100 Dumb US Laws (With Proof They Exist)
Arizona (AZ) lies in the southwestern United States, known for its hot desert climate and stunning natural landscapes. It is home to Grand Canyon National Park, Saguaro National Park, and the Monument Valley tribal park. Arizona has the most ghost towns of all U.S. states, and tourism plays an important role in the local economy. The state capital is Phoenix, and Arizona borders California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico.
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Table of Contents
Quick Facts
Name Arizona Abbreviation AZ Capital Phoenix Largest city Phoenix (Population: 1 650 070) Current time 7:54 Time zone MST (UTC-7), most of the state does not observe daylight saving time MDT (UTC-6) Population 7,157,902 (#14 most populous US state) Area 113,998 sqmi (#6 largest US state) Admitted to the Union February 14, 1912 (#48 state to join) ⭐ Capital of Arizona
The capital of Arizona is Phoenix, founded in 1867 by American settler Jack Swilling. It was named after the mythical Phoenix, and it became Arizona’s capital in 1889.
🏙️ Largest City in Arizona
The largest city in Arizona is the capital, Phoenix, which had 1,650,070 residents in 2023. The second largest city is Tucson with 547,239 residents, and the third is Mesa with 511,648 residents.
🕒 Time in Arizona
The current time in Phoenix is 7:54, Arizona observes Mountain Standard Time (MST, UTC-7). The state is one of the few in the U.S. that does not switch to Daylight Saving Time, the exception is the Navajo Nation, which does observe it.
🧑🤝🧑 Population of Arizona
In 2023, Arizona had 7,157,902 residents, making it the 14th most populous U.S. state.
📍 Area of Arizona
Arizona’s total area is 113,998 sqmi, which makes it the 6th largest U.S. state.
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Fun Facts About Arizona
🧩 Which States Border Arizona
Arizona borders the U.S. states of California to the west, Nevada to the northwest, Utah to the north, and New Mexico to the east. It also has a border with Mexico to the south and touches Colorado at the Four Corners point in the northeast.
📅 Date of Arizona Statehood
Arizona joined the Union on February 14, 1912 as the 48th state, formed from the former Arizona Territory.
📛 Arizona State Nickname
Arizona has several nicknames, the best known, “The Grand Canyon State,” refers to the popular tourist attraction and appears on license plates.
The second nickname, “The Copper State,” arose in the early 20th century when Arizona mined more copper than any other U.S. state.
⛰️ Highest Mountain in Arizona
The highest mountain in Arizona is Humphreys Peak in the Coconino National Forest, with a summit elevation of 12,637 ft.
🏞️ Rivers in Arizona
The longest river in Arizona is the Colorado River, with a total length of 1,448 mi. It is followed by the Gila River (652 mi), Little Colorado River (315 mi), Salt River (199 mi), and Santa Cruz River (184 mi).
🎓 Universities in Arizona
The largest university in Arizona is Arizona State University, with more than 140,000 students. In second place is Grand Canyon University, founded on August 1, 1949 in Phoenix. Third is the University of Phoenix with approximately 90,000 students.
✉️ ZIP Codes in Arizona
Arizona is assigned the ZIP code ranges 850xx-853xx, 855xx-857xx, 859xx-860xx, and 863xx-865xx. You can look up the code for any address on the USPS website, and you can find more details in the article ZIP Codes in the USA.
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Weather in Arizona
The best times to visit Arizona are spring and fall, when temperatures are lower than in summer. Nature offers beautiful scenery during these seasons. Temperatures vary across Arizona, influenced mainly by elevation.
Spring in Arizona is pleasantly warm, with temperatures around 63 °F to 73 °F. Rainfall is minimal, which creates favorable conditions for hiking and other outdoor activities. Cacti and other plants are typically in full bloom.
Summer in Arizona is hot, and sudden downpours and strong thunderstorms can arrive in July and August. Average temperatures range from 88 °F to 97 °F, and it is usually cooler in the mountains. In the lowlands, temperatures can climb to an extreme 104 °F to 113 °F.
Fall in Arizona brings welcome cooling, with lowland temperatures around 72 °F to 81 °F. The chance of rain and storms is lower, which creates ideal conditions for visiting natural landmarks.
Winter in Arizona is mild, with temperatures usually between 54 °F and 66 °F. Precipitation is minimal, so Arizona can serve as a refuge from cold weather in other states.
🌡️ Average Temperatures and Precipitation in Arizona
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What to See in Arizona
1️⃣ Grand Canyon National Park
Among the most popular attractions in Arizona is Grand Canyon National Park, which covers an area of 1,901.96 sqmi. The South Rim is more frequently visited, with trails and overlooks such as Mather Point and Yavapai Point.
The North Rim is less visited, and therefore quieter; besides hiking to the canyon floor, you can take a scenic helicopter flight.
2️⃣ Monument Valley
The red sandstone formations of Monument Valley rank among the most photographed places in America, found on the Arizona and Utah border. You can admire the buttes from the comfort of your car by driving Valley Drive. The entire area is part of the Navajo Nation tribal park.
3️⃣ Horseshoe Bend
Another iconic spot of the American West is Horseshoe Bend, a large horseshoe-shaped meander of the Colorado River. Horseshoe Bend lies near the town of Page and is easily reached via a short trail. The best times to visit are early morning or late afternoon, when conditions are best for photography.
