Arizona

The state of Arizona found in the southwestern region of the United States. It is the 14th most populated state in the United States and the sixth biggest state overall. Phoenix is both the state's capital and biggest city. Arizona is located in the Four Corners region of the United States, which also includes Utah to the north, Colorado to the northeast, and New Mexico to the east. Other states that border Arizona include Nevada to the northwest, California to the west, and Sonora and Baja California in Mexico to the south and southwest, respectively.

On February 14, 1912, Arizona became the 48th state to join the Union and the last of the contiguous states to do so. Arizona attained its statehood on the same day. Although it was historically a part of the area of Alta California in New Spain, in 1821 it was included into the newly independent nation of Mexico. As a result of Mexico's loss in the Mexican–American War in 1848, a significant portion of this region was handed up to the United States. The Gadsden Purchase, which took place in 1853, resulted in the acquisition of the southernmost section of the state.

The climate in southern Arizona is typically desert-like, with very warm summers and relatively cool winters. Northern Arizona is home to large, deep canyons, pine, Douglas fir, and spruce tree forests; the Colorado Plateau; mountain ranges (such as the San Francisco Mountains); and significantly more moderate summer temperatures than the rest of the state. Northern Arizona also receives significant snowfall during the winter months. Ski resorts may be found in the surrounding regions of Flagstaff, Alpine, and Tucson respectively.

Migration into Arizona has been a key contributor to the state's remarkable population and economic growth since the 1950s. As a result, Arizona has become a major centre of the Sun Belt region. Suburbanization has led to the development of enormous, broad territories outside of cities like Phoenix and Tucson. Arizona is home to a number of important educational institutions, including the University of Arizona and Arizona State University, in addition to a number of significant corporations, such as PetSmart and Circle K, which have their headquarters in the state. Historically speaking, the state has been politically recognised on a national scale for national conservative figures such as Barry Goldwater and John McCain; however, in the presidential election of 1996 as well as the elections for president and senator in 2020, it voted for the Democratic candidate.

The people who call Arizona home come from many walks of life. Indian reservations cover approximately one-fourth of the state and are the homeland of 27 Native American tribes that are recognised by the federal government. The Navajo Nation is the most populous Native American community in both Arizona and the United States, with more than 300,000 people calling it home. Migration from Mexico has been a major factor in the state's dramatic increase in the percentage of its population that is of Hispanic origin during the 1980s. When it comes to matters of faith, a sizeable proportion of the population adheres to the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as the Roman Catholic Church (LDS Church).