Arizona is thesixth-largest state by area and the14th-most-populous of the 50 states. It is the 48th state and last of thecontiguous states to be admitted to the Union, achieving statehood on February 14, 1912. Historically part of the territory ofAlta California andNuevo México inNew Spain, it became part of independent Mexico in 1821. After being defeated in theMexican–American War, Mexico ceded much of this territory to the United States in 1848, where the area became part of theNew Mexico Territory. The southernmost portion of the state was acquired in 1853 through theGadsden Purchase.
The state's name appears to originate from an earlier Spanish name,Arizonac, derived from theO'odham namealĭ ṣonak, meaning'small spring'. Initially this term was applied by Spanish colonists only to an area near thesilver mining camp ofPlanchas de Plata, Sonora.[15][16][17][18] To the European settlers, the O'odham pronunciation sounded likeArissona.[19] The area is still known asalĭ ṣonak in the O'odham language.[11]
Another possible origin is theBasque phraseharitz ona'the good oak', as there were numerous Basque shepherds in the area.[20][21][22] A native-born Mexican of Basque ancestry established theranchería(small rural settlement) of Arizona between 1734 and 1736 in the current Mexican state ofSonora. It became notable after a significant discovery of silver there around 1737.[23]
For thousands of years before the modern era, Arizona was home to many ancientNative American civilizations.Hohokam,Mogollon, andAncestral Puebloan cultures were among those that flourished throughout the state. Many of their pueblos, cliffside dwellings, rock paintings and other prehistoric treasures have survived and attract thousands of tourists each year.[citation needed]
In 1539,Marcos de Niza, a SpanishFranciscan, became the first European to contact Native Americans. He explored parts of the present state and made contact withnative inhabitants, probably theSobaipuri. The expedition of Spanish explorerCoronado entered the area in 1540–1542 during its search forCíbola.[24] Few Spanish settlers migrated to Arizona. One of the first settlers in Arizona wasJosé Romo de Vivar.[25]
Father Kino was the next European in the region. A member of theSociety of Jesus ("Jesuits"), he led the development of a chain of missions in the region. He converted many of the Indians to Christianity in thePimería Alta (now southern Arizona and northernSonora) in the 1690s and early 18th century. Spain foundedpresidios ("fortified towns") at Tubac in 1752 and Tucson in 1775.[26]
When Mexico achieved its independence from theKingdom of Spain and itsSpanish Empire in 1821, what is now Arizona became part of its Territory ofNueva California, ("New California"), also known asAlta California ("Upper California").[27] Descendants of ethnic Spanish andmestizo settlers from the colonial years still lived in the area at the time of the arrival of later European-American migrants from the United States.[citation needed]
During theMexican–American War (1847–1848), theU.S. Army occupied the national capital ofMexico City and pursued its claim to much of northern Mexico, including what later becameArizona Territory in 1863 and later the State of Arizona in 1912.[28] TheTreaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) specified that, in addition to language and cultural rights of the existing inhabitants of former Mexican citizens being considered as inviolable, the sum of $15million in compensation (equivalent to $545,134,615.38 in 2024) be paid to the Republic of Mexico.[29] In 1853, the U.S. acquired the land south below theGila River from Mexico in theGadsden Purchase along the southern border area as encompassing the best future southern route for a transcontinental railway.[30]
What is now the state of Arizona was administered by the United States government as part of theTerritory of New Mexico from 1850 until the southern part of that region seceded from theUnion to form theTerritory of Arizona.[31] This newly established territory was formally organized by the federal government of theConfederate States on Saturday, January 18, 1862, when PresidentJefferson Davis approved and signedAn Act to Organize the Territory of Arizona,[32] marking the first official use of the name "Territory of Arizona". The Southern territory supplied the Confederate government with men, horses, and equipment. Formed in 1862,Arizona scout companies served with theConfederate States Army during theAmerican Civil War. Arizona has the westernmost military engagement on record during the Civil War with theBattle of Picacho Pass (1862).[33]
Geronimo (far right) and hisApache warriors fought against both Mexican and American settlers.
The Federal government declared a new U.S. Arizona Territory, consisting of the western half of earlier New Mexico Territory, in Washington, D.C., on February 24, 1863.[34] These new boundaries would later form the basis of the state. The first territorial capital, Prescott, was founded in 1864 following a gold rush to central Arizona.[35] The capital was latermoved to Tucson, back to Prescott, and then to its final location in Phoenix in a series of controversial moves as different regions of the territory gained and lost political influence with the growth and development of the territory.[36]
Although names including "Gadsonia", "Pimeria", "Montezuma" and "Arizuma" had been considered for the territory,[37] when 16th PresidentAbraham Lincoln signed the final bill, it read "Arizona", and that name was adopted. (Montezuma was not derived from theAztec emperor, but was the sacred name of a divine hero to theAkimel O'odham of theGila River Valley. It was probably considered – and rejected – for its sentimental value before Congress settled on the name "Arizona".)[citation needed]
During the nineteenth century, a series of gold and silver rushes occurred in the territory, the best known being the 1870s stampede to the silver bonanzas ofTombstone, Arizona, in southeast Arizona, also known for its legendary outlaws and lawmen.[38] By the late 1880s, copper production eclipsed the precious metals with the rise of copper camps likeBisbee, Arizona, andJerome, Arizona.[39][40] The boom and bust economy of mining also left hundreds ofghost towns across the territory, but copper mining continued to prosper with the territory producing more copper than any other state by 1907, which earned Arizona the nickname "the Copper State" at the time of statehood.[41][42] During the first years of statehood the industry experienced growing pains and labor disputes with theBisbee Deportation of 1917 the result of a copper miners' strike.[43]
Children ofDepression-era migrant workers, Pinal County, 1937
During theMexican Revolution from 1910 to 1920, several battles were fought in the Mexican towns just across the border from Arizona settlements. Throughout the revolution, many Arizonans enlisted in one of the several armies fighting in Mexico. Only two significant engagements took place on U.S. soil between U.S. and Mexican forces:Pancho Villa's 1916Columbus Raid in New Mexico and theBattle of Ambos Nogales in 1918 in Arizona.
