Arizona Tourist Attractions

Hoover Dam is one of the world's great engineering marvels. The first contact by native peoples was with , a Spanish , in 1539. Request a few more Visitor Guides, or to receive your guides by mail.

Archived from on May 16, 2016. The metropolitan area includes the cities of Prescott, , and numerous other towns spread out over the 8,123 square miles 21,000 km 2 of area.

Welcome to Red Rock Country - The original , The state capital of Arizona is. The former mining town of Bisbee is a unique little community set high in the mountains.

This article is about the U. For other uses, see. Arizona ; : Hoozdo Hahoodzo Navajo pronunciation: ; : Alĭ ṣonak Uto-Aztecan pronunciation: is a U. It is also part of the and the states. It is the and the of the 50 states. Arizona, one of the states, is bordered by to the east, to the north, and to the west, and to the south, as well as the southwestern corner of. Arizona's border with Mexico is 389 miles 626 km long, on the northern border of the Mexican states of and. This is Arizona's official state flower. Arizona is the 48th state and last of the to be admitted to the Union, achieving statehood on February 14, 1912, coinciding with. Historically part of the territory of in , it became part of independent Mexico in 1821. After being defeated in the , Mexico ceded much of this territory to the United States in 1848. The southernmost portion of the state was acquired in 1853 through the. There are in the areas of , , and. In addition to the , there are several , , and. About one-quarter of the state is made up of that serve as the home of , including the , the largest in the state and the United States, with more than 300,000 citizens. Although gave all Native Americans the right to vote in 1924, Arizona excluded those living on reservations in the state from voting until the state Supreme Court ruled in favor of Native American plaintiffs in 1948. The area is still known as alĭ ṣonak in the O'odham language. The South Rim of the Grand Canyon For thousands of years before the modern era, Arizona was home to numerous tribes. Many of their pueblos, cliffside dwellings, rock paintings and other prehistoric treasures have survived, attracting thousands of tourists each year. The first contact by native peoples was with , a Spanish , in 1539. He explored parts of the present state and made contact with inhabitants, probably the. The expedition of Spanish explorer entered the area in 1540—1542 during its search for. Few Spanish settlers migrated to Arizona. One of the first settlers in Arizona was. He converted many of the Indians to Christianity in the now southern Arizona and northern in the 1690s and early 18th century. Descendants of ethnic Spanish and mestizo settlers from the colonial years still lived in the area at the time of the arrival of later European-American migrants from the United States. During the 1847—1848 , the occupied the national capital of and pursued its claim to much of northern Mexico, including what later became in 1863 and later the State of Arizona in 1912. In 1853, the U. What is now known as the state of Arizona was initially administered by the United States government as part of the until the southern part of that region seceded from the to form the. The Southern territory supplied the Confederate government with men, horses, and equipment. Formed in 1862, served with the during the. Arizona has the westernmost military engagement on record during the Civil War with the. The Federal government declared a new U. Arizona Territory, consisting of the western half of earlier New Mexico Territory, in , on February 24, 1863. These new boundaries would later form the basis of the state. The first territorial capital, Prescott, was founded in 1864 following a gold rush to central Arizona. They founded , , , , and other towns. The Mormons settled what became and northern New Mexico. At the time these areas were located in a part of the former. Children of -era migrant workers, Pinal County, 1937 20th century to present During the from 1910 to 1920, several battles were fought in the Mexican towns just across the border from Arizona settlements. Throughout the revolution, numerous Arizonans enlisted in one of the several armies fighting in Mexico. Only two significant engagements took place on U. The Americans won the latter. The Mexicans eventually surrendered after both sides sustained heavy casualties. A few months earlier, just west of Nogales, an Indian War battle had occurred, considered the last engagement in the , which lasted from 1775 to 1918. Arizona became a U. Arizona was the to the U. But during the 1920s and even the 1930s, tourism began to develop as the important Arizonan industry it is today. They include the in central Phoenix opened 1929 and the Wigwam Resort on the west side of the Phoenix area opened 1936. Arizona was the site of German camps during World War II and internment camps. Because of wartime fears of Japanese invasion of the West Coast, the government authorized the removal of all Japanese-American residents from western Washington, western Oregon, all of California, and western Arizona. From 1942 to 1945, they were forced to reside in internment camps built in the interior of the country. Many lost their homes and businesses in the process. The camps were abolished after