Arizona

Arizona is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is bordered by Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, and California, and it shares an international border with the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California. Phoenix is the capital and largest city, and it is also the most populous state capital in the United States.

Arizona became a state on February 14, 1912, and it was the 48th state to join the United States. The southern part of Arizona has a very hot desert climate, while the northern part has cooler forests, mountains, and deep canyons. The Grand Canyon National Park, one of the world's most famous natural wonders, is located in Arizona.

The state is home to many different groups of people. About a quarter of Arizona is made up of Indian reservations where 27 federally recognized Native American tribes live, including the large Navajo Nation. Many people in Arizona also come from Mexico and Central America, and the state has many followers of the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Arizona's population and economy have grown a lot since the 1950s, and many big companies and universities have their homes there.

Etymology

The name "Arizona" likely comes from an old Spanish name, Arizonac, which came from the O'odham word alĭ ṣonak, meaning "small spring." Spanish settlers first used this name for a place close to a silver mining area called Planchas de Plata, Sonora. To European settlers, the O'odham way of saying it sounded like Arissona.

Another idea is that the name comes from a Basque phrase meaning "the good oak." This is because many Basque shepherds lived in the area. A Mexican person with Basque roots set up a small settlement named Arizona in what is now Sonora between 1734 and 1736. This place became well-known after people found a lot of silver there around 1737.

History

Main article: History of Arizona

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Arizona.

Arizona has been home to many ancient Native American cultures for thousands of years. Groups like the Hohokam, Mogollon, and Ancestral Puebloan built pueblos, cliffside dwellings, and rock paintings that still exist today and attract many visitors.

In 1539, Spanish explorer Marcos de Niza became the first European to visit the area. Spanish missions were established by Father Kino in the late 1600s and early 1700s. Mexico controlled the region after gaining independence from Spain in 1821.

During the Mexican-American War, the United States claimed much of northern Mexico, including what is now Arizona. The U.S. acquired more land south of the Gila River in 1853 through the Gadsden Purchase.

Arizona was part of the New Mexico Territory until it became its own territory in 1863. It joined the United States as the 48th state on February 14, 1912.

Arizona faced challenges during the Great Depression, but tourism grew as an important industry. After World War II, the state's population expanded greatly, helped by new developments for retirees and the use of air conditioning to make hot weather more comfortable.

During the Mexican Revolution, some battles happened near the Arizona border. Arizona became a state in 1912, the last of the contiguous states to join the United States.

The capital of Arizona moved several times before settling in Phoenix. The state’s name was chosen after considering other options like "Gadsonia" and "Montezuma."

Brigham Young and other Mormons founded towns such as Mesa, Snowflake, and Safford in the late 1800s. Gold and silver discoveries brought many people to Arizona, followed by copper mining, which made Arizona known as the “Copper State.”

20th century to present

During World War II, Arizona had prisoner-of-war camps and Japanese American internment camps. Many Japanese Americans lost their homes and businesses. After the war, Native American veterans fought for better rights.

Arizona’s population grew quickly after World War II, helped by new housing and businesses. Many retirees moved to the state, especially to places like Sun City.

In 2000, Arizona held the first online election to choose a candidate for public office.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Arizona

Arizona is in the Southwestern United States and is one of the Four Corners states. It is the sixth largest state by area, after New Mexico and before Nevada. Arizona has many natural wonders, including the Grand Canyon National Park, Saguaro National Park, and the Petrified Forest National Park.

Arizona is famous for its desert areas filled with cactus plants. The state's climate has very hot summers and mild winters. Northern Arizona has cooler climates with forests and mountains, including the Colorado Plateau. The Mogollon Rim is a large rocky edge that runs across central Arizona.

The Grand Canyon, a deep gorge carved by the Colorado River, is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Arizona is also home to the Meteor Crater, a large crater made by a meteorite about 50,000 years ago.

Arizona is one of two U.S. states, along with Hawaii, that does not observe Daylight Saving Time.

Phoenix, in Maricopa County, is Arizona's capital and largest city. Other important cities in the Phoenix area include Mesa, Chandler, Glendale, and Scottsdale.

Tucson is Arizona's second-largest city, located in Pima County. It is home to the University of Arizona and Saguaro National Park.

Prescott is known for its cooler climate and forests.

Yuma is one of the hottest places in the United States.

Flagstaff is a cooler city in northern Arizona, close to the Grand Canyon National Park and other attractions.

