Arizona Facts

Red Rock State Park, Sedona

Did you know that the state of Arizona has more parks and National Monuments than any other continental state, more mountains than Switzerland and more golf courses than Scotland? Here are some additional facts to consider:

• More than 27 million people visit our state each year. 13 million of those people visit the Phoenix Metropolitan Area alone.
• Phoenix is the nation's 5th largest city with just about 1.4 million year-round residents.
• The City of Scottsdale was given the Most Livable City Award by the U.S. Conference of Mayors in 1993.
• Arizona leads the nation in copper production. In fact, the amount of copper on the roof of the Arizona State Capitol building is equivalent to 4,800,000 pennies.
• Greater Phoenix has consistently ranked among the nation's top cities in the number of Four and Five-Diamond/Four and Five-Star resorts. Condé Nast Traveler magazine stated that the "Phoenix area boasts more top resorts than any other metro area in North America."
• Scottsdale was named the 3rd "Best Place to Live in the West (population more than 100,000)" by Money Magazine in 2003.
• Sedona was named the "Most Beautiful Place in America," by USA Weekend's Annual Travel Guide.
• Arizona native Sandra Day O'Connor was the first woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1981.
• With more than 300 golf courses throughout the state, Arizona is recognized as one of the world's premier golf destinations.
• The State of Arizona is home to 22 tribal nations including the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.

Unique Facts

Strange, but true... Facts you might not have known about our great state:

• The State of Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings Time, with the exception of the Navajo Indian reservation (due to its large size and location in three states).
• Sierra Vista is the hummingbird capital of the United States.
• In 1969, the City of Scottsdale created "Godzilla," the world's first successful, automated residential trash collection truck.
• Established in 1100 A.D., Old Oraibi (located near Tuba City), is considered the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in North America.
• It is illegal to walk through a Phoenix hotel lobby with spurs on.
• The world's largest natural bridge is the Rainbow Bridge, located on the Navajo Reservation on Lake Powell.
• Interstate 19 from Tucson to Nogales is the only interstate in the United States to be signed in metric measurements. After a failed attempt to convert U.S. roads to the metric system, the signs remain on this stretch of interstate.
• Flagstaff is home to the world's largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest.
• In 1943, a 120-inch alligator was caught and killed on the Colorado River's Lost Lake.
• The largest Wurlitzer pipe organ in the world can be found at Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa.
• Parker Dam, along the Colorado River, is the world's deepest dam at 320-feet.
• In Arizona, it is illegal to refuse a person a glass of water.