About Arizona
Arizona was the 48th State admitted to the United States and is considered to be
part of the Southwest. It is one of the Four Corners states located south and east
of the Colorado River, bordering New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, California and Mexico.
Major cities are Phoenix, Tucson and Flagstaff. Besides the Grand Canyon, a number
of other National Forests, Parks, Monuments and indian reservations are located
in the state.
Historians disagree about the origin of the name "Arizona" and its attachment to
the region. Three possible derivations are:
- Pagago Indian word "arizonac" meaning (place of) little springs
- Spanish words "árida zona" meaning arid zone
- Aztec word "arizuma" meaning silver bearing
Arizonac is a small town about eight miles south of the United States-Mexican border.
In 1736 a small silver-mining camp called "Real Arissona" by the Spanish was established
near the town. Later in the mid 18th century Spanish missionaries changed Father
Eusebio Francisco Kino's maps of the area; they renamed the town Arizonac as Arizona.
As the maps were republished and circulated in Europe, the name Arizona became attached
to the whole northern part of New Spain.
USS Arizona was named in honor of this state.
Arizona History
Beyond its original native inhabitants, Marcos de Niza, a Franciscan, first explored
the area in 1539. Father developed a number of missions and taught the indians Christianity
at the the turn of the 18th century. Spain ceded Arizona to Mexico in 1821 and the
United States took possession of most of Arizona at the end of the Mexican War in
1848. In 1853 the land below the Gila River was acquired from Mexico in the Gadsden
Purchase. Arizona was organized into a United States territory on February 24, 1863.
At the direction of Brigham Young, Mormons came from Utah in the mid to late 1800s
to the Phoenix Valley (or "Valley of the Sun"), Prescott, Snowflake, Heber and many
other Arizona municipalities to settle there. One of the first LDS temples built
in the southwest was the Mesa temple finished in 1917(?).
Arizona was admitted into the union on February 14, 1912.
Beyond its original native inhabitants, Marcos de Niza, a Franciscan, first explored
the area in 1539. Father developed a number of missions and taught the indians Christianity
at the the turn of the 18th century. Spain ceded Arizona to Mexico in 1821 and the
United States took possession of most of Arizona at the end of the Mexican War in
1848. In 1853 the land below the Gila River was acquired from Mexico in the Gadsden
Purchase. Arizona was organized into a United States territory on February 24, 1863.
At the direction of Brigham Young, Mormons came from Utah in the mid to late 1800s
to the Phoenix Valley (or "Valley of the Sun"), Prescott, Snowflake, Heber and many
other Arizona municipalities to settle there. One of the first LDS temples built
in the southwest was the Mesa temple finished in 1917(?).
Arizona was admitted into the union on February 14, 1912.