OFFICIAL SEAL: Depicted on a shield are symbols of the state’s economy and natural resources, including mountains, a rising sun, and a dam and reservoir in the background; irrigated farms and orchards in the middle distance; a quartz mill, a miner, and cattle in the foreground; and the state motto. The words “Great Seal of the State of Arizona 1912” surround the shield.

FLAG: A copper-colored five-pointed star symbolic of the state’s copper resources rises from a blue field; six yellow and seven red segments radiating from the star cover the upper half.

MOTTO: Ditat Deus (God enriches).

SONG: “Arizona;” “Arizona March Song.”

FLOWER: Blossom of the saguaro cactus.

TREE: Palo verde.

BIRD: Cactus wren.

NECKWEAR: Bola tie.

LEGAL HOLIDAYS: New Year’s Day, 1 January; Martin Luther King Jr./Civil Rights Day, 3rd Monday in January; Lincoln/Washington/Presidents’ Day, 3rd Monday in February; Memorial Day, last Monday in May; Independence Day, 4 July; Labor Day, 1st Monday in September; Columbus Day, 2nd Monday in October; Veterans Day, 11 November; Thanksgiving Day, 4th Thursday in November; Christmas Day, 25 December.

TIME: 5 AM MST = noon GMT. Arizona does not observe daylight savings time.

1 Location and Size

Located in the Rocky Mountains region of the southwestern United States, Arizona ranks sixth in size among the 50 states. The total area of Arizona is 114,000 square miles (295,260 square kilometers), of which land takes up 113,508 square miles (293,986 square kilometers) and inland water 492 square miles (1,274 square kilometers). Arizona extends about 340 miles (547 kilometers) east-west. The state’s maximum north-south extension is 395 miles (636 kilometers). Arizona’s total boundary length is 1,478 miles (2,379 kilometers).

2 Topography

The Colorado Plateau, which covers two-fifths of the state in the north, is an arid upland region characterized by deep canyons, including the Grand Canyon, a vast gorge more than 200 miles (320 kilometers) long, up to 18 miles (29 kilometers) wide, and more than 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) deep. Also within this region are the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest, as well as Humphreys Peak, the highest point in the state, at 12,633 feet (3,853 meters).

The Mogollon Rim separates the northern plateau from a central region of alternating basins and ranges. Ranges in the Mexican Highlands in the southeast include the Chiricahua, Dos Cabezas, and Pinaleno mountains. The Sonora Desert, in the southwest, contains the lowest point in the state, 70 feet (21 meters) above sea level, on the Colorado River near Yuma.

The Colorado is the state’s major river. Tributaries of the Colorado include the Little Colorado and Gila rivers. Arizona has few natural lakes, but there are several large artificial lakes formed by dams for flood control, irrigation, and power development. These include Lake Mead, formed by Hoover Dam; Lake Mohave, formed by David Dam; Lake Havasu, formed by Parker Dam; Roosevelt Lake, formed by Theodore Roosevelt Dam; and the San Carlos Lake, created by Coolidge Dam.

3 Climate

Arizona has a dry climate. Average daily temperatures at Yuma, in the southwestern desert, range from 48°f to 69°f (8°c to 20°c) in January and from 81°f to 107°f (27°c to 41°c) in July. The maximum recorded temperature was 128°f

Arizona Population Profile

Total population estimate in 2006:	6,166,318
Population change, 2000–06:	20.2%
Hispanic or Latino†:	28.6%
Population by race
One race:	97.6%
White:	76.2%
Black or African American:	3.1%
American Indian /Alaska Native:	4.7%
Asian:	2.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander:	0.1%
Some other race:	11.3%
Two or more races:	2.4%

Population by Age Group

Major Cities by Population
City	Population	% change 2000–05
Notes: †A person of Hispanic or Latino origin may be of any race. NA indicates that data are not available.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey and Population Estimates. www.census.gov/ (accessed March 2007).
Phoenix	1,461,575	10.6
Tucson	515,526	5.9
Mesa	442,780	11.7
Glendale	239,435	9.4
Chandler	234,939	33.0
Scottsdale	226,013	11.5
Gilbert	173,989	58.6
Tempe	161,143	1.6
Peoria	138,200	27.5
Yuma	84,688	9.3

(53°c), registered at Lake Havasu City on 29 June 1994. The record minimum of -40°f (-40°c), was set at Hawley Lake on 7 January 1971.

Annual precipitation ranges from 3 inches (8 centimeters) in the extreme southwest to between 25 and 30 inches (63 to 76 centimeters) at the highest elevations of the state. Snow falls on the highest peaks each winter, sometimes accumulating as much as 100 inches (254 centimeters). Snowfall is rare in the southern and western lowlands.