After Mexican federal troops fired on U.S. soldiers, the American garrison launched an assault intoNogales, Mexico. The Mexicans eventually surrendered after both sides sustained heavy casualties. A few months earlier, just west of Nogales, an Indian War battle had occurred, considered the last engagement in theAmerican Indian Wars, which lasted from 1775 to 1918. U.S. soldiers stationed on the border confrontedYaqui Indians who were using Arizona as a base to raid the nearby Mexican settlements, as part of their wars against Mexico.[citation needed]
Eleanor Roosevelt at the Gila River relocation center, April 23, 1943
Cotton farming and copper mining, two of Arizona's most important statewide industries, suffered heavily during theGreat Depression.[44] But during the 1920s and even the 1930s, tourism began to develop as the important Arizonan industry it is today. Dude ranches, such as the K L Bar and Remuda in Wickenburg, along with the Flying V and Tanque Verde in Tucson, gave tourists the chance to take part in the flavor and activities of the "Old West". Several upscale hotels and resorts opened during this period, some of which are still top tourist draws. They include theArizona Biltmore Hotel in central Phoenix (opened 1929) and the Wigwam Resort on the west side of the Phoenix area (opened 1936).[45][46]
Arizona was the site of German prisoner of war camps during World WarII andJapanese American internment camps.[47] Because of wartime fears of a Japanese invasion of theU.S. West Coast (which in fact materialized in theAleutian Islands Campaign in June 1942), from 1942 to 1945, persons of Japanese descent were forced to reside in internment camps built in the interior of the country. Many lost their homes and businesses. The camps were abolished after World WarII.[48]
The Phoenix-areaPOW camp site for Germans was purchased after the war by theMaytag family (of majorhome appliance fame). It was developed as the site of thePhoenix Zoo. A Japanese-American internment camp was onMount Lemmon, just outside the state's southeastern city of Tucson. AnotherPOW camp was near theGila River in easternYuma County. Arizona was also home to thePhoenix Indian School, one of several federalIndian boarding schools designed to assimilate Native American children into mainstream European-American culture. Children were often enrolled in these schools against the wishes of their parents and families. Attempts to suppress native identities included forcing the children to cut their hair, to take and use English names, to speak only English, and to practice Christianity rather than their native religions.[49]
Numerous Native Americans from Arizona fought for the United States during World WarII. Their experiences resulted in a rising activism in the postwar years to achieve better treatment and civil rights after their return to the state. After Maricopa County did not allow them to register to vote, in 1948 veteran Frank Harrison and Harry Austin, of theMojave-Apache Tribe atFort McDowell Indian Reservation, brought a legal suit,Harrison and Austin v. Laveen, to challenge this exclusion. The Arizona Supreme Court ruled in their favor.[50]
Arizona's population grew tremendously with residential and business development after World WarII, aided by the widespread use ofair conditioning, which made the intensely hot summers more comfortable. According to theArizona Blue Book (published by theArizona Secretary of State's office each year), the state population in 1910 was 294,353. By 1970, it was 1,752,122. The percentage growth each decade averaged about 20% in the earlier decades, and about 60% each decade thereafter.[citation needed]
In the 1960s,retirement communities were developed. These age-restricted subdivisions catered exclusively to the needs of senior citizens and attracted many retirees who wanted to escape the harsh winters of theMidwest and theNortheast.Sun City, established by developerDel Webb and opened in 1960, was one of the first such communities.Green Valley, south of Tucson, was another such community, designed as a retirement subdivision for Arizona's teachers. Many senior citizens from across the United States and Canada come to Arizona each winter and stay only during the winter months; they are referred to assnowbirds.[citation needed]
In March 2000, Arizona was the site of the first legally binding election ever held over the internet to nominate a candidate for public office.[51] In the 2000 Arizona Democratic Primary, under worldwide attention,Al Gore defeatedBill Bradley. Voter turnout in this state primary increased more than 500% over the 1996 primary.
In the 21st century, Arizona has frequently garnered national attention for its efforts to quell illegal immigration into the state. In 2004, voters passedProposition 200, requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote. TheSupreme Court of the United States struck this restriction down in 2013.[52] In 2010, Arizona enactedSB 1070 which required all immigrants to carry immigration papers at all times, but the Supreme Court also invalidated parts of this law inArizona v. United States in 2012.[53]
On January 8, 2011, agunman shot congresswomanGabby Giffords and 18 others at a gathering in Tucson. Giffords was critically wounded. The incident sparked national attention regarding incendiary political rhetoric.[54]
Three ships namedUSSArizona have been christened in honor of the state, although onlyUSSArizona (BB-39) was so named after statehood was achieved.
