Arizona (AZ) is located in the southwestern USA, the state is known for its hot desert climate and beautiful natural scenery. The Grand Canyon, Saguaro, and Monument Valley National Parks are located here. Arizona has the largest number of ghost towns of any US state, and tourism plays an important role in the local economy. The capital of Arizona is Phoenix, and the state 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 8:03 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 mi² (#6 largest US state) Admitted to the Union February 14, 1912 (#48 state to join) ⭐ Capital of Arizona
The capital of the state of Arizona is Phoenix, founded in 1867 by American settler Jack Swilling. Named after the mythical bird, Phoenix became the capital of Arizona in 1889.
🏙️ Largest City in Arizona
The largest city in Arizona is the capital city of Phoenix, with a population of 1,650,070 in 2023. The second largest city is Tucson with 547,239 residents and the third largest is Mesa with 511,648 residents.
🕒 Time in Arizona
The current time in Phoenix is [timezone=”America/Phoenix” format=”G:i”], Arizona observes Mountain Standard Time (MST, UTC-7). The state is one of the few in the USA that does not convert to daylight saving time, the exception being the Navajo Indian Territory, which recognizes daylight saving time.
🧑🤝🧑 Population of Arizona
In 2023, Arizona had a population of 7,157,902, making it the 14th most populous state in the USA.
📍 Area of Arizona
The total area of Arizona is 113,998 mi², making it the 6th largest state in the USA.
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Fun Facts About Arizona
🧩 Arizona Neighboring States
Arizona borders the American states of California to the west, Nevada to the northwest, Utah to the north and New Mexico to the east. It shares a border with Mexico to the south and touches Colorado at the Four Corners point to the northeast.
📅 Date of Arizona Statehood
Arizona joined the Union on February 14, 1912, as the 48th state, forming from the original Arizona Territory.
📛 Nickname of the State of Arizona
Arizona has several nicknames, with the most famous one, “The Grand Canyon State,” referring to a popular tourist attraction seen on car license plates.
The second nickname, “The Copper State”, was coined in the early 20th century when Arizona mined more copper than any other US state.
⛰️ Highest Mountain in Arizona
The highest mountain in Arizona is Humphreys Peak in the Coconino National Forest, the peak is at an elevation of 12,637 ft.
🏞️ Rivers in Arizona
The longest river in the state of Arizona is the Colorado River with a total flow length of 1,448 mi. It is followed by the Gila River (652 mi), the Little Colorado River (315 mi), the Salt River (199 mi), and the Santa Cruz River (184 mi).
🎓 Universities in Arizona
The largest university in Arizona, with over 140,000 students, is Arizona State University. In second place is Grand Canyon University, which was founded on August 1, 1949 in Phoenix. In third place is the University of Phoenix with approximately 90 thousand students.
✉️ Arizona ZIP Codes
The state of Arizona has assigned 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, see the article ZIP Codes in the USA for details.
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Weather in Arizona
The best times to visit Arizona are spring and fall, when temperatures are cooler than in the summer. Nature offers beautiful scenery during these seasons. Temperatures vary from one area of Arizona to another, influenced mainly by altitude.
Spring in Arizona is pleasantly warm, with temperatures ranging from 63°F to 73°F. Rainfall is minimal, creating favorable conditions for hiking and other outdoor activities. Cacti and other outdoor plants tend to be in full bloom.
Summers in Arizona are hot, with sudden torrential rains and severe thunderstorms in July and August. Average temperatures are around 88°F to 97°F, with cooler temperatures usually in the mountain areas. In the lowlands, temperatures can reach extremes of 104°F to 113°F.
Autumn in Arizona brings a welcome cooling, with temperatures in the lowlands ranging from 72°F to 81°F. The likelihood of rain and thunderstorms is lower, making conditions ideal for visiting natural sights.
Winter in Arizona is mild, with temperatures generally between 54°F and 66°F. Precipitation is minimal, making Arizona a popular escape from the colder weather in other states..
🌡️ Average Temperatures and Precipitation in Arizona
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Things to Do in Arizona
1️⃣ Grand Canyon National Park
One of the most popular attractions in Arizona is Grand Canyon National Park, which covers an area of 1,901.96 mi². The south end of the park is more visited, where hiking trails and the Mather Point or Yavapai Point lookout points are located.
The northern end of the park is less visited, and therefore quieter; in addition to hiking to the bottom of the canyon, it is possible to take a helicopter tour.
2️⃣ Monument Valley
The red sandstone formations of Monument Valley are among the most photographed places in America, found on the border of Arizona and Utah. You can admire the rock formations from the comfort of your car, just drive along Valley Drive. The whole area is part of the Navajo Nation’s nature reserve.