4 Plants and Animals

The desert is known for many varieties of cacti including the saguaro, whose blossom is the state flower; the cholla; and the widely utilized yucca. Desert flowers include the night-blooming cereus. The jojoba is a medicinal desert flower that is also harvested for its oil-bearing seeds. Trees include spruce, fir, juniper, ponderosa pine, oak, and piñon.

Arizona’s native animals range from desert species of lizards and snakes to the deer, elk, and

Arizona Population by Race

Census 2000 was the first national census in which the instructions to respondents said, “Mark one or more races.” This table shows the number of people who are of one, two, or three or more races. For those claiming two races, the number of people belonging to the various categories is listed. The U.S. government conducts a census of the population every ten years.

	Number	Percent
Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Census 2000: Redistricting Data. Press release issued by the Redistricting Data Office. Washington, D.C., March, 2001. A dash (—) indicates that the percent is less than 0.1.
Total population	5,130,632	100.0
One race	4,984,106	97.1
Two races	138,655	2.7
White and Black or African American	13,732	0.3
White and American Indian/Alaska Native	23,009	0.4
White and Asian	15,624	0.3
White and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	2,044	—
White and some other race.	62,927	1.2
Black or African American and American Indian/Alaska Native	2,889	0.1
Black or African American and Asian	1,346	—
Black or African American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	200	—
Black or African American and some other race	4,537	0.1
American Indian/Alaska Native and Asian	809	—
American Indian/Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	249	—
American Indian/Alaska Native and some other race.	5,430	0.1
Asian and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	1,556	—
Asian and some other race	3,537	0.1
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander and some other race	766	—
Three or more races.	7,871	0.2

antelope of the northern highlands. Mountain lion, jaguar, coyote, and black and brown bears are found in the state. Prairie dog “towns” dot the northern regions. Rattlesnakes are abundant, and the desert is filled with reptiles such as the collared lizard and chuckwalla. Native birds include the thick-billed parrot, white pelican, and cactus wren (the state bird). As of April 2006, there were 35 animal species and 18 plant species listed as endangered or threatened by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. These include the desert tortoise, the lesser long-nosed bat, the southern bald eagle, masked bobwhite (quail), Sonoran pronghorn, ocelot, jaguar, black-footed ferret, four species of chub, two species of gray wolf, woundfin, Apache trout, Gila topminnow, Gila trout, and southwestern willow flycatcher.

5 Environmental Protection

Aside from Phoenix, whose air quality is poorer than that of most other US cities, Arizona has long been noted for its clear air, open lands, and beautiful forests. The main environmental concern of the state is to protect these resources in the face of growing population, tourism, and industry.

State agencies with responsibility for the environment include the State Land Department, the Game and Fish Commission, the Department of Health Services, and the Department of Water Resources.

Legislation enacted in 1980 attempts to apportion water use among cities, mining, and agriculture, the last of which, through irrigation, accounts for the largest share of the state’s annual water consumption. In 2003, the Environmental Protection Agency’s database listed 167 hazardous waste sites in Arizona, nine of which were on the National Priorities List as of 2006.

6 Population

Arizona rose to 16th (from 17th) in population among the 50 states, with an estimated total population of 6,166,318 people in 2006. The population is projected to reach 9.5 million by 2025. In 2004, Arizona had a population density of only 50.6 persons per square mile (19.5 persons per square kilometer).

In 2004, the median age was 34.1 years old. As of 2005, approximately 13% of Arizonans were 65 years of age or older and about 27% of all residents were 18 years old or younger. Three out of four Arizonans live in urban areas. Phoenix had a 2005 population of over 1.46 million people. The next largest cities in 2005 were Tucson, 515,526; Mesa, 442,780; Glendale, 239,435; and Chandler, 234,939. More than half of the population lives in Maricopa County, which includes every major city except Tucson.

7 Ethnic Groups

In 2000, Arizona had the third-highest population of Native Americans in the nation, with a total of 255,879 people, or 5% of the state total population. The largest single Native American nation, the Navaho, had a population of 104,565 in 2000. The Navaho reservation is located primarily in the northeastern part of the state. Herders by tradition, the people are also famous for their crafts. There are at least 12 and perhaps 17 other tribes within the states. After the Navaho, the leading tribes are the Papago in the south, the Apache in the east, and the Hopi in the northeast. The Hopi reservation had a population of 6,946 in 2000.

Also in 2000, the largest ethnic majority is the Hispanic and Latino population, estimated at 1,295,617. In 2006, about 28.6% of the total population reported Hispanic or Latino origins. There are some old, long-settled Spanish villages, but most Hispanics (about 1,065,578 people) are of Mexican origin. There were an estimated 158,873 black residents as of 2000. In 2006, about 3.1% of the population was black. Filipinos, Chinese, Japanese, and other Asians made up 2.2% of the population.

