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All of Arizona is on the Mountain Standard Time - year round. When other parts of the country go on daylight savings time, Arizona remains on standard time.
Jefferson Davis, while he was the Secretary of War, proposed that camels could be used in the southwest as pack animals and for military use. An explorer named Beale implemented his idea in order to create the first highway in the southwest.
Arizona State Population:
1970 - 1,775,399
1980 - 2,716,546
1990 - 3,665,228
1994 - 4,071,650
1995 - 4,228,900
1998 - 4,764,025
2000 - 5,130,632
In 2000, Arizona was the 20th state in population rank. There were 45 persons per square mile in 2000, making Arizona the 35th state in population density.
Climate
Arizona has a varied weather pattern due to extreme differences in elevation and relief. The Colorado Plateau, of which Flagstaff is a part, has cold winters and warm summers. In Flagstaff, the average winter temperature is about 28 degrees F., while the average summer temperature is around 66 degrees F. The Basin and Range Region, of which Phoenix is a part, has mild winters and hot summers. In Phoenix, the average winter temperature is about 52 degrees F. while the summer average runs about 91 degrees F. Most of the Phoenix area has sunshine year-round. In general, most of northern Arizona is cooler than mid to southern Arizona. The average precipitation for the entire state is about 13 inches per year. The north will have more snow and more moisture with the south receiving only about 2-5 inches of precipitation each year.
Highest average monthly high temperature: 105
Lowest average monthly low temperature: 38.1
Record high temperature: 128 degrees on 29 June 1994 at Lake Havasu
Record low temperature: -40 degrees on 7 January 1971 at Hawley Lake
Geography:
Longitude: 109° 3' W to 114° 50' W
Latitude: 31° 20' N to 37° N
The geographic center of the state is about 55 miles ESE of Prescott
Arizona is about 400 miles long and about 310 miles wide.
Total land area: 113,642 square miles
Total water area: 364 square miles
Total area: 114,006 square miles
Highest Point: 12,633 feet above sea level at Humphreys Peak near Flagstaff
Lowest Point: 70 feet above sea level at the Colorado River
Average elevation: 4,100 feet above sea level
Arizona is bordered by Mexico on the south, New Mexico on the east, Utah to the north and California and Nevada to the west.
History
The name of Arizona is from the Pima Indian village of Arizonac that was near what is Nogales, Mexico today. The Spaniards discovered silver there in 1736. The name means "place of the small spring." Other names suggested for the state at the time were Pimeria and Gadsonia but Arizona was chosen mostly because it sounded the best.
The first inhabitants of Arizona were Indians who lived here between 10,000 and 25,000 years ago! The Hohokam Culture, one of the most advanced lived in the Salt River Valley area around 700 A.D. The Anasazi, also an advanced culture, lived on the Colorado Plateau of northern Arizona. They were the group which built the cliff dwellings, of which some remain today. By the 1500's and 1600's, the Hohokam had most abandoned the area and the Apache and Navajo had begun to move in.
Spanish Explorer, Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, came to the area in 1536, one of the first non-indians to come. A few years later, Marcos de Niza, a Franciscan Friar and a black slave, Estavan, came searching for the Seven Cities of Cibola. Coronado and his party came in 1540-42, also hunting the Seven Cities. Others came over the years, including missionaries who set up villages. The Hopi ousted the missionaries in the Indian revolt in 1680. The first white Settlement was a presidio at Tubac in 1752, set up by Spanish soldiers. During the 1700's, many conflicts occurred between the whites and Indians. By 1776, the presidio was moved to Tucson. Warfare continued on into the 1800's. Some periods of peace occurred, but war was more prevalent. Arizona, north of the Gila River, was annexed to the United States as a result of the Mexican War (1846-48). It was made part of the New Mexico Territory. The Gadsden Purchase of 1853 completed the rest of the addition of land which would become Arizona.
The Union territory of Arizona was created on 24 February 1863. Many of the now major cities were formed during this time period. Silver was discovered as well as rich stores of other minerals. During the 1870's, Mormon pioneers, sent by then President Brigham Young settled mainly in the Colorado Plateau and in the Salt and upper Gila River Valleys. Many copper mines were established in the late 1800's. The Theodore Roosevelt Dam on the Salt River was completed in 1911 and aided growth in the area due to increased irrigation. Arizona finally achieved statehood as the 48th state on 14 February 1912. The first governor was George W. P. Hunt. He held office for seven - two year terms. More and more agriculture came to Arizona as irrigation methods improved. Copper mining also great expanded during the 1920's and 30's. During the 1960's, the courts ordered Arizona's use of Colorado River Water. The first water was finally reached Phoenix in 1985. The desert has blossomed with growth in all areas since that time.
Nicknames:
Arizona has had numerous nicknames. The most well-known is the Grand Canyon State after the beautiful natural wonder of the world in northern Arizona. Because Arizona produces more copper than any other state, it is also often referred to as the Copper State. An early nickname, the Apache State came from the large numbers of Apache Indians who lived in the area. Also from history, Arizona has been known as the Aztec State due to some of the ruins found here.
Known as the Baby State for many years, Arizona was the last of the 48 states in the union, having been admitted in 1912. It was 47 years later that Alaska and Hawaii were admitted. Among other nicknames are the Sunset State for the incomparable sunsets around the state, the Sand Hill State for the many deserts, and the Valentine State because it was admitted on the 14th of February, Valentine's Day!
Did You Know?
Most of Arizona is forests, not deserts.
Over half of the people visiting Phoenix, Arizona are on vacation.
Phoenix has more suburbs than any other city in the USA.
The sun shines 300 days out of the year in Arizona.
Phoenix has more top-rated resorts than any city in the USA.
Phoenix is one of the top tourist locals in the USA.
Arizona has one of the largest ranges of different kinds of birds in the USA.
Arizona has a very large range of animals. From coyotes, to elk, to jaguars.
Az Tourist
Az Tourist News features articles reviews and listings of interest to Arizona
tourists and travelers - links, maps, statistics, official city sites and much
more! We are a major portal site for Tourism throughout all of Arizona.
Area Codes - list of the area codes for Arizona, current as of 2006
Arizona Government
Links page
lots of great links for all levels of government in Arizona
Arizona State Chamber of Commerce
Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce
Arizona Department of Education
Arizona Secretary of State
Find the weather for anyplace in the USA
This page was created 30 December 1998
This page was last updated 16 September 2006 at 12:18 pm
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