State Overview - Arizona

State Number: 48th

Date of Admission: February 14, 1912

Capital: Phoenix (Established as capital in 1889)

Largest city: Phoenix

Number of Counties: 15

Largest County: Maricopa

State Nickname: The Grand Canyon State

State Motto: God Enriches (English translation)

Size: 113,998 mi2 (6th largest)

State Government

State Governor: Katie Hobbs (D)

Senators: Mark Kelly (D) and Ruben Gallego (D)

US House Delegation: 6 Republicans, 3 Democrats, 0 Others

All research was done through Wikipedia.

Arizona was inhabited for thousands of years before being colonized by the Spanish. Spain sent Coronado, who was in the area for the search of  Cíbola. When Spain arrived in Arizona, Spain had fought many of the Native Americans, including the Pueblos Indians. The Pueblos Indians had fought the Spanish so hard that Spain formed a mutual respect for the Pueblos and they became allies.

After Mexico had gained its Independence from Spain, Arizona became part of Alta California. When war broke out between Mexico and the United States, Arizona was occupied by the Americans. After Mexico's defeat in 1848, most of Arizona became a territory of the US. In 1853, a purchase was made to get the Southern part of Arizona and New Mexico, which was called the Gadsden Purchase, for $10 million (equivalent of $270 million in 2024).

During the American Civil War, Arizona, part of the New Mexico Territory, seceded from the Union to form The Territory of Arizona, which was organized by the Confederacy in 1862. Later, in 1863, the Federal Government declared a new Arizona Territory consisting of the western half of the earlier New Mexico Territory.

During the 19th century, gold and silver was discovered in Arizona. This started many boom towns in Arizona as many people wanted to get rich quick. Many of these boom towns are now abandoned becoming ghost towns. In 1907, copper was mined more in Arizona than any other state giving Arizona the nickname "The Copper State" when it first became a state.

Arizona began to struggle during the Great Depression as copper mining and cotton farming began suffering, but during the 1920s and 1930s, Arizona attracted many tourists. Many of these tourists were more interested in the 'Old West' and adorned the old towns and ranches.

- If you cut down a Saguaro Cactus in Arizona, it is considered a  felony

-The original London Bridge was purchased by the US and was rebuilt in Lake Havasu City in Arizona

- Most of Arizona doesn't do daylight saving time

- Famous films such as Casablanca and Star Wars was filmed in Arizona.