History UsefulNotes / Arizona

Despite its stereotypical image as a big empty desert, Arizona is one of the fastest growing states in the Union. Its capital, Phoenix, is already the fifth-largest city in the United States, the tenth largest metro area, and is the biggest capital overall.[[note]]For folks not from America, it's sort of an American tradition for the state capital to be a dinky small-to-mid-sized city that nobody outside of the state itself ever heard of (the main exceptions possibly being [[UsefulNotes/{{California}} Sacramento]], [[UsefulNotes/OtherCitiesInTexas Austin]] and UsefulNotes/RichmondVirginia. In the case of the first two, this is largely because of California and Texas' cultural and economic influence in the United States, and in Richmond's case, there is the distinction of being the capital of the Confederate States of America during the UsefulNotes/AmericanCivilWar). Of 50 states, only 15 have capitals that are also the largest city--and of those, there are only nine or ten (Phoenix; UsefulNotes/{{Boston}}, UsefulNotes/{{Atlanta}}, UsefulNotes/{{Denver}}, UsefulNotes/{{Nashville}}, UsefulNotes/{{Indianapolis}}, UsefulNotes/{{Oklahoma|USA}} City, [[UsefulNotes/{{Utah}} Salt Lake City]], [[UsefulNotes/{{Hawaii}} Honolulu]], and arguably [[UsefulNotes/RhodeIsland Providence]] and [[UsefulNotes/{{Ohio}} Columbus]]) that anyone out-of-state has really heard of--and the last one happened by accident (both UsefulNotes/{{Cleveland}} and Cincinnati ''used'' to be larger).[[/note]] The mining industry fuels commercial growth throughout the state, where the predominant mineral extracted is copper, earning the state the nickname "the Copper State". However, as copper has declined, the real economic powerhouse has increasingly become real estate. Arizona is also known as a major state for retirees to move to so they can avoid winters in the Midwest or Northeast of the United States and also the hurricanes and humidity of UsefulNotes/{{Florida}}, and much of Arizona's tourism industry caters to them.

Despite its stereotypical image as a big empty desert, Arizona is one of the fastest growing states in the Union. Its capital, Phoenix, is already the fifth-largest city in the United States, the tenth largest metro area, and is the biggest capital overall.[[note]]For folks not from America, it's sort of an American tradition for the state capital to be a dinky small-to-mid-sized city that nobody outside of the state itself ever heard of (the main exceptions possibly being [[UsefulNotes/{{California}} Sacramento]], [[UsefulNotes/OtherCitiesInTexas Austin]] and UsefulNotes/{{Richmond}}, Virginia. In the case of the first two, this is largely because of California and Texas' cultural and economic influence in the United States, and in Richmond's case, there is the distinction of it being the capital of the Confederate States of America during the UsefulNotes/AmericanCivilWar). Of 50 states, only 14 have capitals that are also the largest city--and of those, there are only nine or ten (Phoenix; UsefulNotes/{{Boston}}, UsefulNotes/{{Atlanta}}, UsefulNotes/{{Denver}}, UsefulNotes/{{Nashville}}, UsefulNotes/{{Indianapolis}}, UsefulNotes/{{Oklahoma|USA}} City, [[UsefulNotes/{{Utah}} Salt Lake City]], [[UsefulNotes/{{Hawaii}} Honolulu]], and arguably [[UsefulNotes/{{Ohio}} Columbus]]) that anyone out-of-state has really heard of--and the last one happened by accident (both UsefulNotes/{{Cleveland}} and Cincinnati ''used'' to be larger).[[/note]] The mining industry fuels commercial growth throughout the state, where the predominant mineral extracted is copper, earning the state the nickname "the Copper State". However, as copper has declined, the real economic powerhouse has increasingly become real estate. Arizona is also known as a major state for retirees to move to so they can avoid winters in the Midwest or Northeast of the United States and also the hurricanes and humidity of UsefulNotes/{{Florida}}, and much of Arizona's tourism industry caters to them.