Arizona is well known for itsdesertBasin and Range region in the state's southern portions, which is rich in alandscape ofxerophyte plants such as thecactus. This region's topography was shaped by prehistoricvolcanism, followed by the cooling-off and relatedsubsidence. Its climate has exceptionally hot summers and mild winters. The state is less well known for its pine-covered north-central portion of the high country of theColorado Plateau (seeArizona Mountains forests).
Like other states of theSouthwest United States, Arizona is marked by high mountains, the Colorado plateau, and mesas. Despite the state's aridity, 27% of Arizona is forest,[56] a percentage comparable to modern-day Romania or Greece.[57] The world's largest stand ofponderosa pine trees is in Arizona.[58]
TheMogollon Rim (/moʊɡəˈjoʊn/), a 1,998-foot (609 m)escarpment, cuts across the state's central section and marks the southwestern edge of the Colorado Plateau. In 2002, this was an area of theRodeo–Chediski Fire, the worst fire in state history until 2011.
Located in northern Arizona, theGrand Canyon is a colorful, deep, steep-sided gorge, carved by theColorado River. The canyon is one of theSeven Natural Wonders of the World and is largely contained in theGrand Canyon National Park – one of the first national parks in the United States. PresidentTheodore Roosevelt was a major proponent of designating the Grand Canyon area as a National Park, often visiting to huntmountain lion and enjoy the scenery. The canyon was created by the Colorado River cutting a channel over millions of years, and is about 277 miles (446 km) long, ranges in width from 4 to 18 miles (6 to 29 km) and attains a depth of more than 1 mile (1.6 km). Nearly twobillion years of the Earth's history have been exposed as the Colorado River and its tributaries cut through layer after layer of sediment as the Colorado Plateau uplifted.
Arizona is home to one of the most well-preservedmeteorite impact sites in the world. Created around 50,000 years ago, the Barringer Meteorite Crater (better known simply as "Meteor Crater") is a gigantic hole in the middle of the high plains of the Colorado Plateau, about 25 miles (40 km) west ofWinslow.[59] A rim of smashed and jumbled boulders, some of them the size of small houses, rises 150 feet (46 m) above the level of the surrounding plain. The crater itself is nearly a mile (1.6 kilometers) wide and 570 feet (170 m) deep.
Arizona is one of two U.S. states, along with Hawaii, that does not observeDaylight Saving Time, though the largeNavajo Nation in the state's northeastern region does.
Phoenix, inMaricopa County, is Arizona's capital and largest city. Other prominent cities in the Phoenix metro area includeMesa (Arizona's third largest city),Chandler (Arizona's fourth largest city),Glendale,Peoria,Buckeye,Sun City,Sun City West,Fountain Hills,Surprise,Gilbert,El Mirage,Avondale,Tempe,Tolleson andScottsdale, with a total metropolitan population of just over 4.7million.[60] The average high temperature in July, 106 °F (41 °C), is one of the highest of any metropolitan area in the United States, offset by an average January high temperature of 67 °F (19 °C), the basis of its winter appeal.
Tucson, with a metro population of just over onemillion, is the state's second-largest city. Located inPima County, approximately 110 miles (180 km) southeast of Phoenix, it was incorporated in 1877, making it the oldest incorporated city in Arizona. It is home to theUniversity of Arizona. Major incorporated suburbs of Tucson includeOro Valley andMarana northwest of the city,Sahuarita south of the city, andSouth Tucson in an enclave south of downtown. It has an average July temperature of 100°F (38°C) and winter temperatures averaging 65°F (18°C).Saguaro National Park, just west of the city in theTucson Mountains, is the site of the world's largest collection ofSaguaro cacti.
ThePrescott metropolitan area includes the cities of Prescott,Cottonwood,Camp Verde and many other towns in the 8,123 square miles (21,000 km2) ofYavapai County area. With 212,635 residents, this cluster of towns is the state's third largest metropolitan area. The city of Prescott (population 41,528) lies approximately 100 miles (160 km) northwest of the Phoenix metropolitan area. Situated in pine tree forests at an elevation of about 5,500 feet (1,700 m), Prescott enjoys a much cooler climate than Phoenix, with average summer highs around 88 °F (31 °C) and winter temperatures averaging 50 °F (10 °C).
Yuma is the center of the fourth-largest metropolitan area in Arizona. Located inYuma County, it is near the borders of California and Mexico. It is one of the hottest cities in the United States, with an average July high of 107 °F (42 °C). For comparison, the same month's average inDeath Valley is 115 °F (46 °C). The city features sunny days about 90% of the year. The YumaMetropolitan Statistical Area has a population of 160,000. Yuma attracts many winter visitors from all over the United States.
