17 Fun Facts About Arizona – 4 Corners, Where 4 States Meet

by Petr Novák, ? This article’s information was last verified on this date. If you notice any errors, let us know in the comments. Thank you! :-) Updated 02/18/2025 Arizona, Trivia About the US states

Arizona became part of the Union on February 14, 1912, making it the third-youngest U.S. state after Hawaii (1959) and Alaska (1959). Arizona is home to the oldest continuously inhabited Native American settlement in the United States and a bridge transported in pieces from London. Can you guess how many one-cent coins equal the amount of copper used on the roof of the Capitol in Phoenix?

1. Table of Contents

   1. The Only Place in the U.S. Where Four States Meet at One Point
   2. Arizona Was the Last Continental State to Join the Union
   3. Mail Is Delivered by Mules to the Remote Village of Supai
   4. 27% of Arizona’s Land Is Managed by Native American Tribes
   5. Lake Havasu City Has a Bridge from London
   6. Tombstone Was Hit by Two Devastating Fires in One Year
   7. McDonald’s Opened Its First Drive-Thru in Arizona
   8. Record Temperatures in Arizona
   9. The Boothill Graveyard in Tombstone: A Resting Place for Those Who “Died With Their Boots On”
   10. Different Time Zones Apply in Different Parts of Arizona
   11. Arizona’s Lost Gold Mine: A Mystery With No Known Location
   12. Arizona’s Economy Was Driven by the “Five Cs”
   13. The Saguaro Cactus Grows Its First Arm After 60 to 75 Years
   14. The Copper Used on the Arizona Capitol Dome Equals 4.8 Million Coins
   15. Arizona Is Home to 22 Federally Recognized Native American Tribes
   16. Arizona’s Highest Peak Is Humphreys Peak
   17. Arizona Is Home to the Oldest Continuously Inhabited Settlement in the U.S.

   The Only Place in the U.S. Where Four States Meet at One Point

   In northeastern Arizona, you’ll find the Four Corners Monument, which is the only officially recognized location in the United States where four states meet at one point. These states are Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico.

   The monument is located on Navajo Nation land and is a popular tourist attraction where visitors can stand in four states at once.

2. Arizona Was the Last Continental State to Join the Union

   Arizona became the 48th state of the Union on February 14, 1912. It was the last of the “lower 48 states” to gain statehood after years of debate over whether it should be merged with New Mexico into a single state.

   President William Howard Taft initially vetoed Arizona’s request for statehood due to a clause allowing the recall of judges, which had to be removed before it could be approved. Arizona is also the only U.S. state that was admitted to the Union on Valentine’s Day.

3. Mail Is Delivered by Mules to the Remote Village of Supai

   Supai, the capital of the Havasupai Indian Reservation, is located within the Grand Canyon and is the last place in the U.S. where mail is still delivered by mule. Mules, a crossbreed between a male donkey and a female horse, are used because regular postal vehicles cannot reach the remote village due to the rugged terrain.

   Supai is one of the few villages in the U.S. that is not connected to nearby towns by a road.

   The 8 mi-mile trail requires 10 to 22 mules led by a wrangler on horseback. The trip down to the village takes about three hours, while the return trip uphill takes approximately five hours. Each mule can carry a load of about 200 lb.

4. 27% of Arizona’s Land Is Managed by Native American Tribes

   Approximately 27% of Arizona’s land is designated as tribal land within Native American reservations. No other U.S. state has more tribal land than Arizona.

   The largest Native American reservation in the U.S. is governed by the Navajo Nation and spans 27,413 mi² across Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico.

   Other significant Native American reservations in Arizona include those of the Hopi, Apache, and Tohono O’odham Nations. These communities preserve traditions that are hundreds of years old. One of the most famous landmarks within the reservations is the iconic Monument Valley.

5. Lake Havasu City Has a Bridge from London

   In Lake Havasu City, near the California border, stands The London Bridge, which was purchased from London by businessman Robert P. McCulloch.

   This stone bridge, measuring 930 ft, originally spanned the River Thames from 1831. In 1968, it was dismantled, with each stone carefully numbered and shipped from the United Kingdom to Arizona. It was reassembled and now spans a canal connecting Lake Havasu to Thompson Bay, making it a popular tourist attraction in Arizona.

6. Tombstone Was Hit by Two Devastating Fires in One Year

   In the early 1880s, Tombstone was one of the fastest-growing towns due to its booming silver mines. However, on Wednesday, June 22, 1881, a devastating fire broke out in Tombstone when a barrel of whiskey in the Arcade Saloon caught fire from a lit cigar. The resulting blaze destroyed 66 businesses in the eastern half of the commercial district.

   The townspeople faced another disaster just one year later, on May 25, 1882, when a fire broke out in a laundry on Fifth Street. This fire damaged over 100 businesses, including the historic Grand Hotel. The damaged buildings, including the famous hotel, were later rebuilt.

7. McDonald’s Opened Its First Drive-Thru in Arizona

   On January 24, 1975, the world’s first McDonald’s drive-thru opened in Sierra Vista, Arizona. This groundbreaking service was introduced specifically for soldiers stationed at the nearby Fort Huachuca military base, as they were not allowed to leave their vehicles while in uniform. Due to this restriction, the restaurant had been experiencing a decline in sales.

