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• Arizona is the 2nd fastest growing state in the U.S. It was the 48th state admitted to the United States, on February 14, 1912. Located in the Southwest, it is bordered by New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, California, and Colorado. It has an international border with the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California. It also borders California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico - the last three making up the popular "Four Corners".

• Fast Facts

  1. Capital: Phoenix
  2. Governor: Jan BrewerGovernor of Arizona: [1]
  3. Population: 6.50 million (2008 est.)[1](14th most populous)
  4. Admitted: February 14, 1912
  5. Time zones:
     1. Mountain (UTC -7)(NO daylight savings time; #Mountain - Navajo Nation (-6 / -7)
  6. Major cities: Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa
  7. Flower: Saguaro Cactus Blossom
  8. Bird: Cactus Wren
  9. Animal: Ringtail Cat
  10. Tree: Palo Verde
  11. Gemstone: Turquoise
  12. Reptile: Arizona Ridge-Nosed Rattlesnake
  13. State motto: "Ditat Deus" (God Enriches)
  14. Nickname: Grand Canyon State

• Important Political Figures (last 50 years)

  Arizona has been the home of several elected officials who have become known nationally or internationally. Sen. Barry Goldwater was the Republican nominee for President in 1964. Rep. Morris Udall mounted a serious campaign for the Democratic nomination in 1976, and Gov. Bruce Babbitt did so in 1988. Most recently, Sen. John McCain was the Republicans' candidate for the White House in 2008. Perhaps Udall was correct when he joked that mothers in Arizona could not tell their children that they could grow up to be the President.

  Other Arizonans have been high-ranking members of Congress (Ernest McFarlane, John Rhodes, Jon Kyl, Dennis DeConcini) or in the Executive Branch (Stewart Udall - Interior, Janet Napolitano - Homeland Security), or on the U.S. Supreme Court (William Rehnquist, Sandra O'Connor).

• Arizona's Congressional Delegation

  (this will be filled in during Fall 2009, with biographical information and news links on each member)

  U.S. Senate:

  --Senior Senator: Sen. John McCain

  --Junior Senator: Sen. Jon Kyl

  U.S. House of Representatives: --CD1 Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (Dem.)

  --CD2 Rep. Trent Franks (Repub.) News item: Rep. Franks made national news for his comment calling Pres. Barack Obama an "enemy of humanity" who does "insane things". His staff indicates that because he was discussing the President's pro-choice positions, he should have called him an enemy of "UNBORN humanity." http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/azelections/articles/2009/09/30/20090930franks0930.html--CD3 Rep. John Shadegg (Repub.) September 30, 2009Video and transcript with context at http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/rep-trent-franks-declares-president-obama-enemy-humanity

  --CD4 Rep. Ed Pastor (Dem.)

  --CD5 Rep. Harry Mitchell (Dem.)

  --CD6 Rep. Jeff Flake (Repub.)

  --CD7 Rep. Raul Grijalva (Dem.)

  --CD8 Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (Dem.)

• Natural Wonders

  Northeast Arizona contains the Grand Canyon, the largest natural gorge in North America. The Barringer Meteorite Crater, often simply called Meteor Crater and one of the largest and best-preserved impact basins in the world, is located on the North-central Colorado Plateau.

• A Nation Within A State - Three States, Actually

  The Navajo Nation, the largest area of land in the United States under Native American jurisdiction, covers portions of three states. Most of Northeastern Arizona falls within the Navajo Nation. If the Navajo Nation were a state, it would be 10th largest, with a population of approximately 175,000 (on NN lands, as of 2004) http://www.navajo.org/history.htm

  The Navajo Nation features some of the most spectacular and recognizable geographical features of the western United States, including Monument Valley, Rainbow Bridge, and Canyon de Chelly. (The latter two are designated as National Monuments.)

• Arizona's Native American Lands and Population

  Arizona is home or partial home to 22 federally-recognized Native American tribes, and has the 3rd largest Native American population in the United States. http://www.azcia.gov/tribes_of_arizona.asp; http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&_lang=en&_sse=on&geo_id=04000US04&_state=04000US04

  
  

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Tombstone Deals | United States | Arizona Election Results | Arizona Exit Polls | Phoenix | Phoenix Vacation | Phoenix Hotels | Phoenix Restaurants | Phoenix Tours | Super Bowl XLII | Arizona Cardinals | Arizona Diamondbacks | Phoenix Suns | Phoenix Coyotes | Phoenix Mercury | Grand Canyon Vacation | Colorado River | 2008 Arizona Primary | Sonoran Desert | Chihuahuan Desert | Manmade Flood Grand Canyon

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