8 Languages

The linguistic influence of Arizona’s Papago, Pima, Apache, Navajo, and Hopi tribes is almost totally limited to some place-names, including Arizona, Tucson, and Yuma. Most borrowed Indian words are derived from the Nahuatl speech of the Mexican Aztecs—for example, coyote, chili, mesquite, and tamale.

English in the state is a blend of North Midland and South Midland dialects without clear regional differences. As of 2000, 74.1% of all residents five years old and older speak only English at home. Other languages spoken at home, and the number of people speaking them, include Spanish, 927,395 (or 19.5%); Navaho, 89,951; various Native American languages, 30,109; and German, 25,103.

9 Religions

The first religions of Arizona were the sacred beliefs and practices of the Indians. Catholic missionaries began converting Arizona Indians (Franciscans among the Hopi, and Jesuits among the Pima) to the Christian faith in the late 17th century. In 2004, the state had 906,692 Catholics. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) was the second-largest Christian denomination with 346,677 adherents in 2006. Other major Christian denominations included the Southern Baptist Convention, 138,516 adherents; Assemblies of God reported 82,802 members in 2000 while the United Methodist Church had 53,232 members. Arizona’s estimated Jewish population in 2000 was 81,675. There were about 11,857 Muslims the same year. There were also about 25 Buddhist and 9 Hindu congregations. About 60% of the population were not counted as members of any religious organization.

10 Transportation

In 2003, there were 1,836 rail miles (2,956 kilometers), with 10 railroads operating in the state. The state has two Class I railroads, Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific. Amtrak provides limited passenger service through Flagstaff, Kingman, and other cities in the north, and through Tucson, Phoenix, and Yuma on the southern route.

The most famous early road was El Camino de Diablo (The Devil’s Highway), opened by the missionary Eusebio Kino in 1699. In 2004, the state had 58,112 miles (93,554 kilometers) of public streets and roads. In 2004, there were 3.9 million motor vehicles registered, including 2 million automobiles, 1.6 million trucks, and 1,000 buses. There were 3,783,927 licensed drivers in 2004.

Arizona had 190 airports and 108 heliports in 2005. The leading air terminal was Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport; Tucson International Airport ranked second.

11 History

It is believed that by ad 500, early inhabitants of present-day Arizona had acquired a basic agriculture from what is now Mexico. They were divided into several cultures—the Anasazi, the Mogollon, and the Hohokam. For reasons unknown—a devastating drought is the most likely explanation—these cultures were in decay and the population much reduced by the 14th century. Two centuries later, when the first Europeans arrived, most of the natives were living in simple shelters in fertile river valleys, dependent on hunting, gathering, and small-scale farming for subsistence. The Hopi were the oldest group, their roots reaching back to the Anasazi.

The Spanish presence in Arizona involved exploration, missionary work, and settlement. Between 1539 and 1605, four expeditions crossed the land, followed by Franciscan and Jesuit missionaries. The Spanish military outpost, or presidio, established at Tubac on the Santa Cruz River in 1752 was the first major European settlement in Arizona. The end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th were periods of relative peace on the frontier.

When Mexico revolted against Spain in 1810, the Arizona settlements were not affected. However, with the outbreak of the Mexican War in 1846, two US armies marched across the region. The California gold rush of 1849

saw thousands of Americans pass along the Gila River. In 1850, most of present-day Arizona became part of the new US Territory of New Mexico; the southern strip was added by the Gadsden Purchase in 1853.

The outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 saw the declaration of southern Arizona as Confederate territory. A small Confederate force entered Arizona in 1862 but was driven out by a volunteer Union army from California. On 24 February 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed into law the Organic Act of Arizona, a measure creating the new Territory of Arizona.

Statehood The development of rich gold mines along the lower Colorado River and in the interior mountains attracted both people and money to Arizona, as did the discovery of silver in Tombstone and other districts in the late 1870s. Phoenix, established in 1868, grew steadily as an agricultural center, eventually becoming the state capital in 1889. On 14 February 1912, Arizona entered the Union as the 48th State.

World War I spurred the expansion of the copper industry, intensive agriculture, and livestock production, but the 1920s brought depression: banks closed, mines shut down, and agricultural production declined. To revive the economy, local citizens pushed highway construction, tourism, and the resort business. Arizona also shared in the general distress caused by the Great Depression of the 1930s and received large amounts of federal aid for relief and recovery.

Prosperity returned during World War II as camps for military training, prisoners of war, and displaced Japanese-Americans were built throughout the state. Arizona emerged from World War II a modern state. Wartime industries spawned an expanding peacetime manufacturing boom that soon provided the principal source of income, followed by tourism, agriculture, and mining.

