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Arizona TriviaArizona 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. 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. Official Colors - Blue and Gold State Flag - The idea for the design of the flag was conceived of by Arizona National Guard Colonel Charles W. Harris and Carl Hayden, Arizona's first representative in Congress who went on to become a U.S. Senator. Their first priorities for the design were that it contain historical values and that its colors should reflect those values. The state flag represents the copper star of Arizona rising from a blue field in the face of a setting sun. According to the Arizona Revised Statutes: "The lower half of the flag a blue field and the upper half divided into thirteen equal segments or rays which shall start at the center on the lower line and continue to the edges of the flag, colored alternately light yellow and red, consisting of six yellow and seven red rays. In the center of the flag, superimposed, there shall be a copper-colored five pointed star, so placed that the upper points shall be one foot from the top of the flag and the lower points one foot from the bottom of the flag. The red and blue shall be the same shade as the colors in the flag of the United States." Nickname - The Grand Canyon State Postal Abbreviation - AZ 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. Natural Wonder - The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, 600 feet to 18 miles wide, and over a mile deep.
State Tree - The Palo Verde tree, Spanish for "green stick", referring to the green bark and thin foliage. The Palo Verde is found in the deserts and the foothills of Arizona. When the trees bloom in late spring, they look like gold. State Flower - The saguaro cactus blossom, a large white flower that blooms during May and June. The sagaro is the largest cactus in the U.S. It grows to a height of 50 feet and lives up to 200 years. The saguaro cactus grows in no other state except Arizona. State Bird - The cactus wren, a brown-speckled bird that builds its well-protected nest in a cactus. State Mammal - The ringtail is the state mammal, it is not really a cat but is related to the raccoon and coatimundi. The ringtail is also known as the ringtail cat, miner's cat, and cacomistle. It was named the state mammal in 1986. State Reptile - The Arizona ridge-nosed rattlesnake was the last rattlesnake to be named by herpetologists. This snake is small, rarely weighing more than 3-4 ounces as an adult or growing longer than 24 inches. The ridge-nosed rattlesnake lives only the Huachuca, Patagonia, and Santa Rita Mountains in the south central part of Arizona. State Amphibian - The Arizona Treefrog is small, usually 3/4 to 2 inches long, a little larger than the size of a quarter. Most are green but some can be gold-colored. State Fish - The Apache Trout, which has a yellowish color with pink bands and spots, is found in rivers. State Fossil - Petrified Wood, most of which is found in the Petrified Forest in the northeastern part of the state. The wood of prehistoric trees became filled with minerals and turned to stone. State Gemstone - Turquoise, a precious stone that varies in color from sky blue to shades of green. Turquoise has been used for centuries in Indian jewelry, including as part of Hopi, Navajo, and Zuni silversmithing traditions. Official Neckwear - The bola tie, widely associated with Western wear, was designated the official neckwear of Arizona in 1973. A bola is a type of necktie consisting of a piece of cord or braided leather with decorative metal tips secured with an ornamental clasp that slides up and down. A silver bola tie adorned with turquoise (Arizona's state gemstone) is generally considered the official style. State Butterfly - The two-tailed swallowtail became the state butterly in 2001. This butterfly has yellow and black wings with a wing span between three and a half up to five inches in length. State Dinosaur - In 1998, Arizona legislators tried to name an official state dinosaur, but they couldn't decide on one. State Quarter - Arizona's state quarter features the Grand Canyon, saguaro and other cacti, and the state nickname: "Grand Canyon State."
Apache - named after the Apache Indians. Cochise - named after Cochise, an Apache leader. Coconino - named after the Coconino Indians, a Hopi designation for the Havasupai and Yavapai people. Gila - named after the Gila River. Graham - named after Mount Graham. Greenlee - named after Mason Greenlee, an early settler and miner. La Paz - named after La Paz, an historic boomtown on the Colorado River. La paz means "the peace" in Spanish. Maricopa - Maricopa is named after the Maricopa Indians. Mohave - named after the Mohave Indians, one of the Yuma tribes. Navajo - named after the Navajo Indians. Pima - named after the Pima Indians. Pinal - named after the Pinal Mountains (from the Spanish stand of pines) and the Pinal Indians (a band of Coyotero Apaches) who lived there. Santa Cruz - named after the Santa Cruz River. Yavapai - named for after Yavapai Indians. Yuma - named after the Yuma Indians.
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