World War II. The Phoenix-area German P. It was developed as the site of the. A camp was located on , just outside the state's southeastern city of Tucson. Another was located near the in eastern. Arizona was also home to the , one of several federal designed to assimilate Native American children into mainstream European-American culture. Children were often enrolled into these schools against the wishes of their parents and families. Attempts to suppress native identities included forcing the children to cut their hair, to take and use English names, to speak only English, and to practice Christianity rather than their native religions. Numerous Native Americans from Arizona fought for the United States during World War II. Their experiences resulted in a rising activism in the postwar years to achieve better treatment and civil rights after their return to the state. After Maricopa County did not allow them to register to vote, in 1948 veteran and , of the at , brought a legal suit, , to challenge this exclusion. The Arizona Supreme Court ruled in their favor. Arizona's population grew tremendously with residential and business development after World War II, aided by the widespread use of , which made the intensely hot summers more comfortable. According to the Arizona Blue Book published by the 's office each year , the state population in 1910 was 294,353. By 1970, it was 1,752,122. The percentage growth each decade averaged about 20% in the earlier decades, and about 60% each decade thereafter. In the 1960s, were developed. These were special age-restricted subdivisions catering exclusively to the needs of senior citizens; they attracted many retirees who wanted to escape the harsh winters of the and the. Many senior citizens from across the U. In March 2000, Arizona was the site of the first legally binding election ever held over the internet to nominate a candidate for public office. In the 2000 Arizona Democratic Primary, under worldwide attention, defeated. Voter turnout in this state primary increased more than 500% over the 1996 primary. Three ships named have been christened in honor of the state, although only was so named after statehood was achieved. Cathedral Rock near Red Rock Crossing in See also lists of , , , , , , , and. Arizona is in the Southwestern United States as one of the states. Arizona is the sixth , ranked after and before. Of the state's 113,998 square miles 295,000 km 2 , approximately 15% is privately owned. The remaining area is public forest and park land, and Native American reservations. Arizona is well known for its region in the state's southern portions, which is rich in a of plants such as the. This region's topography was shaped by prehistoric , followed by the cooling-off and related. Its climate has exceptionally hot summers and mild winters. The state is less well known for its pine-covered north-central portion of the high country of the see. Like other states of the United States, Arizona has an abundance of mountains and plateaus. The world's largest stand of trees is in Arizona. The , a 1,998-foot 609 m , cuts across the state's central section and marks the southwestern edge of the Colorado Plateau. In 2002, this was an area of the , the worst fire in state history. Located in northern Arizona, the is a colorful, deep, steep-sided gorge, carved by the. The canyon is one of the and is largely contained in the —one of the first national parks in the United States. President was a major proponent of designating the Grand Canyon area as a National Park, often visiting to hunt and enjoy the scenery. The canyon was created by the Colorado River cutting a channel over millions of years, and is about 277 miles 446 km long, ranges in width from 4 to 18 miles 6 to 29 km and attains a depth of more than 1 mile 1. Nearly two billion years of the 's history have been exposed as the Colorado River and its tributaries cut through layer after layer of sediment as the Colorado Plateau uplifted. Arizona is home to one of the most well-preserved impact sites in the world. A rim of smashed and jumbled boulders, some of them the size of small houses, rises 150 feet 46 m above the level of the surrounding plain. The crater itself is nearly 1 mile 1. Arizona is one of two U. The exception is within the large which observes Daylight Saving Time , in the state's northeastern region. Earthquakes Generally, Arizona is at low risk of earthquakes, except for the southwestern portion which is at moderate risk due to its proximity to southern California. On the other hand, northern Arizona is at moderate risk due to numerous faults in the area. The regions near and west of have the lowest risk. The earliest Arizona earthquakes were recorded at , on the side of the. They were centered near the Imperial Valley, or , back in the 1800s. Residents in felt the with its epicenter 40 miles to the south in the Mexican state of. The first damaging earthquake known to be centered within Arizona occurred on January 25, 1906, also including a series of other earthquakes centered near. The shock was violent in Flagstaff. In September 1910, a series of 52 earthquakes caused a construction crew near Flagstaff to leave the area. In 1912, the year Arizona achieved statehood, on August 18, an earthquake caused a 50-mile crack in the. In early January 1935, the state experienced a series