During the 1950s, the political scene changed. Arizona Republicans captured the governorship, gained votes in the legislature, won congressional seats, and brought a viable two-party system to the state. The rise of Barry Goldwater of Phoenix to national prominence further encouraged Republican influence. Meanwhile, air conditioning changed lifestyles, prompting a significant migration to the state.

Arizona politics in recent years have been rocked by the discovery of corruption in high places. In 1988, Governor Evan Mecham was impeached on two charges of official misconduct. In 1989, two senators, John McCain and Dennis DeConcini, were indicted for influencing federal bank regulators on behalf of Lincoln Savings and Loan Association. Lincoln’s president, Charles Keating Jr., had contributed large sums to the senators’ re-election campaigns. In 1990, Peter MacDonald, the leader of the Navajo Nation, was convicted in the Navajo Tribal Court of soliciting $400,000 in bribes and kickbacks. In 1996, Governor Fife Symnigton was indicted on 23 counts of fraud and extortion in connection with his business ventures before becoming governor in 1991. He was convicted in 1997 and replaced by Jane Hull. Hull was elected in her own right in the 1998 elections, but lost the 2002 election to Janet Napolitano. Napolitano was thus the first woman elected to succeed another woman as a governor of a US state.

12 State Government

Legislative authority is vested in a 30-member senate and a 60-member house of representatives. All senators and representatives serve two-year terms and are chosen at the general election in November of each even-numbered year. Chief executive officials elected statewide include the governor, secretary of state the designated successor to the governor, as there is no lieutenant governor), treasurer, attorney general, state mine inspector, and superintendent of public instruction, all of whom serve four-year terms.

Bills may originate in either house of the legislature and must be passed by both houses and approved by the governor in order to become

law. A two-thirds vote in each house is necessary to override the governor’s veto. Under the initiative procedure, legislation and proposed constitutional amendments can be placed on the ballot by petition.

In 2004, the governor’s salary was $95,000 and the legislative salary was $24,000.

13 Political Parties

Conservative Republican Senator Barry Goldwater, who was first elected in 1952 and

Arizona Presidential Vote by Major Political Parties, 1960–2004

YEAR	ELECTORAL VOTE	ARIZONA WINNER	DEMOCRAT	REPUBLICAN	PROGRESSIVE
*Won US presidential election.
1948	4	*Truman (D)	95,251	77,597	3,310
1952	4	*Eisenhower (R)	108,528	152,042	—
1956	4	*Eisenhower (R)	112,880	176,990	—
1960	4	Nixon (R)	176,781	221,241	—
1964	5	Goldwater (R)	237,753	242,535	—
					AMERICAN IND.
1968	5	*Nixon (R)	170,514	266,721	46,573
					AMERICAN
1972	6	*Nixon (R)	198,540	402,812	21,208
1976	6	Ford (R)	295,602	418,642	7,647
1980	6	*Reagan (R)	246,843	529,688	18,784
1984	7	*Reagan (R)	333,854	681,416	10,585
1988	7	*Bush (R)	454,029	702,541	13,351
					IND. (PEROT)
1992	8	Bush (R)	543,086	572,086	353,741
1996	8	*Clinton (D)	653,288	622,073	112,072
2000	8	*Bush, G. W. (R)	685,341	781,652	45,645
2004	10	*Bush, G. W. (R)	893,524	1,104,294	—

won the Republican presidential nomination in 1964, led the Republican party to dominance in Arizona politics in the post-World War II period. Arizonans gave the most votes to Republican presidential candidates in every election from 1952 through 1992. Several Arizona Republicans were appointed to high office during the Nixon years. Democrat and former governor Bruce Babbitt was named Secretary of the Interior for the Clinton administration in 1992.

Although Democrat Bill Clinton carried the state in the 1992 presidential election, Republicans continue to dominate Arizona politics. Republican John McCain was reelected US senator in 2004. Arizona’s other senator as of 2006, Jon Kyl, is also a Republican. Following the 2006 midterm elections, the state’s US House delegation consists of four Republicans and four Democrats. Republican George W. Bush was the Arizona winner in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections. Following the 2006 elections, the state house had 32 Republicans and 28 Democrats, while the state Senate consists of 18 Republicans and 12 Democrats. However, Arizonans elected a Democrat, Janet Napolitano, as governor in 2002, and reelected her in 2006. Following the 2006 elections, there were 30 women (representing 33% of the total) serving in the Arizona state legislature.

14 Local Government

Arizona is divided into 15 counties. Local governmental units include towns, cities, and charter cities. Towns generally follow the council-mayor form of government. In 2005, there were 87 municipal governments and 305 special districts. The state also had 410 school districts. Each of the 21 Indian reservations in Arizona has a tribal council or board with members elected by the people.

