Early History of Flagstaff Part 3 of 4: A Tale of Two Towns

Nestled at 7,000 feet near the base of the San Francisco Peaks, Flagstaff reigns as the mountain jewel in the crown of the desert state of Arizona. It beckons with its clear air, cool pine forests, and proximity to historic and natural attractions. Flagstaff is a region settled by varied cultures and built by strong men and women pioneers that made this city what it is today.

A Tale of Two Towns

Old Town Flagstaff, circa 1884

In 1883, the railroad decided to move their depot about a jalf mile east of the Flagstaff settlement so their trains didn't have to start up on the steep hillside. One of the local merchants, P.J. Brannen, saw this as an opportunity and decided to move his mercantile across from the depot. Others followed, building a strop of shops, saloons, and hotels along what became knows as Front Street. As a result, Flagstaff became two settlements: the original site called Old Town, and the site near the depot named New Town.

Old Town had water, but New Town had commerce and soon outgrew the older settlement. In 1884, a devastating fire burned down many of Old Town's buildings and New Town became the one and only Flagstaff. Its center was the intersection of Front and San Francisco Streets. Later Front Street would be called Railroad Avenue, but in 1926, the road became part of Route 66 and was renamed Santa Fe Avenue. In 1993, the road was renamed for the historic Route 66, and it continues to be a major thoroughfare of the city.

By the early 1890s, the young town of FLagstaff had reached a population of 1,500 and had become one of the largest towns in the territory. It had a well developed business district and homes were being built throughout the area. The inhabitants realized that the town would soon be too big to continue without some kind of formal organization.

Stay tuned for the final chapter: Part 4, Flagstaff Finds Success in Incorporation!

And when you are looking for information on the housing market around Flagstaff,

Come see us on Cherry Avenue, in historic downtown!