Flagstaff, inCoconino County, is the largest city in northern Arizona, and is at an elevation of nearly 7,000 feet (2,100 m). With its large Ponderosa pine forests, snowy winter weather and picturesque mountains, it is a stark contrast to the desert regions typically associated with Arizona. It is sited at the base of theSan Francisco Peaks, the highest mountain range in the state of Arizona, which containsHumphreys Peak, the highest point in Arizona at 12,633 feet (3,851 m). Flagstaff has a strong tourism sector, due to its proximity to numerous tourist attractions including:Grand Canyon National Park,Sedona, andOak Creek Canyon. HistoricU.S. Route 66 is the main east–west street in the town. The Flagstaff metropolitan area is home to 134,421 residents and the main campus ofNorthern Arizona University.
Lake Havasu City, inMohave County, known as "Arizona's playground", was developed on the Colorado River and is named after Lake Havasu. Lake Havasu City has a population of about 57,000 people. It is famous for huge spring break parties, sunsets and theLondon Bridge, relocated from London, England. Lake Havasu City was founded by real estate developerRobert P. McCulloch in 1963.[61] It has two colleges,Mohave Community College and ASU Colleges in Lake Havasu City.[62]
Due to its large area and variations in elevation, the state has a wide variety of localized climate conditions. In the lower elevations the climate is primarily desert, with mild winters and extremely hot summers. Typically, from late fall to early spring, the weather is mild, averaging a minimum of 60 °F (16 °C). November through February are the coldest months, with temperatures typically ranging from 40 to 75 °F (4 to 24 °C), with occasional frosts.[64]
About midway through February, the temperatures start to rise, with warm days, and cool, breezy nights. The summer months of June through September bring a dry heat from 90 to 120 °F (32 to 49 °C), with occasional high temperatures exceeding 125 °F (52 °C) having been observed in the desert area.[64] Arizona's all-time record high is 128 °F (53 °C) recorded atLake Havasu City on June 29, 1994, and July 5, 2007; the all-time record low of −40 °F (−40 °C) was recorded atHawley Lake on January 7, 1971.[65]
Due to the primarily dry climate, large diurnal temperature variations occur in less-developed areas of the desert above 2,500 ft (760 m). The swings can be as large as 83°F (46°C) in the summer months. In the state's urban centers, the effects oflocal warming result in much higher measured night-time lows than in the recent past.
Arizona has an average annual rainfall of 12.7 in (323 mm),[66] which comes during two rainy seasons, withcold fronts coming from the Pacific Ocean during the winter and amonsoon in the summer.[67] The monsoon season occurs toward the end of summer. In July or August, thedewpoint rises dramatically for a brief period. During this time, the air contains large amounts ofwater vapor. Dewpoints as high as 81°F (27°C)[68] have been recorded during thePhoenix monsoon season. This hot moisture bringslightning,thunderstorms, wind, and torrential, if usually brief, downpours. These downpours often causeflash floods, which can turn deadly. In an attempt to deter drivers from crossing flooding streams, theArizona Legislature enacted theStupid Motorist Law. It is rare fortornadoes orhurricanes to occur in Arizona.
Arizona's northern third is aplateau at significantly higher altitudes than the lower desert, and has an appreciably cooler climate, with cold winters and mild summers, though the climate remains semiarid to arid. Extremely low temperatures are not unknown; cold air systems from the northern states and Canada occasionally push into the state, bringing temperatures below 0 °F (−18 °C) to the state's northern parts.[69]
Indicative of the variation in climate, Arizona is the state which has both the metropolitan area with the most days over 100 °F (38 °C) (Phoenix), and the metropolitan area in the lower 48 states with the most days with a low temperature below freezing (Flagstaff).[70]
Average daily maximum and minimum temperatures for selected cities in Arizona[71]
Arizona is considered as relatively vulnerable to climate change, which can make six of Arizona's 15 counties uninhabitable for humans by the years 2040–2060. This was the cautionary warning made by a December 2020 study released by ProPublica and Rhodium Group.[72]
Arizona remained sparsely settled for most of the 19th century.[75] The 1860 census reported the population of "Arizona County" to be 6,482, of whom 4,040 were listed as "Indians", 21 as "free colored", and 2,421 as "white".[76][77] Arizona's continuedpopulation growth has put an enormous stress on the state's water supply.[78] As of 2011[update], 61% of Arizona's children under age one belonged to racial groups of color.[79]
The population of metropolitan Phoenix increased by 45% from 1991 through 2001, helping to make Arizona the second fastest-growing state in the U.S. in the 1990s (the fastest wasNevada).[80]
According to the 2010 United States census, Arizona had a population of 6,392,017. In 2010,illegal immigrants constituted an estimated 8% of the population. This was the second highest percentage of any state in the U.S.[81][c]
Metropolitan Phoenix (4.7million) and Tucson (1.0million) are home to about five-sixths of Arizona's people (as of the 2010 census). Metro Phoenix alone accounts for two-thirds of the state's population.