15 Judicial System

The supreme court is the highest court in Arizona and has administrative responsibility over all other courts in the state. The court of appeals is organized in two geographical divisions which together have 22 judges. The superior court is the general trial court of the state; there must be at least one superior court judge in every Arizona county.

Counties are divided into precincts, each of which has a justice court. Every incorporated city and town has a police court. According to the FBI Crime Index of 2004, Arizona had a violent crime rate of 504.1 reported incidents per 100,000 population. In December 2004, federal and state institutions held 32,515 prisoners. As of 2006, Arizona had executed 22 prisoners since 1976.

16 Migration

Arizona’s first migrants were the ancient peoples who came from Asia across the Bering Strait more than 12,000 years ago. Hispanic settlers began arriving in the late 17th century. Anglo migration, especially from the South, became significant as the United States developed westward to California, and increased at an even faster rate with the building of the railroads during the 1880s. Migration has accelerated since World War II (1939–45). Mexico is the main source of foreign immigrants. In the period 2000–05, net international migration was 168,078 and net internal migration was 408,160 for a net gain of 576,238 people.

Arizona Governors: 1913–2007

1913–1916	George Wylie Paul Hunt	Democrat
1917	Thomas Edward Campbell	Republican
1918	George Wylie Paul Hunt	Democrat
1919–1922	Thomas Edward Campbell	Republican
1923–1928	George Wylie Paul Hunt	Democrat
1929–1930	John C. Phillips	Republican
1931–1932	George Wylie Paul Hunt	Democrat
1933–1936	Benjamin Baker Moeur	Democrat
1937–1938	Rawghlie Clement Stanford	Democrat
1939–1940	Robert Taylor Jones	Democrat
1941–1948	Sidney Preston Osborn	Democrat
1948–1950	Dan E. Garvey	Democrat
1951–1954	John Howard Pyle	Republican
1955–1958	Ernest William McFarland	Democrat
1959–1964	Paul Jones Fannin	Republican
1965–1966	Samuel Pearson Goddard, Jr.	Democrat
1967–1975	John Richard Williams	Republican
1975–1977	Raul Hector Castro	Democrat
1977–1978	Wesley H. Bolin	Democrat
1978–1987	Bruce Edward Babbitt	Democrat
1987–1988	Evan Mecham	Republican
1988–1991	Rose Mofford	Democrat
1991–1998	Fife Symington (resigned)	Republican
1998–2002	Jane D. Hull	Republican
2002–	Janet Napolitano	Democrat

17 Economy

Mining and cattle-raising were the main economic activities during the territorial period. With the introduction of irrigation in the early 1900s, farming became more important. Improvements in transportation later in the 20th century led to the development of manufacturing and tourism. Leading industries today include electronic components from the manufacturing sector, copper from the mining sector, and cattle and cotton from the farming sector. Tourism is also an important contributor to revenues.

Between 1973 and 1983, the state population increased by 39% (4th in the nation), and total personal income rose by 218% (6th in the nation). The economic recession of 1991 caused a decrease in jobs, but economic recovery in the 1990s was rapid. The state’s economy slowed during the 2001 recession in the nation, with many job layoffs. In 2004, 12,421 new businesses were formed and business terminations totaled 17,553.

18 Income

In 2005, the gross state product was $216 billion. In 2004, Arizona ranked 39th among the 50 states with a per capita (per person) income of $28,658. The three-year average median household income for 2002–04, was $42,590 compared to the national average of $44,473. For the same, 13.8% of Arizonians lived below the federal poverty level, compared to the national average of 12.4%. In 2001, the median income for a family of four was $56,067 compared to the national average of $63,278.

19 Industry

Manufacturing, which has grown rapidly since World War II, became the state’s leading economic activity in the 1970s. The major manufacturing centers are the Phoenix and Tucson areas. Principal industries include transportation equipment, computer and electronic equipment (semiconductors, communication equipment), fabricated metals, wood products, and food products. Major companies in the state include Motorola, Allied Signal Aerospace, and Honeywell.

20 Labor

In April 2006, the civilian labor force in Arizona numbered 2,948,600, with approximately 127,600 workers unemployed, yielding an unemployment rate of 4.3%, compared to the national average of 4.7% for the same period. It was estimated that in 2001, about 8.1% of the labor force was employed in construction; 7% in manufacturing; 19.4% in trade, transportation, and public utilities; 6.8% in financial services; 15% in professional business services; 10.8% in education and health; 10.2% in leisure and hospitality services, and 15.5% in government.

Organized labor has a long history in Arizona. A local of the Western Federation of Miners was founded in 1896. Nevertheless, the state’s work force is much less organized than that of the nation as a whole. In 2005, 145,000 of Arizona’s 2,366,000 employed wage and salary workers were members of unions. This represented 6.1% of those so employed. The national average is 12%.

