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Arizona (/ˌærɪˈzoʊnə/ ^ⓘ ARR-ih-ZOH-nə; Navajo: Hoozdo Hahoodzo [hoː˥z̥to˩ ha˩hoː˩tso˩]; O'odham: Alĭ ṣonak [ˈaɭi̥ ˈʂɔnak]) is a landlocked state in the Southwestern region of the United States. 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. It is the 6th-largest and the 14th-most-populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix.

Arizona is the 48th state and last of the contiguous states to be admitted to the Union, achieving statehood on February 14, 1912. Historically part of the territory of Alta California and Nuevo México in New Spain, it became part of independent Mexico in 1821. After being defeated in the Mexican–American War, Mexico ceded much of this territory to the United States in 1848, where the area became part of the territory of New Mexico. The southernmost portion of the state was acquired in 1853 through the Gadsden Purchase.

Southern Arizona is known for its desert climate, with very hot summers and mild winters. 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. There are ski resorts in the areas of Flagstaff, Sunrise, and Tucson. 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.

Arizona is home to a diverse population. 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 country, with more than 300,000 citizens. Since the 1980s, the proportion of Hispanics has grown significantly owing to migration from Mexico. A substantial portion of the population are followers of the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 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 Sun Belt. Cities such as Phoenix and Tucson have developed large, sprawling suburban areas. 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. 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. (Full article...)

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Four Corners Monument, after its 2010 reconstruction

The Four Corners Monument marks the quadripoint in the Southwestern United States where the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet. It is the only point in the United States shared by four states, leading to the area being named the Four Corners region. The monument also marks the boundary between two semi-autonomous Native American governments, the Navajo Nation, which maintains the monument as a tourist attraction, and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Reservation.

The origins of the state boundaries marked by the monument occurred just prior to, and during, the American Civil War, when the United States Congress acted to form governments in the area to combat the spread of slavery to the region. When the early territories were formed, their boundaries were designated along meridian and parallel lines. Beginning in the 1860s, these lines were surveyed and marked. These early surveys included some errors, but even so, the markers placed became the legal boundaries, superseding the written descriptions of geographical meridians and parallels. This includes the Four Corners Monument, which has been legally established as the corner of the four states. (Full article...)

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... that the owner of Phoenix's KNXV-TV "[held] a gun to ABC's head" – and it paid off?
... that the Frye Fire decimated the population of the already endangered Mount Graham red squirrel in Arizona?
... that two days after it had ignited, the Tiger Fire had already burned 5,567 acres (2,253 ha) of land near Black Canyon City, Arizona?
... that at the peak of the 2018 Tinder Fire in Arizona, 695 firefighters worked to contain its spread?
... that Phoenix radio station KTAR bought television station KTYL-TV to avoid a conflict with former U.S. senator Ernest McFarland?
... that the first tequila distillery in the United States was opened in 1936 in Nogales, Arizona, by Harry J. Karns, former Arizona state senator and Nogales mayor?
... that Hurricane Heather caused the normally dry Santa Cruz River to reach a 100-year flood stage?
... that some viewers of an Arizona TV station saw hardcore pornography instead of the Super Bowl?

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Credit: Luca Galuzzi

An HDR image of Upper Antelope Canyon, Page, Arizona. Antelope Canyon is the most-visited and most-photographed slot canyon in the Southwestern United States. It was formed by erosion of Navajo Sandstone, primarily due to flash flooding and secondarily due to other sub-aerial processes. Photography within the canyons is difficult due to the wide exposure range (often 10 EV or more) made by light reflecting off the canyon walls.

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...that the American football team the Cardinals has had 36 head coaches?

...that Old West madam Big Nose Kate spent her final years at the Arizona Pioneers' Home?

...that Bob Brenly led his team to the 2001 World Series and won in his first season as the Arizona Diamondbacks manager?

...that holiday mail seeking a Christmas postmark continued to be sent to Christmas, Arizona, two decades after the town's post office had closed?

... that after assuming his post on the Arizona Territorial Supreme Court, Judge DeForest Porter was surprised to learn that area temperatures reached 114 °F (46 °C)?

... that Representative J. D. Rumberg of the 10th Arizona Territorial Legislature tried to ban all horse racing in the territory but was only able to have it outlawed on his own ranch?

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WikiProjects

You are invited to participate in WikiProject Arizona, a WikiProject dedicated to developing and improving articles about Arizona.