3️⃣ Horseshoe Bend
Among the iconic sites of the western United States is Horseshoe Bend, a large horseshoe-shaped bend in the Colorado River. Horseshoe Bend is located near the town of Page and is easily accessible by a short hiking trail. The best time to visit the site is early morning or late afternoon, when conditions are best for photography.
4️⃣ Antelope Canyon
Near the Horseshoe Bend River is Antelope Canyon, another of the many unmistakable places of the western United States. The narrow canyon walls, tinted in shades of orange and pink, can only be entered with a guide, which shouldn’t deter you from visiting. The rays of light penetrating the canyon are best seen in the summer months in the middle of the day.
5️⃣ Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park takes its name from the unmistakable cacti that are a symbol of the southwestern United States. The cacti are up to 200 years old and can be seen up close on one of the many hiking trails. In the animal kingdom, you can spot coyotes, desert tortoises and a variety of birds. Spring is the best time to visit the park.
6️⃣ Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park contains one of the largest and most diverse collections of petrified wood in the world. When you visit the park, you can walk along hiking trails that lead among fossilized trees that are more than 200 million years old. You can find out interesting information about the origins of petrified wood and the history of the park at the visitor centers.
7️⃣ Kartchner Caverns State Park
Kartchner Caverns State Park contains a unique cave complex that was only discovered in 1974 and is now open to the public. Inside the caves are well-preserved stalactites, stalagmites and other karst formations, and guided tours are only possible.
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 was formed by a meteorite impact approximately 40,000 to 50,000 years ago. Interesting information can be found at the visitor center, where viewing platforms are available. You can also walk right along the rim of the crater.
9️⃣ Tombstone Western Town
Get a glimpse of the Wild West in the town of Tombstone, made famous by the gunfight at the O.K. Corral in 1881. The scene of the gunfight is walled off, but you can see it in person by paying an admission fee. If you pay a few extra dollars, you can attend a reenactment of the gunfight.
🔟 Lake Powell
Lake Powell is a man-made lake on the Colorado River that was created after the completion of the Glen Canyon Dam. It is a popular retreat for lovers of water and adventure sports or fishing. There are plenty of campgrounds and hiking trails around the lake, and a visit can be combined with a tour of Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon.
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Largest Cities in Arizona
The table below shows the 10 largest cities in Arizona in 2023, the source of the data is the United States Census Bureau, a federal agency whose main job is to count the population.
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
🏒 Ice Hockey (NHL)
There is no team in Arizona that plays in the NHL. The Arizona Coyotes, a team from the Phoenix metropolitan area, played in the competition until 2024.
🏈 American football (NFL)
The Arizona Cardinals are the founding team of the American Football League (NFL), having played their first season as such in 1920. The Cardinals are part of the West Division of the NFC Conference, and consider their club colors to be Cardinal red, white, black, and silver. The team’s home games are played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.
🏀 Basketball (NBA)
The only Arizona team in the NBA basketball league 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 its home games at the Footprint Center in Phoenix.
⚾ Baseball (MLB)
The Arizona Diamondbacks have been part of the National League’s West Division since the 1998 season. It plays its home games at Chase Field in Phoenix and has chosen red, teal, black and white as its club colors.
⚽ Soccer (MLS)
No team from Arizona plays in the MLS.
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Arizona State Symbols
Arizona has a variety of official symbols, only a few of which are listed below.
State Flag of Arizona
The Arizona state flag was adopted in its current form in 1917. It features 13 red and golden rays, symbolizing Arizona sunsets and the 13 Native American colonies. The star’s specific color refers to the importance of copper mining.
Great Seal of Arizona
The Great Seal of State was officially adopted in 1911, one year before Arizona entered the Union. Its motif is the Latin motto “Ditat Deus”, which translates to “God enriches”.
State Flower
The official state flower of Arizona since 1931 is the saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea), which is found in the Sonoran Desert.
State Tree
In 1954, the deciduous blue palo verde (Parkinsonia florida), which can be found in the Sonoran Desert, was declared the state tree.
State Reptile
The Arizona state reptile has been the ridge-nosed rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi) since 1986. The snake was named after its discoverer, Frank Cottle Willard, a merchant from the town of Tombstone.
State Metal
One of the symbols of Arizona since 2015 is copper, which has been mined in the state since the late 19th century.
State Mineral
In 2017, orange-red wulfenite was declared the official state mineral of Arizona.
State Dinosaur
As of 2018, one of the state symbols is the Sonorasaurus, fossils of which were discovered in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert.
State Fossil
The state fossil has been considered a petrified wood since 1988, and is perhaps best known for its discovery in Petrified Forest National Park.
State Amphibian
The official amphibian of Arizona since 1986 is the mountain tree frog (Hyla eximia), which is also known as the Arizona dewberry.
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