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Northern Arizona University
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Northern Arizona University - Local Atmosphere - Local Atmosphere - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.85

Local Atmosphere

B+
Where does this grade come from?View all Local Atmosphere rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

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Quick Stats

Fun Local Trivia
  1. In 1996, Flagstaff was named the world's first international "Dark Sky City." Because of its altitude and influence in the astronomy community, Flagstaff limits light pollution so that the stars are always visible. This means that all the restaurants, bars, stores, etc., in Flag have to have a certain wattage on their lights so they don't light up the sky too much.
  2. In its May 2007 issue, Kiplinger's Personal Finance singled out Flagstaff as one of the "great college towns."
  3. In its September/October 2005 issue, Organic Style magazine named Flagstaff the eighth healthiest city in the nation.
  4. Men's Journal ranked Flagstaff second on its list of the top 50 places to live.
  5. The world-famous Lowell Observatory, located atop Mars Hill, is credited with first discovering the former planet Pluto.
Notable Natives
  • Bruce Babbitt – former governor of Arizona
  • Ted Danson – actor
Local Slang
  • 66: The historic Route 66 that runs straight through town and "down the hill," which is how Flagstaffers refer to the I-17 drive to Phoenix
  • The Flag: Endearing term for Flagstaff
  • Monty V: The historic Monte Vista Hotel
  • The Observatory: This doesn't define the actual Lowell Observatory itself, but an overlook right before entering it. Students like to hang out here and look at the city and stars at night.
  • Phoenicians: Locals from Phoenix
  • South of the Tracks: The notoriously shady neighborhood of Flag
  • The Valley: Term for the Phoenix area and the surrounding suburbs
Points of Interest
  • Arizona Snowbowl
  • The Grand Canyon
  • Grand Falls
  • Historic Downtown Flagstaff
  • Historic Route 66
  • Lava Tubes
  • Lowell Observatory
  • Meteor Crater
  • Monte Vista Hotel
  • Montezuma’s Castle
  • Monument Valley
  • Museum of Northern Arizona
  • Oak Creek Canyon
  • Red Rock State Park
  • Riordan Mansion
  • Sedona
  • Sunset Crater
  • Williams, AZ
  • Wupatki National Monument

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Due to its place alongside the historic Route 66, downtown Flagstaff is filled with all sorts of history and charm. Surrounded by miles and miles of nature in every direction, the city is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. The world famous Grand Canyon is in the neighborhood, and Phoenix, the state's capital and one of the largest cities in the country, is a short drive down the freeway. Flagstaff has been able to really balance the additions of modern day while still retaining the old-school look and feel of its Route 66 past. Plus, there’s a ton of hippies. Awesome.

Downtown has plenty of quirky, hole-in-the-wall shops and stores that really add to the town's flavor. Incense, beads, international furniture—some of the items you'll find may surprise you. Flag is very laid-back and a very easy community to become comfortable living in. If you're a fan of outdoor sports, you are in luck: Snowbowl has a lot of great runs for both snowboarders and skiers. Also, give yourself the opportunity to drive around and see some of the great geologic beauties in the surrounding area. There are tons of fantastic picnic spots and plenty of picture opportunities, so you can send Mom and Dad proof that their money isn't going to waste. Because college students pretty much dominate the population, summertime is really when to explore and see what the area has to offer while everyone is away. Hiking is really nice to do until the snow hits, but there's always snowshoeing, right?

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Northern Arizona Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Local Atmosphere at Northern Arizona University

jrose26

Special Education and Teaching '13

5.0
A+

Down to Eath

Well the Grand Canyon is an hour away, there are tons of hikes, and the downtown district is where the party is at. I love walking around town because it is so beautiful. I hardly drive because it is nice to walk into little cafes like Morning Glory and get a fresh Vegan Hemp Burger. It has a ton of great bars and some really cool ghost story's about local businesses. I would reccoment this town to anyone who loves being outside.

May 15, 2012

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Local Atmosphere at Northern Arizona University

darkangelnay

Criminal Justice and Safety Studies '14

2.3
C

Over the Age of 21?

This town has little to nothing to offer for college students who are under 21. There are alot of latenight clubs that the upperclassmen go to, but for younger students, goodluck trying to find something to do at night.

Apr 20, 2012

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Local Atmosphere at Northern Arizona University

martineza2

Biology '16

4.6
A

My Amazing School

Northern Arizona University is a remarkable college. Living in a small town, Flagstaff. You can find that every student loves the weather of having all the seasons and spectacular color in the wildlife. During the winter most of the students use their spare time to go snowboarding at one of the main attractions, Snow Bowl. During the summer and spring you will find many students studying outside and on the weekends out camping. If your looking for a great environment and students always helpful. Then NAU is the place to be.

Apr 04, 2012

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Page 1 of 20
User rating for Northern Arizona University - Local Atmosphere is 4.6 out of 5 based on 58 user reviews.

Photos of Northern Arizona University's Local Atmosphere

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Northern Arizona University - More sceneryMore scenery
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More scenery More Flagstaff scenery.
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Northern Arizona University - HoopHoop
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Hoop A basketball hoop outside of one of the campus buildings.
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Northern Arizona University - Another treeAnother tree
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Another tree Another beautiful campus tree.
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Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate the local atmosphere on the following topics

What is the local atmosphere like at your school?

What is the proximity to other universities? Is there much interaction?

Can you see yourself living here after graduation?

Facts

Shopping Centers
  • Downtown Flagstaff
  • Flagstaff Mall
Major Sports Teams
  • Arizona Cardinals: NFL
  • Arizona Diamondbacks: NBL
  • Phoenix Coyotes: NHL
  • Phoenix Suns: NBA
City Web Sites
Distances to Nearest Major Cities
  • Las Vegas: : 4 hours
  • Phoenix: : 2 hours

Movie TheatersWhat's This?

Harkins Theatres Flagstaff 11
1959 S. Woodlands Village Blvd.
Flagstaff
(928) 774-4847

Become a Contributing Author Learn more »

Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
Audrey Hirschl
Hometown
Tempe, AZ
Major
Advertising
Grad Year
2013

College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.

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How do we get our information? Find out here or report an error here. The statistics on our site are from the National Center for Education Statistics IPEDS database.
We update this information twice annually, most recently in May 2012, but it may not be the most recent information available for a particular school.
For additional information we encourage you to visit school websites or contact the schools directly.