It is not entirely clear what is the proper
etymology of Arizona's name. Some claim it is a variation of the Spanish phrase
"arida zona", or dry land. But most people accept it as originating from the O'odham
phrase "ali sonak" which means "small spring".
Arizona as we know it today is one of the oldest
populated teritories of the US. Indigenous people from Central and South America,
as well as from Mexico, journeyed north into this land now called Arizona, some
as early as 25,000 B.C. Hopi, Pima, and Papago Indians, descendants of the Anasazi
and Hohkam, lived in Arizona when Navajo and Apache Indians migrated to the area.
A short time later, European exploration of Arizona began.
Marcos de Niza, a Spanish Franciscan friar,
was the first European to explore Arizona. He entered the area in 1539 in search
of the mythical Seven Cities of Gold. Coronado never finds the cities said to be
made of gold, but claims Arizona as part of New Spain. Although he was followed
a year later by another gold seeker, Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, most of the
early settlement was for missionary purposes. In 1775 the Spanish established Fort
Tucson, one of the oldest cities in US.
Following Mexico's successful War of Independence
from Spain in 1821, the Arizona region came under Mexican control. Then, during
the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), both America and Mexico fought for control
of Texas. When that war ended, (by agreement) the fast-growing U.S. took possession
of Texas, and what is now California, Nevada, Utah, smaller parts of New Mexico,
Colorado, and Wyoming, and of course, Arizona. The southern portion of the territory
was added by the Gadsden Purchase in 1853. Arizona became a U.S. state on February
14, 1912. Arizona was the 48th state admitted into the U.S. and the last of the
contiguous states to be admitted.
Miners discovered copper and gold and began
settling the area. They soon felt they were too far away from the capital of New
Mexico to be rightly governed, and wanted a separate territory. During the Civil
War Arizona Southerners called a convention in Tucson and declared themselves a
Confederate territory. Mining towns exploded in the 1870s, finding much gold, silver
and copper. In 1879 Wyatt Earp, settled in Tombstone. Earp worked first as the deputy
sheriff of Pima County and later as deputy U.S. marshal for the entire Arizona Territory.
Earp and three of his brothers, together with Doc Holliday, became famous in the
O.K. Corral gunfight in 1881, when they killed several suspected cattle rustlers.
In 1863, after the war President Lincoln approved
Congress in organizing the Arizona Territory. The capital was first established
in Prescott, in 1867 changed to Tucson, and was eventually moved in 1889 to Phoenix.
Arizona history is rich in legends of America's
Old West. It was here that the great Indian chiefs Geronimo and Cochise led their
people against the frontiersmen. Tombstone, Ariz., was the site of the West's most
famous shoot-out, the gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
Today, Arizona has one of the largest U.S.
Indian populations; more than 14 tribes are represented on 20 reservations. In 1974
the US Congress divided the Hopi Reservation between the Hopi and the Navajo Indians.
Arizona's population grew tremendously after
World War II, in part because of the development of air conditioning, which made
the intense summers more comfortable. According to the Arizona Blue Book (published
by the Secretary of State's office each year), the state population in 1910 was
294,353. By 1970, it was 1,752,122. The percentage growth each decade averaged about
20% in the earlier decades and about 60% each decade thereafter.
Arizona is renowned for its natural beauty.
From the Grand Canyon in the north to the Catalina Mountains in the south, the state
is full of world class natural attractions such as Meteor Crater, the Painted Desert,
and Monument Valley. These fantastic high desert wonders have served as the back
drop to innumerable films and draw visitors from around the world. Stylish and rustic,
Arizona is a mix of Native American Indian and Hispanic cultures, and represents
the real flavor and essence of the American West. It's a favorite stop of golfers
and vacationers, and remains one of the world's most popular retirement destinations.
Manufacturing has become Arizona's most important
industry. Principal products include electrical, communications, and aeronautical
items. The state produces over half of the country's copper. Agriculture is also
important to the state's economy. Top commodities are cattle and calves, dairy products,
and cotton. In 1973 one of the world's most massive dams, the New Cornelia Tailings,
was completed near Ajo.
Arizona Famous People
-
Cesar Estrada Chavez (1927 - 1993) Founded and led the first successful
farm workers' union in U.S. history, born in Yuma.
-
Joan Ganz Cooney (1929 - ) Producer of Sesame Street; born in Phoenix
-
Geronimo (1829 - 1909) Leader of the Apache Indians that fought the U.S.
settlements until 1886; born in Clifton.
-
Zane Grey (1872 - 1939) Author of many popular Western novels; lives near
Payson
-
Helen Hull Jacobs (1908 - 1197) Tennis champion, writer; born in Globe.
- John McCain
(1936 - ) Arizona Senator and war hero. Presidential Candidate in 2000.
- Phil
Mickelson (1970 - ) Professional golfer, Scottsdale resident.
-
Sandra Day O'Conner (1930 - ) The first woman appointed to the United States
Supreme Court in 1981.
- Linda Ronstadt (1946 - ) Singer, born in Tucson.
-
David Spade (1965 - ) Comedian/actor, Raised in Scottsdale.
-
Steven Spielberg (1946 - ) Film director, raised in Phoenix.
-
Stewart Udall (1920 - ) Former Secretary of the Interior; born in St. Johns.