A Tale of Two Counties
When East meets West in Northern Arizona it is an uninterrupted vision of vibrant turquoise sky and enchanting high mountain deserts. There is one sole city within this decadent region that in some ways interferes with this graceful specter of land for this is the great divide. For Sedona residents this division is no mere thing. The beauty that encompasses the Red Rock Kingdom of the world known as Sedona, has a strict county line running right through it.
Yavapai and Coconino counties are two of the largest counties in the nation, yet they were drawn to separate, and separate Sedona they do. Established long before Sedona became a city, this county line has divided a town known for remarkable beauty and exclusive, peaceful residents.
History of Yavapai and Coconino Counties
Originally, Yavapai County was one of the first four counties that divided Arizona. Yavapai County line was drawn in 1891. Coconino County line was drawn out of Yavapai also in 1891. The first Sedona settlers arrived in 1876, yet did not receive a post office until 1902. The county lines divide West Sedona beginning east of Airport Road. Most of West Sedona is within the Yavapai County, but not all.
The county line continues to divide Sedona west of Hwy 179 which runs through the Village of Oak Creek, the southern neighborhood of Sedona. This county line then separates West Sedona from Uptown Sedona which are only 5 miles in length between the two of them. Then the Villiage of Oak Creek gets cut almost in half, all by one, well really two, county lines. All three of these areas, West Sedona, Uptown Sedona and The Villiage of Oak Creek are part of the same small city of Sedona, population 10,000.
Since 1891 there has been a debate for residents of Sedona concerning the county divide. Coconino County was in fact formed to save residents the hassle of having to go to Prescott for property assessments and other community services because Flagstaff was closer. This is before cars, by the way.
Hence the Coconino county line was drawn out of Yavapai county to help solve the distance problem from Sedona to Prescott. So as Sedona’s population grew so did the problems with the county divide. The Arizona Republic from October 12th, 1959 says, “Children complain of social problems once high school age is reached. The kids on the Yavapai side are transported to Mingus High school in Clarkdale (a town just north of Prescott) and their buddies of school days who live on the Coconino side are taken to Flagstaff.”
During the late fall of 1959 in Sedona, the topic of how to live with the dividing counties interrupting school districts, voting polls, and property taxes in Sedona became an issue of annexation. After several smaller town meetings that argued to form a new county or join the two counties a final decision was made. Elmer Purtymun President of The Chamber of Commerce in Sedona and Justice of the Peace in 1959 stated “a new County for this end of Yavapai County would cost $200,000.” And per the Arizona Daily Sun, “that ended that”.
How Does the Line Divide People?
For Yavapai resident’s bearing a hearty Republican outlook is notably important. Jack Fields Assistant County Administrator for Yavapai states, “Yavapai County is very Republican, if not all Republican”. This political identity rests in the fact that Yavapai County is made up of mostly older-age populations. That being the city of Prescott, Cottonwood, as well as not quite half of Sedona.
However, for Coconino County resident’s this type of political conviction is less so. For Coconino County, with its tribal Navajo influences and reservation, plus a younger population that make-up Northern Arizona University (approximately 30,000 students) located in Flagstaff and the new-age liberals that reside in part of Sedona, equates less conservative political views. Aside from politics and age, Yavapai and Coconino County residents get along.
What Is It Like Living In a Small City that Has Two Counties?
Interestingly, the Sedona Public Library addresses this matter quite often. Virginia Volkman, Director of the Sedona Public Library says, “fortunately since 1988 when Sedona was finally incorporated as its own city a lot of the community pains due to the county divide, such as having separate high schools to attend (as of 1994 there is now one High School in Sedona) and zoning has improved. However, we still get a lot of phone calls as to where am I located for voting, county appraisal, etc.”
The debate of ‘where do I go to vote’ is a Sedona locals conundrum. Many residents have to re-register to vote every time they move. For some, this can be several times a year. Imagine moving a mere ½ mile and having to re-register to vote? Or better yet, if you are of the wealthier class in Sedona, which there are many, how about paying property tax for your business in Yavapai portion of Sedona that is different from your property tax for your home located in Coconino County in Sedona?
Pretty darn confusing for this tiny town nestled within the great divide of Yavapai and Coconino counties.
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