Arizona
U.S. state / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Arizona (/ˌærɪˈzoʊnə/ ⓘ ARR-ih-ZOH-nə; Navajo: Hoozdo Hahoodzo [hoː˥z̥to˩ ha˩hoː˩tso˩];[10] O'odham: Alĭ ṣonak [ˈaɭi̥ ˈʂɔnak])[11] is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th-largest and the 14th-most-populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Four Corners region with Utah to the north, Colorado to the northeast, and New Mexico to the east; its other neighboring states are Nevada to the northwest, California to the west and the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California to the south and southwest.
Arizona | |
|---|---|
| State of Arizona | |
| Nicknames: | |
| Motto: Ditat Deus ('God enriches') | |
| Anthem: "The Arizona March Song" and "Arizona" | |
 Map of the United States with Arizona highlighted | |
| Country | United States |
| Before statehood | Arizona Territory |
| Admitted to the Union | February 14, 1912; 111 years ago (1912-02-14) (48th) |
| Capital (and largest city) | Phoenix |
| Largest county or equivalent | Maricopa |
| Largest metro and urban areas | Phoenix |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Katie Hobbs (D) |
| • Secretary of State | Adrian Fontes (D) |
| Legislature | Arizona Legislature |
| • Upper house | Senate |
| • Lower house | House of Representatives |
| Judiciary | Arizona Supreme Court |
| U.S. senators | Kyrsten Sinema (I) Mark Kelly (D) |
| U.S. House delegation | 6 Republicans 3 Democrats (list) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 113,990[4] sq mi (295,234 km2) |
| • Rank | 6th |
| Dimensions | |
| • Length | 400 mi (645 km) |
| • Width | 310 mi (500 km) |
| Elevation | 4,100 ft (1,250 m) |
| Highest elevation | 12,637 ft (3,852 m) |
| Lowest elevation | 72 ft (22 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 7,151,502[7] |
| • Rank | 14th |
| • Density | 57/sq mi (22/km2) |
| • Rank | 33rd |
| • Median household income | $61,500[8] |
| • Income rank | 28th |
| Demonym | Arizonan[9] |
| Language | |
| • Official language | English |
| • Spoken language | As of 2010
|
| Time zones | |
| Most of state | UTC−07:00 (Mountain) |
| Navajo Nation | UTC−07:00 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−06:00 (MDT) |
| USPS abbreviation | AZ |
| ISO 3166 code | US-AZ |
| Traditional abbreviation | Ariz. |
| Latitude | 31°20′ N to 37° N |
| Longitude | 109°03′ W to 114°49′ W |
| Website | az |
Arizona is the 48th state and last of the contiguous states to be admitted to the Union, achieving statehood on February 14, 1912. Historically part of the territory of Alta California in New Spain, it became part of independent Mexico in 1821. After being defeated in the Mexican–American War, Mexico ceded much of this territory to the United States in 1848. The southernmost portion of the state was acquired in 1853 through the Gadsden Purchase.
Southern Arizona is known for its desert climate, with very hot summers and mild winters. Northern Arizona features forests of pine, Douglas fir, and spruce trees; the Colorado Plateau; mountain ranges (such as the San Francisco Mountains); as well as large, deep canyons, with much more moderate summer temperatures and significant winter snowfalls. There are ski resorts in the areas of Flagstaff, Sunrise, and Tucson. In addition to the internationally known Grand Canyon National Park, which is one of the world's seven natural wonders, there are several national forests, national parks, and national monuments.
Arizona's population and economy have grown dramatically since the 1950s because of inward migration, and the state is now a major hub of the Sun Belt. Cities such as Phoenix and Tucson have developed large, sprawling suburban areas. Many large companies, such as PetSmart and Circle K,[12] have headquarters in the state, and Arizona is home to major universities, including the University of Arizona and Arizona State University. The state is known for a history of conservative politicians such as Barry Goldwater and John McCain, though it has become a swing state since the 1990s.
Arizona is home to a diverse population. About one-quarter of the state[13][14] is made up of Indian reservations that serve as the home of 27 federally recognized Native American tribes, including the Navajo Nation, the largest in the state and the United States, with more than 300,000 citizens. Since the 1980s, the proportion of Hispanics in the state's population has grown significantly owing to migration from Mexico. A substantial portion of the population are followers of the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.