Winona, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Winona, Arizona
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A freight train passing through Darling
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Location in Coconino County and the state of Arizona
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| Counties | Coconino |
| Elevation | 6,263 ft (1,909 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) |
| Area code(s) | 928 |
| FIPS code | 04-83860 |
| GNIS feature ID | 36324 |
Winona is a small community located in northern Arizona, in a place called Coconino County. It's not a big city, but a populated place, meaning people live there. Long ago, it was also known as Walnut. Later, its train station got a new name, Darling, to honor a railroad engineer.
History of Winona
Winona was once a small village called Walnut Creek. In the 1950s, it became part of a larger city, Flagstaff. A creek named Walnut Creek flows through Winona. However, since a dam was built in the 1950s, the creek has often been dry. Before the dam, the creek flowed all year round.
Railroad Connections
The train station in Winona was officially renamed "Darling" on December 6, 1959. This new name honored William B. Darling, who was a local railroad engineer. A nearby place called Darling Cinder Pit is also named after him.
The history of Darling is closely connected to the railroad that runs through it. The Southwest Chief, a famous passenger train, often travels through this area. For many years, the Santa Fe Railway served this route. In October 2019, a Burlington Northern freight train had an accident there. This accident caused delays for both cargo trains and passenger trains like Amtrak.
Winona in Popular Culture
Winona is located along U.S. Route 66, a very famous old highway. Even though it's a small town, Winona became well-known because it's mentioned in the lyrics of the song "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66". The song says, "Don't forget Winona." It's about 13 miles (21 km) east of Flagstaff.
The famous singer Wynonna Judd chose her stage name after hearing "Winona" in the "Route 66" song.