21 Agriculture

Arizona’s agricultural output (including livestock products) was valued at $3.18 billion in 2005 (29th in the United States). In 2004, there were about 10,200 farms covering 24.7 million acres (10.7 million hectares), or about 39% of the state’s total area, but only 1.9 million acres (389,000 hectares), or 1.3% of the state, were actually farmed for crops. Arizona’s farmed cropland is intensely cultivated and highly productive. About 95% of all farmland is dependent on irrigation provided by dams and water projects.

In 2004, the state produced a total of 680,000 bales of Upland cotton, with a total value of $163.2 million. Arizona also produced 6,000 bales of American-Pima cotton, valued at $2.8 million. Other crops are head lettuce, hay, wheat, sorghum, barley, grapes, and citrus fruits.

22 Domesticated Animals

The total inventory of cattle and calves was an estimated 910,000 in 2005, with a value of $928.2 million. In 2005, the state had an estimated 100,000 sheep and lambs. In 2004, the state had 136,000 hogs and pigs valued at $14.9 million. A total of 3.5 billion pounds (1.6 billion kilograms) of milk was produced in 2003.

23 Fishing

Arizona has no commercial fishing. Sport fishing, however, is popular with residents and tourists. In 2004, the state had about 361,958 licensed sport fishermen. The Alchesay and the Williams Creek National Fish Hatcheries, located on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in east central Arizona, have played a leading role in the recovery of the threatened Apache trout. Rainbow, cutthroat, brown, and brook trout are raised for stocking primarily on Indian lands in Arizona, western New Mexico, and southern Colorado. The coldwater Willow Beach National Hatchery, located downriver from Hoover Dam on the Arizona side of the Colorado River, raises rainbow trout. Approximately 750,000 trout are stocked annually in the Colorado River. The Pinetop Fish Health Center is a federally sponsored research and technology center.

24 Forestry

The lumber industry in Arizona began during the 19th century, when the building of the transcontinental railroad created a demand for railroad ties. Production of lumber from Arizona’s forests remained strong until the 1990s, during which the primary emphasis shifted to conservation and recreation. Lumber production in 2004 was 65 million board feet.

The main forest regions stretch from the northwest to the southeast, through the center of the state. Altogether, in 2003 there were 19,427,000 acres (7,862,000 hectares) of forestland in Arizona, over 25% of the state’s area and 2.6% of the US total forestland. Commercial timberland accounted for only 3,527,000 acres (1,427,000 hectares). National forests covered 11,891,000 acres (4,812,000 hectares). Lumber production remains an important emphasis on the Kaibab, Coconino, and Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, and on the Hualapai, Navajo, Ft. Apache, and San Carlos Apache Indian Reservations.

25 Mining

Arizona ranked third in the nation in nonfuel mineral production value in 2004. According to US Geological Survey estimates, nonfuel mineral production in Arizona during 2004 was valued at $3.3 billion. Copper represented 64% of the nonfuel mineral production value in 2004. Construction sand and gravel was the state’s second-leading nonfuel mineral, followed by molybdenum concentrates, portland cement, and crushed stone.

In 2004, Arizona continued to lead the nation in copper and molybdenum production. The state accounted for over 62% of all copper mined and produced in the United States. Arizona also ranked second in production of gemstones; third in perlite and construction sand and gravel; seventh in silver; and tenth in gold.

Population growth and freeway construction projects in metropolitan Phoenix have contributed to Arizona’s ranking as the nation’s third-largest producer of sand and gravel.

26 Energy and Power

In 2003, Arizona produced 94 billion kilowatt hours of electric power (utility and nonutility). The state had 45 electrical power service providers. as of 2006, the state had one nuclear power plant in operation—the Palo Verde nuclear plant in Maricopa County.

In 2004, Arizona had six producing natural gas and gas condensate wells. In the same year, marketed gas production totaled about 331 million cubic feet (9.4 million cubic meters). Also in 2004, the state had two producing surface coal mines. Coal production that year was 12.7 million tons.

27 Commerce

In 2002, wholesale sales in Arizona totaled $60.9 billion. Most wholesale establishments are located in Maricopa and Pima counties. Retail sales in 2002 totaled $56.4 billion. In 2005, exports of goods produced in Arizona were worth $14.9 billion.

28 Public Finance

The governor’s budgets are prepared in the Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting (OSPB). Government revenues for 2006 were $25.7 billion, while expenditures for the same period were $21.7 billion. The largest general expenditures were for education ($7.1 billion), public welfare ($5.1 billion), and highways ($1.8 billion). Arizona’s total outstanding debt was $6.7 billion, or about $1,180.13 per person.

29 Taxation

In 2005, 60.8% of state tax revenues were raised by the Arizona’s sales taxes (general and selective) and 25.9% by the state’s personal income tax.