As of 2010[update], 73% (4,215,749) of Arizona residents age five and older spoke only English at home, while 21% (1,202,638) spoke Spanish, 2% (85,602)Navajo, <1% (22,592) German, <1% (22,426) Chinese (which includesMandarin), <1% (19,015)Tagalog, <1% (17,603) Vietnamese, <1% (15,707)Other North American Indigenous Languages (especiallyindigenous languages of Arizona), and French was spoken as amain language by <1% (15,062) of the population over the age of five. In total, 27% (1,567,548) of Arizona's population age five and older spoke amother language other than English.[94]
Arizona is home to the largest number of speakers ofNative American languages in the 48 contiguous states, as more than 85,000 individuals reported speakingNavajo,[94] and 10,403 people reportedApache, as a language spoken at home in 2005.[94] Arizona'sApache County has the highest concentration of speakers of Native American Indian languages in the United States.[95]
The 2010 U.S. Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study byARDA reported that the three largest denominational groups in Arizona were the Catholic Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and non-denominational Evangelical Protestants. The Catholic Church had the highest number of adherents in Arizona (at 930,001), followed bythe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with 392,918 members reported and then non-denominational Evangelical Protestant churches, reporting 281,105 adherents. The religious body with the largest number of congregations is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (with 811 congregations) followed by theSouthern Baptist Convention (with 323 congregations).[97] This census accounted for about 2.4 million of Arizona's 6.4 million residents in 2010.
According to the study, the fifteen largest denominations by number of adherents in 2010 and 2000 were:[98][99]
U.S. Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Studies
Hinduism became the largest non-Christian religion (when combining all denominations) in 2010 with more than 32,000 adherents, followed by Judaism with more than 20,000 and Buddhism with more than 19,000.[98][102][103]
By the publication of thePublic Religion Research Institute's 2020 study, 68% of the population identified as Christian.[104] At the Pew Research Center's 2014 study, 67% of Arizona was Christian.[105] The irreligious or agnostic (or unaffiliated with any particular type of religion) population of 2014 to 2022 across three surveys ranged from 24% to 31% of Arizonans, in each survey forming a larger proportion than in most other U.S. states.
A third study by the Association of Religion Data Archives in 2020 also determined Christianity as the most prevalent religion in the state, with Catholics numbering 1,522,410 adherents and non-denominational Christians increasing to 402,842 Arizonan Christians.[106]
At the onset of European colonization what is now Arizona was inhabited by many Native American tribes, they included mainly the Navajo, the Apache, the Akimel O'odham, the Cocopah, the Halchidhoma, the Havasupai, Yavapai, and Hualapai, the Hopi, the Jocome and Jano, the Maricopa, the Mohave, the southern Paiute, the Tohono O'odham, the Yaqui, the Yuma and the Zuni Pueblo.[107] Some of them still live in the state today.
The largest Native American tribes in Arizona according to the 2010 census are listed in the table below:[108]
Tribal groupings with over 500 members in Arizona in 2010 census
Arizona's totalgross state product in 2023 was $508billion.[109] The composition of the state's economy is moderately diverse, although health care, transportation and the government remain the largest sectors.[110]
Arizona's per capita income was $61,652 in 2023, ranking 33rd in the U.S.[111] The state's 2023median household income was $74,568, ranking 19th in the country and just below the U.S. national mean.[112]
Early in its history, Arizona's economy relied on the "five C's": copper (seeCopper mining in Arizona), cotton, cattle,citrus, andclimate (tourism). Copper is still extensively mined from many expansive open-pit and underground mines, accounting for two-thirds of the nation's output.
Total employer establishments (2016): 139,134[114]
The state government is Arizona's largest employer, whileBanner Health is the state's largest private employer, with more than 39,000 employees (2016).[citation needed]
As of April 2025[update], the state's unemployment rate was 4.1%.Seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment in Arizona was as follows:[113]
The whiteflyBemisia tabaci B was introduced through thepoinsettia trade in the 1980s, displacing the previousA biotype.[118] In 2004 theQ biotype (from the Mediterranean) was first found here, also on poinsettia.[118]
TheColorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) is either native or an earlyintroduction here.[119] Unusually, the population here commonly feeds onSilverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium), which is usually a less attractive host for this beetle.[119] The CPB is an occasional pest of tomato.[119]
Main Interstate routes include I-17, and I-19 traveling north–south, I-8, I-10, and I-40, traveling east–west, and a short stretch of I-15 traveling northeast–southwest through the extreme northwestern corner of the state. In addition, the various urban areas are served by complex networks ofstate routes and highways, such as theLoop 101, which is part of Phoenix's vastfreeway system.[120]
The Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas are served by public bus transit systems. Yuma and Flagstaff also have public bus systems.Greyhound Lines serves Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, Yuma, and several smaller communities statewide.
Alight rail system, calledValley Metro Rail, was completed in December 2008; it connects Central Phoenix with the nearby cities of Mesa and Tempe.[121]
In Tucson, theSun Link streetcar system travels through the downtown area, connecting the mainUniversity of Arizona campus with Mercado San Agustin on the western edge of downtown Tucson. Sun Link, loosely based on thePortland Streetcar, launched in July 2014.[122]
AmtrakSouthwest Chief route serves the northern part of the state, stopping atWinslow,Flagstaff,Williams andKingman. TheTexas Eagle andSunset Limited routes serve South-Central Arizona, stopping atTucson,Maricopa,Yuma andBenson. Phoenix lost Amtrak service in 1996 with the rerouting of theSunset Limited, and now an Amtrak bus runs between Phoenix and the station in Maricopa. As of 2021, Amtrak has proposed to restore rail service between Phoenix and Tucson.[123]
The capital of Arizona isPhoenix. The originalCapitol building, with its distinctive copper dome, was dedicated in 1901 (construction was completed for $136,000 in 1900) when the area was a territory. Phoenix became the official state capital with Arizona's admission to the union in 1912.[124]
TheHouse of Representatives andSenate buildings were dedicated in 1960, and an Executive Office Building was dedicated in 1974 (the ninth floor of this building is where the Office of the Governor is located). The original Capitol building was converted into a museum.