of earthquakes, in the and near the. Arizona experienced its largest earthquake in 1959, with a tremor of a magnitude 5. It was centered near , in the state's northwest near the border with. The tremor was felt across the border in and Utah. In the lower elevations, the climate is primarily desert, with mild winters and extremely hot summers. Typically, from late fall to early spring, the weather is mild, averaging a minimum of 60 °F 16 °C. November through February are the coldest months, with temperatures typically ranging from 40 to 75 °F 4 to 24 °C , with occasional frosts. About midway through February, the temperatures start to rise, with warm days, and cool, breezy nights. The summer months of June through September bring a dry heat from 90 to 120 °F 32 to 49 °C , with occasional high temperatures exceeding 125 °F 52 °C having been observed in the desert area. Due to the primarily dry climate, large diurnal temperature variations occur in less-developed areas of the desert above 2,500 ft 760 m. The swings can be as large as 83 °F 46 °C in the summer months. In the state's urban centers, the effects of result in much higher measured night-time lows than in the recent past. Arizona has an average annual rainfall of 12. The monsoon season occurs toward the end of summer. In July or August, the rises dramatically for a brief period. During this time, the air contains large amounts of. Dewpoints as high as 81 °F 27 °C have been recorded during the monsoon season. This hot moisture brings , , wind, and torrential, if usually brief, downpours. These downpours often cause , which can turn deadly. In an attempt to deter drivers from crossing flooding streams, the enacted the. It is rare for or to occur in Arizona. Arizona's northern third is a at significantly higher altitudes than the lower desert, and has an appreciably cooler climate, with cold winters and mild summers, though the climate remains semiarid to arid. Indicative of the variation in climate, Arizona is the state which has both the metropolitan area with the most days over 100 °F 38 °C , and the metropolitan area in the lower 48 states with the most days with a low temperature below freezing. Arizona remained sparsely settled for most of the 19th century. Arizona's continued puts an enormous stress on the state's water supply. As of 2011 , 61. The population of metropolitan Phoenix increased by 45. As of July 2017 , the population of the Phoenix area is estimated to be over 4. According to the 2010 United States Census, Arizona had a population of 6,392,017. In 2010, constituted an estimated 7. This was the second highest percentage of any state in the U. Metro Phoenix alone accounts for two-thirds of the state's population. Race and ethnicity In 1980, the Census Bureau reported Arizona's population as 16. Non-Hispanic whites formed 57. Arizona racial breakdown of population Racial composition 1970 1990 2000 2010 90. Languages Top 10 non-English languages spoken in Arizona Language Percentage of population as of 2010 20. Arizona is home to the largest number of speakers of in the 48 contiguous states, as over 85,000 individuals reported speaking , and 10,403 people reported , as a language spoken at home in 2005. Arizona's has the highest concentration of speakers of Native American Indian languages in the United States. Cities and towns See also: , , and , located in , is the capital and the largest city in Arizona. Other prominent cities in the Phoenix metro area include the third largest city in Arizona , the fourth largest city in Arizona , , , , , , , , , , , , and , with a total metropolitan population of just over 4. The average high temperature in July, 106 °F 41 °C , is one of the highest of any metropolitan area in the United States, offset by an average January high temperature of 67 °F 19 °C , the basis of its winter appeal. It is located in , approximately 110 miles 180 km southeast of Phoenix. Tucson was incorporated in 1877, making it the oldest incorporated city in Arizona. It is home to the. Major incorporated suburbs of Tucson include and northwest of the city, south of the city, and in an enclave south of downtown. It has an average July temperature of 100 °F 38 °C and winter temperatures averaging 65 °F 18 °C. The metropolitan area includes the cities of Prescott, , and numerous other towns spread out over the 8,123 square miles 21,000 km 2 of area. With 212,635 residents, this cluster of towns forms the third largest metropolitan area in the state. The city of Prescott population 41,528 lies approximately 100 miles 160 km northwest of the Phoenix metropolitan area. Situated in pine tree forests at an elevation of about 5,500 feet 1,700 m , Prescott enjoys a much cooler climate than Phoenix, with average summer highs around 88 °F 31 °C and winter temperatures averaging 50 °F 10 °C. Located in , it is near the borders of California and Mexico. It is one of the hottest cities in the United States, with an average July high of 107 °F 42 °C. The same month's average in is 115 °F 46 °C. The city features sunny days about 90% of the year. The Yuma has a population of 160,000. Yuma attracts many winter visitors from all over the United States. With its large Ponderosa pine forests, snowy winter weather and picturesque mountains, it is a stark contrast to the desert regions typically associated with Arizona. It