Despite its stereotypical image as a big empty desert, Arizona is one of the fastest growing states in the Union. Its capital, Phoenix, is already the fifth-largest city in the United States, the tenth largest metro area, and is the biggest capital overall.[[note]]For folks not from America, it's sort of an American tradition for the state capital to be a dinky small-to-mid-sized city that nobody outside of the state itself ever heard of (the main exceptions possibly being [[UsefulNotes/{{California}} Sacramento]] and [[UsefulNotes/OtherCitiesInTexas Austin]], and this is largely because of California and Texas' cultural and economic influence in the United States). Of 50 states, only 14 have capitals that are also the largest city--and of those, there are only nine or ten (Phoenix; UsefulNotes/{{Boston}}, UsefulNotes/{{Atlanta}}, UsefulNotes/{{Denver}}, UsefulNotes/{{Nashville}}, UsefulNotes/{{Indianapolis}}, UsefulNotes/{{Oklahoma|USA}} City, [[UsefulNotes/{{Utah}} Salt Lake City]], [[UsefulNotes/{{Hawaii}} Honolulu]], and arguably [[UsefulNotes/{{Ohio}} Columbus]]) that anyone out-of-state has really heard of--and the last one happened by accident (both UsefulNotes/{{Cleveland}} and Cincinnati ''used'' to be larger).[[/note]] The mining industry fuels commercial growth throughout the state, where the predominant mineral extracted is copper, earning the state the nickname "the Copper State". However, as copper has declined, the real economic powerhouse has increasingly become real estate. Arizona is also known as a major state for retirees to move to so they can avoid winters in the Midwest or Northeast of the United States and also the hurricanes and humidity of UsefulNotes/{{Florida}}, and much of Arizona's tourism industry caters to them.

* StockDesertInterstate: The highways will be a perfect example of this.

Despite its stereotypical image as a big empty desert, Arizona is one of the fastest growing states in the Union. Its capital, Phoenix, is already the fifth-largest city in the United States, the tenth largest metro area, and is the biggest capital overall.[[note]]For folks not from America, it's sort of an American tradition for the state capital to be a dinky small-to-mid-sized city that nobody outside of the state itself ever heard of (the main exceptions possibly being [[UsefulNotes/California Sacramento]] and [[UsefulNotes/OtherCitiesInTexas Austin]], and this is largely because of California and Texas' cultural and economic influence in the United States). Of 50 states, only 14 have capitals that are also the largest city--and of those, there are only nine or ten (Phoenix; UsefulNotes/{{Boston}}, UsefulNotes/{{Atlanta}}, UsefulNotes/{{Denver}}, UsefulNotes/{{Nashville}}, UsefulNotes/{{Indianapolis}}, UsefulNotes/{{Oklahoma|USA}} City, [[UsefulNotes/{{Utah}} Salt Lake City]], [[UsefulNotes/{{Hawaii}} Honolulu]], and arguably [[UsefulNotes/{{Ohio}} Columbus]]) that anyone out-of-state has really heard of--and the last one happened by accident (both UsefulNotes/{{Cleveland}} and Cincinnati ''used'' to be larger).[[/note]] The mining industry fuels commercial growth throughout the state, where the predominant mineral extracted is copper, earning the state the nickname "the Copper State". However, as copper has declined, the real economic powerhouse has increasingly become real estate. Arizona is also known as a major state for retirees to move to so they can avoid winters in the Midwest or Northeast of the United States and also the hurricanes and humidity of UsefulNotes/{{Florida}}, and much of Arizona's tourism industry caters to them.

Despite its stereotypical image as a big empty desert, Arizona is one of the fastest growing states in the Union. Its capital, Phoenix, is already the fifth-largest city in the United States, the tenth largest metro area, and is the biggest capital overall.[[note]]For folks not from America, it's sort of an American tradition for the state capital to be a dinky small-to-mid-sized city that nobody's ever heard of (the main exceptions possibly being [[UsefulNotes/California Sacramento]] and [[UsefulNotes/OtherCitiesInTexas Austin]], and this is largely because of California and Texas' cultural and economic influence in the United States). Of 50 states, only 14 have capitals that are also the largest city--and of those, there are only eight or nine (Phoenix; UsefulNotes/{{Boston}}, UsefulNotes/{{Atlanta}}, UsefulNotes/{{Denver}}, UsefulNotes/{{Indianapolis}}, UsefulNotes/{{Oklahoma|USA}} City, [[UsefulNotes/{{Utah}} Salt Lake City]], [[UsefulNotes/{{Hawaii}} Honolulu]], and arguably [[UsefulNotes/{{Ohio}} Columbus]]) that anyone out-of-state has really heard of--and the last one happened by accident (both UsefulNotes/{{Cleveland}} and Cincinnati ''used'' to be larger).[[/note]] The mining industry fuels commercial growth throughout the state, where the predominant mineral extracted is copper, earning the state the nickname "the Copper State". However, as copper has declined, the real economic powerhouse has increasingly become real estate. Arizona is also known as a major state for retirees to move to so they can avoid winters in the Midwest or Northeast of the United States and also the hurricanes and humidity of UsefulNotes/{{Florida}}, and much of Arizona's tourism industry caters to them.