The Capitol complex is fronted and highlighted by the richly landscapedWesley Bolin Memorial Plaza, named afterWesley Bolin, a governor who died in office in the 1970s. The site also includes many monuments and memorials, including the anchor and signal mast from theUSSArizona (one of the U.S. Navy shipssunk in Pearl Harbor) and a granite version of theTen Commandments.
TheArizona Legislature isbicameral and consists of a thirty-member Senate and a 60-member House of Representatives. Each of the thirty legislative districts has one senator and two representatives. Legislators are elected for two-year terms.[125]
Each Legislature covers a two-year period. The first session following the general election is known as the first regular session, and the session convening in the second year is known as the second regular session. Each regular session begins on the second Monday in January and adjournssine die (terminates for the year) no later than Saturday of the week in which the 100th day from the beginning of the regular session falls. The President of the Senate and Speaker of the House, by rule, may extend the session up to seven additional days. Thereafter, the session can be extended only by a majority vote of members present of each house.
The majority party is theRepublican Party, which has held power in both houses since 1993. TheDemocratic Party picked up several legislative seats in recent elections, bringing both chambers one seat away from being equally divided as of 2021.[126]
Arizona state senators and representatives are elected for two-year terms and are limited to four consecutive terms in a chamber, though there is no limit on the total number of terms. When a lawmaker is term-limited from office, it is common for him or her to run for election in the other chamber.
Arizona's executive branch is headed by agovernor, who is elected to a four-year term. The governor may serve any number of terms, though no more than two in a row. Arizona is one of the few states that has no governor's mansion. During their term, the governors reside within their private residence, with executive offices housed in the executive tower at the state capitol. The governor of Arizona isKatie Hobbs (D).
GovernorJan Brewer assumed office in 2009 afterJanet Napolitano had her nomination by Barack Obama forSecretary of Homeland Security confirmed by the Senate.[127] Arizona has had four female governors and a fifth currently serving, more than any other state.
Arizona has the distinction of having the most female governors of any state with five having served, the first and only state to have three consecutive female governors,[129] and in 1998 elected women to all five top, statewide elected offices with the election ofJane Dee Hull as Governor,Betsey Bayless as Secretary of State,Janet Napolitano as Attorney General,Carol Springer as Treasurer, andLisa Graham Keegan as Superintendent of Public Instruction.[130]
Arizona is one of five states that do not have alieutenant governor. The elected secretary of state is first in line to succeed the governor in the event of death, disability, resignation, or removal from office. If appointed, the Secretary of State is not eligible and the next governor is selected from the next eligible official in the line of succession, including the attorney general, state treasurer, and superintendent of public instruction. Since 1977, four secretaries of state and one attorney general have succeeded to the state's governorship.
On November 8, 2022, Arizona voters approved a state constitutional amendment (Proposition 131) that created the position and office of the lieutenant governor beginning with the 2026 elections. The position will be elected on a joint ticket with the governor. The lieutenant governor ascends to the governorship if the incumbent governor dies, resigns, or is removed (via impeachment conviction) from office. The proposition, through a law pre-passed by the state legislature, also tasks the governor with assigning a job to her or his running mate, such as chief of staff, the director of the state Department of Administration, or "any position" to which the governor can appoint someone by law.[131]
TheArizona Supreme Court is the highest court in Arizona, consisting of a chief justice, a vice chief justice, and five associate justices. Justices are appointed by the governor from a list recommended by a bipartisan commission and must be sustained in office by election after the first two years following their appointment. Subsequent sustaining elections occur every six years. The supreme court has appellate jurisdiction in death penalty cases, but nearly all other appellate cases go through theArizona Court of Appeals first. The court has original jurisdiction in a few other circumstances, as outlined in the state constitution. The court meets in the Arizona Supreme Court Building at the capitol complex (at the southern end of Wesley Bolin Plaza).
The Arizona Court of Appeals, subdivided into two divisions, is the intermediate court in the state. Division One is based in Phoenix, consists of nineteen judges, and has jurisdiction in the Western and Northern regions of the state, along with the greater Phoenix area. Division Two is based in Tucson, consists of nine judges, and has jurisdiction over the Southern regions of the state, including the Tucson area. Judges are selected in a method similar to the one used for state supreme court justices.
Each county of Arizona has asuperior court, the size and organization of which are varied and generally depend on the size of the particular county.
Party registration by Arizona county (January 2023)
Democrat ≥ 30%
Democrat ≥ 40%
Democrat ≥ 50%
Republican ≥ 30%
Republican ≥ 40%
Republican ≥ 50%
Unaffiliated ≥ 30%
From statehood through the late 1940s, Arizona was primarily dominated by theDemocratic Party. During this time, the Democratic candidate for the presidency carried the state each election, the only exceptions being the elections of1920,1924 and1928 – all three were nationalRepublican landslides.