4️⃣ Antelope Canyon
Near the river’s horseshoe at Horseshoe Bend is Antelope Canyon, another unmistakable landmark of the American West. Entry into the narrow, orange and pink slot canyon is only possible with a guide, which should not deter you from visiting. Beams of light filtering into the canyon are most visible around midday in the summer months.
5️⃣ Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park is named for the unmistakable cacti that symbolize the American Southwest. Saguaros can be up to 200 years old, and you can see them up close on many hiking trails. Wildlife you might spot includes coyotes, desert tortoises, and various birds. Spring is the best season to visit.
6️⃣ Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park preserves one of the largest and most colorful collections of petrified wood in the world. You can walk trails that lead through trees more than 200 million years old. Visitor centers share insights into how petrified wood forms and the park’s history.
7️⃣ Kartchner Caverns State Park
Kartchner Caverns State Park features a unique cave system discovered only in 1974 and now open to the public. Inside, you will find well-preserved stalactites, stalagmites, and other karst formations, and tours are offered with a guide.
8️⃣ Meteor Crater
With a diameter of 0.7 mi, Meteor Crater is one of the best-preserved impact craters in the world, located 43 mi east of Flagstaff. The crater formed after a meteorite impact approximately 40,000 to 50,000 years ago. You can learn more at the visitor center, which has viewing platforms. You can also walk along the crater rim.
9️⃣ Old West Town of Tombstone
Step into the Old West in the town of Tombstone, made famous by the 1881 gunfight at the O.K. Corral. The site is enclosed by a wall, but you can tour it after paying the entrance fee. If you pay a few dollars more, you can watch a reenactment of the gunfight.
🔟 Lake Powell
Lake Powell is a man-made reservoir on the Colorado River created after the Glen Canyon Dam was completed. It is a popular retreat for water and adventure sports as well as fishing. There are plenty of campgrounds and hiking trails around the lake, and you can combine your visit with Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon.
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Largest Cities in Arizona
The table shows the 10 largest cities in Arizona in 2023. The data source is the federal agency United States Census Bureau, whose main task is conducting the national census.
City County Population 1 Phoenix Maricopa 1,650,070 Map of Phoenix 2 Tucson Pima 547,239 Map of Tucson 3 Mesa Maricopa 511,648 Map of Mesa 4 Chandler Maricopa 280,167 Map of Chandler 5 Gilbert Maricopa 275,411 Map of Gilbert 6 Glendale Maricopa 253,855 Map of Glendale 7 Scottsdale Maricopa 244,394 Map of Scottsdale 8 Peoria Maricopa, Yavapai 198,750 Map of Peoria 9 Tempe Maricopa 189,834 Map of Tempe 10 Surprise Maricopa 158,285 Map of Surprise -
Sports Teams in Arizona
🏒 Hockey (NHL)
There is no NHL team currently playing in Arizona. The Arizona Coyotes from the Phoenix metropolitan area competed in the league through 2024.
🏈 American Football (NFL)
The Arizona Cardinals are a founding NFL franchise, playing their first season in 1920. The Cardinals are part of the NFC West, and their club colors are cardinal red, white, black, and silver. The team plays home games at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.
🏀 Basketball (NBA)
The only Arizona team in the NBA since the 1968 season is the Phoenix Suns of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference. The club colors are purple, orange, black, gray, and yellow. The team plays home games at Footprint Center in Phoenix.
⚾ Baseball (MLB)
The Arizona Diamondbacks have been part of the National League West since the 1998 season. They play home games at Chase Field in Phoenix, and their club colors are red, teal, black, and white.
⚽ Soccer (MLS)
No team from Arizona plays in MLS.
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Arizona State Symbols
Arizona has a number of official symbols, and only some are listed below.
State Flag of Arizona
Arizona’s state flag in its current form was adopted in 1917. It features 13 red and gold rays, which symbolize Arizona sunsets and the 13 original American colonies. The copper-colored star points to the importance of copper mining.
State Seal of Arizona
The Great Seal was officially adopted in 1911, one year before Arizona joined the Union. Its motto is the Latin phrase “Ditat Deus,” which translates as “God enriches.”
State Flower
Arizona’s official state flower since 1931 is the saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea), which grows in the Sonoran Desert.
State Tree
In 1954, the state designated the deciduous tree Parkinsonia florida, which can be found in the Sonoran Desert.
State Reptile
Arizona’s state reptile since 1986 is the Arizona ridge-nosed rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi). The snake is named after its discoverer, Frank Cottle Willard, a merchant from Tombstone.
State Metal
One of Arizona’s symbols since 2015 is copper, which has been mined in the state since the late 19th century.
State Mineral
In 2017, the official state mineral of Arizona was declared to be orange-red wulfenite.
State Dinosaur
Since 2018, one of the state symbols has been Sonorasaurus, whose fossils were discovered in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert.
State Fossil
The state fossil since 1988 has been petrified wood, with one of the best-known deposits in Petrified Forest National Park.
State Amphibian
Arizona’s official state amphibian since 1986 is the mountain tree frog (Hyla eximia), also known as the Arizona tree frog.
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