The most photographed town in Arizona is named after a woman almost nobody can picture. Sedona Arabella Miller Schnebly never sought fame, and her husband only submitted her name for the post office because his first two suggestions were too long.
That accident of postal regulation, back in 1902, gave Sedona, Arizona its name. The story of how a remote canyon settlement became a world destination explains a great deal about the town residents inherit today.
This is the short version of that story, written for the people who live here or soon will.
How Did Sedona, Arizona Get Its Name?
Sedona, Arizona was named after Sedona Arabella Miller Schnebly, whose husband T.C. Schnebly established the area’s first post office in 1902. Postal officials rejected his longer name suggestions, so he submitted his wife’s first name instead.
The Schneblys ran a store and lodge near Oak Creek, hosting travelers in what was then a farming settlement of orchards and homesteads.
Schnebly Hill Road, the rugged scenic route climbing east out of town, still carries the family name. Most residents drive it at least once and remember it.
Who Lived in Sedona Before the Settlers?
The Sedona area was home to the Sinagua people, who built cliff dwellings and pueblos throughout the Verde Valley between roughly 600 and 1400 AD. Sites like Palatki and Honanki, just outside town, preserve their dwellings and rock art.
The Sinagua departed the region centuries before European settlement, and Yavapai and Apache peoples lived in and moved through the canyons afterward.
For residents, this history is not abstract. The heritage sites sit minutes from town, and the rock art panels at Palatki are among the area’s most moving places to stand.
When Did Hollywood Discover Sedona?
Hollywood discovered Sedona in the 1920s and filmed dozens of Westerns among the red rocks through the 1950s, putting the scenery in front of millions before tourism arrived. The film era gave Sedona its first taste of fame and several of its street names.
Ranching and orchards still defined daily life then. The town was a film set with a general store, not a destination.
The full story of that era is told in our guide to Sedona’s film and television history, and it still shapes how the town sees itself.
When Did Sedona Become a City?
Sedona incorporated as a city in 1988, remarkably late for a town of its fame. Incorporation unified a community split between two counties and gave residents local control over planning, which has shaped Sedona’s protective approach to development ever since.
The decades before incorporation brought the growth waves that built today’s neighborhoods. Art colonies in the 1960s, the New Age arrival of the 1980s, and retirees and remote workers ever since.
Incorporation mattered because it put zoning in local hands. The height limits, dark sky ordinance, and design standards that keep Sedona looking like Sedona all flow from that 1988 decision.
Angelo Davis, REALTOR® at RE/MAX Sedona, often walks buyers through neighborhoods where this history is visible in the architecture, from 1970s view homes to contemporary builds. The town’s layers are part of what they are buying.
What This Means if You’re Moving Here
Sedona’s history explains its rules, so learn the first to appreciate the second. The development standards that surprise some newcomers exist because residents watched other beautiful places lose themselves.
It also explains the housing stock. Sedona, Arizona grew in distinct waves, which is why a single street can hold a 1960s cabin, an 1980s Santa Fe, and a new contemporary build.
Spend an afternoon at the Sedona Heritage Museum in Jordan Historical Park. It is the fastest way to understand the place you are about to call home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Sedona named after?
Sedona was named after Sedona Arabella Miller Schnebly, the wife of T.C. Schnebly, who established the first post office in 1902. Her name was submitted after postal officials rejected longer alternatives.
What Native American history exists in Sedona?
The Sedona area holds extensive Sinagua history, including the cliff dwellings and rock art at Palatki and Honanki heritage sites. Yavapai and Apache peoples also lived in and moved through the region.
When was Sedona incorporated as a city?
Sedona incorporated in 1988, uniting a community that spans both Coconino and Yavapai counties. Incorporation gave residents local control over planning and development standards.
Where can I learn about Sedona history in person?
The Sedona Heritage Museum in Jordan Historical Park in Uptown preserves the town’s homestead, orchard, and film history. The Palatki and Honanki heritage sites west of town preserve Sinagua dwellings and rock art.
Why are there so many movie references around Sedona?
Sedona served as a filming location for dozens of Hollywood Westerns from the 1920s through the 1950s. The film legacy survives in street names in West Sedona’s film-themed subdivisions and in local lore.
How old are the cliff dwellings near Sedona?
The Sinagua cliff dwellings near Sedona date primarily from roughly 1100 to 1400 AD. Sites like Palatki and Honanki are protected within the Coconino National Forest and open to visitors with permits.
Every town is a story, and Sedona’s begins with a name almost chosen by accident. Send this to someone who loves a good origin story.