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WikiProject United States

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WikiProject Arizona

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Ruth Elizabeth "Bazy" Tankersley (née McCormick, formerly Miller; March 7, 1921 – February 5, 2013) was an American breeder of Arabian horses and a newspaper publisher. She was a daughter of U.S. Senator Joseph Medill McCormick. Her mother was progressive Republican U.S. Representative Ruth Hanna McCormick, making Tankersley a granddaughter of Senator Mark Hanna of Ohio. Although Tankersley was involved with conservative Republican causes as a young woman, including a friendship with Senator Joseph McCarthy, her progressive roots reemerged in later years. By the 21st century, she had become a strong supporter of environmental causes and backed Barack Obama for president in 2008.

Tankersley's father died when she was a child. When her mother remarried, the family moved to the southwestern United States, where Tankersley spent considerable time riding horses. She became particularly enamored of the Arabian breed after she was given a part-Arabian to ride. At the age of 18, she began working as a reporter for a newspaper published by her mother. She later ran a newspaper in Illinois with her first husband, Peter Miller. In 1949, she became the publisher of the conservative Washington Times-Herald. That paper was owned by her uncle, the childless Robert McCormick, who viewed Tankersley as his heir until the two had a falling out over editorial control of the newspaper and her relationship with Garvin Tankersley, who became her second husband. After The Washington Post absorbed the Times-Herald, she shifted to full-time horse breeding. (Full article...)

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Ed Hochuli John McCain Steve Nash Wayne Gretzky Frederick Russell Burnham Emma Stone Joan Ganz Cooney Ian Kinsler Frank Borman Ike Davis Wyatt Earp Julie Ertz Rose Mofford

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The following are images from various Arizona-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1Sinagua cliff dwelling (Montezuma Castle), Arizona, built in around 1100 CE (from History of Arizona)
Image 2Hohokam pottery from Casa Grande (from History of Arizona)
Image 3Panorama of Kinishba Ruins, an ancient Mogollon great house. The Kinishba Ruins are one building that has over 600 rooms. (from History of Arizona)
Image 4A map showing the extent of the Ancestral Puebloan, Hohokam, and Mogollon cultures within the American Southwest and Northern Mexico, all three of which were based in what is now Arizona and/or New Mexico in around 1350 CE (from History of Arizona)
Image 5Arizona's average rainfall (from Geography of Arizona)
Image 6Humphreys Peak seen on its western side from U.S. Route 180, with Agassiz Peak in the background (from Geography of Arizona)
Image 7The Sonoran Desert 35 miles (56 km) west of Maricopa, Arizona (from Geography of Arizona)
Image 81898 map of the Arizona Territory (from History of Arizona)
Image 9This ornate grain basket by Akimel O'odham dates from the early 20th century, showing the Native American dimension to the state's culture (from History of Arizona)
Image 10Signing of Arizona statehood bill in 1912 (from History of Arizona)
Image 11Water delivered by the Central Arizona Project's canal. (from History of Arizona)
Image 121903 editorial cartoon by Bob Satterfield, depicting Arizona and New Mexico as crazed gunfighters intent on gaining access to the "E pluribus unum tavern". (from History of Arizona)
Image 13Keet Seel cliff dwellings (from History of Arizona)
Image 14Fort Defiance, painted 1873 by Seth Eastman (from History of Arizona)
Image 15Inspiration Copper Company smelter at Miami, Arizona, c. 1915 (from History of Arizona)
Image 16Major airfields in Arizona during World War II. (from History of Arizona)
Image 17The Gadsden Purchase (shown with present-day state boundaries and cities) (from History of Arizona)
Image 18Köppen climate types of Arizona, using 1991–2020 climate normals. (from Geography of Arizona)
Image 19The Great House at the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument (from History of Arizona)
Image 20Connor Hotel in Jerome (from History of Arizona)
Image 21Hourly re-enactment for tourists of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (from History of Arizona)
Image 22The location of Arizona in the United States (from Geography of Arizona)
Image 23The luxury Harvey House hotel opened in 1905 overlooking the South Rim of the Grand Canyon; it remains in operation as the El Tovar Hotel. (from History of Arizona)
Image 24Arizona Territory in 1866 (from History of Arizona)
Image 25Arizona's counties (from Geography of Arizona)

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State facts

Nickname: The Grand Canyon State
Capital and largest city: Phoenix
Governor: Katie Hobbs (D)
Total area: 295,254 km² (113,998 sq mi)
Population (2020): 7,151,502
Date admitted to the Union: February 14, 1912
Senators: Kyrsten Sinema (I), Mark Kelly (D)
Representatives: Tom O'Halleran (D), Ann Kirkpatrick (D), Raúl Grijalva (D), Paul Gosar (R), Andy Biggs (R), David Schweikert (R), Ruben Gallego (D), Debbie Lesko (R), Greg Stanton (D)