Difference between revisions of "Arizona"

Revision as of 01:15, August 20, 2009

Arizona became the forty-eighth state to enter into the union on February 14, 1912. It is known as the Grand Canyon State. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. ^[1]

Politically Arizona has always been conservative, but until 1952 the conservative Democrats were in control. Thanks to Barry Goldwater, republicans built a strong base and controlled the electoral vote. In recent years the state has gained population rapidly and the two parties are evenly matched.

The growth engine of large scale immigration from California and Mexico, and housing construction collapsed with the Recession of 2008, and the economy is struggling in 2009.

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 ^[2]

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. ^[3]

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, and in 2008 John McCain won the state with 54% of the vote. Republicans control both chambers of the state legislature. Their two United States Senators are Republican. The only statewide official in Arizona that's a member of the Democratic Party is 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 couples.

Notable Arizonans

• Barry Goldwater (Conservative leader), GOP presidential nominee in 1964
• John McCain (Republican leader), GOP presidential nominee in 2008
• Frank Lloyd Wright (Architect)
• Stewart Udall (former Congressman and Secretary of the Interior)
• Erma Bombeck (Writer)
• William Rehnquist (Supreme Court chief justice)
• Sandra Day O'Connor (Supreme Court justice)
• James Rhodes (Republican leader in Congress)

Elected Officials

Federal

Jan Brewer.

• Senator John McCain (R)
• Senator Jon Kyl (R)
• Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick [D, AZ-1]
• Rep. Trent Franks [R, AZ-2]
• Rep. John Shadegg [R, AZ-3]
• Rep. Edward Pastor [D, AZ-4]
• Rep. Harry Mitchell [D, AZ-5]
• Rep. Jeff Flake [R, AZ-6]
• Rep. Raul Grijalva [D, AZ-7]
• Rep. Gabrielle Giffords [D, AZ-8]

Statewide

• Governor Jan Brewer (R)
• Attorney General Terry Goddard (D)
• Secretary of State
• State Treasurer Dean Martin (R)

References