   The concept of ordering food directly from a car quickly caught on, revolutionizing the fast-food industry worldwide. Interestingly, this was not the first drive-thru in the U.S.—that honor belongs to Red’s Giant Hamburg in Springfield, Missouri, which introduced the service in 1947. The restaurant was located along the famous Route 66.

8. Record Temperatures in Arizona

   The highest recorded temperature in Arizona was 127.9°F, measured on June 29, 1994, in Lake Havasu City. This region, located on the California border, is among the hottest places in the United States.

   Arizona is also home to the sunniest place on Earth. In Yuma, the sun shines for an average of 4,015 hours per year.

   The lowest recorded temperature in Arizona was -40°F, measured on January 7, 1971, by a National Weather Service observation station near Hawley Lake.

9. The Boothill Graveyard in Tombstone: A Resting Place for Those Who “Died With Their Boots On”

   In the town of Tombstone, you’ll find Boothill Graveyard, established in 1878. It earned its name because many of its residents “died with their boots on.” The cemetery is the final resting place of the victims of the famous O.K. Corral shootout, including gunslingers Tom McLaury, his brother Frank McLaury, and cowboy Billy Clanton.

   Today, Boothill Graveyard is a popular tourist attraction that draws history enthusiasts interested in the Wild West.

10. Different Time Zones Apply in Different Parts of Arizona

    As a whole, Arizona follows Mountain Standard Time (MST, UTC-7) and is one of the few U.S. states that does not observe daylight saving time. However, an exception is made for the Navajo Nation, which spans multiple states and follows daylight saving time.

    As a result, from March to November, neighboring tribal territories may have different times simultaneously. Daylight saving time was introduced in the Navajo Nation in 1968 to align with surrounding areas and reduce energy consumption during the hot summer months.

11. Arizona’s Lost Gold Mine: A Mystery With No Known Location

    In Arizona’s Superstition Mountains lies the legendary Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine. According to one story, a German immigrant named Jacob Waltz discovered a rich gold vein here in the late 19th century. However, after his death in 1891, he took the exact location of the mine to his grave.

    In the 1950s, a group of stones with carvings was discovered in the Superstition Mountains. These stones allegedly contain undiscovered maps and clues leading to the lost mine. Known as the Peralta Stones, some believe they provide real directions, while others think they are an elaborate hoax.

    Despite many expeditions and treasure hunters searching the rugged terrain, the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine remains one of Arizona’s greatest mysteries.

12. Arizona’s Economy Was Driven by the “Five Cs”

    Arizona’s economy was once heavily influenced by the Five Cs: copper, cattle, cotton, citrus, and climate.

    Copper mining remains a significant contributor to the state’s economy. Arizona is the leading copper producer in the U.S. The state’s largest copper mine, Morenci, located near the New Mexico border, accounts for nearly half of Arizona’s copper production.

    Farming, cotton cultivation, and citrus production once thrived thanks to irrigation projects in the desert. The state’s favorable climate also boosted Arizona’s economy by attracting tourists and new residents, especially during the winter months.

13. The Saguaro Cactus Grows Its First Arm After 60 to 75 Years

    Arizona’s official state flower, since March 16, 1931, is the blossom of the saguaro cactus, native to the Sonoran Desert. It can take a saguaro cactus 60 to 75 years to grow its first side arm. These giant cacti can live for more than 200 years and reach heights of up to 40 ft.

    Interestingly, the age of a saguaro cactus is not determined by its width, as with trees, but by its height. Due to its slow growth and ecological importance to the Sonoran Desert, the saguaro cactus is protected by law, making it illegal to cut one down without a permit.

14. The Copper Used on the Arizona Capitol Dome Equals 4.8 Million Coins

    Copper mining has long been one of Arizona’s most important industries, and a physical testament to this heritage is the dome of the state Capitol building in Phoenix. The amount of copper used for its dome is equivalent to approximately 4.8 million one-cent coins.

15. Arizona Is Home to 22 Federally Recognized Native American Tribes

    Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized Native American tribes, each with its own distinct culture and traditions. Some of the most well-known tribes include the Apache, Navajo, Hualapai, Hopi, Havasupai, and Tohono O’odham. Many Native American tribes manage their own reservations and play a vital role in preserving their heritage.

16. Arizona’s Highest Peak Is Humphreys Peak

    The highest peak in Arizona is Humphreys Peak, standing at 12,638 ft. It is part of the San Francisco Peaks, a volcanic mountain range that formed millions of years ago. Several Native American tribes, including the Hopi, consider this region sacred.

    Humphreys Peak is located just north of Flagstaff. On clear days, visitors can see the southern rim of the Grand Canyon from its summit.

17. Arizona Is Home to the Oldest Continuously Inhabited Settlement in the U.S.

    The oldest continuously inhabited settlement in the United States is Oraibi, which dates back to at least 1100 AD. Located on Third Mesa, it is part of the Hopi Reservation, which was officially established by the U.S. government in 1882.