Sedona, Arizona
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. 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 at Radisson Poco Diablo on September 21 to September 24, 2006.
- GumptionFest June 9, 2007.
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.
Geography
Sedona is located at 34°51′36″N 111°47′21″W / 34.86000°N 111.78917°WInvalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (34.859897, -111.789199),Template:GR which is 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.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 10,192 people, 4,928 households, and 2,863 families residing in the city. The population density was 211.6/km² (548.0/mi²). There were 5,684 housing units at an average density of 118.0/km² (305.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.17% White, 0.49% Black or African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.94% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 4.29% from other races, and 1.57% from two or more races. 8.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 4,928 households out of which 15.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.9% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.52.
In the city the population 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 $44,042, and the median income for a family was $52,659. Males had a median income of $32,067 versus $24,453 for females. The per capita income for the city was $31,350. About 4.7% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
History
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 campers began about one mile north of Sedona.[1] 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.[2]
Trivia
- In Jamie O'Neal's love ballad, "There Is No Arizona", Jamie belts out the name Sedona in the chorus, "There is no Arizona. No painted desert, no Sedona."
- Some of the purported spiritual vortices in the Sedona area are believed to radiate male energy, and others female energy. Such vortices, it is said, can be found all over the planet, but such a concentration is rare. It is believed there are five major vortex areas in Sedona: Bell Rock, Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, Boynton Canyon and Schnebly Hill. Many experience uplifting or insightful feelings while meditating at these power points and there is a specialized new age tourist industry in Sedona. Paige Bryant, a well known psychic, was the first to locate vortex areas in Sedona.
- Israel Regardie, former secretary and friend of Aleister Crowley and member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn died in Sedona in 1985.
- Sedona is home of the world's only McDonald's outlet with non-yellow arches. The arches are instead turquoise.
- Inspired by the gorgeous rock formations surrounding the town, music composer Steven Reineke wrote a piece which he named "Sedona."
- The city is known regionally for its unique subculture of artists, musicians, transients and locally-known minor celebrities, some of whom display odd behavior, such as "the samurai," who was often seen standing along the highway posing with a katana; and "the waver," who waves at traffic from early morning until sunset.
- Tool frontman, Maynard James Keenan, lives in Jerome, 20 miles outside Sedona. He is a partner in a Merkin Vineyards winery in Page Springs, near Sedona.
- Sedona is mentioned in the Pixies song, "Havalina," the last song on their album, "Bossanova." The lyrics are: "Walking in the breeze / On the plains of old Sedona / Arizona / Among the trees."
- Sedona is home to the "Sedona Underground," a loose coalition of artists working in various mediums, including film, music, dance, poetry, visual arts and photography. June 10, 2006 saw GumptionFest, [3] where almost one hundred of the artists came together and publicy displayed art, played music, read poetry, performed dance and more at five Sedona locations.
- The Electro group Dynamix II released a single by the name of Sedona.
- Aerosmith recorded a song called "Sedona Sunrise" released on their 2006 compilation Devil's Got a New Disguise. The lyrics and laidback tone of the song were apparently inspired by the songwriters' visit to Sedona.
Arts
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.
Education
Though in two counties, Coconino County and Yavapai County Sedona is served by the Sedona-Oak Creek Unified School District.
See also
External links
