About Arizona

State Moderator Posts : 60 Join date : 2008-10-05

Arizona was the 48th state in the USA; it became a state on February 14, 1912.
State Abbreviation - AZ
State Capital - Phoenix
Largest City - Phoenix
Area - 114,006 square miles [Arizona is the 6th biggest state in the USA]
Population - 5,130,632 (as of 2000) [Arizona is the 20th most populous state in the USA]
Name for Residents - Arizonans
Major Industries - mining (copper, molybdenum, gold, and silver), manufacturing, and tourism

Major Rivers - Colorado River, Little Colorado River, Gila River, Bill Williams River
Major Lakes - Lake Mead, Lake Havasu, Lake Mohave, Theodore Roosevelt Lake, San Carlos Lake, Lake Powell
Highest Point - Humphreys Peak - 12,633 feet (3,581 m) above sea level
Bordering States - California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah
Bordering Country - Mexico

Origin of the Name Arizona - The word Arizona comes from one of the following (its origin is not certain): the Aztec Indian word "arizuma," that means "silver-bearing," from the Tohono O'odham Indian word "Aleh-zone" which means "small spring," or the Pima Indian word "Ali shonak" which also means "small spring."
State Nickname - Grand Canyon State
State Motto - "Ditat Deus," God Enriches
State Song - Arizona March Song

State Flag
The official state flag of Arizona was officially adopted on February 17, 1917. It was designed by Colonel Charles W. Harris (adjutant general and chief administrative officer of Arizona) and was first sewn by Nan D. Hayden.

The 13 yellow and red rays represent both the Sun's rays and the original 13 colonies of the United States of America. The colors red and yellow are used because they were the colors of the flag of the Spanish conquistadors led by Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, who entered Arizona in 1540 (looking for the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola). The copper-colored star in the middle represents copper mining, since Arizona produces more copper than any other state in the USA.

Arizona was the 48th state in the USA; it was admitted in 1912 (it had been part of Mexico before the Mexican War).

State Bird
Cactus wren
State Mammal
Ringtail
State Reptile
Arizona Ridgenose Rattlesnake

State Amphibian
Arizona Tree Frog
State Fish
Arizona trout
State Insect
Two-tailed Swallowtail
Papilio multicaudatus
State Flower
Saguaro Cactus Blossom
State Tree
Palo Verde
State Fossil
Petrified wood
State Gemstone
Turquoise
State Neckwear
The bolo tie
State Colors
Blue and old gold

State Moderator Posts : 60 Join date : 2008-10-05

Total Nonfarm Employment
Average Annual Growth Rates

2007(a) 2008(b) 2009(b)
Arizona 1.2% -1.3% -0.5%
Phoenix MSA 1.3% -1.4% -0.4%
Tucson MSA 0.9% -1.7% -0.8%
Balance of State 1.0% -0.3% -0.6%

(a) Historical
(b) Forecast

State Moderator Posts : 60 Join date : 2008-10-05

Forecast Update: Continued Slowing Into 2009, Projected Two-Year Loss of 47,000 Jobs

Arizona Department of Commerce, Research Administration’s updated forecast projects a continued loss of nonfarm jobs for the calendar year 2008-2009 forecast period with a decrease of more than 47,000 jobs (-1.8 percent). For 2008, Research Administration (RA) forecasts a loss of 34,000 jobs (-1.3 percent), and in 2009 RA projects employment reductions of 13,500 (-0.5 percent).

Kent Ennis - Deputy Director,
Dennis Doby - Senior Director
10/2/2008
Information Link

Arizona Industry Employment
Average Annual Growth Rate
(a) Historical
(b) Forecast

2007(a) 2008(b) 2009(b)
Total Nonfarm 1.2%; -1.3% -0.5%
Manufacturing -2.2% -2.3% -1.0%
Natural Resources/ Mining 14.1% 14.0% 7.1%
Construction -6.6% -14.0% -6.8%
Trade, Trans., & Utilities 2.4% -0.9% -0.4%
Information -3.2% -2.5% -0.9%
Financial Activities 0.4% -4.1% -1.7%
Professional & Business Services 1.9% -1.2% -0.7%
Education & Health Services 4.1% 3.5% 2.5%
Leisure & Hospitality 2.2% 0.7% 0.3%
Other Services -1.2% -1.2% -0.5%
Government 3.5% 1.7% 0.1%
Additional Forecast Graphs
Graphs for total nonfarm employment and for Arizona statewide major industry sectors are included in the Arizona Employment Forecast Publication above. Below are links to additional industry forecast graphs for Phoenix-Mesa MSA, Tucson MSA, and Balance of State. Also included are larger, full page sized versions of the Arizona Statewide graphs from the above publication. Each publication below has employment forecast graphs for total non farm employment and eleven major industries in the substate areas.

» Health of the Arizona Economy
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» Arizona's 'Stop Illegal Hiring' Act is a Sham
» Mexico complains to Arizona for not employing ILLEGAL alians