Welcome to Arizona

• Arizona was the 48^th state in the USA; it became a state on February 14, 1912.
  PHOENIX 3 Months
  TUCSON 2 Months
  KINGMAN 3 Months
  BULLHEAD CITY
  9 Months
  State Abbreviation - AZ
  State Capital - Phoenix
  Largest City - Phoenix
  Area - 114,006 square miles [Arizona is the 6th biggest state in the USA]
  Population - 5,130,632 (as of 2000) [Arizona is the 20th most populous state in the USA]
  Name for Residents - Arizonans
  Major Industries - mining (copper, molybdenum, gold, and silver), manufacturing, and tourism
  
  Major Rivers - Colorado River, Little Colorado River, Gila River, Bill Williams River
  Major Lakes - Lake Mead, Lake Havasu, Lake Mohave, Theodore Roosevelt Lake, San Carlos Lake, Lake Powell
  Highest Point - Humphreys Peak - 12,633 feet (3,581 m) above sea level
  Bordering States - California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah
  Bordering Country - Mexico
  
  Origin of the Name Arizona - The word Arizona comes from one of the following (its origin is not certain): the Aztec Indian word "arizuma," that means "silver-bearing," from the Tohono O'odham Indian word "Aleh-zone" which means "small spring," or the Pima Indian word "Ali shonak" which also means "small spring."
  State Nickname - Grand Canyon State
  State Motto - "Ditat Deus," God Enriches
  State Song - Arizona March Song
  
  Dinosaur Fossils Found in Arizona - Ammosaurus, Anchisaurus, Anomoepus, Chindesaurus, Coelophysis, Dilophosaurus, Eubrontes, Massospondylus, Navahopus, Revueltosaurus, Rioarribasaurus, Scutellosaurus, Segisaurus, Sonorasaurus, Syntarsus
  
  Arizona State Symbols and Emblems:
  

  State Flag The official state flag of Arizona was officially adopted on February 17, 1917. It was designed by Colonel Charles W. Harris (adjutant general and chief administrative officer of Arizona) and was first sewn by Nan D. Hayden. The 13 yellow and red rays represent both the Sun's rays and the original 13 colonies of the United States of America. The colors red and yellow are used because they were the colors of the flag of the Spanish conquistadors led by Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, who entered Arizona in 1540 (looking for the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola). The copper-colored star in the middle represents copper mining, since Arizona produces more copper than any other state in the USA. Arizona was the 48th state in the USA; it was admitted in 1912 (it had been part of Mexico before the Mexican War).

  Animal Symbols:
  

  State Bird Cactus wren

  State Mammal Ringtail

  State Reptile Arizona Ridgenose Rattlesnake

  State Amphibian Arizona Tree Frog

  State Fish Apache Trout

  State Insect Two-tailed Swallowtail Papilio multicaudatus

  Plant Symbols:
  

  State Flower Saguaro Cactus Blossom

  State Tree Palo Verde

  Earth Symbols:
  

  State Fossil Petrified wood

  State Gemstone Turquoise

  State Soil Arizona Casa - Grande (unofficial).

  Miscellaneous Symbols:
  

  State Neckwear The bolo tie

  State Colors Blue and old gold

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