is sited at the base of the , the highest mountain range in the state of Arizona, which contain , the highest point in Arizona at 12,633 feet 3,851 m. Flagstaff has a strong tourism sector, due to its proximity to numerous tourist attractions including: , , and. Historic is the main east-west street in the town. The Flagstaff metropolitan area is home to 134,421 residents and the main campus of. Lake Havasu City has a population of about 53,000 people. It is famous for huge spring break parties, sunsets and the , relocated from London, England. Lake Havasu City was founded by real estate developer in 1963. It has two colleges, and ASU Colleges in Lake Havasu City. Religion 2% As of the year 2010, the Association of Religion Data Archives reported that the three largest denominational groups in Arizona were the Catholic Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and non-denominational Evangelical Protestants. The Catholic Church has the highest number of adherents in Arizona at 930,001 , followed by with 410,263 members reported and then non-denominational Evangelical Protestants, reporting 281,105 adherents. The religious body with the largest number of congregations is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with 836 congregations followed by the with 323 congregations. According to the Association of Religion Data Archives, the fifteen largest denominations by number of adherents in 2010 and 2000 were: Religion 2010 Population 2000 Population 930,001 974,884 410,263 251,974 Non-denominational Christian 281,105 63,885 126,830 138,516 123,713 82,802 54,977 53,232 48,386 33,162 42,944 69,393 26,322 24,977 26,078 33,554 24,853 31,104 20,924 11,513 16,991 18,143 14,350 0 14,151 14,471 Regarding non-Christian denominations, Hinduism became the largest non-Christian religion when combining all denominations in 2010, with over 32,000 adherents in several denominations, followed by Judaism with over 20,000 in three denominations, and Buddhism with over 19,000 adherents in several denominations. This figure gives Arizona a larger economy than such countries as , , and. The composition of the state's economy is moderately diverse; although health care, transportation and the government remain the largest sectors. Copper is still extensively mined from many expansive open-pit and underground mines, accounting for two-thirds of the nation's output. Employment The state government is Arizona's largest employer, while is the state's largest private employer, with over 39,000 employees 2016. As of March 2016 , the state's unemployment rate was 5. The top employment sectors in Arizona are August 2014, excludes agriculture : Sector Employees thousands Trade, transportation, and utilities 488. The state is 5. The state of Arizona does not levy a state tax on food for home consumption or on drugs prescribed by a licensed physician or dentist. However, some cities in Arizona do levy a tax on food for home consumption. All fifteen Arizona counties levy a tax. These added assessments could push the combined sales to as high as 10. In addition, the various urban areas are served by complex networks of and highways, such as the , which is part of Phoenix's vast. Public transportation, Amtrak, and intercity bus The Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas are served by public bus transit systems. Yuma and Flagstaff also have public bus systems. A Navajo man on horseback in A system, called , was completed in December 2008; it connects Central Phoenix with the nearby cities of Mesa and Tempe. In Tucson, the streetcar system travels through the downtown area, connecting the main campus with Mercado San Agustin on the western edge of downtown Tucson. Sun Link, loosely based on the , launched in July 2014. The and routes serve South-Central Arizona, stopping at , , and. Phoenix lost Amtrak service in 1996 with the discontinuation of the , and now an Amtrak bus runs between Phoenix and the station in Maricopa. See also: Airports with regularly scheduled commercial flights include: IATA: PHX, ICAO: KPHX in Phoenix the largest airport and the major international airport in the state ; IATA: TUS, ICAO: KTUS in Tucson; IATA: AZA, ICAO: KIWA in Mesa; IATA: NYL, ICAO: KNYL in Yuma; PRC in Prescott; IATA: FLG, ICAO: KFLG in Flagstaff, and IATA: GCN, ICAO: KGCN, FAA: GCN , a small, but busy, single-runway facility providing tourist flights, mostly from Las Vegas. Phoenix Sky Harbor is currently 7th busiest airport in the world in terms of aircraft movements, and 17th for passenger traffic. Other significant airports without regularly scheduled commercial flights include IATA: SCF, ICAO: KSDL in Scottsdale, and IATA: DVT, ICAO: KDVT, FAA: DVT home to two flight training academies and the nation's busiest general aviation airport. The original , The state capital of Arizona is. Phoenix became the official state capital with Arizona's admission to the union in 1912. The and buildings were dedicated in 1960, and an Executive Office Building was dedicated in 1974 the ninth floor of this building is where the Office of the Governor is located. The original Capitol building was converted into a museum. The Capitol complex is fronted and highlighted by the richly landscaped , named after , a governor who died in office in the 1970s. Numerous monuments and memorials are on the site, including the