A native-born Mexican of Basque ancestry established the ranchería ( small rural settlement ) of Arizona between 17 in the current Mexican state of Sonora. Īnother possible origin is the Basque phrase haritz ona ' the good oak ', as there were numerous Basque sheepherders in the area. The area is still known as alĭ ṣonak in the O'odham language. To the European settlers, the O'odham pronunciation sounded like Arissona. Initially this term was applied by Spanish colonists only to an area near the silver mining camp of Planchas de Plata, Sonora.

The state's name appears to originate from an earlier Spanish name, Arizonac, derived from the O'odham name alĭ ṣonak, meaning ' small spring '. A substantial portion of the population are followers of the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Since the 1980s, the proportion of Hispanics in the state's population has grown significantly owing to migration from Mexico. About one-quarter of the state is made up of Indian reservations that serve as the home of 27 federally recognized Native American tribes, including the Navajo Nation, the largest in the state and the United States, with more than 300,000 citizens. The state is known for a history of conservative politicians such as Barry Goldwater and John McCain, though it has become a swing state since the 1990s.Īrizona is home to a diverse population. Many large companies, such as PetSmart and Circle K, have headquarters in the state, and Arizona is home to major universities, including the University of Arizona and Arizona State University. Cities such as Phoenix and Tucson have developed large, sprawling suburban areas. In addition to the internationally known Grand Canyon National Park, which is one of the world's seven natural wonders, there are several national forests, national parks, and national monuments.Īrizona's population and economy have grown dramatically since the 1950s because of inward migration, and the state is now a major hub of the Sun Belt.

There are ski resorts in the areas of Flagstaff, Sunrise, and Tucson. Northern Arizona features forests of pine, Douglas fir, and spruce trees the Colorado Plateau mountain ranges (such as the San Francisco Mountains) as well as large, deep canyons, with much more moderate summer temperatures and significant winter snowfalls. Southern Arizona is known for its desert climate, with very hot summers and mild winters. The southernmost portion of the state was acquired in 1853 through the Gadsden Purchase. After being defeated in the Mexican–American War, Mexico ceded much of this territory to the United States in 1848. Historically part of the territory of Alta California in New Spain, it became part of independent Mexico in 1821.

Arizona is part of the Four Corners region with Utah to the north, Colorado to the northeast, and New Mexico to the east its other neighboring states are Nevada to the northwest, California to the west and the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California to the south and southwest.Īrizona is the 48th state and last of the contiguous states to be admitted to the Union, achieving statehood on February 14, 1912. It is the 6th-largest and the 14th-most-populous of the 50 states. Arizona ( / ˌ ær ɪ ˈ z oʊ n ə/ ( listen) ARR-ih- ZOH-nə Navajo: Hoozdo Hahoodzo O'odham: Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States.

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