Outline of Arizona
Arizona, once thought to be an almost worthless desert, has become a prosperous state of the United States. It is rich in farm and mineral products, and is growing rapidly in manufacturing and population. Vast irrigation systems transform the desert soil into rich farmland. Although the desert summers are very hot, Arizonans stay comfortable. They live in air-cooled homes, work in air-conditioned factories, and travel in air-conditioned automobiles.
Arizona desert winters are warm and pleasant. Arizonans, along with thousands of vacationers, enjoy the desert sun while winter chills other parts of the United States. Arizona's climate attracts so many people that the state has become one of the nation's fastest-growing areas. Between 1950 and 2000, Arizona's population grew by almost seven times.
Most of Arizona's people live in desert areas, but more than half the state is mountain and plateau country. These higher, cooler areas have the largest ponderosa pine forest in the United States. Large herds of cattle and sheep graze in these regions. The northwestern part of the state has one of the greatest scenic attractions in the United States-the mighty Grand Canyon of the Colorado River. The spectacular Grand Canyon and other scenic wonders, including the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest, attract millions of tourists to the state each year.
The federal government has an important part in Arizona's economy. The United States owns or controls about 70 percent of the state's land. Dams built by the government or with federal funds provide water to irrigate large areas of land in Arizona. These dams also generate electric power for the state's cities and industries.
Arizona has the third-largest Indian population in the United States. Only Oklahoma and California have more Indians. Indian reservations cover more than a fourth of Arizona's land. About 256,000 Indians live in Arizona. About three-fifths of them live on 20 reservations in the state. Indians have contributed much to Arizona's exciting history. Some Indians still live in communities built more than 800 years ago. Indians developed the first irrigation systems hundreds of years before white people came. After the whites arrived, the Indians fought fiercely to keep their rugged, beautiful land. Cochise and Geronimo led war parties in Arizona long after most other Indians had surrendered.
Arizona's history also includes many years of rule by Spanish conquerors, and by Mexicans who freed the region from Spanish control. Today, a large number of Americans of Mexican ancestry live in Arizona. Their influence is apparent in the customs, foods, and place names found in the state.
Phoenix, the largest city in Arizona, is a trading and shipping center for a rich agricultural district. Tucson, the second-largest city in the state, was originally a Spanish fort. It became famous as a resort town. Both of these cities are important manufacturing centers and vacation areas. Arizona's other large cities, in order of size, include Mesa, Glendale, Scottsdale, Chandler, and Tempe.
The name Arizona comes from an Indian word, probably arizonac, but no one is sure what it means. Some people believe it means small spring. Arizona is nicknamed the Grand Canyon State. Phoenix is the capital and largest city of Arizona.