In 1924, Congress had passed a law granting citizenship and suffrage to all Native Americans, some of whom had previously been excluded as members of tribes on reservations. Legal interpretations of Arizona's constitution prohibited Native Americans living on reservations from voting, classifying them as being under "guardianship".[50] This interpretation was overturned as being incorrect and unconstitutional in 1948 by the Arizona Supreme Court, following a lawsuit by World WarII Indian veteransFrank Harrison and Harry Austin, both of theFort McDowell Yavapai Nation. The landmark case isHarrison and Austin v. Laveen. After the men were refused the opportunity to register in Maricopa County, they filed lawsuit against the registrar. TheNational Congress of American Indians, theDepartment of Justice, theDepartment of the Interior, and theAmerican Civil Liberties Union all filedamicus curiae (friends of the court) briefs in the case. The State Supreme Court established the rights of Native Americans to vote in the state; at the time, they comprised about 11% of the population.[50] That year, a similar provision was overturned in New Mexico when challenged by another Indian veteran in court. These were the only two states that had continued to prohibit Native Americans from voting.[134][50]
Arizona voted Republican in every presidential election from 1952 to 1992, withRichard Nixon andRonald Reagan winning the state by particularly large margins. During this forty-year span, it was the only state not to be carried by a Democrat at least once.
DemocratLyndon Johnson, in1964, lost the state by fewer than 5,000 votes to Arizona Senator and nativeBarry Goldwater. (This was the most closely contested state in what was otherwise a landslide victory for Johnson that year.) DemocratBill Clinton ended this streak in1996, when he won Arizona by a little over two percentage points (Clinton had previously come within less than two percent of winning Arizona's electoral votes in1992). From 2000 until 2016, the majority of the state continued to support Republican presidential candidates by solid margins. In the2020 United States presidential election,Joe Biden again broke the streak by becoming the first Democratic presidential candidate to win Arizona since 1996.[135]
Since the mid 20th century, the Republican Party has also dominated Arizona politics in general. The fast-growing Phoenix and Tucson suburbs became reliably Republican areas from the 1950s onward. During this time, many "Pinto Democrats", or conservative Democrats from rural areas, became increasingly willing to support Republicans at the state and national level. While the state normally supports Republicans at the federal level, Democrats are often competitive in statewide elections. Two of the last six governors have been Democrats.
On March 4, 2008, SenatorJohn McCain effectively clinched the Republican nomination for 2008, becoming the first major party presidential nominee from the state since Barry Goldwater in 1964. McCain won Arizona by eight percentage points in the 2008 General Election.
Arizona politics is dominated by a longstanding rivalry between its two largest counties,Maricopa andPima – home to Phoenix and Tucson, respectively. The two counties have almost 75 percent of the state's population and cast almost 80 percent of the state's vote. They also elect a substantial majority of the state legislature.
Maricopa County is home to almost 60 percent of the state's population, and most of the state's elected officials live there. BeforeJoe Biden won Maricopa County in 2020, it had voted Republican in every presidential election since 1952. This includes the1964 run of native son Barry Goldwater; he would not have carried his home state without his 20,000-vote margin in Maricopa County.
In the 2024 General Election, former president Donald Trump won Maricopa County by 71,515 votes and won the state of Arizona by 187,382 votes, making the 5.5 percent statewide victory the largest percentage win of any of the seven 2024 swing states.[136]
Pima County, home to Tucson, and most of southern Arizona have historically voted more Democratic. While Tucson's suburbs lean Republican, they hold to a somewhat more moderate brand of Republicanism than is common in the Phoenix area.
In 2010, Arizona adoptedSB 1070, called the "toughestimmigration law" in the United States. A fierce debate erupted between supporters and detractors of SB 1070.[137] TheUnited States Supreme Court struck down portions of the Arizona law, which required all immigrants to carry immigration papers at all times, inArizona v. United States.[138]
Arizona retains the death penalty. Authorized methods of execution include thegas chamber.[140]
In 2024, Arizona voters passed aconstitutional amendment recognising abortion access within the Arizona state constitution,[141] becoming the southernmost continental state to codify abortion rights.[142]
Arizona was initially the first U.S. state to reject a same-sex marriage ban in 2006 (proposition failed, 48%–52%) but passed a constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage two years later (56%–44%) with proponents enjoying a 10-to-1 advertising advantage and benefitting from a broadcast message fromRoman Catholic Church BishopThomas Olmsted of Phoenix, calling the issue "non-negotiable" for Catholics and played at every mass in its jurisdiction.[143] Several cities created civil unions in the years following the marriage ban.[144] Following a federal district court ruling in October 2014, Arizona's Attorney General stopped objecting to same-sex marriage, making Arizona the 31st state to legalize it.[145] Public opinion has shifted significantly, with 2023 polling showing overwhelming support for same-sex marriage among Arizonans.[146]
Public schools in Arizona are separated into about 220 local school districts which operate independently, but are governed in most cases by elected county school superintendents; these are in turn overseen by the Arizona State Board of Education and theArizona Department of Education. A stateSuperintendent of Public Instruction (elected in partisan elections every even-numbered year when there is not a presidential election, for a four-year term). In 2005, a School District Redistricting Commission was established with the goal of combining and consolidating many of these districts.[147]
Arizona has a wide network of two-year vocational schools andcommunity colleges. These colleges were governed historically by a separate statewide board of directors but, in 2002, the state legislature transferred almost all oversight authority to individual community college districts.[150] The Maricopa County Community College District includes 11 community colleges throughout Maricopa County and is one of the largest in the nation.
