Arizona is the 48th state and last of the
contiguous states to be admitted to the Union, achieving statehood on February 14, 1912. Historically part of the territory of
Alta California and
Nuevo México in
New Spain, it became part of independent Mexico in 1821. After being defeated in the
Mexican–American War, Mexico ceded much of this territory to the United States in 1848, where the area became part of the
territory of New Mexico. The southernmost portion of the state was acquired in 1853 through the
Gadsden Purchase.
Arizona is home to a diverse population. About one-quarter of the state is made up of
Indian reservations that serve as the home of
27 federally recognized Native American tribes, including the
Navajo Nation, the largest in the state and the country, with more than 300,000 citizens. Since the 1980s, the proportion of
Hispanics has grown significantly owing to migration from Mexico and Central America. A substantial portion of the population are followers of the
Roman Catholic Church and
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Arizona's population and economy have grown dramatically since the 1950s because of inward migration, and the state is now a major hub of the
Sun Belt. Cities such as Phoenix and Tucson have developed large, sprawling suburban areas. Many large companies, such as
PetSmart and
Circle K, have headquarters in the state, and Arizona is home to major universities, including the
University of Arizona and
Arizona State University. The state is known for a history of conservative politicians such as
Barry Goldwater and
John McCain, though it has become a
swing state since the 1990s. (Full article...)
Loughner, a 22-year-old Tucson man who was fixated on Giffords, was arrested at the scene.
Federal prosecutors filed five charges against him, including the attempted assassination of a member of Congress and the assassination of a federal judge. Loughner previously had been arrested once (but not convicted) on a minor drug charge and had been suspended by his college for disruptive behavior. Court filings include notes handwritten by Loughner indicating he planned to assassinate Giffords. Loughner did not cooperate with authorities, invoking his
right to remain silent. He was held without bail and indicted on 49 counts. In January 2012, Loughner was found by a federal judge to be
incompetent to stand trial based on two
medical evaluations, which diagnosed him with
paranoid schizophrenia. On August 7, Loughner had a hearing in which he was judged competent. He pleaded guilty to 19 counts, and in November 2012 was sentenced to life in prison. (Full article...)
... that Phoenix's Chinese Cultural Center was remodeled into an ordinary office building despite the objections of preservationists and community groups?
... that H. B. Wilkinson lost the first special election in Arizona to
Isabella Greenway, who became the first woman from Arizona to go to Congress?
... that the gourd mouth organ is said to have been created in the third millennium B.C. as a likeness of the
Phoenix?
... that former
Arizona Cardinals kicker Cedric Oglesby, one of the first African-American kickers in NFL history, received his chance to play when the team's previous kicker injured himself celebrating?
This photograph of Canyon de Chelly, showing 'seven riders on horseback and dog', is one of his most celebrated images from The North American Indian.Canyon de Chelly is a
National Park located in northeast
Arizona,
United States. Founded April 1, 1931, it preserves artifacts of the early Southwest Indian tribes that lived in the area, including the
Navajo. The cliffs of the canyon are pockmarked with hand carved caves — the ruins of former villages.
... that Dwight B. Heard is credited with making Arizona's cotton industry more competitive after becoming president of the Arizona Cotton Association?
Image 8A map showing the extent of the Ancestral Puebloan, Hohokam, and Mogollon cultures within the American Southwest and Northern Mexico, all three of which were based in what is now Arizona and/or
New Mexico in around 1350 CE (from History of Arizona)
Image 9Signing of Arizona statehood bill in 1912 (from History of Arizona)
Image 25This ornate grain basket by Akimel O'odham dates from the early 20th century, showing the Native American dimension to the state's culture (from History of Arizona)
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