1. Cities of the United States
  2. The West
  3. Arizona

ARIZONA

Flagstaff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Mesa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Phoenix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Scottsdale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Tucson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Arizona

The State in Brief

Nickname: Grand Canyon State Motto: Ditat Deus (God enriches)

Flower: Blossom of the saguaro cactus Bird: Cactus wren

Area: 113,635 square miles (2000; U.S. rank: 6th)

Elevation: Ranges from 100 feet to 12,670 feet above sea level

Climate: Dry and sunny, but heavy snows in the high central area

Admitted to Union: February 14, 1912

Capital: Phoenix

Head Official: Governor Janet Napolitano (D) (until 2007)

Population

1980: 2,718,000

1990: 3,750,000

2000: 5,130,632

2004 estimate: 5,743,834

Percent change, 1990–2000: 40.0%

U.S. rank in 2004: 18th

Percent of residents born in state: 34.7% (2000)

Density: 45.2 people per square mile (2000)

2002 FBI Crime Index Total: 348,467

Racial and Ethnic Characteristics (2000)

White: 3,873,611

Black or African American: 158,873

American Indian and Alaska Native: 255,879

Asian: 92,236

Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 6,733

Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race): 1,295,617

Other: 596,774

Age Characteristics (2000)

Population under 5 years old: 382,386

Population 5 to 19 years old: 1,135,802

Percent of population 65 years and over: 13.0%

Median age: 34.2 years (2000)

Vital Statistics

Total number of births (2003): 90,931

Total number of deaths (2003): 43,346 (infant deaths, 591)

AIDS cases reported through 2003: 4,127

Economy

Major industries: Services, trade, manufacturing, agriculture

Unemployment rate: 4.2% (January 2005)

Per capita income: $26,931 (2003; U.S. rank: 39th)

Median household income: $42,062 (3-year average, 2001-2003)

Percentage of persons below poverty level: 13.9% (3-year average, 2001-2003)

Income tax rate: ranges from 2.87% to 5.04%

Sales tax rate: 5.6% (food and prescription drugs are exempt)