History of Arizona in Timeline

Arizona is a U.S. state located in the Southwest, part of the Four Corners region. It borders Nevada, California, Mexico (Sonora and Baja California), Utah, and New Mexico. Phoenix is its capital and largest city, and the state is divided into 15 counties.

1900: Original Capitol Building construction completed

In 1900, the construction of the original Capitol building was completed at a cost of $136,000.

1901: Original Capitol building dedicated

In 1901, the original Capitol building in Phoenix, with its copper dome, was dedicated when the area was a territory.

1907: Arizona produces more copper than any other state

By 1907, Arizona was producing more copper than any other state and earned the nickname "the Copper State".

1910: Arizona Population

In 1910, the Arizona state population was 294,353.

1910: Mexican Revolution begins

In 1910, the Mexican Revolution began, leading to several battles fought in Mexican towns across the border from Arizona.

February 14, 1912: Arizona achieves statehood

On February 14, 1912, Arizona was admitted to the Union as the 48th state and the last of the contiguous states.

1912: Arizona becomes a state

In 1912, Arizona becomes a state after the Mexican-American War.

1912: Phoenix becomes official state capital

In 1912, Phoenix became the official state capital with Arizona's admission to the union.

1916: Pancho Villa's Columbus Raid

In 1916, Pancho Villa's Columbus Raid occurred in New Mexico.

1917: Bisbee Deportation

In 1917, the Bisbee Deportation occurred as a result of a copper miners' strike.

1918: Battle of Ambos Nogales

In 1918, the Battle of Ambos Nogales occurred after Mexican federal troops fired on U.S. soldiers, leading to an American assault into Nogales, Mexico. Also in 1918, just west of Nogales, an Indian War battle occurred, considered the last engagement in the American Indian Wars.

1920: End of the Mexican Revolution

In 1920, the Mexican Revolution ended, which had involved Arizonans enlisting in various armies fighting in Mexico.

1920: Republican presidential landslide

In 1920, the Republican presidential candidate carried Arizona as part of a national landslide.

1924: Congress grants citizenship to all Native Americans

In 1924, Congress passed a law granting citizenship and suffrage to all Native Americans.

1924: Republican presidential landslide

In 1924, the Republican presidential candidate carried Arizona as part of a national landslide.

1928: Republican presidential landslide

In 1928, the Republican presidential candidate carried Arizona as part of a national landslide.

1929: Arizona Biltmore Hotel opens

In 1929, the Arizona Biltmore Hotel opened in central Phoenix.

1936: Wigwam Resort opens

In 1936, the Wigwam Resort opened on the west side of the Phoenix area.

June 1942: Aleutian Islands Campaign

In June 1942, the Aleutian Islands Campaign materialized, causing wartime fears of a Japanese invasion of the U.S. West Coast, leading to the internment of Japanese Americans.

1945: Brewers Sold

In 1945, Veeck sold the Brewers.

1945: End of Japanese American internment camps

In 1945, after World War II, the Japanese American internment camps were abolished.

1946: Veeck Purchases Cleveland Indians

In 1946, Veeck purchased the Cleveland Indians.

1947: Spring Training Starts in Arizona

In 1947, Spring training was first started in Arizona when the Cleveland Indians trained in Tucson and the New York Giants tried Phoenix, creating the Cactus League.

1948: Arizona Supreme Court overturns Native American voting ban

In 1948, the Arizona Supreme Court overturned the interpretation prohibiting Native Americans living on reservations from voting, following the Harrison and Austin v. Laveen lawsuit.

1948: Harrison and Austin v. Laveen

In 1948, veteran Frank Harrison and Harry Austin brought a legal suit, Harrison and Austin v. Laveen, to challenge Maricopa County's exclusion of Native Americans from registering to vote, and the Arizona Supreme Court ruled in their favor.

1950: Elliott Carter Composes String Quartet

In 1950, American composer Elliott Carter composed his first String Quartet (1950–51) while on sabbatical in Arizona. The quartet later won a Pulitzer Prize.

1951: Community Education Mandate for Phoenix Art Museum

Since 1951, the Phoenix Art Museum has had a community education mandate, leading to a year-round program of festivals, live performances, independent art films, and educational programs.

1952: Maricopa county votes Republican

Before 2020, Maricopa County had voted Republican in every presidential election since 1952.

1960: Sun City opens

In 1960, Sun City, established by developer Del Webb, opened as one of the first retirement communities.

1960: Dedication of House of Representatives and Senate buildings

In 1960, the House of Representatives and Senate buildings were dedicated in Arizona.