Lake Havasu City is famous for its spring break events and the London Bridge.

Climate

Further information: Climate change in Arizona

Arizona has many different kinds of weather because it is a big state with mountains and deserts. In the low areas, it is very hot in the summer and mild in the winter. Winter temperatures usually stay between 40 to 75 °F (4 to 24 °C), and summer temperatures can get very hot, from 90 to 120 °F (32 to 49 °C). In some desert places, it has gotten even hotter than 125 °F (52 °C)! The hottest it has ever been was 128 °F (53 °C) at Lake Havasu City.

In the summer, Arizona gets a lot of rain during what is called the monsoon season. This brings thunderstorms, lightning, and heavy rain that can cause fast floods. In the north, where it is higher up, it is cooler, with cold winters and mild summers.

Arizona might have trouble with climate change in the future, which could make some places hard for people to live in.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Arizona

The United States Census Bureau recorded Arizona's population as 7,151,502 in the 2020 census, showing a 12% increase since the 2010 United States census. Arizona grew quickly during the 1990s, becoming the second fastest-growing state in the U.S., helped by the growth of cities like Phoenix.

Metropolitan Phoenix and Tucson hold most of Arizona's people. As of 2010, Metro Phoenix alone had two-thirds of the state's population. Many people in Arizona come from other countries, with Mexico being the top country of origin for immigrants.

Arizona has many different groups of people. The largest ancestry groups, as of 2022, include Mexican, German, English, Irish, African, and Navajo.

Economy

See also: Economy of Arizona and Arizona locations by per capita income

Arizona's economy is quite varied, but some big parts include health care, transportation, and government jobs. In 2025, the total value of everything made and sold in Arizona was $598.1 billion.

In 2025, the average income for each person in Arizona was $68,283, which places it 36th among all U.S. states. In 2023, the average income for a household was $74,568.

Early on, Arizona's economy was based on five main things: copper, cotton, cattle, citrus fruits, and tourism. Today, copper mining is still very important, providing two-thirds of the copper used in the United States.

Employment

• Total employment (April 2025): 3,633,200
• Total employer establishments (2016): 139,134^{[needs update]}

In 2025, almost all businesses in Arizona were small, and they employed about 42% of the state's workers.

The state government is Arizona's biggest employer, while Banner Health is the largest private employer, with more than 39,000 employees (2016).^{[citation needed]}

As of May 2025^[update], Arizona's unemployment rate was 4.1%. Seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment in Arizona was as follows:

Largest employers

According to The Arizona Republic, the largest private employers in the state as of 2019^[update] were:

Agriculture

Arizona grows many different crops, including durum wheat, lettuce, spinach, cantaloupe, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and watermelon.

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in Arizona

Arizona has many roads and ways to travel. Important big roads called Interstates include I-17 and I-19 that go north to south, and I-8, I-10, and I-40 that go east to west. Cities like Phoenix have many smaller roads and highways to help people get around.

Some cities, like Phoenix and Tucson, have buses to help people travel around. There are also train rides called Amtrak that stop in places like Flagstaff, Winslow, and Tucson. There are plans to bring more train service back to Phoenix and Tucson in the future.

Law and government

Main article: Government of Arizona

See also: Constitution of Arizona, Arizona's congressional delegations, List of governors of Arizona, Political party strength in Arizona, and Arizona Revised Statutes

Capitol complex

The capital of Arizona is Phoenix. The original Capitol building, with its special copper dome, was finished in 1901 when Arizona was still a territory. Phoenix became the official state capital when Arizona joined the United States in 1912.

The House of Representatives and Senate buildings were finished in 1960, and an Executive Office Building was finished in 1974. The old Capitol building is now a museum.

The Capitol area has a beautiful garden called the Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza, named after a past governor. There are also many monuments, including a piece from the USS Arizona and a copy of the Ten Commandments.

State legislative branch

The Arizona Legislature has two parts: a Senate with thirty members and a House of Representatives with sixty members. Each area of the state has one senator and two representatives. They are elected for two-year terms.

The Legislature meets for two years. The first meeting after an election is called the first regular session, and the meeting the next year is the second regular session. Each session starts on the second Monday in January and ends by the Saturday of the week that includes the 100th day from the start. The leader of the Senate and the leader of the House can add up to seven more days if needed. After that, only most members of each group can add more days.

