Arizona, one of the states of the southwestern United States. A dry land of great natural beauty, it consists largely of high plateaus and mountains, deep canyons, and colorful deserts. Its settlements are equally varied, ranging from Indian pueblos to such cities as Phoenix and Tucson. Irrigation has changed many of the state's desert areas into highly productive farmland.
Arizona's is the cactus wren.| Arizona in brief | |||
| General information | |||
| Statehood: Feb. 14, 1912, the 48th state. | |||
| State abbreviations: Ariz. (traditional), AZ (postal). | |||
| State capital: Phoenix, the capital of Arizona since 1889. Earlier capitals were Fort Whipple (1864), Prescott (1864-1867 and 1877-1889), and Tucson (1867-1877). | |||
| State motto: Ditat Deus (God Enriches). | |||
| Popular name: The Grand Canyon State. | |||
| State songs: "Arizona March Song." Words by Margaret Rowe Clifford; music by Maurice Blumenthal. "Arizona." Words and music by Rex Allen, Jr. | |||
| Symbols of Arizona | |||
| State bird: Cactus wren. | |||
| State flower: Saguaro cactus blossom. | |||
| State tree: Paloverde. | |||
| State flag and seal: Arizona's state flag, adopted in 1917, red and yellow rays represent the setting sun. These are the colors of Spain, carried by Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado's expedition into the region in 1540. A copper-colored star represents the state's chief mineral product. The state seal, adopted in 1911, has symbols relating to important economic activities, including mining, cattle-raising, and farming. A dam and reservoir in the background show the importance of water resources. | |||
| Land and climate | |||
| Area: 114,007 mi2 (295,276 km2), including 364 mi2 (943 km2) of inland water. | |||
| Elevation: Highest--Humphreys Peak, 12,633 ft (3,851 m) above sea level. Lowest--70 ft (21 m) above sea level along the Colorado River in Yuma County. | |||
| Record high temperature: 128 degrees F (53 degrees C) at Lake Havasu City on June 29, 1994. | |||
| Record low temperature: –40 degrees F (–40 degrees C) at Hawley Lake, near McNary, on Jan. 7, 1971. | |||
| Average July temperature: 80 degrees F (27 degrees C). | |||
| Average January temperature: 41 degrees F (5 degrees C). | |||
| Average yearly precipitation: 13 in (33 cm). | |||
| People | |||
| Population: 5,130,632. | |||
| Rank among the states: 20th. | |||
| Density: 45 per mi2 (17 per km2), U.S. average 78 per mi2 (30 per km2). | |||
| Distribution: 88 percent urban, 12 percent rural. | |||
| Largest cities in Arizona: Phoenix (1,321,045); Tucson (486,699); Mesa (396,375); Glendale (218,812); Scottsdale (202,705); Chandler, (176,581). | |||
| Economy | |||
| Chief products | |||
| Agriculture: beef cattle, cotton, lettuce, melons, milk. | |||
| Manufacturing: chemicals, computer and electronic equipment, fabricated metal products, machinery, processed foods, transportation equipment. | |||
| Mining: copper, sand and gravel. | |||
| Government | |||
| State government | |||
| Governor: 4-year term. | |||
| State senators: 30; 2-year terms. | |||
| State representatives: 60; 2-year terms. | |||
| Counties: 15. | |||
| Federal government | |||
| United States senators: 2. | |||
| United States representatives: 8 | |||
| Electoral votes: 10 | |||
| For information on the economy, write to: Arizona Department of Commerce, 1700 W. Washington, Suite 600, Phoenix, AZ 85007. | |||
| The state's official Web site at http://www.az.gov also provides a gateway to much information on Arizona's economy, government, and history. | |||