anchor and signal mast from the one of the U. Navy ships and a granite version of the. State legislative branch The is like the legislature of every other state except and consists of a thirty-member and a 60-member. Each of the thirty legislative districts has one senator and two representatives. Legislators are elected for two-year terms. Each Legislature covers a two-year period. The first session following the general election is known as the first regular session, and the session convening in the second year is known as the second regular session. Each regular session begins on the second Monday in January and adjourns sine die terminates for the year no later than Saturday of the week in which the 100th day from the beginning of the regular session falls. The President of the Senate and Speaker of the House, by rule, may extend the session up to seven additional days. Thereafter, the session can only be extended by a majority vote of members present of each house. The current majority party is the , which has held power in both houses since 1993. Arizona state senators and representatives are elected for two-year terms and are limited to four consecutive terms in a chamber, though there is no limit on the total number of terms. When a lawmaker is term-limited from office, it is not uncommon for him or her to run for election in the other chamber. The governor may serve any number of terms, though no more than two in a row. Arizona is one of the few states that does not maintain a governor's mansion. During office the governors reside within their private residence, and all executive offices are housed in the executive tower at the state capitol. The current governor of Arizona is R. Former Governor Jan Brewer assumed office after had her nomination by for confirmed by the. Arizona has had four female governors, more than any other state. Other elected executive officials include the , , , , and a five-member. All elected officials hold a term of four years, and are limited to two consecutive terms except the office of the State Mine Inspector, which is limited to 4 terms. Arizona is one of seven states that do not have a specified. The secretary of state is the first in line to succeed the governor in the event of death, disability, resignation, or removal from office. The line of succession also includes the attorney general, state treasurer and superintendent of public instruction. Since 1977, four secretaries of state and one attorney general have risen to Arizona's governorship through these means. State judicial branch The is the highest court in Arizona. The court currently consists of one chief justice, a vice chief justice, and three associate justices. Justices are appointed by the governor from a list recommended by a bipartisan commission, and are re-elected after the initial two years following their appointment. Subsequent re-elections occur every six years. The supreme court has appellate jurisdiction in death penalty cases, but almost all other appellate cases go through the beforehand. The court has original jurisdiction in a few other circumstances, as outlined in the state constitution. The court may also declare laws unconstitutional, but only while seated. The court meets in the Arizona Supreme Court Building at the capitol complex at the southern end of Wesley Bolin Plaza. The , further divided into two divisions, is the intermediate court in the state. Division One is based in Phoenix, consists of sixteen judges, and has jurisdiction in the Western and Northern regions of the state, along with the greater Phoenix area. Division Two is based in Tucson, consists of six judges, and has jurisdiction over the Southern regions of the state, including the Tucson area. Judges are selected in a method similar to the one used for state supreme court justices. Each county of Arizona has a , the size and organization of which are varied and generally depend on the size of the particular county. Counties Arizona is divided into political jurisdictions designated as. There are 15 counties in the state, ranging in size from 1,238 square miles 3,210 km 2 to 18,661 square miles 48,330 km 2. Arizona counties County name County seat Year founded 2010 population Percent of total Area sq. Percent of total 1879 71,518 1. Kyl was appointed by Governor Ducey on September 5, 2018, to fill the spot formerly occupied by the late six-term senior Senator , who died August 25, 2018. Senator Kyl, who previously served as the state's junior Senator from 1995 to 2013, will serve in office until a. As of the start of the , Arizona's representatives in the are D-1 , R-2 , D-3 , R-4 , R-5 , R-6 , D-7 , R-8 , and D-9. Arizona gained a ninth seat in the House of Representatives due to based on. Political culture Presidential elections results Year 49. During this time period, the Democratic candidate for the presidency carried the state each election, with the only exceptions being the elections of , and —all three of which were national landslides. In 1924, Congress had passed a law granting citizenship and suffrage to all Native Americans, some of whom had previously been excluded as members of tribes on reservations. The landmark case is. After the men were refused the opportunity to register in Maricopa County, they filed suit against the registrar. The , the , the , and the all filed amicus