Red sandstone. Cliffs, arches, bluffs, and spires. This otherworldly scenery is the backdrop of what some call the most beautiful city in the country. Early Native Americans considered this area to be sacred, and traveled here to perform ceremonies. With thousand foot high rock formations surrounding the town, many people today still believe that Sedona has unique healing properties. This has made Sedona a haven for alternative medicines, holistic healers, artists and naturalists. It is also a popular destination for tourists who come to experience this dramatic beauty, shop, dine and play golf.

S edona, Arizona has a permanent population of just under 12,000 people, whose median age is 50. Their annual household income is approximately $44,000 per year, and the median home value in the city is around $435,000. The largest employment sectors in Sedona are retail and professional services, followed by information technology and finance.

Sedona is located at the mouth of Oak Creek Canyon. This basin location contributes to the numerous and varied accolades lauded on the town for its beauty. Men's Journal Magazine ranked Sedona Number 12 on its "50 Best Places to Live" list. Recently, USA Today voted the city "The Most Beautiful City in the United States."

Sedona remains a popular destination for photographers, and even amateurs are able to take home stunning memories of the rock formations and the changing light throughout the day. Filmmakers from around the world come to shoot scenes in Sedona. It has played a feature role in John Wayne's "The Angel and the Badman" and Robert Mitchums's "Blood on the Moon". In 1983, the Griswald family toured Sedona in the movie "Vacation" and in 1988, the city was a backdrop for the movie "Midnight Run". Even the New York Times noted that "God made the Grand Canyon, but He lives in Sedona."

Sedona lures over four million tourists each year. They come for camping, hiking, and photography like no where else in the world. Geologists and archaeologists can spend days in search of unique finds from earlier civilizations. The area is also a popular place to cruise around in off-road vehicles. The climate in Sedona is mild, remaining a solid twelve to fifteen degrees cooler than nearby Tucson and Phoenix. In the winter, when nearby Flagstaff is under a chill, Sedona's lower elevation keeps it free of snow and its temperatures much more mild.

Sedona offers some of the finest outdoor activities in the country. Golf courses here are a breathtaking oasis for even non-golfers. The Sedona Golf Resort was rated by Golf Magazine as one of the "Top Ten New Public Golf Courses", and each year it continues to receive a Four Star Rating by Golf Digest. And as soon as you lay eyes on it, there will be no question in your mind as to why. The verdant greens of the course sit in contrast to the red sandstone formations surrounding it. The scenery changes throughout the day, as the sun's rays highlight the rocks from different angles, creating a veritable rainbow of orange, yellow and purple rising out of the ground. As your eyes travel up, yet another contrast of powder-blue skies cap the view, with fluffy white clouds lazing in the distance.

Some of the most popular community events throughout the year capitalize on this natural beauty to bring the town together. Sedona is a serious art community, and October's Sedona Arts Festival draws the curious and collectors alike. In September, the town gathers to celebrate a stunning combination of music and scenery with the Jazz on the Rocks Festival.

Sedona has been called "a funky combination of nature worshipers, holistics, writers, musicians and artists". It is also a haven for tourists, retirees, and families. This is a diverse community with something for everyone. While residents may relocate and live here for widely varying purposes, these differences come together to create a unique tapestry.