The Republican Party has been in charge of both groups since 1993. The Democratic Party has gained some seats recently, making the groups almost equal as of 2021.

Arizona senators and representatives serve two-year terms and can serve up to four terms in a row in their group, but they can move between groups.

State executive branch

Arizona's leader is called a governor, elected for a four-year term. A governor can serve many terms but no more than two in a row. Arizona does not have a special house for the governor. Governors live in their own homes, and their offices are in a special tower at the state capitol. The current governor of Arizona is Katie Hobbs (D).

Governor Jan Brewer became governor in 2009 after Janet Napolitano left to work for the president. Arizona has had four women governors and a fifth is serving now, more than any other state.

Other leaders elected by people include the Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Attorney General, Superintendent of Public Instruction, State Mine Inspector, and a group of five leaders called the Corporation Commission. All these leaders serve four-year terms and can serve two terms in a row, except the State Mine Inspector, who can serve four terms.

Arizona is special because it does not have a lieutenant governor. The Secretary of State is next in line to become governor if something happens to the governor. Starting in 2026, Arizona will elect a lieutenant governor together with the governor. The lieutenant governor would become governor if the governor leaves office.

State judicial branch

The Arizona Supreme Court is the most important court in Arizona. It has a chief justice, a vice chief justice, and five other justices. Justices are chosen by the governor from a list made by a group of leaders from both parties and must stay in their jobs after an election two years later. They must keep their jobs every six years after that.

The Arizona Court of Appeals has two parts. Division One is in Phoenix and has nineteen judges. Division Two is in Tucson and has nine judges. Judges for these courts are chosen in a similar way to the Supreme Court judges.

Each county in Arizona has a superior court, which can be different sizes depending on the county.

Counties

Arizona is divided into 15 counties, which differ in size from small to very large.

Federal representation

Arizona’s two United States senators are Mark Kelly (D) and Ruben Gallego (D).

Arizona’s United States representatives are David Schweikert (R-1), Eli Crane (R-2), Yassamin Ansari (D-3), Greg Stanton (D-4), Andy Biggs (R-5), Juan Ciscomani (R-6), Adelita Grijalva (D-7), Abraham Hamadeh (R-8), and Paul Gosar (R-9). Arizona got a ninth seat after counting people in the 2010 United States census.

Political culture

See also: Elections in Arizona, Political party strength in Arizona, and United States presidential elections in Arizona

From when Arizona became a state until the late 1940s, it mostly supported the Democratic Party. During this time, the Democratic candidate for president won Arizona each time, except in three elections when the Republican candidate won everywhere.

In 1924, a law gave all Native Americans the right to vote, but some in Arizona could not vote because they lived on reservations. This changed in 1948 after a court case led by two veterans from the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. They were allowed to vote after that.

Arizona voted for Republican presidents from 1952 to 1992. Democrat Lyndon Johnson almost lost Arizona by fewer than 5,000 votes in 1964. Democrat Bill Clinton broke this pattern in 1996. From 2000 to 2016, Arizona usually voted Republican, but in 2020, Joe Biden won Arizona again for the Democrats.

Since the middle of the 20th century, the Republican Party has also led Arizona politics. The growing areas around Phoenix and Tucson became strong Republican places. Some conservative Democrats from rural areas started voting Republican. While Arizona usually supports Republicans for national leaders, Democrats often compete in state leaders. Two of the last six governors have been Democrats.

On March 4, 2008, Senator John McCain won the Republican nomination for president, becoming the first major party nominee from Arizona since 1964. McCain won Arizona in the 2008 election.

Arizona’s politics are shaped by the rivalry between its two biggest counties, Maricopa and Pima, home to Phoenix and Tucson. These two counties have most of the state’s people and votes. They also choose many state leaders.

Maricopa County has almost 60 percent of Arizona’s people, and most leaders live there. Before Joe Biden won Maricopa County in 2020, it always voted Republican since 1952.

In 2024, former president Donald Trump won Maricopa County and the state of Arizona.

Pima County, home to Tucson, usually votes more for Democrats. While Tucson’s suburbs lean Republican, they are more moderate than in the Phoenix area.

In 2010, Arizona passed a law about immigration. The United States Supreme Court changed parts of this law.

Arizona still allows the death penalty.

In 2024, Arizona voters approved a change to protect abortion rights in the state constitution.