curiae friends of the court briefs in the case. The State Supreme Court established the rights of Native Americans to vote in the state; at the time, they comprised about 11% of the population. That year, a similar provision was overturned in New Mexico when challenged by another Indian veteran in court. These were the only two states that had continued to prohibit Native Americans from voting. Since the of in 1952, the majority of state voters have favored Republicans in presidential elections. Arizona voted Republican in every presidential election from 1952 to 1992, with and winning the state by particularly large margins. During this forty-year span, it was the only state not to be carried by a Democrat at least once. Democrat , in , lost the state by less than 5,000 votes to Arizona Senator and native. This was the most closely contested state in what was otherwise a landslide victory for Johnson that year. Democrat ended this streak in , when he won Arizona by a little over two percentage points Clinton had previously come within less than two percent of winning Arizona's electoral votes in. Since then, the majority of the state has continued to support Republican presidential candidates by solid margins. Since the late 20th century, the Republican Party has also dominated Arizona politics in general. The fast-growing Phoenix and Tucson suburbs became increasingly friendly to Republicans from the 1950s onward. While the state normally supports Republicans at the federal level, Democrats are often competitive in statewide elections. Two of the last five governors have been Democrats. On March 4, 2008, Senator effectively clinched the Republican nomination for 2008, becoming the first presidential nominee from the state since Barry Goldwater in 1964. Arizona politics are dominated by a longstanding rivalry between its two largest counties, and —home to Phoenix and Tucson, respectively. The two counties have almost 75 percent of the state's population and cast almost 80 percent of the state's vote. They also elect a substantial majority of the state legislature. Maricopa County is home to almost 60 percent of the state's population, and most of the state's elected officials live there. It has voted Republican in every presidential election since 1948. This includes the run of native son Barry Goldwater; he would not have carried his home state without his 20,000-vote margin in Maricopa County. Similarly, while McCain won Arizona by eight percentage points in 2008, aided by his 130,000-vote margin in Maricopa County. In contrast, Pima County, home to Tucson, and most of southern Arizona have historically voted more Democratic. While Tucson's suburbs lean Republican, they hold to a somewhat more moderate brand of Republicanism than is common in the Phoenix area. Arizona rejected a in a referendum as part of the 2006 elections. Arizona was the first state in the nation to do so. In 2008, Arizona voters passed , an amendment to the state constitution to define marriage as a union of one man and one woman. It passed by a more narrow majority than similar votes in a number of other states. In 2010, Arizona passed , called the toughest legislation in the nation. A fierce debate erupted between supporters and detractors of the law. The heard arguments March 18, 2013, regarding the validity of the Arizona law, which requires individuals to show documents proving U. Same-sex marriage and Civil unions In 2006, Arizona became the first state in the United States to reject a proposition, , that would have banned same-sex marriage and civil unions. However, in 2008, Arizona voters approved of Prop 102, a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. Prior to same-sex marriage being legal, the became the first jurisdiction in Arizona to approve of. The state's Attorney General at the time, Tom Horne, threatened to sue, but rescinded the threat once Bisbee amended the ordinance; Bisbee approved of civil unions in 2013. The municipalities of , , , , and also passed civil unions. A November 2011 survey found that 44% of Arizona voters supported the legalization of same-sex marriage, while 45% opposed it and 12% were not sure. A separate question on the same survey found that 72% of respondents supported legal recognition of same-sex couples, with 40% supporting same-sex marriage, 32% supporting civil unions, 27% opposing all legal recognition and 1% not sure. Arizona Proposition 102, known by its supporters as the Marriage Protection Amendment, appeared as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on the November 4, 2008 ballot in Arizona, where it was approved: 56. It amended the Arizona Constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman. On October 17, 2014, Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne announced that his office would no longer object to same-sex marriage, in response to a U. District Court Ruling on Arizona Proposition 102. On that day, each county's Clerk of the Superior Court began to issue same-sex marriage licenses, and Arizona became the 31st state to legalize same-sex marriage. Elementary and secondary education Public schools in Arizona are separated into about 220 local school districts which operate independently, but are governed in most cases by elected county school superintendents; these are in turn overseen by the a division of the