking in the area ended. The cast includes Frances Fisher, Seth Peterson, Barry Corbin, Christopher Atkins, Lin Shaye and Beth Grant.[41]
- The racing video games Forza Motorsport 3 and Forza Motorsport 4 feature the fictional track "Sedona Raceway Park".[42]
See also
Notes
- ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Sedona, Arizona
- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
- ^ a b "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Sedona city, Arizona". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
- ^ Jones, Meghan (June 16, 2021). "The Surprising Reason One McDonald's Uses Turquoise Arches". Reader's Digest. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
- ^ Territorial Women's Memorial Rose Garden: Sedona Arabelle Miller Schnebly Archived April 18, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. (n.d.) Sharlot Hall Museum. Retrieved December 16, 2006.
- ^ "Arizona Scenic Roads ~ See for yourself why the Scenic Roads of Arizona are truly a hidden treasure!". www.arizonascenicroads.com. Archived from the original on September 23, 2014. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
- ISBN 978-0-7385-4800-5
- ^ "Chapel of the Holy Cross". Sacred Destinations. April 18, 2009. Retrieved May 18, 2010.
- ^ Somerville, Slyvia. "Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona Architectural Landmark". Gateway To Sedona. Range Dog Publishing Inc. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
- ^ McNeill, Joe. "Arizona's Little Hollywood: Sedona and Northern Arizona's Forgotten Film History 1923–1973" (2010, Northedge & Sons)
- ^ USDA Forest Service. (June 19, 2006). Brins Fire Update. Retrieved December 16, 2006.
- ^ "BRINS FIRE UPDATE" (PDF). Coconino National Forest. June 29, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 5, 2010.
- ^ "Slide Fire Information – InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Archived from the original on April 25, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
- ^ Graham, Christopher Fox. "Oak Creek Canyon evacuated north of Slide Rock due to fire o". www.redrocknews.com – Sedona Red Rock News. Archived from the original on April 25, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
- ^ "Oak Creek Canyon near Sedona to reopen Wednesday". azcentral. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
- ^ "Arizona biomes, biotic communities, and habitats - Reptiles of Arizona". Archived from the original on January 29, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- ^ "SEINet Portal NetworkResearch Checklist: Sedona/Oak Creek Canyon".
- ^ "Pinus monophylla (Singleleaf piñon) description – the Gymnosperm Database".
- ^ "Sedona, Arizona – Climate Summary".
- ^ "Cordes, Arizona Climate Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
- ^ Sedona recent events
- ^ "Sedona Marathon". Archived from the original on September 13, 2008. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
- ^ "The Sedona Miracle".
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 1, 2015. Retrieved March 27, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Unity of Sedona – New Age Spiritual Center, New Thought Church and Energy Vortex".
- ^ Greg Lawson Galleries
- ^ Greg Lawson Galleries Archived March 24, 2019, at the Wayback Machine. Artzii.
- ISSN 0037-7686.
- ^ NY Times: Sedona Archived May 13, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Sedona City Council OKs civil unions in 5-2 vote". KCBD. 2013. Archived from the original on July 28, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
- ^ "Red Rock Early Learning Center".
- ^ Sedona Charter School
- ^ Verde Valley Medical Center – Sedona Campus Archived October 6, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Sedona Community Cemetery
- ^ Fried, Paul. "Michelle Branch, Local singer/songwriter is "Everywhere"". Red Rock Review. Archived from the original on November 27, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
- ^ "List of Famous People from Arizona". The Free Resource. Archived from the original on August 29, 2014. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
- ^ Kronthaler, Helmut (2009). Tegethoff, Wolf; Savoy, Bénédicte; Beyer, Andreas (eds.). "Geary, Kevin". Allgemeines Künstlerlexikon Online / Artists of the World Online. K. G. Saur. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- ^ Barnes, Mike (August 9, 2016). "Sagan Lewis, Actress and Wife of Emmy Winner Tom Fontana, Dies at 63". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
- ^ "Donna Loren Official Website". DonnaLoren.net.
- ^ "Sedona". AllMovie.
- ^ Forza Motorsport 4 Locations – Forza Motorsport official website (04/10/2022)
External links
- Official website
- Geographic data related to Sedona, Arizona at OpenStreetMap