The state retail sales tax rate is 5.6% (with exemptions for food). Localities can impose up to 4.5% additional sales tax for a maximum 10.1%. The personal income tax has five brackets ranging from 2.87% to 5.04%. Selective sales taxes (excises) accounted for 13.5% of state tax collections in 2005. Such excises are imposed on motor fuels, tobacco products, insurance premiums, alcoholic beverages, public utilities, and amusements.

Arizona’s corporate income tax is a flat 6.968% on net income. In 2005, corporate taxes accounted for 6.4% of state tax collections.

In 2005, Arizona ranked 40th among the states in per capita tax burden at about $1,854 per person, compared to the national average of $2,192 per person.

30 Health

In 2005, Arizona’s infant mortality was 6.9 per 1,000 live births. The overall death rate in 2003 was 7.8 deaths per 1,000 population). As of 2002, death rates for major causes of death (per 100,000 population) were heart disease, 198.9; cancer, 171.5; cerebrovascular diseases, 46.5; chronic lower respiratory diseases, 47.2; and diabetes, 22.6. In 2004, the reported acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) rate was at about 9.8 per 100,000. As of 2004, about 18.5% of state residents were smokers.

In 2003, there were 61 community hospitals, with 10,800 beds. The state had 225 physicians per 100,000 people in 2004 and 522 nurses per 100,000 in 2005. In 2003, the average cost per day for hospital care was $1,570. At least 17% of the state population was uninsured in 2004.

31 Housing

In 2004, an estimated 2,458,231 housing units were in Arizona, of which 2,131,534 were occupied. In the same year, 68.7% of all housing units were owner-occupied. About 59% of all units were single-family detached homes and about 13.2% were mobile homes. It was estimated that about 101,678 units statewide were without telephone service, 14,897 lacked complete plumbing facilities, and 11,543 lacked complete kitchen facilities.

During 2004, approximately 90,600 new units were authorized. Also in 2004, the median value of a home was $145,741. The median monthly cost for mortgage owners was $1,130 while the median cost monthly cost for renters was $691.

32 Education

In 2004, 84.4% of Arizonans 25 years old and over were high school graduates. Some 28% had obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher.

The first public school in the state opened in 1871 at Tucson, with 1 teacher and 138 students. Total enrollment in public schools was estimated at 938,000 in fall 2002. Enrollment in private schools in fall 2003 was 46,366. Expenditures for public education in 2003/04 were estimated at $6.7 billion, or $6,036 per student.

As of fall 2002, there were 401,605 students enrolled in college or graduate school. As of 2005, Arizona had 74 degree-granting institutions. The leading public higher educational institutions, the University of Arizona at Tucson and Arizona State University (originally named the Arizona Territorial Normal School) at Tempe, were both established in 1885. The American Graduate School of International Management, a private institution, is located in Glendale.

33 Arts

The Arizona Commission on the Arts was established as a permanent state agency in 1967. The Arizona Humanities Council was established in 1973. Many state arts programs are supported by the Arizona Arts Endowment Fund (also called Arizona ArtShare), which was established in 1996. Arizona is also a member state of the Western States Art Federation. In 2005, the National Endowment for the Arts awarded 18 grants totaling $977,400 to Arizona arts organizations.

Arizona has traditionally been a center for Indian folk arts and crafts. Modern Arizona artists are featured at the Tucson Museum of Art and the Yuma Art Center. Musical and dramatic performances are presented in Phoenix, Tucson, Scottsdale, and other major cities. There are two major orchestras, the Phoenix Symphony and the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. The Arizona Opera Company and the Arizona Theatre Company perform in both Tucson and Phoenix. Ballet Arizona is based in Phoenix. The annual Grand Canyon Music Festival (est. 1984) features the finest in both classical and folk music.

34 Libraries and Museums

In 2001, Arizona had 35 public library systems with a combined book stock of 8,760,000 volumes and total circulation of 33,066,000. There were a total of 176 public libraries in the state. Principal public libraries include the Phoenix Public Library, the State Library and Department of Archives, and the Arizona Historical Society Library. The largest university libraries are located at the University of Arizona and Arizona State University.

Arizona has more than 120 museums and historic sites. Attractions in Tucson include the Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona Museum of Art, Arizona Historical Society, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Flandreau Planetarium, and Gene C. Reid Zoological Park. Phoenix has the Heard Museum (anthropology and primitive art), Arizona Mineral Resources Museum, Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix Zoo, Pueblo Grande Museum, and the Desert Botanical Garden. The Museum of Northern Arizona and Lowell Observatory are in Flagstaff. Kitt Peak National Observatory is in Tucson.

Archaeological and historical sites include the cliff dwellings at the Canyon de Chelly, Casa Grande Ruins, Montezuma Castle, Tonto, and Tuzigoot national monuments and the town of Tombstone, the site of the famous O. K. Corral gunfight in the early 1880s.