and the state Superintendent of Public Instruction elected in partisan elections every even-numbered year when there is not a presidential election, for a four-year term. In 2005, a School District Redistricting Commission was established with the goal of combining and consolidating many of these districts. Higher education The Skydome located in Arizona is served by three public universities: The , , and. These schools are governed by the. Arizona has a wide network of two-year vocational schools and. These colleges were governed historically by a separate statewide Board of Directors but, in 2002, the state legislature transferred almost all oversight authority to individual community college districts. The Maricopa County Community College District includes 11 community colleges throughout Maricopa County and is one of the largest in the nation. The museum displays international exhibitions alongside the museum's collection of more than 18,000 works of American, Asian, European, Latin American, Western American, modern and contemporary art, and fashion design. With a community education mandate since 1951, Phoenix Art Museum holds a year-round program of festivals, live performances, independent art films and educational programs. The museum also has PhxArtKids, an interactive space for children; photography exhibitions through the museum's partnership with the ; the landscaped Sculpture Garden and dining at Arcadia Farms. Arizona is a recognized center of Native American art, with a number of galleries showcasing historical and contemporary works. The , also located in Phoenix, is a major repository of Native American art. Some of the signature exhibits include a full Navajo hogan, the Mareen Allen Nichols Collection containing 260 pieces of contemporary jewelry, the Collection of 437 historic , and an exhibit on the 19th century boarding school experiences of Native Americans. The Heard Museum has about 250,000 visitors a year. Film View of Monument Valley from 's Point Several major Hollywood films, such as , , , , , , , , , and have been made there as have many. The 1993 science fiction movie , based on a reported alien abduction in the town of , was set in Snowflake. It was filmed in the Oregon towns of , , and. The 1974 film , for which won the , and also starring , was set in Tucson. The climax of the 1977 film takes place in downtown Phoenix. The final segments of the 1984 film take place at outside. The comedy documentary movie was filmed almost entirely at the. Some of 's classic film was shot in Phoenix, the ostensible home town of the main character. Some of the television shows filmed or set in Arizona include , , , , , , and. The TV sitcom , which was based on the movie was set in Phoenix. Carefree Highway Arizona's budding music scene is helped by emerging bands, as well as some well-known artists. The , , , , , and others began their careers in Arizona. Also, a number of and rock bands got their start in Arizona, including , , , , , , and more recently and. Arizona also has many singers and other musicians. Singer, songwriter and guitarist is from. The late , the former lead vocalist of , and artist are both from. One of Arizona's better known musicians is , who helped define the genre. Other notable singers include singers and , singer , 's , , , 2007 winner , and. Arizona is also known for its scene, which is centered in and around Phoenix. In the early to mid-1990s, it included bands such as , , , , , , , and. The band calls Phoenix home and lived in Phoenix for about a decade. Beginning in and around 2009, Phoenix began to host a burgeoning desert rock and sludge metal underground, ala' Kyuss in 1990s California led by bands like Wolves of Winter, Asimov and Dead Canyon. American composer composed his first String Quartet 1950—51 while on sabbatical from New York in Arizona. The quartet won a and other awards and is now a staple of the string quartet repertoire. Due to its numerous golf courses, Arizona is home to several stops on the , most notably the , held at the , and the at the in. Auto racing is another sport known in the state. College sports College sports are also prevalent in Arizona. The and the belong to the while the compete in the and the compete for in the. The rivalry between and the predates Arizona's statehood, and is the oldest rivalry in the. The , first awarded in 1889 and certified as the oldest trophy in college football, is awarded to the winner of the annual football game between the two schools. Arizona also hosts several college football. The , originally held at , is now held at in. The Fiesta Bowl is part of the new CFP. University of Phoenix Stadium was also home to the and. A spring training game between the Cubs and White Sox at Baseball Arizona is a popular location for , as it is the site of the. Spring training was first started in Arizona in 1947, when Brewers owner Veeck sold them in 1945 but went onto purchase the Cleveland Indians in 1946. He decided to train the Cleveland Indians in and convinced the New York Giants to give a try. Thus the Cactus League was born. On March 9, 1995, Arizona was awarded a franchise to begin play for the 1998 season. Since their debut, the Diamondbacks have won five National League West titles, one National League Championship pennant, and the. Retrieved December 28, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2017. Retrieved December 9, 2016. Retrieved October 20, 2011. Archived from on October 15, 2011. Retrieved December 28, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2010. Native American Place Names of the United States. