Geography and Climate of Arizona
Situated in the Southwest, Arizona is a state that spans 118,000 square miles. Renowned for its beautiful desert landscape and majestic national parks, Arizona's unique look took eons to create. The northern part of the state features the lush, pine-covered countryside of the Colorado plateau. In the south, prehistoric volcanic activity molded the dry basin and range region. There are 15 counties in the state of Arizona.
The Grand Canyon is the most recognizable feature of the state's unique geographical layout. The massive gorge was created over millions of years, as the Colorado River sliced through layers of sediment in the Colorado plateau. The 277-mile long canyon attracts about five million visitors each year.
The climate conditions in Arizona are as varied as the landscape. Multiple elevation points across the state create different climate situations in different areas. The southern region of the state features dry, hot weather. The northern area of the state is a plateau region, and the higher altitude creates milder temperatures.
Arizona has about a foot and half of rainfall each year. Cold fronts that enter in through the Pacific cool temperatures considerably during the winter. In July and August, the monsoons set in. Lighting and thunderstorms are commonplace during the monsoon season. During the late summer months, these seasonal monsoons transform the horizon into a rich canvas of purple hues.
History of Arizona
The first Native American settlers arrived in Arizona somewhere between 16,000 and 10,000 BCE. The first European explorers arrived in the mid-16th Century. Marcos de Niza, a Franciscan friar, first explored the region in 1539. Coronado's expedition followed during the early 1540s. The first fortified Spanish towns appeared in the area in the middle of the 18th Century. Tuba was founded in 1752, and Tucson was established in 1775.
Arizona became part of Mexico after Mexico declared it's independence from Spain in 1821. Arizona became a U.S. possession in the wake of the Mexican-American war (1848). The region became an official territory in 1863, and the state became part of the union in 1912.
Demographics of Arizona
Native American tribal land makes up a large portion of Arizona. Arizona features the largest percentage of tribal-designated land of any state in the union. Oraibi, a Hopi village, is the oldest Native American settlement in the U.S. According to estimates from the 2003 U.S. Census, the state of Arizona has the third largest number of Native Americans. California and Oklahoma have more native Americans.
In 2006, Arizona had an estimated population of 6,166,318 people. The estimated figure represents an increase of 1,035,686 since the 2000 U.S. Census. Immigration and migration to the state have made Arizona one of the fastest growing states in the U.S.
The southern portion of the state features a large concentration of people of Mexican descent. Mexicans represent the largest ancestry group in the state. According to a 2000 survey from the Association of Religion Data Archives, Roman Catholics represent the largest religious group in the state.
Find out more here: Arizona QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau
Economy of Arizona
According to the CIA World Factbook, Arizona's gross state product was $187 billion in 2004. If every state in the U.S. was considered an independent nation, Arizona would have the 61st largest economy on the planet. Arizona ranks 39th in the U.S. for per capita income ($27,232).
Early development was heavily reliant on Arizona's five C's -- copper, cattle, cotton, citrus and climate (tourism). Tourism is a huge industry in Arizona, as many people throughout the country flock to the warm climate throughout the year. Dairy, lettuce, mining, machinery, food processing and transportation equipment are all huge contributors to economic well being.
Arizona Law and Government
Phoenix is the state capital of Arizona. It became the state capital when Arizona was admitted as a state in 1912. Phoenix is the home of the state capitol and the state legislature, a bicameral body that includes a 30-member senate and a 60-member house of representatives. Legislators to each body serve two-year terms. The current governor of Arizona is Democrat Janet Napolitano. Initially elected in 2002, Napolitano was re-elected in 2006, and began serving her second term in January 2007.
Unlike the governor, Arizona's two U.S. Senators (John McCain and Jon Kyl) are both republicans. The state has eight Congressional representatives -- four republicans and four democrats. The state has always had a libertarian streak, with Senator Barry Goldwater leading Arizona's political viewpoint for decades in the 20th Century.
Arizona Transportation
I-40 cuts through the northern part of the state (from Kingman, through Flagstaff and on to Chambers). I-10 runs along the southwest corner of the state, through La Paz and Maricopa counties, Phoenix, Tucson and Cochise county. I-17 and I-19 run north and south.
Tucson and Phoenix are larger metropolitan areas that feature extensive public bus transit systems. Yuma and Flagstaff also have their own public bus systems. Greyhound serves these two cites as well as Flagstaff, Yuma and countless smaller communities throughout the state.
Arizona has eight primary commercial airports: Bullhead City, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon/Tusayan, Page, Peach Springs, Phoenix, Tucson and Yuma. Commercial airline service is also available in Lake Havasu, Phoenix Mesa, Prescott and Show Low. In addition to these airports, Arizona also has 47 reliever and general aviation airports scattered throughout the state.
Learn more here: Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT)
Major Cities and Towns of Arizona
Phoenix, the state capital, is also the largest city in Arizona. The greater Phoenix metro area features many large population centers, including Mesa, Glendale, Scottsdale and Tempe.
Tuscon is Arizona's second largest city. Situated about 110 miles to the southeast of Phoenix, Tuscon reached a population of over one million residents in early 2007. The city is home to the University of Arizona and the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
Yuma is the state's third largest metropolitan area. Located near the borders of California and Mexico, Yuma is one of the hottest cities in the entire U.S. The largest city in the northern portion of the state is Flagstaff. Flagstaff rests at a higher elevation than most of the cities in the state. It is also home to Northern Arizona University's primary campus.
Arizona Educational System
There are three major public universities in Arizona -- the University of Arizona, Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University. Arizona is also the home of the University of Phoenix. Founded in 1976, the University of Phoenix is the largest private university in the U.S. The campus offers on site courses, online classes and flexible programs that combine campus education with Internet classroom modules.
There are 220 local school districts in the state. The state established a redistricting commission in 2005 to consolidate many of these school districts.
Find out even more information here: Arizona Department of Education
Arizona Sports Teams and Recreation Activities
Since 1988, the Arizona Cardinals have called Arizona home. The NFL franchise moved to St. Louis after the 1987 season, and the team built a state-of-the-art stadium in Glendale in 2006. The University of Phoenix Stadium, which features a retractable roof, is the site of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. The $455 million stadium hosted the BCS Championship Game in 2007 and will host Super Bowl XLII in 2008.
The state is also the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. This Major League Baseball franchise has been around since 1998. The team won the World Series in 2001. The D-Backs reached the NLCS in 2007.
In 1996, the Winnipeg Jets moved to Arizona and became the Phoenix Coyotes. The NHL franchise hired Wayne Gretzky to be the team's head coach in 2005. The Coyotes play at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
In addition to these major sports franchises, Arizona also hosts a variety of MLB teams for spring training. The state also features numerous stops on the PGA Tour. Arizona is home to amazing fishing, boating, hunting and camping retreats.
Arizona Real Estate Communities and Featured Properties
Saddle Creek Ranch in Wickenburg, Arizona
Windsor Valley Ranch near Show Low, Arizona
Eureka Springs Ranch in Wilcox, Arizona
Ruger Ranch in Kirkland, Arizona
Arizona Informative Articles
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