Flagstaff Apartments and Rentals

Flagstaff, Arizona, is internationally known for its ski resort, the Arizona Snowbowl, but the city has a lot more to offer than just winter sports. Its historic downtown area oozes charm, and the city is firmly in touch with its Old West legacy. It's also centrally located at the junction of two major U.S. highways - Interstate 17 and Interstate 40 - and is home to a regional airport and large train depot.

Flagstaff is located in a beautiful part of the country, and is within relatively easy driving distance of numerous natural wonders, including the Grand Canyon National State Park, the Red Rocks of Sedona and the Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. One thing's for sure - people considering Flagstaff apartments for rent shouldn't have to worry about running out of things to do, see and experience in the aptly named City of Seven Wonders.

Legend has it that the city of Flagstaff got its name from a group of pioneers camping in the shadow of the San Francisco Peaks - the highest mountains in Arizona - on July 4, 1876. The travelers stripped a pine tree and turned it into a flag pole to celebrate the nation's centenary, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Like many western settlements, Flagstaff's growth was catalyzed by the emergence of the railroad, which transformed it from a campsite along a trail scouted by Lieutenant Edward Beale in the mid 1800s to a hub for the lumber and cattle industries. When Coconino County was created by the Arizona Territorial Assembly in 1891, Flagstaff was the obvious candidate for county seat, and was elected as such by a landslide. By the end of the decade, Northern Arizona University was established, cementing Flagstaff as the hub of northern Arizona.

Nowadays, the city is home to around 66,000 people. It has a thriving tourism industry and is home to a number of industrial parks that house the operations of big-name brands such as Walgreens and Purina PetCare.

Flagstaff's 29,000-strong labor force is divided among several sectors, including management, construction, sales and transportation. The city's largest employers include Flagstaff Medical Center, Northern Arizona University (NAU), Sterner and Klein Walgreens Distribution, the Ralston Purina Company and the local school district.

More than 17,000 students called NAU's Flagstaff campus home in 2011. The university offers 80 undergraduate degree programs and 56 graduate degree programs, and boasts an average class size of 38 pupils.

Those looking for apartments in Flagstaff with children in the K-12 grade range can choose from 15 public schools in the Flagstaff Unified School District, plus the prestigious Alpine Preparatory Academy.

As of March 2012, Flagstaff registered a 97.7 on City-Data.com's cost of living index - slightly below the national average of 100. The median gross rent in the area is $1,010, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

The Arizona Snowbowl, one of the oldest continually run ski areas in the nation, is approximately 14 miles outside of Flagstaff and is one of the area's main attractions. It is comprised of 777 skiable acres, and its winter season generally runs from mid-December to mid-April, during which time visitors can enjoy average annual snowfall of 260 inches.

If winter sports aren't your thing, there's no need to worry, because the city is also home to a number of other attractions. Those interested in astrology can visit the local Lowell Observatory, perusing the range of exhibits and presentations by day and stargazing by night. Fans of the arts can take in performances by the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra and Theatrikos Theatre Company, while the Museum of Northern Arizona is perfect for history buffs intrigued by the Colorado Plateau's rich cultural and natural heritage.

If you are looking for an apartment for rent or a house rental in Flagstaff, Ariz., search for rental properties at Rent.com®.