Agricultural Arizona is known to many for its deserts and national parks. Therefore it is officially called “The Grand Canyon State”.
- The USA’s only four-country corner is located in Arizona.
- A fifth of the population are Latinos.
- The US state has the largest farms in North America.
Phoenix – The old “Wild West” lives on in the US state of Arizona. The rugged desert landscapes with their breathtaking canyons also contribute to this, as do numerous stories from the population. The state owes its name either to the designation alĭ ṣonak = “small spring” of the Indian Tohono O’Odham nation or to Basque immigrants and their words aritzona for “ good oak”.
- ABBREVIATIONFINDER.ORG: Overview of state Arizona, including major cities and most commonly used abbreviations of Arizona.
Arizona – the story
The history of Arizona is like the land of rough edges. Here are the key historical data at a glance:
- Indian tribes already settled in this area during prehistoric times.
- In the 1540s, Francisco Vásquez de Coronado was looking for the legendary seven cities made of gold.
- Catholic-Spanish missionaries arrived and founded the first mission stations.
- In the 1750s, the Spaniards founded Tubac (1752) and Tucson (1775), the first fortified cities in what is now Arizona.
- In 1821 Mexico became independent from Spain and the area of Arizona became part of the Mexican state of Nueva California.
Arizona: The founding of the 48th state in the USA
In 1848 the American-Mexican War ended and the United States took, among other things, most of the Nueva California. Through the purchase of further lands, all of Arizona and other areas fell to the USA. In 1912 the 48th state was finally founded.
Arizona Geography and Features
Arizona borders Mexico, California, and Nevada, as well as Colorado and New Mexico. The only four-country corner of the USA is located in the northeast of the US state. The states of Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico meet at the famous “Four Corner’s Point”.
The geography of Arizona is divided into two regions: the Colorado Plateau with the canyons in the northeast and the basin-and-range province below.
The climate in Arizona is dry and desert or semi-desert-like. That leads to hot summers and mild winters.
Arizona: These are the main cities
According to COUNTRYAAH.COM, the largest city in Arizona is the capital Phoenix with around 1, 445, 600 inhabitants. Other major cities in the US state include:
- Tucson with around 520, 000 residents
- Mesa with around 439, 000 inhabitants
- Chandler with a good 236, 000 inhabitants
Arizona – population of the Grand Canyon State
In 2015, around 6, 828, 000 people lived in the US state of Arizona. That is 22 inhabitants per square kilometer.
The population is made up of 76. 9 percent white, 4. 5 percent Native American, 3. 4 percent African American and 2 percent Asian-American. 29. 2 percent describe themselves as Hispanics or Latinos.
Arizona State Economy Information
Agriculture is the most important branch of the economy in Arizona. The cultivation of citrus fruits, grains and vegetables as well as cattle breeding bring lucrative profits. The cattle ranches are among the largest in the United States. In addition to the agricultural sector, the production of oil and copper ore as well as coal keeps the economy going. Fine electronics has also made a name for itself as an industry in Arizona.
Arizona and the Elections: Current Trends
Arizona has been a Republican stronghold since World War II. This party has won the presidential election since 1952. The only exception to this successful story is Bill Clinton in 1992.
In the last few years Arizona has turned into a swing state. So to a state where Democrats and Republicans have a good chance of success in the election. One of the reasons for this new trend is the relatively large proportion of Latinos. The Republicans’ strict immigration policies have met with considerable resistance.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Lake Mead is one of the largest artificial lakes in the world and is located on the Colorado River. Due to the need to supply water to the city of Las Vegas, located almost in the Mojave Desert, a huge Hoover Dam was built 54 km east of it in 1931. Due to the construction of the dam, a huge artificial lake was created on the Colorado River, which holds the largest volume of water in the entire USA. We find it on the border of Nevada and Arizona.
The newly formed Lake Mead offers about 800 km of beaches and is home to around 10 million tourists each year. The lake has an irregular shape, a length of 186 km, the length of its shore is estimated at a respectable 900 km and the reported depth is about 150-180 meters. Lake Mead is surrounded by the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and is said to be the fifth most visited national park in the USA, which attracts mainly lovers of sailing and other water sports. Lake Mead is taken care of by the national park administration.
As there has been a long-term drought in the area in recent years, the level in the dam has been declining. However, it is not only the Arizona-Nevada Hoover Dam, but also other dams located on the Colorado River, such as Glen Canyon Dam, Parker Dam, Davis Dam, Palo Verde Diversion Dam and Imperial Dam, which together form a cascade of 6 dams. Water loss is evident on the exposed rocks, which are bright white. The water disappears gradually, but constantly. So far, no one knows if it’s just a cycle that will return to normal in time, or if it’s due to global warming. In the future, water areas like Lake Mead or Lake Powel could disappear from the map.
North of Lake Mead is the Valley of Fire National Park, which is named after the sandstone red rocks in the area. When the sun reflects, it creates countless amazing shades of red and orange. These rocks were in the past the home of the Anasazi Indian tribe, who left numerous engravings and paintings here.