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Celebrating Arizona’s 111th birthday today!

Jocelyn McAlpin

Written by Amy Scoville-Weaver, Valley Young Professionals Board of Directors

Arizona History

My family moved to Arizona in 1914 – making me a (rare) fourth-generation Phoenician! I love to talk about the history of Arizona, and it is the perfect time to celebrate Arizona’s birthday on February 14, 2023!

Impress your friends with these facts!

  • Arizona became the 48th state in the union in 1912. Previous to statehood, Arizona was a territory and was a part of Mexico until 1948.
  • The first Native Americans arrived in Arizona between 16,000 BC and 10,000 BCE! In the Phoenix area, the Hohokom relied on extensive irrigation canals to water their crops. In fact, Phoenix has over 100 miles of canals that follow many of the same ancient irrigation pathways!
    • You can learn more about Arizona’s rich indigenous culture here!
  • The first European entered Arizona in 1539 in search of the mythical Seven Cities of Gold (alas, he didn’t find it).
  • The 1849 California Gold Rush brought a wave of miners to Arizona! Arizona’s population boomed once again following World War 2 as the automobile became affordable and with the invention of air conditioning.
  • Arizona continues to grow and, while our population increases, our water resources decrease.

Bonus: Arizona history in the outdoors

One of the best ways to explore our history is to get outside and explore our indigenous ruins, historical parks, and culture.

  • Phoenix has amazing history preserved throughout the city! Examples include Pueblo Grande Museum, Riordan House, and the Mystery Castle at South Mountain!
  • Our state has oodles of public land, which are areas you can explore and often offer dispersed camping at no charge.
  • Arizona has 35 state parks – and the most visited Arizona state park is Patagonia Lake State Park!
  • We also have three national parks– which includes Grand Canyon, Saguaro, and the Petrified Forest. A bonus with the Petrified Forest is you’ll also dip into Arizona’s famed Painted Desert. We also have ten national monuments and (local tip) they are often much less busy than the national parks!

Arizona has some great history and culture – go find it!