Arizona Facts & Figures

Arizona is a southwestern state bordered by Utah to the north, New Mexico to the east, Mexico to the south, and California and Nevada to the west. It is the sixth largest state. Phoenix is the state's capital. Other important cities in the state include Scottsdale, Surprise, Peoria, Glendale, Chandler, Tempe, Tucson, and Flagstaff. Arizona's beautiful landscape includes mountains, valleys, plateaus, canyons, and deserts. The name Arizona is based on the Pima Indian word "arizonac," meaning "place of little springs." Arizona is also the Spanish interpretation of "arizuma," an Aztec Indian word that means "silver-bearing."

Statehood - Arizona was admitted to the Union as the 48th state in 1912.

State Motto - "Ditat Deus," a Latin phrase meaning "God Enriches."

State Seal - The official seal is black and white. The illustration on the state seal symbolizes Arizona's key enterprises. Description of the state seal from the Arizona Constitution: "The seal of the State shall be of the following design: In the background shall be a range of mountains, with the sun rising behind the peaks thereof, and at the right side of the range of mountains there shall be a storage reservoir and a dam, below which in the middle distance are irrigated fields and orchards reaching into the foreground, at the right of which are cattle grazing. To the left in the middle distance on a mountain side is a quartz mill in front of which and in the foreground is a miner standing with pick and shovel. Above this device shall be the motto: "Ditat Deus." In a circular band surrounding the whole device shall be inscribed: "Great Seal of The State of Arizona", with the year of admission of the State into the Union."

Official State Anthem - "Arizona March Song," written in 1915 by Margaret Rowe Clifford, music by Maurice Blumenthal. The Arizona State Anthem was adopted by the Fourth Arizona State Legislature and became effective on February 28, 1919. All schools, public institutions, and the Battleship Arizona were furnished with copies.

State Song - In 1982, the Arizona State Legislature chose "Arizona," a song written and performed by cowboy balladeer Rex Allen, Jr. as an alternate state song. Rex Allen, Jr. and his father Rex Allen, were natives of Willcox, Arizona.

Nickname - The Grand Canyon State

Postal Abbreviation - AZ

Latitude/Longitude - 31° 20' N to 37° N / 109° 3' W to 114° 50' W

Size - Arizona is the 6th largest state; 114,000 square miles; about 340 miles wide and 400 miles in length.

Highest Point - Humphreys Peak at 12,633 feet, located in the San Francisco Mountains north of Flagstaff.

Lowest Point - Colorado River at 70 feet.

Average Elevation - 4,000 feet above sea level.

Highest Temperature - 128° Fahrenheit, recorded at Lake Havasu City on June 29, 1994.

Lowest Temperature - A below zero temperature of -40° was recorded at Hawley Lake on January 7, 1971.

Average Temperature - Monthly average temperatures range from a high of 105 degrees to a low of 38 degrees.

Natural Wonder - The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, 600 feet to 18 miles wide, and over a mile deep.

Arizona March Song

Come to this land of sunshine
To this land where life is young.
Where the wide, wide world is waiting,
The songs that will now be sung.

Where the golden sun is flaming
Into warm, white, shining day,
And the sons of men are blazing
Their priceless right of way.

Come stand beside the rivers
Within our valleys broad.
Stand here with heads uncovered,
In the presence of our God!

While all around, about us
The brave, unconquered band,
As guardians and landmarks
The giant mountains stand.

Not alone for gold and silver
Is Arizona great.
But with graves of heroes sleeping,
All the land is consecrate!

O, come and live beside us
However far ye roam
Come and help us build up temples
And name those temples.

CHORUS:

Sing the song that's in your hearts
Sing of the great Southwest,
Thank God, for Arizona
In splendid sunshine dressed.
For thy beauty and thy grandeur,
For thy regal robes so sheen
We hail thee Arizona
Our Goddess and our queen.

(Copyright 1915 by Margaret Rowe Clifford)

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