History of Arizona

       Fossils found in Northeastern Arizona show that people were living there as early as twelve thousand years ago. Around Arizona's Mexico border, archaeologists have discovered the twelve-thousand-year-old tools and weapons of other early inhabitants. These expert-hunters, called Paleo-Indians, tracked bisons, woolly mammoths, mastodons, antelopes, camels, horses, and other prehistoric creatures across the Southwest. 

In the second and third centuries B.C., Arizona's three great prehistoric cultures began to appear: the Anasazi on the northern plateau, the Hohokam in the south-central desert, and the Mogollon in the east-central mountains. Other prehistoric Arizonans included the Salado, the Patayan, and the Sinagua people. Around 1100 A.D., a new group of people began migrating into Arizona from northwestern North America. Relatives of Alaska's Athabascan Indians, these nomadic bands hunted game, gathered nuts and berries, and raided other Indian settlements for food. Those who settled on the Colorado Plateau came to be called Navajos, and groups settling farther south were called Apaches.

Both Sinagias and Anasazis settled in the Wuptaki Basin about 1110 A.D.

    No one is absolutely sure who was the first European to enter what is now Arizona. In 1528, an expedition led by Spanish explorer Panfilo de Narvaez landed in Florida, hoping to conquer the North American interior. For eight years, his expedition trekked westward. They reached Arizona's San Pedro River in 1536 and then headed south to New Spain (Mexico). 

    The first European known definitely to have entered what is now Arizona was Franciscan missionary Marcos de Niza, known as Fray Marcos. In 1539, Antonio de Mendoza, the viceroy of New Spain, directed de Niza to explore the lands to the north in search of the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola. Later, de Niza claimed the area and made a hasty retreat back to New Spain.

    Arizona has been through many events, including the Coronado Expedition in 1540, when Francisco Vasquez de Coronado led a small army north from New Spain, bringing de Niza along as a guide. These armor-clad men marched through Arizona, reaching Hawikuh in July. Finding no cities of gold, Cornado sent Pedro de Tovar to search the Hopi Villages of northeastern Arizona. Still no gold was found, but the Hopis did introduce the Spaniards to a gran aberrancy--The Grand Canyon. (You will learn more about the Grand Canyon under its page.) Finally, after two years of tormenting the Indians, Cornado gave up his quest for the cities of gold and returned to New Spain.

Another exciting event that took place in the early history of Arizona were the Spanish missionaries. In 1629, Spanish Franciscan missionaries, called friars, arrived in the Hopi villages. They planned to convert the Hopis to Christianity, at the same time gaining subjects for Spain. By 1670, there were several Franciscan missions among the Hopi pueblos. In 1680, Indians in present-day New Mexico rose up against the Spaniards in what is called the Pueblo Revolt. They burned missions and other Spanish settlements and killed missionaries.

    In 1821, after three centuries of Spanish rule, Mexico won its independence. Arizona became part of the new country of Mexico, and the Spanish missionaries were driven out. With no more Spanish troops to fear, American mountain men, traders, and trappers started moving into Arizona. Many of these Anglos, as they were called, became local or national legends. 

    In 1846, the United States and Mexico went to war. After Mexico lost it in 1848, the United States gained New Mexico, a vast territory extending from Texas to California on the Pacific Ocean. Reaching as far south as the Gila River, the new lands included most of present-day Arizona. The Senate approved the treaty, and the great westward movement of the settlers into the New Mexico Territory began. 

Fast Facts about Arizona

        Statehood: February 14, 1912, 48th state

        Origin of Name: Most scholars believe the name Arizona comes from the Papago Indian word arizonac, meaning "small spring". Another theory suggests that the name comes from the Aztec word arizuma, meaning "silver-bearing".

        State Capital: Phoenix, founded 1867 (learn more about Phoenix under its page!)

        State Nicknames: Arizona's official nickname is the Grand Canyon State. Its other nicknames include Valentine State (since Arizona became a state on Valentine's Day) and Baby State (since Arizona was the nation's youngest state for forty-seven years). 

State Bird: Cactus Wren
	State Flower: Saguaro Cactus Blossom
State Fossil: Petrified Wood
	State Neckwear: Bola tie, which originated in Arizona

        State Song: "Arizona March Song", words by Margaret Rowe Clifford, adopted as the state song in 1919.

        Highest Point: Humphrey's Peak, 12,633 ft.

        Lowest Point: Yuma County, along the Colorado River, 70 ft. above sea level

        Area: 114,000 sq. miles

Phoenix, AZ

Grand Canyon

Sedona, AZ

Flagstaff, AZ