Arizona

File:Arizona State Flag.gif

The state flag of Arizona.

Arizona became the forty-eighth state to enter into the union on February 14, 1912. It is known as the Grand Canyon State. It's capital and largest city is Phoenix.

Geography & Population

• The state is bordered by the following states: California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico, as well as Mexico.

• Total Land Area: 113,635 square miles

• Highest Elevation: 12,633 ft (Humphreys Peak)

• Population (in 2005): 5,939,292

• Most populated cities in Arizona:

Phoenix, Population: 1,321,045

Tucson, Population: 486,699

Mesa, Population: 396,375

Glendale, Population: 218,812

Scottsdale, Population: 202,705

Arizona has a large population of people of Native American descent. The Indian tribes who inhabited the land that is now Arizona include the Apache, Navajo, Mojave and Yavapai.

Political culture

In more recent years, the Republican Party has generally dominated Arizona politics. In 2004, President George W. Bush won the state's ten electoral votes by a margin of 10 percentage points with 55% of the vote. Republicans control both chambers of the state legislature. Their two United States Senator's are also Republicans. The only statewide Democratic Arizona officials is Governor Janet Napolitano and Attorney General Terry Goddard. However, Arizona became the first U.S. state to vote against an anti-gay marriage amendment in the 2006 midterm elections. Although gay marriage is still illegal in Arizona, this amendment would have abolished civil unions and domestic partnerships for homosexual and heterosexual couples alike.

Notable Arizonans

• Barry Goldwater (Politician)
• Frank Lloyd Wright (Architect)
• Stewart Udall (former Congressman and Secretary of the Interior)
• Cesar Chavez (Labor leader)
• Erma Bombeck (Writer)

State Motto

The state motto is: "Ditat Deus," (God Enriches).

Statewide officials

• Governor Janet Napolitano (D)
• Senator John McCain (R)
• Senator Jon Kyl (R)