If you live in the Valley of the Sun or have an Arizona home in another part of the state, you might be interested in learning a few things about the state you reside in. The name Arizona is derived from “aleh-zone,” which means “little spring” in the Papago-Pima language. The Spaniards were known to have called it Arizona in 1736. In general, the name is thought to be descriptive, not a contraction of “arid zone,” as is commonly believed.

The state’s motto is “Ditat Deus” or “God Enriches.” Arizona was part of an area obtained by the United States from Mexico by the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago and the Gadsten Purchase. It became a territory, as part of New Mexico, in 1850, and became its own territory on Feb 24, 1869. On February 14, 1912, Arizona became a state.

The state’s first territorial capital was established in 1864 in Prescott, and was moved to Tucson three years later. On Feb.4, 1889, Phoenix was designated the permanent capital city. The state flag, which was adopted in 1917, consists of 13 rays in the upper half that alternate between red and yellow that represents the sun. The lower half is a plain blue field, and superimposed in the center is a copper-colored star denoting the face of the setting sun. State nicknames include: Valentine State, Grand Canyon State, and it was also known at one time as the Baby State (but not since Alaska & Hawaii were admitted into the Union).

Arizona is sixth in the nation in land mass with 113,909 square miles. It is 338 miles wide, 393 miles long, and has 492 square miles of water. Fourteen counties make up Arizona. Coconino is the largest in the state with 18,357 square miles, the second largest in America after San Bernadino County in California with 20,131 square miles. In terms of elevation, Arizona spans from sea level desert floors to towering mountain peaks. The highest point is Humphreys Peak at 12,670 ft. The average elevation is 4,000 feet, and the lowest point is by Yuma at 137 feet.

The last volcanic eruption occurred at Sunset Crater, near the San Francisco Peaks, around 1064 A.D. and continued until 1250 A.D. Topographically unique, the Four Corners of Arizona is the only point in the United States where four state corners meet. The states are Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah.

Orabi, on the Hopi Mesa, is reputed to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in America. The Colorado River formed the Grand Canyon, which is 227 miles long and one mile deep with an average width of 10 miles. Other important rivers are the Salt, Verde, White River ( fisherman’s Haven), San Pedro, and Little Colorado. The Hassaympa River near Wickenburg comes with its own interesting legend. Lore tells us that anyone who drinks from its waters will never tell the truth.

Arizona is home to the best preserved meteor crater in America near Winslow. A meteor collided with the earth nearly 50,000 years ago. The state has the largest stand of Ponderosa pines in America. The saguaro, an Arizona symbol, has only one namesake—the town of Sahuarita in southern Arizona. The state bird is the cactus wren and the state flower is the saguaro blossom. Other state symbols include the state mammal (ringtail cat), the state fossil (petrified wood), and the state reptile (ridge-nosed rattlesnake).

The official tree of Arizona, the palo verde, means “green stick or green pole” in Spanish. It performs it photosynthesis in the trunk of the tree, rather than the leaves, which reflect the sun.

Arizona’s state colors are blue and gold. The state gem is turquoise. The state song is “Arizona March Song,” written by Margaret Row Clifford, with music by Rex Allen Jr. The alternate State Song is “I Love you Arizona” by Allen.

References: This is Arizona-50th Anniversary Edition, and Arizona a Cavalcade of History, by Marshall Trimble