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Literally
surrounded by seven natural wonders, Flagstaff,
Arizona
is often called the "The City of Seven Wonders" because it sits in the
midst of the Coconino National Forest and is surrounded by the Grand
Canyon, Oak Creek Canyon, Walnut Canyon, Wupatki National
Monument, Sunset Crater National Monument, and the San Francisco
Peaks.
Located along an old wagon
road to
California, the first white settler in the area, Edward Whipple,
opened a
saloon near a spring in 1871. A second pioneer, by the name
of F.F. McMillen, settled north of present day
Flagstaff in 1876. Soon, more and more people populated the area that was plentiful with
water, game, and lumbering opportunities. Others began cattle
and sheep ranching.
 How
Flagstaff obtained its name
has several versions, all having to do with stripping a lone pine tree
and making it into a flagpole. The spring and its small
settlement underwent several names beginning with Antelope Spring,
then
Flagstaff, and then Old Town. By the time the
Atlantic and Pacific
Railroad (now the Santa Fe)
came through in 1882 there were ten buildings in
Old Town, but they
soon moved closer to the new railroad depot. In no time at all,
Old Town was almost deserted and when a post office was established
near the new train depot, it assumed the name of
Flagstaff. With the new
railroad, the lumber and cattle businesses began to thrive, assuring
the growth of the community.
Three brothers by the names
of Michael, Tim, and Denis Riordan were some of the first to profit
from the lumber when they formed the
Arizona Lumber and Timber
Company. Though Denis would soon move on to California, Michael
and Tim would remain in the community making essential contributions
to its development, including bringing electricity to
Flagstaff and building nearby
Lake Mary.
In 1891 Coconino County was
created by the
Arizona Territorial Assembly. When an
election was held to determine the permanent county seat,
Flagstaff won out over nearby
Williams,
hands down.
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