# Winslow, Arizona

Winslow (Navajo: Béésh Sinil) is a city in Navajo County, Arizona, United States. According to the 2020 census, the population of the city is 9,005. It is approximately 57 miles (92 km) southeast of Flagstaff, 240 miles (390 km) west of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and 329 miles (529 km) southeast of Las Vegas.

## History

Winslow was named for either Edward F. Winslow, president of St. Louis–San Francisco Railway, which owned half of the old Atlantic and Pacific Railroad, or Tom Winslow, a prospector who lived in the area.
The chain's final Harvey House, designed by Mary Colter, opened in 1930. It closed in 1957 and was used by the Santa Fe Railway for offices. The railroad abandoned the property in 1994 and announced plans to tear it down. However, it was bought and restored by Allan Affeldt and now is known as the La Posada Hotel.
U.S. Route 66 originally passed through the city. A contract to build Interstate 40 as a bypass north of Winslow was awarded at the end of 1977. I-40 replaced U.S. Route 66 in Arizona in its entirety.
Winslow achieved international fame in 1972 in the Eagles / Jackson Browne song "Take It Easy" that has the line "standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona."

## Geography and climate

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 12.3 square miles (32 km$^2$), all land. It is approximately 57 miles (92 km) southeast of Flagstaff, 320 miles (510 km) west of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and 329 miles (529 km) southeast of Las Vegas.
Winslow experiences a dry, temperate arid climate (Köppen BWk), with a wide diurnal temperature variation year-round, averaging 56 °F (13.3 °C). Winters are cool and dry, while summers are hot, and bringing the largest portion of the annual precipitation, which is 7.01 inches (178 mm); snowfall averages 8.1 inches (21 cm) per season (July 1 through June 30 of the subsequent year).
Climate data for Winslow Municipal Airport, Arizona (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1915–present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 75 (24) | 82 (28) | 85 (29) | 92 (33) | 101 (38) | 108 (42) | 110 (43) | 104 (40) | 103 (39) | 94 (34) | 83 (28) | 74 (23) | 110 (43) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 63.9 (17.7) | 70.3 (21.3) | 77.9 (25.5) | 85.2 (29.6) | 92.9 (33.8) | 101.3 (38.5) | 102.5 (39.2) | 99.0 (37.2) | 94.4 (34.7) | 86.6 (30.3) | 75.0 (23.9) | 65.3 (18.5) | 103.6 (39.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 49.8 (9.9) | 56.2 (13.4) | 64.5 (18.1) | 71.9 (22.2) | 81.2 (27.3) | 92.3 (33.5) | 94.6 (34.8) | 91.7 (33.2) | 85.6 (29.8) | 73.8 (23.2) | 60.3 (15.7) | 48.7 (9.3) | 72.6 (22.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 35.9 (2.2) | 41.0 (5.0) | 48.2 (9.0) | 54.9 (12.7) | 63.7 (17.6) | 73.8 (23.2) | 79.1 (26.2) | 77.1 (25.1) | 69.7 (20.9) | 57.1 (13.9) | 44.6 (7.0) | 35.2 (1.8) | 56.7 (13.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 22.0 (−5.6) | 25.9 (−3.4) | 31.8 (−0.1) | 37.9 (3.3) | 46.2 (7.9) | 55.2 (12.9) | 63.7 (17.6) | 62.5 (16.9) | 53.8 (12.1) | 40.4 (4.7) | 28.9 (−1.7) | 21.7 (−5.7) | 40.8 (4.9) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 7.5 (−13.6) | 11.4 (−11.4) | 17.5 (−8.1) | 24.1 (−4.4) | 32.7 (0.4) | 42.7 (5.9) | 53.9 (12.2) | 54.1 (12.3) | 39.8 (4.3) | 24.6 (−4.1) | 12.7 (−10.7) | 7.1 (−13.8) | 4.3 (−15.4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −18 (−28) | −9 (−23) | −2 (−19) | 14 (−10) | 23 (−5) | 29 (−2) | 42 (6) | 41 (5) | 29 (−2) | 7 (−14) | −9 (−23) | −12 (−24) | −18 (−28) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.51 (13) | 0.42 (11) | 0.49 (12) | 0.25 (6.4) | 0.30 (7.6) | 0.14 (3.6) | 0.89 (23) | 1.16 (29) | 0.87 (22) | 0.51 (13) | 0.48 (12) | 0.50 (13) | 6.52 (166) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 1.9 (4.8) | 1.4 (3.6) | 1.4 (3.6) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.7 (1.8) | 2.6 (6.6) | 8.1 (21) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 inch) | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 6.3 | 8.1 | 4.8 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 4.3 | 49.5 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 inch) | 1.9 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 7.0 |
| Source 1: NOAA (snow/snow days 1981–2010) ||||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 9,520 people, 2,754 households, and 1,991 families residing in the city. The population density was 773 inhabitants per square mile (298/km$^2$). There were 3,198 housing units at an average density of 260 per square mile (100/km$^2$). The city's racial makeup was 40.8% White, 28.8% Hispanic or Latino of any race, 23.5% Native American, 13.5% from other races, 5.2% Black or African American, 1.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander and 4.2% from two or more races.
There were 2,754 households, of which 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.40.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.8% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 122.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 134.6 males.
The city's median household income was $29,741, and the median family income was $35,825. Males had a median income of $28,365 versus $20,698 for females. The city's per capita income was $12,340. About 17.5% of families and 20.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.9% of those under age 18 and 16.3% of those age 65 or over.

