Arizona

Arizona is a landlocked state located in the Southwestern United States.

It sits in the Four Corners region, where it meets Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. To the northwest, it borders Nevada, and to the west, it touches California. The state also shares an international border with the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California. Arizona is the sixth-largest state by area in the country. It is also the 48th state admitted to the Union. This happened on February 14, 1912, making it the last of the contiguous states to join.

The geography of Arizona changes significantly from north to south. The southern region is defined by a desert climate. This area experiences extremely hot summers and mild winters. In contrast, northern Arizona features much more moderate summer temperatures. The north is home to the Colorado Plateau and various mountain ranges, such as the San Francisco Mountains. These areas contain forests of pine, Douglas fir, and spruce trees. Significant winter snowfalls are common in the north. The state also contains large, deep canyons.

The state's name has interesting possible origins. One theory suggests it comes from an O'odham name. The O'odham people live in the region and use the term to describe a specific area. To European settlers, the O'odham pronunciation sounded like "Arissona." Another theory links the name to a Basque phrase. This may be because many Basque shepherds lived in the area. A native-born Mexican of Basque ancestry actually established a settlement in Sonora between 1734 and 1736. This area became famous after a silver discovery around 1737.

Long before modern history, ancient Native American civilizations flourished here. These included the Hohokam, Mogollon, and Ancestral Puebloan cultures. Their pueblos and cliffside dwellings still attract many tourists today. European contact began in the 1500s. In 1539, Marcos de Niza became the first European to contact Native Americans in the region. Later, the expedition of Francisco Vázquez de Coronado entered the area between 1540 and 1542.

In the 1690s, Father Kino led a chain of missions. He worked to convert many Indians to Christianity in the Pimería Alta. This region now covers southern Arizona and northern Sonora.

Political control of the land changed several times through wars and purchases. Arizona was once part of New Spain and later became part of independent Mexico in 1821. After the Mexican–American War, Mexico ceded much of this territory to the United States in 1848. The United States also acquired the southernmost portion of the state in 1853. This was done through the Gadsden Purchase to provide a southern route for a transcontinental railway. The area was part of the New Mexico Territory until the Arizona Territory was formally organized. The name "Arizona" was eventually chosen by President Abraham Lincoln.

Industry has played a massive role in the development of Arizona. In the 1870s, silver rushes occurred, such as the one in Tombstone. By the late 1880s, copper production became even more important. Towns like Bisbee and Jerome grew around copper camps. By 1907, Arizona produced more copper than any other state. This led to the nickname "the Copper State."

While mining was vital, tourism also became a major industry. During the 1920s and 1930s, people visited dude ranches to experience the "Old West." The Grand Canyon National Park is one of the world's seven natural wonders.

Today, Arizona is a major hub of the Sun Belt with a growing population. Phoenix is the capital and the largest city. It is the fifth-most populous city in the United States. The state is also home to many large companies, including PetSmart and Circle K. Education is a major part of the state's identity. It hosts major universities like the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, and Northern Arizona University.

The population is very diverse. About one-quarter of the state consists of Indian reservations. This includes the Navajo Nation, which is the largest in the country with over 300,000 citizens.