|
 |
Sedona's history started over 6000 years ago with the first settlers to the area. Native Americans lived in and around the Sedona area in a series of cave dwellings, some of which still exist today. In particular, the Hopi Indian's, in a feat that is still marveled at today, managed to grow corn, beans and squash in an area that averages only 15-20 inches of rain per year. Examples of the 4 or 5 story structures such as Montezuma's Castle or the Casa Grande ruins, built by various aboriginal cultures such as the Sinagua, Anasazi and the Hohokam, provide excellent examples of early life in the area, although why the last tribe disappeared around 500 years ago still remains a mystery.
Between 1870 and 1900 the first non aboriginal settlers to the area began to homestead around the Verde Valley area. Because of the remoteness of the region, initial growth was slow but over time as more and more settlers arrived, the need for another postal station arose and T.C. Schnebly filled this void, naming the station after his wife, Sedona.
 Today, Sedona Arizona has a population of approximately 21,500 residents with thousands of visitors each year enjoying the natural beauty and energy of the area. One of Sedona's more distinctive man-made attractions is the Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village. Named for a picturesque suburb of Mexico's Queen City, Guadalajara, and meaning "the best of everything", the shopping center has become home to 40 unique shops filled with the works of local artisans and craftsmen. It is a unique blending of the old and the new, not unlike the city it resides in.
It is this blending of cultures, from the artistic works of Mother Nature 350 million years ago to the first human beings, magnificent cave dwellings, humble homesteads and artistic tributes such as the Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village that make Sedona a one-of-a-kind place. A visit to Sedona is an experience that won't soon be forgotten.
|