Education

Elementary and secondary education

See also: List of school districts in Arizona and List of high schools in Arizona

Public schools in Arizona are divided into about 220 local school districts. These districts work independently but are mostly overseen by county school superintendents. They are guided by the Arizona State Board of Education and the Arizona Department of Education. A state Superintendent of Public Instruction is elected every four years.

Higher education

Arizona has three main public universities: the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, and Northern Arizona University. These schools are managed by the Arizona Board of Regents.

The state also has many private colleges and universities, including both non-profit and for-profit schools.

Arizona has many community colleges that offer two-year programs. These schools are mostly run by local districts.

Public universities in Arizona

• Arizona State University, (Sun Devils) Tempe/Phoenix/Mesa/Glendale/Lake Havasu
• Northern Arizona University, (Lumberjacks) Flagstaff/Yuma/Prescott
• University of Arizona, (Wildcats) Tucson/Sierra Vista, MD college in downtown Phoenix and UA Agricultural Center in Yuma/Maricopa

Private colleges and universities in Arizona

For a more comprehensive list, see List of colleges and universities in Arizona.

• American Indian College
• Carrington College
• Arizona Christian University
• Art Center College of Design
• Art Institute of Tucson
• Art Institute of Phoenix
• A.T. Still University
• Brookline College
• Brown Mackie College
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Grand Canyon University
• Midwestern University
• Northcentral University
• Ottawa University
• Park University
• University of Phoenix
• Penn Foster College
• Prescott College
• Thunderbird School of Global Management
• University of Advancing Technology
• Western International University
• Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences

Community colleges

For a more comprehensive list, see List of community colleges in Arizona.

• Arizona Western College
• Central Arizona College
• Cochise College
• Coconino Community College
• Diné College
• Eastern Arizona College
• Maricopa Community College District:
  • Chandler-Gilbert Community College
  • Estrella Mountain Community College
  • GateWay Community College
  • Glendale Community College
  • Mesa Community College
  • Paradise Valley Community College
  • Phoenix College
  • Rio Salado College
  • Scottsdale Community College
  • South Mountain Community College
• Mohave Community College
• Northland Pioneer College
• Pima Community College
• Yavapai College

Culture

Visual arts and museums

See also: List of museums in Arizona

Phoenix Art Museum, located on the historic Central Avenue Corridor in Phoenix, is the largest collection of art in the Southwest. It shows artworks from all over the world, with over 18,000 pieces from America, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and more. The museum offers many activities for families, including festivals, live shows, and special events for kids.

Arizona is also famous for its Native American art. The Heard Museum in Phoenix has many important pieces, including traditional Navajo homes and beautiful jewelry. It welcomes many visitors each year.

Film

See also: List of films shot in Arizona

Many popular movies have been filmed in Arizona, including Billy Jack, U Turn, and Waiting to Exhale. Some famous Western films were also made here. The science fiction film Fire in the Sky, about a story from the town of Snowflake, was also filmed in Arizona. Other well-known films like Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore and The Gauntlet feature scenes set in Arizona towns.

Music

Main article: Music of Arizona

Arizona has inspired many songs, including country and rock music. Famous songs mention places in Arizona, and many musicians began their careers there. Artists like Michelle Branch and Alice Cooper are from Arizona. The state also has a strong music scene with many bands and singers.

Sports

Main article: Sports in Arizona

Arizona has hosted big sports events, including four Super Bowls. The most recent one was Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium on February 12, 2023.

The state is known for golf, with many courses hosting stops on the PGA Tour, like the Phoenix Open at TPC of Scottsdale.

Auto racing is popular too. Phoenix Raceway in Avondale holds NASCAR races twice a year, and Firebird International Raceway near Chandler hosts drag racing events.

College sports

College sports are big in Arizona. Teams like the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Arizona Wildcats play in the Big-12 Conference. Their rivalry is one of the oldest in college sports. The Territorial Cup, awarded since 1889, goes to the winner of their yearly football game.

Arizona also holds college football bowl games. The Fiesta Bowl, now at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, is part of the College Football Playoff.

State Farm Stadium hosted the Final Four of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 2017 and will host it again in 2024.

Baseball

Arizona is a favorite place for Major League Baseball spring training, known as the Cactus League. Spring training began here in 1947.

Arizona got its own baseball team, the Diamondbacks, in 1998. They have won five National League West titles, two National League Championship pennants, and the 2001 World Series.

Notable people

For a more comprehensive list, see List of people from Arizona.