State Of Arizona

History of Arizona

The U.S. State of Arizona (AZ) was admitted as the 48th state of the union on February 14th, 1912.  It was the last state of the contiguous (mainland) the United States to be admitted to the union.  Arizona sits in the southwestern region of the United States and is a part of both the Western and the Mountain states.  It is the sixth-largest state in the United States and the 14th most populated state.

Arizona has a long history, first being occupied by the Spanish as a part of New Spain and then independent Mexico in the 1800s.  After the Mexican-American War, America occupied much of the territory of Arizona, with the remainder being acquired in 1853.

Present

Due to its geographical location, Arizona has a unique climate.  With its northern territory a part of mountainous terrain and its southern territory being a part of desert terrain, there are significant differences in some cities in these regions.  While the southern cities experience hotter summers with mild winters, the northern cities experience more significant snowfall and moderate summers.  In addition to the Grand Canyon National Park, several skiing locations along the northern border attract different businesses and tourists.

In 2015, the United States Census Bureau estimated the population of Arizona to be 6,828,065, with Phoenix being the most populated city.  Nearly 1.5 million people currently reside in the capital of Phoenix, compared to the next in line, Tucson and Mesa, which together hold approximately 1 million people combined.

Arizona’s largest employer is the state government, followed by Banner Health, Walmart, Kroger’s, McDonald’s, and Wells Fargo & Co.  While Arizona used to rely on the “five c’s” for its economy (cotton, copper, cattle, citrus, and climate), it now relies on education, industry, and tourism, as its primary source of income, although copper still plays a role.

Along with its tourism, Arizona boasts a rather extensive art scene.  The Phoenix Art Museum maintains the most significant visual arts collection in the southwestern United States.  The museum hosts nearly 20,000 works of art worldwide and across all modes and mediums.  In addition, they hold live events, festivals, performances, and educational programs throughout the year.  Arizona is also recognized as the center for Native American Art.  The state offers the Heard Museum as a hub of Native American history and art, receiving approximately 250,000 visitors each year.

Arizona has been home to many famous musicians and musical acts throughout its history, along with its art scene.  Along with being a common mention in many country song lyrics, many famous singer-songwriters, punk rock bands, and heavy metal bands have come out of the state and made names for themselves.

Politics

Republican Doug Ducey is the current governor of Arizona and has been in office since 2015 after serving as the State’s Treasury Secretary from 2011.  Two members represent Arizona from the Republican Party in the United States Senate, Senator John McCain and Senator Jeff Flake.  In addition, Arizona is represented by a mix of Democrats and Republicans in their nine seats in the United States House of Representatives.

AZ Government Offices:



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