What is the abbreviation for Arizona, and what region is it in?

Arizona's two-letter postal abbreviation is AZ. The U.S. Census Bureau places it in the West region, in the Mountain division, and about 7.15 million people lived there in the 2020 census.

When did Arizona become a state, and what number state was it?

Arizona became the 48th state on February 14, 1912, the last of the 48 contiguous states to join the Union. It is sometimes nicknamed the "Valentine State" because of its Valentine's Day admission.

Why was Arizona's statehood delayed?

In 1911 President William Howard Taft vetoed Arizona's statehood because its proposed constitution let voters recall judges. Arizona removed the provision and was admitted in 1912, and later that year its voters put the judicial recall back into the state constitution.

Where does the name Arizona come from?

The origin is not certain. The most widely cited explanation traces it to "Arizonac," a Spanish-era name for a place in what is now Sonora, Mexico, near a 1736 silver discovery, which may come from an O'odham phrase meaning "small spring."

How did Arizona become part of the United States?

Most of Arizona came to the United States from Mexico in 1848 under the treaty that ended the Mexican-American War, and the southern strip, including Tucson, was added by the Gadsden Purchase in 1853. Congress created the Arizona Territory, separate from New Mexico Territory, on February 24, 1863.

What is the capital of Arizona, and has it always been the capital?

Phoenix has been the capital since 1889. The territorial capital was first at Fort Whipple and then Prescott in 1864, moved to Tucson in 1867, returned to Prescott in 1877, and moved to Phoenix in 1889, where it stayed after statehood.

What states and countries border Arizona?

Arizona borders California, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico, and touches Colorado at a single point, the Four Corners, where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet. To the south it borders the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California.

What is Arizona's nickname and state motto?

Arizona is known as "The Grand Canyon State." Its motto is "Ditat Deus," Latin for "God Enriches." Its state bird is the cactus wren, its flower is the saguaro cactus blossom, and its tree is the palo verde.

How many representatives and electoral votes does Arizona have?

Based on the 2020 census, Arizona has 9 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, the same as before, which gives it 11 votes in the Electoral College.

Does Arizona observe daylight saving time?

No. Arizona has not observed daylight saving time since 1968 and stays on Mountain Standard Time all year. The Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona is the main exception and does observe daylight saving time.

State Guide48th StateEst. 1912

Arizona AZ

"The Grand Canyon State"

From the towering red rocks of Sedona to the vast chasm of the Grand Canyon, Arizona is a land of dramatic beauty and striking contrasts. A booming Sun Belt state with a rich Indigenous heritage, booming tech economy, and some of the most iconic landscapes in America.

State Debt - FY2024

$6.9 billion

Total state government debt outstanding at the close of fiscal 2024, including long-term bonds and short-term borrowing across state agencies and public universities.

Tax Revenue - FY2024

$25.1 billion

Total Arizona state tax collections in fiscal 2024, led by the general sales (transaction privilege) tax ($13B) and the individual income tax ($4.8B).

Borrowing

Arizona's constitution limits general state debt to $350,000, so the state borrows almost entirely through lease-purchase deals, certificates of participation, and revenue bonds issued by state agencies. These are sold to investors in the tax-exempt municipal market and repaid from future appropriations or dedicated revenues. The state reported about $292 million in interest on its debt in fiscal 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State Government Finances.

48th

State admitted to the Union

114K

Square miles

7.62M

Population

Grand Canyon

Natural Wonder

Arizona's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Arizona, buckle up. On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, you're picking a governor, and for the first time ever, a lieutenant governor on the same ticket. You're also choosing your member of the U.S. House and deciding eight statewide propositions, on everything from voter ID to grocery taxes to traffic cameras.

It's a midterm election, halfway through the president's term, and nationally it decides who controls Congress for the next two years. Arizona has some of the most closely watched House seats in the country.

One race you won't see: U.S. Senate. Both of Arizona's senators, Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, are in the middle of their terms.

The key dates and how voting works are right below. Use the buttons above to open each race. Every proposition comes with the official analysis and the real arguments from both sides, straight from the state's Publicity Pamphlet. You decide.

Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026

Key Dates

Key Dates
Last day to register to vote	Monday, October 5
Early voting begins and mail ballots go out	Wednesday, October 7
Last day to request a mail ballot (5 p.m.)	Friday, October 23
Suggested last day to mail your ballot back	Tuesday, October 27
Last day of early in-person voting (7 p.m.)	Friday, October 30
Election Day: polls open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.	Tuesday, November 3

How Voting Works in Arizona

If you're on the Active Early Voting List or requested a ballot, it'll come in the mail starting October 7. Mail it back by October 27, or drop it at a ballot drop box, any early voting site, or any voting location in your county on Election Day. It has to arrive by 7 p.m. on November 3; a postmark doesn't count.

Dropping off in person? New this year: you can drop your signed ballot in the bin and the county verifies your signature, or show your ID to a poll worker so your ballot skips signature checking and gets processed faster.

Voting in person, early or on Election Day? Bring ID: a photo ID with your name and address, such as a driver's license, or two documents from the non-photo list, like a utility bill and a vehicle registration. Tribal members can use tribal ID.

Sources & Further Reading

…

Arizona's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

One race you won't see: U.S. Senate. Both of Arizona's senators, Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, are in the middle of their terms.

Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026

Key Dates

Last day to register to vote

Monday, October 5

Early voting begins and mail ballots go out

Wednesday, October 7

Last day to request a mail ballot (5 p.m.)

Friday, October 23

Suggested last day to mail your ballot back

Tuesday, October 27

Last day of early in-person voting (7 p.m.)

Friday, October 30

Election Day: polls open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Tuesday, November 3

How Voting Works in Arizona

Arizona's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in Arizona

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Arizona's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in Arizona

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading