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General Information About Sedona

Background
With an abundance of unspoiled scenery and numerous sacred sites surrounding the town, Sedona has become the top pilgrimage destination in the United States. Its international reputation as a spiritual and healing center leads over 4 million visitors to journey here annually to experience the vortex phenomenon.

Despite this large number of visitors Sedona retains an ambiance that is distinctly "small town." In fact, the town covers an area of only 19 square miles, and boasts a population of only about 14,000 residents. It is possible to drive from one end of Sedona to the other in just 10-15 minutes.

Travel To Sedona
Sedona is 120 miles north of the Phoenix airport and 278 miles southeast of the Las Vegas airport. Most visitors fly into Phoenix, rent a car, and drive up on I-17. There is also a shuttle service available from Phoenix to Sedona. While a car is definitely the best way to get around, there is also taxi service and the Sedona trolley.

Physical Environment
Nestled among red rock canyons at the foot of the vast Colorado Plateau, Sedona enjoys a mild 4-season climate. With approximately 16 inches of precipitation annually, Sedona is considered semi-arid rather than desert. The town is surrounded by the Coconino National Forest, which is dominated by pinon pine and juniper at this elevation, with cottonwood and sycamore trees along the canyon bottoms. The area surrounding Sedona offers outstanding hiking trails and other outdoor recreation opportunities.

Sedona Demographics
The population is mostly college educated and relatively affluent, with a median age of 52 and median family income of $52,659. 55% of the population is female, 45% male, and approximately 54% of adults are married. Sedona is approximately 90% white, 8% Hispanic and 2% other.

Sedona Housing Statistics
The housing market in Sedona is extremely tight and prices have risen dramatically in recent years. The median home price is now well over $500,000. Approximately 73% of living spaces are owner occupied.

Sedona History
Human settlement in the Sedona area dates about 10,000 years, when hunter-gatherers roamed the area. Sinagua and Hohokam farmers built several significant villages in the Verde Valley and began growing their crops here over 1,000 years ago. They established trade routes extending to the Pacific coast and southward to Central America. However, by the time Spanish conquistadors arrived in the late 1500's, the farmers had moved on and the Yavapai people had moved in.

When gold was discovered in the Bradshaw Mountains near Prescott, the local native tribes were forced to relocate to the San Carlos Reservation in southern Arizona. Immediately after their removal in 1876, Anglo settlers began moving in, drawn here by year-round water sources. The early economy of Sedona was based on agriculture and ranching, and the town remained relatively unknown.

By 1900 about 15 homesteading families called the area home. T.C. Schnebly arrived in 1899 and purchased 80 acres along Oak Creek where Tlaquepaque and the Los Abrigados Resort are now located. Schnebly opened a general store and hotel on the property and soon realized there was a need for regular mail service. He submitted applications with the Postmaster General using several other names for the community, but they were rejected as too long. He eventually submitted an application using his wife's name. On June 26, 1902 the Postmaster approved the name "Sedona."

Movies In Sedona
Once a sleepy, out-of-the-way agricultural community, the spectacular scenery of Sedona soon caught the attention of Hollywood movie directors. While the hayday of film in Sedona was during the 1940's and 1950's, film crews still come here to shoot television commercials and magazine ads. To date more than 100 feature films and numerous television productions have been shot either partially or entirely in Sedona.

This page last updated:
07/20/08