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Flagstaff, Arizona (U.S.)

Coconino County

image located by Masao Okazaki, 7 July 2023
based on photo located by Masao Okazaki, 19 May 2020

Flag
Seal
Previous flag

See also:

Flag

The seal used for the flag of Flagstaff is similar to the city seal but differs in typeface, color, and imagery. It does include a flagstaff/flag pole!

Photograph from the Arizona Daily Sun show most of it: https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/azdailysun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/ce/4ce883e0-4acb-5a37-a13a-5c3a143e95d9/5e5d5b13c2041.image.jpg

The flag atop the seal can be seen in this photograph from the Northern Arizona University student newspaper The Lumberjack: https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/jackcentral.org/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/e6/2e67aa53-de5b-51df-b724-8ede94304da4/5d82aa2f13fa2.image.jpg

Another photo from The Lumberjack: https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/jackcentral.org/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/d/f6/df621960-f0c1-11e5-8e0b-c7e71b160f57/56f23b08eb8da.image.jpg?resize=1080%2C662
Masao Okazaki, 19 May 2020

On this paywalled digitally archived article from the Arizona Daily Sun, a resident says that the Flagstaff flag was adopted in 1983 for the completion of the city hall, I presume this to have been first flown in September of that year. He says that the first flag cost $1400 to make, which I assume was probably hand-sewn by a professional, and was flown in front of the city hall, but a few weeks after, it was stolen and never returned until officers found the thief more than half a year later, who apparently liked the flag so much he stole it.
Daniel Rentería, 23 September 2023

Seal

image located by Paul Bassinson, 17 April 2019

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Flagstaff,_Arizona.svg
Masao Okazaki, 7 July 2023

The website at www.flagstaff.az.gov shows a circular seal; in the center of the white outer ring are the words 'CITY OF FLAGSTAFF' in black capitals. Separated from this by the flagstaff which gives the city its name (q.v.) is the word 'ARIZONA' written in a similar fashion. At the lower right and lower left respectively of this outer ring are two small black dots, while at the very bottom of this ring is the alphanumeric 'ESTABLISHED 1882', in the same format as the words at the top of the outer circle. The most distinguishing feature of the seal is the very tall flagstaff, based on a cliff to the right foreground of the seal and extending some distance outside the seal itself; flying from the peak is a U.S. flag blowing to the left. To the left of the staff is an elk facing front. The principal design of the center of the seal, which is multicolored, is a pale blue sky with white clouds, located at the top. Beneath the sky is a range of mountains in the background, in a very dark shade of green. A field in pale blue (snow-covered?) is in the center foreground, with a rail fence curving toward the mountains. In the lower foreground is a river with rocks.
Ron Lahav, 10 April 2004

Previous flags

image located by Daniel Rentería, 26 January 2024

Flagstaff has had one previous flag. The start for the first Flagstaff city flag came about in December 1964, when a five member committee, headed by County Assessor Jeff Ferris, was appointed to conduct a city flag contest. Ferris proposed this idea, his intent behind it being for advertising and ceremonial purposes. Others in the committee were: Mrs. Joseph R. Babbitt Sr., Mrs. Regina Rousseau, the Flagstaff High School Art Department, Ellery Gibson, the ASC Art Department, and finally, Flagstaff pioneer W. H. Switzer Sr.

As we can see in the August 24, 1965 issue of the Arizona Daily Sun, the council named winners in the flag contest around that time. The Flagstaff City Council recognized the winner as Robert Jacobson out of 37 other proposals and awarded him $100. Second and third places received $50 and $25 respectively.

Jacobson's design is bright green and white with a large pine tree in the center. Curved above are the words "FLAGSTAFF ARIZONA", curved below being "CITY OF SEVEN WONDERS". The latter is the motto of the city, which holds to this day. This is because of seven natural/historical wonders in the area, from the Grand Canyon to Walnut Canyon. In between these two are two stars. It appears to have been adopted in February 1966.

Image above from the February 24, 1966 issue of the Arizona Daily Sun with some modifications.

Daniel Rentería, 26 January 2024