Arizona

Arizona is a state in the <a href="/facts/Southwestern_United_States/LjLFs9fC">Southwestern</a> region of the United States, sharing the <a href="/facts/Four_Corners/LlMUhNY4">Four Corners</a> region of the western United States with <a href="/facts/Colorado/IgIHrJI5">Colorado</a>, <a href="/facts/New_Mexico/wosJCGaW">New Mexico</a>, and <a href="/facts/Utah/te7zUyBX">Utah</a>. It also borders <a href="/facts/Nevada/HNWhCrQv">Nevada</a> to the northwest and California to the west, and shares <a href="/facts/Mexico-United_States_border/pIL77aCf">an international border</a> with the <a href="/facts/Mexican_states/F9FEltMY">Mexican states</a> of <a href="/facts/Sonora/cmLLIFR9">Sonora</a> and <a href="/facts/Baja_California/vJY3AFwn">Baja California</a> to the south and southwest. Its capital and <a href="/facts/List_of_largest_cities/5eVR5sk2">largest city</a> is <a href="/facts/Phoenix%2c_Arizona/MFvp5Upw">Phoenix</a>, which is the most populous state capital and <a href="/facts/List_of_United_States_cities_by_population/rcYY6hsJ">fifth most populous city</a> in the United States. Arizona is divided into 15 <a href="/facts/List_of_counties_in_Arizona/Ep6Lbcaj">counties</a>.
Arizona is the <a href="/facts/List_of_U.S._states_and_territories_by_area/q3nFXQlt">6th-largest</a> state by area and the <a href="/facts/List_of_U.S._states_and_territories_by_population/ytDJqMaH">14th-most-populous</a> of the 50 states. It is the 48th state and last of the <a href="/facts/Contiguous_United_States/yx414G7a">contiguous states</a> to be admitted to the Union, achieving statehood on February 14, 1912. Historically part of the territory of <a href="/facts/Alta_California/lU4fwI8h">Alta California</a> and <a href="/facts/Santa_Fe_de_Nuevo_M%25C3%25A9xico/JuDRvgl0">Nuevo México</a> in <a href="/facts/New_Spain/NYaDwcqK">New Spain</a>, it became part of independent Mexico in 1821. After being defeated in the <a href="/facts/Mexican%25E2%2580%2593American_War/7ttRIwah">Mexican–American War</a>, Mexico ceded much of this territory to the United States in 1848, where the area became part of the <a href="/facts/New_Mexico_Territory/D19QTG3t">New Mexico Territory</a>. The southernmost portion of the state was acquired in 1853 through the <a href="/facts/Gadsden_Purchase/GoX2NMII">Gadsden Purchase</a>.
<a href="/facts/Southern_Arizona/hlV83jTa">Southern Arizona</a> is known for its <a href="/facts/Desert/Mknp4bXq">desert</a> climate, with extremely hot summers and mild winters. <a href="/facts/Northern_Arizona/W4Xhbeb5">Northern Arizona</a> features forests of pine, <a href="/facts/Douglas_fir/AhxXILF4">Douglas fir</a>, and <a href="/facts/Spruce/P1jQLaAY">spruce</a> trees; the <a href="/facts/Colorado_Plateau/enUuFcL5">Colorado Plateau</a>; mountain ranges (such as the <a href="/facts/San_Francisco_Peaks/I8jlFSqs">San Francisco Mountains</a>); as well as large, deep <a href="/facts/Canyon/YspSIEz3">canyons</a>, with much more moderate summer temperatures and significant winter snowfalls. There are <a href="/facts/Skiing/wvzTW0j8">ski resorts</a> in the areas of <a href="/facts/Flagstaff%2c_Arizona/CYTyVnIW">Flagstaff</a>, <a href="/facts/Sunrise_Park_Resort/5xPY8E6b">Sunrise</a>, and <a href="/facts/Tucson%2c_Arizona/26QPvEaG">Tucson</a>. In addition to the internationally known <a href="/facts/Grand_Canyon_National_Park/F3T400uR">Grand Canyon National Park</a>, which is one of the <a href="/facts/Seven_Natural_Wonders_of_the_World/bbaTcUB6">world's seven natural wonders</a>, there are several <a href="/facts/U.S._National_Forest/ySHVruXI">national forests</a>, <a href="/facts/National_parks_(United_States)/uM29muQA">national parks</a>, and <a href="/facts/National_monument_(United_States)/X36n842q">national monuments</a>.
Arizona is home to a diverse population. About one-quarter of the state is made up of <a href="/facts/List_of_Indian_reservations_in_Arizona/qERtwgcg">Indian reservations</a> that serve as the home of <a href="/facts/Indigenous_peoples_of_Arizona/1Q4AdeId">27 federally recognized Native American tribes</a>, including the <a href="/facts/Navajo_Nation/YQ3R7k1o">Navajo Nation</a>, the largest in the state and the country, with more than 300,000 citizens. Since the 1980s, the proportion of <a href="/facts/Hispanic_and_Latino_Americans/rIBPIUd3">Hispanics</a> has grown significantly owing to migration from Mexico and Central America. A substantial portion of the population are followers of the <a href="/facts/Roman_Catholic_Church/rJ4F4gqH">Roman Catholic Church</a> and <a href="/facts/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints/rcgQH9bT">the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints</a>. Arizona's population and economy have grown dramatically since the 1950s because of inward migration, and the state is now a major hub of the <a href="/facts/Sun_Belt/6zBneV5F">Sun Belt</a>. Cities such as Phoenix and Tucson have developed large, sprawling suburban areas. Many large companies, such as <a href="/facts/PetSmart/fRu5JUro">PetSmart</a> and <a href="/facts/Circle_K/KpgKS22T">Circle K</a>, have headquarters in the state, and Arizona is home to major universities, including the <a href="/facts/University_of_Arizona/ehesIpKx">University of Arizona</a>, <a href="/facts/Arizona_State_University/e4lLNfmP">Arizona State University</a>, and <a href="/facts/Northern_Arizona_University/BewuhL7X">Northern Arizona University</a>. The state is known for a history of conservative politicians such as <a href="/facts/Barry_Goldwater/DGhULzfw">Barry Goldwater</a> and <a href="/facts/John_McCain/faE5g7r7">John McCain</a>, though it has become a <a href="/facts/Swing_state/vQuDYWBK">swing state</a> in recent years.

Arizona open-in-new

Arizona