Despite its stereotypical image as a big empty desert, Arizona is one of the fastest growing states in the Union. Its capital, Phoenix, is already the fifth-largest city in the United States, the tenth largest metro area, and is the biggest capital overall.[[note]]For folks not from America, it's sort of an American tradition for the state capital to be a dinky small-to-mid-sized city that nobody's ever heard of. Of 50 states, only 14 have capitals that are also the largest city--and of those, there are only eight or nine (Phoenix; UsefulNotes/{{Boston}}, UsefulNotes/{{Atlanta}}, UsefulNotes/{{Denver}}, UsefulNotes/{{Indianapolis}}, UsefulNotes/{{Oklahoma|USA}} City, [[UsefulNotes/{{Utah}} Salt Lake City]], [[UsefulNotes/{{Hawaii}} Honolulu]], and arguably [[UsefulNotes/{{Ohio}} Columbus]]) that anyone out-of-state has really heard of--and the last one happened by accident (both UsefulNotes/{{Cleveland}} and Cincinnati ''used'' to be larger).[[/note]] The mining industry fuels commercial growth throughout the state, where the predominant mineral extracted is copper, earning the state the nickname "the Copper State". However, as copper has declined, the real economic powerhouse has increasingly become real estate. Arizona is also known as a major state for retirees to move to so they can avoid winters in the Midwest or Northeast of the United States and also the hurricanes and humidity of UsefulNotes/{{Florida}}, and much of Arizona's tourism industry caters to them.

* '''Sierra Vista:''' Another town in the southeast corner of the state and one of the largest there, it primarily serves Fort Huachuca to the northwest, and thus combined with its proximity to the border is largely populated by military families, border patrol agents and their families, and [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers retirees]]. Also a popular bird-watching destination, bearing the nickname "the Hummingbird Capital of the United States".

* '''Glendale:''' The city that's currently home to the [[UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague NFL]] Cardinals and [[UsefulNotes/NationalHockeyLeague NHL]] Coyotes (don't ask why a desert city has a hockey team). The Cardinals' stadium hosted the 2015 UsefulNotes/SuperBowl, 2016 [[UsefulNotes/CollegiateAmericanFootball College Football Playoff National Championship]], and 2017 UsefulNotes/{{NCAA}} men's Final Four (UsefulNotes/{{basketball}}).

* '''Tempe:''' Home of [[UsefulNotes/PowerFiveConferences Arizona State University]]'s primary campus, as well as [=McFarlane=] Toys and the aforementioned university's Sun Devils sports teams.[[note]]Its football stadium, Sun Devil Stadium, was also home of the Arizona Cardinals for 18 seasons before they built their own in Glendale. Was home to national airline US Airways until its merger with American Airlines. It also hosted the UsefulNotes/SuperBowl in 1996, and Pope John Paul II held mass there in 1987, though he asked that all devil references be obscured before he entered the building, meaning it was "Sun Stadium" for a day.[[/note]] Birthplace of the nationwide ice cream chain Cold Stone Creamery. Acknowledged as one of the central axes of the Valley's music scene and politically the farthest-left of any city in the Phoenix area.

* '''Tempe:''' Home of Arizona State University's primary campus, as well as [=McFarlane=] Toys and the aforementioned university's Sun Devils sports teams.[[note]]Its football stadium, Sun Devil Stadium, was also home of the Arizona Cardinals for 18 seasons before they built their own in Glendale. Was home to national airline US Airways until its merger with American Airlines. It also hosted the UsefulNotes/SuperBowl in 1996, and Pope John Paul II held mass there in 1987, though he asked that all devil references be obscured before he entered the building, meaning it was "Sun Stadium" for a day.[[/note]] Birthplace of the nationwide ice cream chain Cold Stone Creamery. Acknowledged as one of the central axes of the Valley's music scene and politically the farthest-left of any city in the Phoenix area.