Phoenix Art Museum, on the historicCentral Avenue Corridor in Phoenix, is the Southwest's largest collection of visual art from across the world. The museum displays international exhibitions alongside the museum's collection of more than 18,000 works of American, Asian, European, Latin American, Western American, modern and contemporary art, and fashion design. With a community education mandate since 1951, Phoenix Art Museum holds a year-round program of festivals, live performances, independent art films and educational programs. The museum also has PhxArtKids, an interactive space for children; photography exhibitions through the museum's partnership with theCenter for Creative Photography; the landscaped Sculpture Garden and dining at Arcadia Farms.[152]
Arizona is a recognized center of Native American art, with a number of galleries showcasing historical and contemporary works. TheHeard Museum, also in Phoenix, is a major repository of Native American art. Some of the signature exhibits include a full Navajo hogan, the Mareen Allen Nichols Collection containing 260 pieces of contemporary jewelry, theBarry Goldwater Collection of 437 historicHopi kachina dolls, and an exhibit on the 19th-century boarding school experiences of Native Americans. The Heard Museum has about 250,000 visitors a year.
Sedona,Jerome, andTubac are known as budding artist colonies, and small arts scenes exist in the larger cities and near the state universities.[153]
Arizona is prominently featured in the lyrics of manyCountry and Western songs, such asJamie O'Neal's hit ballad "There Is No Arizona".George Strait's "Oceanfront Property" uses "ocean front property in Arizona" as a metaphor for a sucker proposition. The line "see you down in Arizona Bay" is used in aTool song in reference to the possibility (expressed as ahope by comedianBill Hicks) that Southern California will one day fall into the ocean.Glen Campbell, a notable resident, popularized the song "By The Time I Get To Phoenix".
"Arizona" was the title of a popular song recorded byMark Lindsay. Arizona is mentioned by the hit song "Take It Easy", written byJackson Browne andGlenn Frey and performed by theEagles. Arizona is also mentioned in the Beatles' song "Get Back", credited to John Lennon and Paul McCartney; McCartney sings: "JoJo left his home in Tucson, Arizona, for some California grass." "Carefree Highway", released in 1974 byGordon Lightfoot, takes its name fromArizona State Route 74 north of Phoenix.[154]
American composerElliott Carter composed his first String Quartet (1950–51) while on sabbatical (from New York) in Arizona. The quartet won aPulitzer Prize and other awards and is now a staple of the string quartet repertoire.[citation needed]
Arizona is a popular location forMajor League Baseballspring training, as it is the site of theCactus League. Spring training was first started in Arizona in 1947, when Brewers owner Veeck sold them in 1945 but went on to purchase the Cleveland Indians in 1946. He decided to train the Cleveland Indians inTucson and convinced the New York Giants to givePhoenix a try. Thus, the Cactus League was born.[161]
On March 9, 1995, Arizona was awarded a franchise to begin to play for the 1998 season. A$130million franchise fee was paid to Major League Baseball and on January 16, 1997, the Diamondbacks were officially voted into the National League.
Since their debut, theDiamondbacks have won five National League West titles, two National League Championship pennants, and the2001 World Series.[162][163]
^Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin are not distinguished between total and partial ancestry.
^In 2000, this designation was broken into two groups: Independent, Non-Charismatic Churches (34,130 adherents) and Independent, Charismatic Churches (29,755 adherents).
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^"The Meaning of Arizona".Arizona Almanac. Arizona State Library Archives & Public Records.Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. RetrievedMarch 20, 2019.
^Martínez Laínez, Fernando and Canales Torres, Carlos. Banderas lejanas: La exploración, conquista y defensa por parte de España del Territorio de los actuales Estados Unidos (in Spanish: Far flags. The exploration, conquest and defense by Spain of the Territory of the present United States). pp. 145–146. Fourth edition: September 2009.
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^Varney, Philip (1994).Arizona Ghost Towns and Mining Camps. Phoenix: Arizona Highways, DOT. p. passim.ISBN0916179443.
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^Byrkit, James (1982).Forging the Copper Collar, Arizona's Labor-Management War, 1901–1921. Tucson: University of Arizona Press. p. passim.ISBN08165-07457.
^ab"Arizona Climate". Desert Research Institute, Western Regional Climate Center, Reno, Nevada. December 7, 2001.Archived from the original on December 22, 2011. RetrievedDecember 28, 2011.
^beat, your."Climate records az".nyourcitybeat.Archived from the original on December 28, 2021. RetrievedDecember 2, 2021.
^ab"Arizona – Religious Traditions, 2010". Association of Religion Data Archives. Archived fromthe original on August 2, 2017. RetrievedAugust 2, 2017. Congregational adherents include all full members, their children, and others who regularly attend services.
^"Arizona – Religious Traditions, 2010". Association of Religion Data Archives. Archived fromthe original on August 2, 2017. RetrievedAugust 2, 2017. Congregational adherents include all full members, their children, and others who regularly attend services.
^"Religious Landscape Study".Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project.Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. RetrievedSeptember 17, 2022.
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