Activities & The History of Sedona
Arizona’s rust-colored small town of Sedona is a popular destination for long-weekenders, hiking enthusiasts, spiritualists, people needing to unwind, and simply anyone who wants to experience America’s most majestic landscapes at their very best.
With hundreds of hiking trails through spectacular red rock formations, both traditional and off-beat relaxation treatments and fun activities for all ages, Sedona is a highly sought-after vacation spot. Celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Kristen Bell and Dax Shephard, and even Walt Disney and Lucille Ball have spent time here. The beauty of the region made it a perfect filming destination for movies such as The Quick and the Dead and National Lampoon’s Vacation, as it is highly accessible for a range of budgets.
Sedona is also well-positioned geographically, a two-hour drive north of sprawling metropolis and major airline hub Phoenix. It makes a great getaway on its own, but it’s also just a two-hour drive to the Grand Canyon.
There is a celebration dinner planned Sunday evening and a barbeque on Monday afternoon. Look at the Calendar for details.
Hiking & Walking
Sedona is home to over 200 different hiking trails covering over 400 square miles, both within city limits and the immediate surrounds, so there are plenty of options at all skill levels to choose from.
Dining & Cocktails
Sedona is a town of mesmerizing beauty attracting visitors from all over the world. It is also a culinary destination boasting talented chefs and acclaimed restaurants lauded by both tourists and locals alike.
Shopping
Don’t look for malls or charmless big box stores. Uptown Sedona is packed with galleries, gift shops, cafes and restaurants. Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village, a collection of Spanish-style buildings, cobblestone walkways, splashing fountains and giant sycamores make this an unforgettable destination. Gallery Row is lined with restaurants and world-class galleries, clustered in small plazas, such as Hozho Center and Hillside Sedona.
History of Sedona
Sedona is a city that straddles the county line between Coconino and Yavapai counties in the northern Verde Valley region of Arizona. As of the 2010 census, its population was 10,031. It is within the Coconino National Forest.
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 was named after Sedona Schnebly whose husband, Theodore Carlton Schnebly, was the city's first postmaster. She was celebrated for her hospitality and industriousness. Her mother, Amanda Miller, claimed to have made the name up because "it sounded pretty".
Anglo-American settlement
The first white 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 were no large tracts of undeveloped land remaining.
Chapel of the Holy Cross
In 1956, construction of the Chapel of the Holy Cross was completed. The chapel rises 70 feet out of a 1,000-foot redrock cliff. 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.
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. 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 north of Sedona. The Brins Fire covered 4,317 acres on Brins Mesa, Wilson Mountain and in Oak Creek Canyon before the USDA Forest Service declared it 100 percent contained on June 28. Containment cost was estimated at $6.4 million.
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 spread across 21,227 acres in Oak Creek Canyon over nine days and prompted evacuations. State Route 89A opened to Flagstaff in June, but all parking and canyon access was closed to the public until October 1, 2014.
Demographics
As of the census of 2020, there were 9,684 people residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 92.2% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 4.3% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. 8.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Ages in the city 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 $67,374. About 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line.