* '''Tucson:''' Largest city in southern Arizona and the oldest incorporated city in the state. Home to the University of Arizona. It has an aircraft boneyard in the Davis–Monthan Air Force Base and many companies that develop optics here. A bit more left in politics than the Phoenix area.

* '''Peoria:''' Site of the Luke Air Force Base. One of the dominant cities in the northwest part of the area.

* '''Ajo:''' This remote town between Gila Bend and the Mexican border has an inactive copper mine. The cult horror film ''Film/NightOfTheLepus'' was filmed in Ajo, which is commemorated in a mural visible as one drives south along Aho's main highway.

* '''Ajo:''' This remote town between Gila Bend and the Mexican border has an inactive copper mine.

* '''Seligman:''' A town located at what is called the heart of Route 66. Used as a reference for Radiator Springs from the ''{{WesternAnimation/Cars}}'' films.

* '''Tucson:''' Largest city in southern Arizona and the oldest incorporated city in the state. Home to the University of Arizona. It has a aircraft boneyard in the Davis–Monthan Air Force Base and many companies that develop optics here. A bit more left in politics than the Phoenix area.

* '''Bisbee:''' A town located near the southeast corner of the state. It has well preserved mining scenes from the past and is built largely on the walls of a canyon, making for many winding roads and a ''lot'' of stairs. Come for the scenic vistas, stay for the cardio.

* [[Music/{{Tool}} Maynard James Keenan]] (originally from UsefulNotes/{{Ohio}}, currently resides in Scottsdale where he operates his own winery and restarant)

* EverythingTryingToKillYou: A lot of the wildlife can be dangerous. There are the larger predators like mountain lions, coyotes, and wildcats, while smaller things like rattlesnakes, [[ScaryScorpions scorpions]] and Gila Monsters lurk in the shadows.

* ThirstyDesert: The state's not named the "Arid Zone" for nothing. Unlike other deserts like the Sahara, there are no sand dunes, but there's a large amount of volcanic rock formations. The Greater Phoenix Area (located in the aptly named Valley of the Sun) and everything south of it is mostly rocky, dry, and arid. Subverted in some parts of the North and the East, where pine forests dominate. The Mogollon Rim and San Francisco Peaks will often have snow on them in winter.[[labelnote:*]]The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is open year-round. The North Rim is only open from roughly May to October. Reason? While the South Rim is at a pretty high elevation of about 6,800 feet, the North Rim is even higher at over 8,000, meaning that it gets more precipitation and (more to the point) much heavier snowfall.[[/labelnote]]

Arizona, the 48th and last state admitted in the contiguous UsefulNotes/UnitedStates, celebrated its centennial in 2012. It's known as the home of the Grand Canyon, the Saguaro cactus, and the Sonoran Desert, plenty of other noteworthy attractions... and for being really hot. Really, really, ''really'' hot.

* Music/WaylonJennings (originally from Texas, but lived most of his adult life in and around Phoenix)

* [[Music/{{Tool}} Maynard James Keenan]] (originally from Ohio, currently resides in Scottsdale where he operates his own winery and restarant)

* Music/{{Vektor}} (later relocated to Philadelphia)
* Wrestling/ValVenis (originally from Ontario but has since reside in Mesa)

* '''Goodyear:''' Named from the Goodyear company (yes, that tire company), where they established cotton farms for their tires. Don't remind them of that.

* '''Maricopa:''' The southernmost city in the area, about fifteen miles away from the "body" of the metro area. Sometimes known for having the only UsefulNotes/{{Amtrak}} station in the area. To the east for several miles is the site of a former Japanese-American internment camp.

* {{Profiling}}: The state has had a controversial history of this regarding Mexican immigrants, especially under the notoriously hardline Sheriff Joe Arpaio. As it is a border state, immigration is a prevalent issue.

Geographically, Arizona sits on the Four Corners region, sharing its border with UsefulNotes/{{Colorado}}, UsefulNotes/NewMexico, and UsefulNotes/{{Utah}}; the state also borders UsefulNotes/{{California}} to the west and UsefulNotes/{{Nevada}} to the northwest. Additionally, Arizona, is also one of four states to share a land border with UsefulNotes/{{Mexico}}, bordering the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California.

* Music/PaulMcCartney and his first wife, Linda owned a 150-acre ranch near Tucson and spent a great deal of time there with their children. Linda died in Tucson in 1998. Paul remains the owner of the ranch.