## Education

Winslow is served by the Winslow Unified School District.
The city has three public elementary schools: Bonnie Brennan Elementary School, Jefferson Elementary School, and Washington Elementary School. Winslow Junior High School and Winslow High School serve the city. Winslow also hosts the Little Colorado Campus of Northland Pioneer College.
The Little Springs Community School, a tribal elementary school affiliated with the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), has a Winslow postal address but is actually in an unincorporated area 6 miles (9.7 km) southeast of Birdsprings.

## Transportation

Winslow is served by Winslow-Lindbergh Regional Airport (IATA: INW, ICAO: KINW), originally constructed by Transcontinental Air Transport; however, there is no commercial airline service. The airport was designed by Charles Lindbergh, who stayed in Winslow during its construction. At the time it was the only commercial airport between Albuquerque and Los Angeles.
Winslow's railroad station has twice-daily Amtrak service (one train eastbound and one westbound) with the Southwest Chief. The city is on BNSF's Southern Transcon route that runs between Los Angeles and Chicago, Illinois. It is also a crew change point for the railroad.
Hopi Senom Transit provides bus service from Winslow to the Hopi Reservation.
Interstate 40 runs just north of Winslow; the Business route is the historic U.S. Route 66.

## Main sights

The historic La Posada hotel has been restored.
The nearby Meteor Crater, sometimes known as the Barringer Crater and formerly as the Canyon Diablo crater, is a famous impact crater.
Standin' on the Corner Park is a downtown park featuring murals depicting the "Girl my Lord in a flatbed Ford". Winslow also has an annual Standin' On The Corner street festival, traditionally held the last week of September.
The Painted Desert and Petrified Forest are about 60 miles (100 km) east of Winslow. The Little Painted Desert is 18 miles (29 km) north of Winslow.
The 9-11 Remembrance Gardens honors those who lost their lives during the September 11 attacks. The memorial was constructed using two beams recovered from the wreckage of the World Trade Center towers in New York City. A large number of citizens donated time and money to the erection of the memorial, which was in place and celebrated on the first anniversary of the event, September 11, 2002.

## Historical events

In the era of steam locomotives, Winslow was an important stop on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway for adding water and fuel. Passengers could disembark and have enough time to have a meal during the extended stop. During the 1920s many celebrities chose to come west to Hollywood and when they stopped in Winslow a parade took place. The local newspaper often documented these special events.
Winslow was also home to a roundhouse and maintenance depot for the Santa Fe. When the facility at Barstow, California was given the engineering responsibility for newer diesel locomotives, Winslow began its slow decline. Company brass moved out, as did other employees needed for maintenance and repairs.
In 1949 when the Shah of Iran came to America and toured some sights, he chose to come to the Grand Canyon. His plane landed at the Winslow airport and the entourage took land transport to get to the canyon.
In the 1970s, Winslow was chosen as the site of one of ten Decision Information Distribution System radio stations, designed to alert the public of an enemy attack. The system was never implemented and the station was never built.

## In popular culture

Winslow was mentioned in the popular 1972 song "Take It Easy" written by Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey and performed by the Eagles.
The Crew video game featured Winslow as a location, as did its sequel The Crew 2. However, it is incorrectly called Winston, Arizona. It may have been confused with the name of a small town called Winston, New Mexico.

## Media
### Radio

* KINO – 1230AM

## Notable people

* Erika Alexander, actress
* Brad Carson, former U.S. Under Secretary of the Army and congressman
* Bill Engvall, comedian (not born there; resided there in the early 70s)
* Deb Haaland, First Native American woman elected to congress. 54th United States Secretary of the Interior
* Michael Daly Hawkins, U.S. Attorney for Arizona; U.S. Circuit Judge 9th Circuit
* Nick Hysong, gold medalist in pole vault at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games
* Richard Kleindienst, United States Attorney General under Richard Nixon
* Vernon Lattin (born 1938), president of Brooklyn College
* Paul M. Lally Producer/Director/Writer "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" (not born there; resided late 50s)
* Tina Mion, artist
* Tommy Singer, a Navajo silversmith who specialized in chip-inlay jewelry
* Jay R. Vargas, Medal of Honor recipient during the Vietnam War