Arizona is often referred to as the “Grand Canyon State” due to the presence of the Grand Canyon, one of the world’s natural wonders.[1] Arizona is the 6th largest state in the U.S., with a total area of approximately 113,998 square miles (295,234 square kilometers).[2] As of 2023, the estimated population of Arizona was around 7.431 million.[3]
Arizona’s economy ranks 18th in size among states and Washington, DC[4]. In the 3rd quarter of 2023, the real GDP for Arizona was $510.6 billion in goods and services per year. In November 2023, the unemployment rate in Arizona was 4.3% . Arizona’s per capita income was $61,652 in 2023, ranking 33rd in the U.S. The composition of the state’s economy is moderately diverse; although healthcare, transportation, and the government remain the largest sectors. [4] Before World War II, the focus of Arizona’s economy was primary production—mineral extraction, lumbering, cattle raising, and crop growing. Since the late 1940s, the focus has shifted toward manufacturing industry and services.[5] Arizona is known for its production of copper, cotton, cattle, citrus, and climate (The Five Cs). It’s also home to a number of high-tech manufacturing companies.[6]
Arizona is home to a variety of natural wonders, including the Grand Canyon National Park, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, the Petrified Forest National Park, There are a total of 28 National Parks and Monuments in Arizona plus a number historic monuments and trails.
History of ArizonaHistory of Arizona
The first Europeans to set foot in Arizona were Spanish explorers. In 1539, Marcos de Niza, a Franciscan friar, ventured into the region, followed by Francisco Vásquez de Coronado the following year. Coronado was in search of legendary cities rumored to be filled with gold, known as the Seven Cities of Cibola.[7]
The Mexican-American War took place from 1846 to 18481. It was a conflict over vast territories in the American West. The war officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo on February 2, 1848. This treaty added an additional 525,000 square miles to United States territory, including the land that makes up all or parts of present-day Arizona.[8]
The Gadsden Purchase, also known as the Treaty of La Mesilla, was an agreement between the United States and Mexico, finalized in 1854.[9] In this agreement, the United States agreed to pay Mexico $10 million for a 29,670 square mile portion of Mexico that later became part of Arizona and New Mexico. This purchase was significant as it was the last substantial territorial acquisition in the contiguous United States.[10]
During the Civil War, Arizona sided with the Confederacy. The area around Picacho Peak served as a popular route for miners and missionaries heading west to California. Confederate troops marched west through New Mexico and set up a camp at Tucson. Union troops claimed Fort Yuma on the California-Arizona border and planned to engage the Confederates at Tucson. The event at Picacho Pass was the westernmost battle of the Civil War.[11]
Arizona officially became the 48th state of the United States on February 14, 1912. This was after a long campaign for statehood that lasted more than two decades.[12]
In the late 19th century, Arizona’s economy was primarily based on mining, agriculture, and cattle raising.[5] The arrival of railroads in 1880 eased the remoteness of the region.[13]
In the early 1900s, Arizona’s economy was primarily based on mining, agriculture, and cattle raising. The construction of the Roosevelt Dam in 1911 made it possible to irrigate the surrounding desert and use it as farmland. This led to Phoenix growing as an important agricultural center, providing winter vegetables and grain for much of the West. During World War I, many of the city’s farms shifted to the production of Egyptian (pima) cotton, which was needed for use in clothing, tires, airplane fabrics, and munitions.[14] By the end of the 20th century, Arizona’s economy had diversified into several sectors, including healthcare, transportation, and government. The state’s economic growth rate was nearly 4% per year for the last 40 years of the 20th century.[4]
Demographics of ArizonaDemographics of Arizona
The demographic distribution of the Arizona population is as follows:[15]
- White: 70.43%
- Two or more races: 10.38%
- Other race: 6.93%
- Black or African American: 4.5%
- Native American: 4.25%
- Asian: 3.31%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.2%
Most common surnames in ArizonaMost common surnames in Arizona
The demographic distribution of Arizona surnames is as follows:[16]
| Surname | Incidence | Frequency | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith | 47,287 | 1:135 | |||
| Johnson | 38,695 | 1:165 | |||
| Garcia | 30,167 | 1:212 | |||
| Brown | 26,615 | 1:240 | |||
| Lopez | 26,485 | 1:241 | |||
| Williams | 24,835 | 1:258 | |||
| Jones | 24,495 | 1:261 | |||
| Hernandez | 22,986 | 1:278 | |||
| Rodriguez | 22,208 | 1:288 | |||
| Anderson | 20,886 | 1:306 |
Researching family history in ArizonaResearching family history in Arizona
The National Archives at Riverside has important federal records from Arizona, Southern California, and Clark County, Nevada. The Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records was founded in 1915 to collect, preserve, and provide access to materials relating to law, political science, economics, sociology, subjects pertaining to the theory and practice of government, genealogy, and Arizona history. The Arizona Historical Society has broad collections about Arizona's history. The three Arizona state universities have substantial collections of historical and genealogically valuable records; Arizona State University Library, University of Arizona Library, and the Northern Arizona University Library. There are also local county libraries and historical societies.
Arizona county listArizona county list
Arizona has 15 counties.
| Apache | Cochise | Coconino | Gila |
| Graham | Greenlee | La Paz | Maricopa |
| Mohave | Navajo | Pima | Pinal |
| Santa Cruz | Yavapai | Yuma |
See alsoSee also
Explore more about ArizonaExplore more about Arizona
MyHeritage.com has 12 collections of genealogically valuable records from Arizona including Western United States, Marriage Index, 1838-2016, Arizona Death Certificates, 1870 - 1963, Arizona Birth Certificates, 1887 - 1935, Arizona Newspapers, 1866-2009, and Arizona, Marriages, 1888-1908. You can find additional records in the Arizona Collection Catalog.
References
- ↑ State Nickname | Arizona State Library
- ↑ Where is Arizona located?
- ↑ U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Arizona
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Economy of Arizona Statistics and Data Trends: GDP ranking, unemployment rate, and economic growth | USAFacts
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Arizona - Mining, Agriculture, Tourism | Britannica
- ↑ The 5 C's | Arizona State Library
- ↑ Who was the first European to arrive in Arizona?
- ↑ Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo | Mexican Cession, Border Dispute, Land Transfer | Britannica
- ↑ Gadsden Purchase, Summary, Facts Significance
- ↑ Milestones in the History of U.S. Foreign Relations - Office of the Historian
- ↑ Was the Civil War fought in Arizona?
- ↑ New Mexico and Arizona Statehood Anniversary (1912 – 2012)
- ↑ Railroads In Arizona: Map, History, Abandoned Lines
- ↑ Phoenix - Boomtown, Growth, Expansion | Britannica
- ↑ Arizona Population 2024 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs)
- ↑ Most Common Surnames in Arizona, With Meanings