35 Communications

Over 91.8% of the households in Arizona had telephones in 2004. Also in 2004, there were over 3 million mobile wireless phone subscribers. There were 70 major radio stations broadcasting in Arizona in 2005 (15 AM and 55 FM). The state also had 15 major television stations in 2005. In 2000, 59% of Phoenix’s 1,390,750 television households received cable. A total of 131,164 Internet domain names had been registered in Arizona by the year 2000. In 2003, 64.3% of households had a computer and 55.2% had Internet access.

36 Press

The Weekly Arizonian, started in 1859, was the first newspaper in the state. The Daily Arizona Miner, the state’s first daily, was founded at Prescott in 1866. As of 2005 there were 10 morning dailies, 6 evening dailies, and 11 Sunday editions of newspapers. Leading dailies (with 2005 daily circulation figures) include the Arizona Republic (413,268); the Arizona Daily Star (100,824); and The Citizen (30,090). Among the most notable magazines and periodicals published in Arizona are Arizona Highways, Phoenix Magazine, Phoenix Living, and Arizona Living, devoted to the local and regional lifestyle.

37 Tourism, Travel & Recreation

Tourism and travel is a leading industry in Arizona. In 2004, tourism and travel accounted for more than $13.76 billion in direct sales. There were about 27.8 million domestic visitors and 900,000 from overseas.

There are 22 national parks and monuments located entirely within Arizona. There are also 14 state parks that regularly attract over 1 million visitors per year. By far the most popular is Grand Canyon National Park. Petrified Forest

National Park and Saguaro National Monument are also popular national parks.

Popular for sightseeing and shopping are the state’s Indian reservations, particularly those of the Navajo and Hopi. The red rock country of Sedona is a popular destination. There are also a number of resorts and spas across the state. Biosphere 2 in Oracle is another popular tourist attraction.

38 Sports

There are five major league professional teams in Arizona, all in Phoenix: the Cardinals of the National Football League, the Suns of the National Basketball Association, the Coyotes of the National Hockey League, the Mercury of the Women’s National Basketball Association, and the Diamondbacks of the National League in baseball. The Diamondbacks captured the World Series in 2001.

There is a minor league hockey team, also in Phoenix. Several Major League Baseball teams hold spring training in Arizona, and there is a minor league team in Tucson, as well as several rookie league teams throughout the state. There is horse racing at Turf Paradise in Phoenix, and dog racing at Phoenix, Tucson, and Yuma. Auto racing is held at Manzanita Raceway and International Raceway, in Phoenix. Phoenix International Raceway also hosts a NASCAR Winston Cup event in early November. Both

Phoenix and Tucson have hosted tournaments on the Professional Golfers Association’s nationwide tour.

The first organized rodeo that awarded prizes and charged admission was held in Prescott on 4 July 1988 and rodeos continue to be held throughout the state.

Both Arizona State and the University of Arizona are members of the Pacific 10 Conference. The Sun Devils won the Rose Bowl in 1987 and played in the bowl in 1997. The Wildcats captured NCAA Division I baseball championships three times and the NCAA Division I men’s basketball championship in 1997. The Sun Devils won the championship in 1981. College football’s Fiesta Bowl is held annually at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, the home stadium for the Arizona State football team.

Other annual sporting events include the Thunderbird Balloon Classic in Scottsdale in November.

39 Famous Arizonians

Although Arizona entered the Union relatively late, many of its citizens have achieved national prominence, especially since World War II. William H. Rehnquist (b.Wisconsin, 1924–2005) was appointed associate justice of the US Supreme Court in 1971 and chief justice in 1986. In 1981 Sandra Day O’Connor (b.Texas, 1930) became the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court. Barry Goldwater (1909–1998), son of a pioneer family, was elected to the US Senate in 1952, won the Republican presidential nomination in 1964, and returned to the Senate in 1968.

Chiricahua Apache leaders Cochise (1812?–1874) and Geronimo (1829–1909), who, resisting the forced resettlement of their people by the US government, launched a series of raids that occupied the Army in the Southwest for over two decades. Wyatt Earp (b.Illinois, 1848–1929) was a legendary lawman of Tombstone during the early 1880s. César Chávez (1927–1993) was a well-known activist for migrant workers and president of the United Farm Workers of America.

A writer whose name has been associated with Arizona is Zane Grey (b.Ohio, 1875–1939), who wrote many of his western adventure stories in his summer home near Payson.

Well-known performing artists from Arizona include singers Marty Robbins (1925–1970) and Linda Ronstadt (b.1946). Joan Ganz Cooney (b.1929), president of the Children’s Television Workshop, was one of the creators of the award-winning children’s program, Sesame Street.