Facts About the State of Arizona
EducationFacts About the State of Arizona
With a total land area of 113,998 square miles and a population of 6.4 million people, the state of Arizona is ranked as the 6th largest state in America by area and the 16th largest state by population.
The state shares a border with the other U.S states of New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and California and shares a 389 mile border with Mexico.
The state became the 48th and last contigous American state to join the union on the 14th of February 1912, after having first been inhabited by it's native people the Sobaipuri and Tohono O'odham Tribes, becoming a colony of Spain between 1540 - 1821, part of Mexico from the mid to latter 1800's and then becoming annexed to part of it's two neighbouring states of California and New Mexico.
The state's name would seem to come from the Spanish words of arida zona which mean the arid zone or dry area.
The state is reknowned for it's hot, dry climate and desert landscape which harbour an abundance of cacti plants, vast copper mines and many former cattle, cotton and citrus farms.
The state also has a thriving tourist industry, large retirement communities, plays host to several American film company's movie sets and is home to 25 National Parks and monuments, including the world famous, Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
Along with it's desert landscape, the north of the state is home to an abundance of mountain ranges with high plateaux,cooler temperatures and vast pine forests, including the world's largest afforested area containing the Ponderosa Pine ( Pinus brachyptera Engelm ).
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Location of Arizona.
Demographically, Arizona has the second highest instance of Native American people and illegal immigrant populations of all the American states.
The state is home to large populations of Navajo, Hopi, Yuman and Apache native people as well as large Hispanic and Latino communities.
The state is divided into 15 counties, with the largest county that of Yuma at 113,997 square miles and the smallest, that of Santa Cruz at only 1,238 square miles.
The state is served by 6 inter state highways, the 1- 8, 1 - 10, 1-15, 1-17, 1 - 19 and the 1 - 40, as well as 14 major U.S Routes.
The state has several commercial airports including the three international hubs of Phoenix Sky Harbour International ( PHX ), Tucson International ( TUS ) and Yuma International ( NYL ).
The state is home to the educational hubs of The University of Arizona and Arizona State University and to the MLB team of the Arizona Diamond Backs, who play their matches at the Chase Field Stadium and the NFL team of the Arizona Cardinals, who play their home games at the University of Phoenix Stadium.
Map of Phoenix.
Large cities in the state include Tucson, Yuma, Flagstaff, Prescott and the state capital, Phoenix.
With an area of 519 square miles and a population of 1.6 million, Phoenix is the 5th largest city by population in the U.S and the only American state capital to have a population which exceeds 1 million people.
The city had been central to large Native American settlements for centuries, where the inhabitants had built canals to bring water to the parched desert areas that became the precursors of the Arizona Canal and Central Arizona Project that serve the city today.
The city was founded in 1861 by Confederate, American Civil War veteran and Arizona pioneer, Jack Swilling, who created another large canal system.
The city was named by Englishman, Philip Darrel Duppa another pre - state Arizona pioneer, who thought the name Phoenix would suit a city being formed from the ruins of another.
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Arizona state flag.
Situated along the Salt River Valley of the Sonoran Desert at the base of the McDowell Mountains in Maricopa County, the city is divided into 15 urban villages.
The city is reknowned for it's hot climate, with temperatures which often exceed well over 100 degrees.
The city is home to the Phoenix Sky Harbour International Airport, the fifth busiest airport in the U.S, The University of Phoenix, the University of Arizona, the Arizona Diamond Backs baseball team, the Arizona Cardinals soccer team and the Luke Airforce Base.
Due to the city's arid climate and high temperatures, the city has a myriad of waterparks to help keep it's citizens cool, and is also home to a host of museums, fine art galleries and performing arts venues.
Due to the city's large, multi cultural communities, Phoenix is also reknowned for it's many Mexican and Native American cuisine restaurants and it's many Native American Arts venues.
STATE NICKNAMES - The Grand Canyon State - The Copper State.
POSTAL ABBREVIATION - AZ.
STATE BIRD - The Cactus Wren.
STATE FLOWER - The Soguaro Blossom.
STATE SONG - Arizona, written by Rex Allen Jnr and designated state song in 1979.
STATE TIME ZONE - Arizona is situated on the Mountain Standard time zone, which is globally signified by UTC - 7.
SOME ARIZONA TOURISM WEBSITES.
OTHER AMERICAN STATES FACTS ARTICLES.
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