Arizona is the 14th most populous state and 6th largest by area in the US. It was officially declared as a state on February 14, 1912, and became the 48th to be admitted into the union.
Arizona (AZ) also has some interesting things you can learn and we will be guiding you through them. It should be noted that it remains a notable state in the United States, known for copper to the extent that it was often called Copper State. Its other nicknames are The Grand Canyon State and The Valentine State.
Land Area and Population
Arizona can be found in the Western United States, and also shares close contact with Southwestern and Mountain subregions. The capital of Arizona is Phoenix and which also happens to be the largest city in the state.
The state of Arizona’s total area covered is estimated to be 113,990 sq mi. It shares four corners with New Mexico to the east, Utah to the north, Colorado to the northeast, and also some neighboring states such as Nevada, and California as well as the Mexican States of Baja California, and Sonora.
The state is popular for its desert climate which often results in hot summers. Although, in winter, the weather can be mild, but may not be as fierce as in Alaska or even North Dakota which happens to be among the coldest states in the United States.
AZ can be considered home to people from different backgrounds. Therefore, wherever you are from, it should not take time to fit into one of the beautiful states in the US.
Aside from Hawaii, the state of Arizona is the only United States that does not observe Daylight Saving Time.
The population count of the state is estimated to be 7,151,502, a figure that ranks it one of the leading states in terms of the total number of people.
Arizona State Flag
The flag of Arizona is beautifully designed, and the story began in 1911 when a rifle team from the Arizona Territory was to go on with a game and needed a flag to represent their team. Charles Harris, the then the Adjutant General of the territory put himself forward and designed a team flag that eventually rode into history to become the Arizona State Flag.
The flag has the following details – 13 rays of red and weld-yellow on the top half, The big center star, and the bottom half in royal blue.
The center star which stood in the middle symbolizes that the state is the biggest producer of copper among the 50 states in the United States.
The red and yellow rays on the top half show Arizona’s picturesque landscape. However, each ray represents the first 13 original colonies that made up the United States of America. The colonies are New Hampshire, Delaware, New York, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, and North Carolina.
The Arizona flag was declared the official flag of the state on February 27, 1917.
10 Interesting Facts About Arizona
Below are some of the interesting things to know about the State of AZ:
1. Arizona was once part of the Territory of New Mexico. The United States later acquired the region under the agreement drafted in the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the 1853 Gadsden Purchase.
2. February 14, 1912, the date Arizona was officially declared as a state in the US, which also happens to be Valentine’s day. A very significant date for all the Arizonians.
3. The right to remain silent which often comes into play when someone is arrested or detained began in Arizona in 1966. This right prevents the detainee from answering questions by personnel.
4. It is unlawful to refuse anyone a glass of water in AZ.
5. Turquoise is present in the state and also happens to be the state’s official gem.
6. No one has the answer as to why Arizona is named Arizona. Historians are not sure where the name comes from, some can’t seem to agree if it comes from the Spanish word ‘Arizonac’.
7. In 1997 during the night, some residents in Phoenix claimed they saw UFOs flying through the sky.
8. Arizona is the state that owns the most monuments, with 18 monuments recorded.
9. Arizona is that big that it could take up the following states – Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Vermont, and Rhode Island.
10. When going through Arizona, it only takes about 30 minutes on a vehicle to get from Canada to Mexico.
Most Popular Cities in Arizona
1. Phoenix
Phoenix is an easy choice here among the most popular and interesting cities in Arizona. It is not just popular, but also an incredible place with rich culture and history. The city is the 5th most populous city and the only state capital in the USA whose number of people living it surpasses a million.
Phoenix is otherwise known as the Valley of the Sun and is situated in the Sonoran Desert. The desert is known for its humidity. The total area of Phoenix is 519.28 sq mi with water having a meager size of 1.02 sq mi.
Over 13 million people are known to visit the state capital. This is enough reason that Phoenix is such an interesting place one can always visit for all the fun it can offer.
Also, it gets some bragging rights when it comes to industries in fields like manufacturing, tourism, construction, and high tech. These have no doubt contributed to the popularity of the state.
For the best places to visit in Phoenix Arizona, you can check out Desert Botanical Museum, The Heard Museum, Taliesin West, Old Town Scottsdale, South Mountain Park, Papago Park
and many others.
2. Tucson
Tucson, AZ is yet another that is almost impossible to remove from this list. The city is the 2nd largest city in Arizona with a population that runs into 500,000. It is also popular for housing the University of Arizona.
The total area size of Tucson is 241.33 sq mi, land has 241.01 sq mi, and water area with 0.32 sq mi. And if you are the type that could not do without seeing some beautiful sunlight, you are not going to get more from any other city, rather in Tucson Arizona.
And for bird lovers, it is home to almost all types of birds known to Americans. You can give yourself a nice treat by watching different kinds of birds including Gambel’s Quail, and Morning Dove.
As an immigrant trying to find a place to start, the city is one. The cost of living in Tucson is very low. This is a nice place to get started while you gradually take it one step at a time.
The attractions are also not lacking. Any traveler would find places like Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Desert at Saguaro National Park, Pima Air and Space Museum, Catalina State Park, etc.
3. Scottsdale
Scottsdale is another city in Arizona that you are going to love. The city is located in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona. For the past decades, it has experienced massive growth in terms of development and is a very nice place to be, even if you are just visiting.
There are several ways to describe the city – A beautiful place for golf, a lot of attractions, businesses, and more. Whatever it is you are looking for, you are going to find them in abundance in Scottsdale.
And for fun, if you are not sure of where to look up. Use your google map or ask around for places like Butterfly Wonderland, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Old Town Scottsdale, Penske Racing Museum, and even more. The residents are always ready to help.
4. Flagstaff
Flagstaff is quite a nice place and would be very unfair not to have it on the list of popular and interesting places in Arizona. The city lies on the northern side of Arizona, in the southwestern US.
The total area of Flagstaff is 66.08 sq mi, land has a total size of 66.03 sq mi with water getting 0.05 sq mi of the total area. If you are visiting for the first time, you are going to find old buildings that have been around for a long during the era that the city was known to be a hub for trains.
Others you will come across if you wander around enough are bars and catering shops. It also has some famous attractions to call its own, and among them are Coconino National Forest, Museum Of Northern Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park, Mount Elden, and Buffalo Park.
5. Sedona
Sedona is lovely, there is no denying that which is one of the reasons why it deserves to be on the list of popular cities in beautiful Arizona. The total area of Sedona is 18.30 sq mi and has about 10,000 people living and working there.
It may not be big or as populous as you probably wanted, but that does not make Sedona less fun. It is actually an interesting place due to its magnificent scenery which happens to be among those bright spots you can brag about in the city. For fun, you will find the city good for hiking, swimming, mountain biking, and more.
Also, it exhibits some form of spirituality to the extent that many people consider it to be a holy place. People do visit a lot especially when they are seeking education on religious matters.
Another interesting point here, Sedona, AZ has a huge list of National parks or monuments and even more than most states. Most of these attractions can be found in Sedona or close to the city.
