DISCOVER SEDONA

Sedona is a city and community that straddles the county line between Coconino and Yavapai counties in the northern Verde Valley region of the U.S. state of Arizona. The population was 10,192 at the 2000 census.

Sunset over the Red Rocks near Sedona. Photo by Harvey Stearns

Founded in 1902, it has become a gathering place for mystics, who believe some of the earth's energy, as it flows around the rocks is concentrated into power spots some call vortices. Believers in Vortex Healing believe the Sedona area is the home of several such vortices.

One of Sedona's main attractions is its stunning array of red sandstone formations, the Red Rocks of Sedona. The formations appear to glow in brilliant orange and red when illuminated by the rising or setting sun. The Red Rocks form a breathtaking backdrop for everything from spiritual pursuits to the myriad of incredible hiking and mountain biking trails.

There are several events that are hosted annually in the Sedona area, including:

• Sedona International Film Festival on February 28 to March 4, 2007.
• Sedona Marathon will take place on Saturday February 7, 2007
• Sedona's renowned Jazz on the Rocks festival in September..

Politically, Uptown Sedona (the part in Coconino County) and West Sedona (the Yavapai County portion) form the City of Sedona. Originally founded in 1902, the town was incorporated into a city in January 1988. The Village of Oak Creek, despite its location seven miles to the south and outside Sedona city limits, is a significant part of the community.

Sedona is named after Sedona Miller Schnebly (1877-1950), the wife of the city's first postmaster, who was celebrated for her hospitality, her industriousness, and her commitment to education for people of all ages.

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GEOGRAPHY OF SEDONA

Sedona is located in the Upper Sonoran Desert of northern Arizona. At an elevation of 4,500 feet (1,372 m), Sedona has mild winters and summers that are often described as being, "not as hot as Phoenix."

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 48.2 km² (18.6 mi²), all land.

The famous red rocks of Sedona are formed by a layer of rock known as the Schnebly Hill Formation. The Schnebly Hill Formation is a thick layer of red to orange-colored sandstone found only in the Sedona vicinity. The sandstone is thought to have been deposited during the Permian period.

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HISTORY OF SEDONA

Many of Hollywood's classic westerns were filmed in or near Sedona. The red rock buttes and desert landscape provided a striking setting for these films. Most notably is 1950's Broken Arrow, starring James Stewart. A number of its shooting locations can still be visited via off-road trails.

On June 18, 2006, a wildfire reportedly started by transients began about one mile north of Sedona. The so-called "Brins Fire" covered 4,317 acres on Brins Mesa, Wilson Mountain and in Oak Creek Canyon before the USDA Forest Service declared it 100% contained as of 6 p.m. on June 28. Containment cost was estimated at $6,400,000.

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THE ARTS IN SEDONA:

Sedona is home to several large arts organizations in northern Arizona.

• The Sedona Arts Center, founded in 1958, is the oldest arts center in northern Arizona.

• The Sedona Jazz on the Rocks festival, founded in 1982, takes place annually at Radisson Poco Diablo Resort and other locations over four days in September.

• Sedona International Film Festival & Workshop was established in 1995. The weeklong annual festival takes place in late February and early March at Harkins Theatres while supplemental events take place at area resorts. The festival also hosts monthly events.

• NORAZ Poets, founded in 2003, a nonprofit poetry network based in Sedona.

• Sedona Underground a loose group of artists, painters, sculptors, musicians, dancers, performance poets, filmmakers, actors, poi dancers, stilt walkers and grafitti artists.

From Wikipedia.org, the Free Encyclopedia

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