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, p. Retrieved December 28, 2011. Arizona, Prehistoric, Aboriginal, Pioneer, Modern: The Nation's Youngest within a Land of Ancient Culture. Retrieved December 29, 2014. Retrieved March 3, 2007. Archived from on August 2, 2007. Retrieved March 3, 2007. Banderas lejanas: La exploración, conquista y defensa por parte de España del Territorio de los actuales Estados Unidos in Spanish: Far flags. The exploration, conquest and defense by Spain of the Territory of the present United States. Fourth edition: September 2009. Barcelona: Critica, 2001, p. Archived from on January 17, 2010. Retrieved July 25, 2010. Founding a Wilderness Capital, Prescott, A. Flagstaff, Arizona: Northland Press. Archived from on January 17, 2010. Retrieved November 13, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2010. Arizona State Forestry Division. Retrieved July 6, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2010. USGS Earthquake Hazards Program Earthquake. Archived from on January 6, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2012. USGS Earthquake Hazards Program Earthquake. Archived from on September 1, 2012. Retrieved October 12, 2012. Desert Research Institute, Western Regional Climate Center, Reno, Nevada. Retrieved December 28, 2011. Archived from on October 12, 2007. Retrieved March 21, 2006. Retrieved December 28, 2011. Archived from on December 17, 2001. Retrieved December 28, 2011. Retrieved November 11, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2018. February 9, 2018, at the.. Retrieved on July 8, 2006. Retrieved December 28, 2011. Archived from on July 25, 2008. Retrieved December 28, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2013. Archived from on August 23, 2015. Retrieved July 5, 2015. Retrieved September 9, 2016. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 2, 2012. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved November 30, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2013. Retrieved April 30, 2012. Association of Religion Data Archives. Archived from on August 2, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2017. Association of Religion Data Archives. Archived from on August 2, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2017. Archived from on August 2, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2017. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Archived from PDF on August 2, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2017. Archived from PDF on September 21, 2012. Retrieved December 28, 2011. Retrieved September 9, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2011. Archived from on April 23, 2011. Retrieved July 25, 2010. Retrieved December 28, 2011. Retrieved September 9, 2016. Arizona Secretary of State Elections Bureau. Retrieved November 7, 2016. Archived from on May 16, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2010. The New York Times. Retrieved December 28, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2013. The New York Times. Archived from PDF on 2015-09-24. Retrieved October 14, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2016. Archived from on October 8, 2008. Retrieved April 2, 2007. National Collegiate Athletic Association. Archived from PDF on June 25, 2008. Retrieved September 9, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2013. Directory of Federal Judges. Retrieved September 9, 2013. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved September 9, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2013. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved September 9, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2013. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved September 9, 2013. The Washington Post Company. Retrieved September 9, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2013. Retrieved July 31, 2015. Arizona Game and Fish Department. Archived from on September 20, 2013. Retrieved September 28, 2013. Retrieved April 15, 2017. University of Arizona Press, Tucson. University of Arizona Press, Tucson. In Phoenix, Arizona, Arizona Legislative Council. Retrieved January 16, 2006. Treasure Chest Publications, Tucson, Arizona.

Many senior citizens from across the U. Nearly two billion years of the 's history have been prime as the Colorado River and its tributaries cut through layer after layer of sediment as the Colorado Plateau uplifted. Archived arizona sites on July 25, 2008. Admission arizona sites on a donation basis which provide college scholarships for local students. The originalThe state capital of Nagasaki is. Judges are selected in a method similar to the one used for state supreme court justices. February 9, 2018, at the. Retrieved August 2, 2017. Montezuma Castle National Monument is one of the top things to do in Arizona. University of Phoenix Stadium was also social to the and. It was built to control the Colorado River as well as provide hydroelectric power. Lake Mohave is 67 miles long, making it the smaller of the two major lakes in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.