1963: Lake Havasu City founded

In 1963, Lake Havasu City was founded by real estate developer Robert P. McCulloch.

1964: Barry Goldwater nominee

Barry Goldwater was the major party presidential nominee from the state since 1964.

1964: Goldwater carries home state

In 1964, Barry Goldwater carried his home state, Arizona, due to his 20,000-vote margin in Maricopa County.

1964: Close presidential race

In 1964, Democrat Lyndon Johnson narrowly lost Arizona to Barry Goldwater.

1970: Arizona Population

In 1970, the Arizona state population was 1,752,122.

January 7, 1971: Record low temperature at Hawley Lake

On January 7, 1971, the all-time record low temperature of −40 °F (−40 °C) was recorded at Hawley Lake.

1974: Release of "Carefree Highway" by Gordon Lightfoot

In 1974, Gordon Lightfoot released the song "Carefree Highway", which takes its name from Arizona State Route 74 north of Phoenix.

Loading Video...

1974: Dedication of Executive Office Building

In 1974, an Executive Office Building was dedicated, housing the Office of the Governor on its ninth floor.

1974: Release of "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore"

The film "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore", starring Ellen Burstyn and Kris Kristofferson, was set in Tucson and released in 1974. Ellen Burstyn won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the movie.

Loading Video...

1977: Secretaries of state and attorneys general succession

Since 1977, four secretaries of state and one attorney general have succeeded to Arizona's governorship.

1977: Release of "The Gauntlet"

The climax of the Clint Eastwood film "The Gauntlet" takes place in downtown Phoenix in 1977.

Loading Video...

1984: Release of "Starman"

In 1984, the final segments of the film "Starman" take place at Meteor Crater outside Winslow, Arizona.

Loading Video...

1991: Population increase in Metropolitan Phoenix

From 1991 through 2001, the population of metropolitan Phoenix increased by 45%.

1992: Arizona votes Republican

In 1992, Arizona voted Republican in the presidential election.

1992: Clinton almost wins Arizona

In 1992, Bill Clinton came within less than two percent of winning Arizona's electoral votes.

1993: Release of "Fire in the Sky"

In 1993, the science fiction movie "Fire in the Sky", based on a reported alien abduction in the town of Snowflake, was released. While the movie was set in Snowflake, it was filmed in Oregon.

Loading Video...

1993: Republican Party gains control

Since 1993, the Republican Party has held power in both houses of the Arizona legislature.

June 29, 1994: Record high temperature at Lake Havasu City

On June 29, 1994, the all-time record high temperature of 128 °F (53 °C) was recorded at Lake Havasu City.

March 9, 1995: Arizona Awarded MLB Franchise

On March 9, 1995, Arizona was awarded a Major League Baseball franchise for the 1998 season.

1996: Clinton wins Arizona

In 1996, Bill Clinton won Arizona by a little over two percentage points, ending a Republican streak.

1996: Phoenix loses Amtrak service

In 1996, Phoenix lost Amtrak service due to the rerouting of the Sunset Limited.

1996: Compared to voter turnout in 2000, voter turnout was lower in this year's primary.

Voter turnout in the 2000 primary increased over 500% over the 1996 primary.

January 16, 1997: Diamondbacks Officially Voted into National League

On January 16, 1997, the Diamondbacks were officially voted into the National League.

1998: Women elected to all top statewide offices

In 1998, Arizona elected women to all five top, statewide elected offices.

1998: Diamondbacks Begin Play

In 1998, the Arizona Diamondbacks began to play.

March 2000: First legally binding election held over the internet

In March 2000, Arizona held the first legally binding election over the internet, in which Al Gore defeated Bill Bradley in the Arizona Democratic Primary.

2000: Arizona supports Republican presidential candidates

From 2000, Arizona continued to support Republican presidential candidates by solid margins.

2000: Fifteen largest denominations

In 2000, a study recorded the fifteen largest denominations by number of adherents.

2001: Population increase in Metropolitan Phoenix

From 1991 through 2001, the population of metropolitan Phoenix increased by 45%.

2001: Diamondbacks Win World Series

In 2001, the Arizona Diamondbacks won the World Series.

2002: Oversight Authority Transferred to Community College Districts

In 2002, the Arizona state legislature transferred almost all oversight authority of two-year vocational schools and community colleges to individual community college districts.

2002: Rodeo–Chediski Fire

In 2002, the Rodeo–Chediski Fire occurred, which was the worst fire in Arizona's history until 2011.

2004: Proposition 200 passed

In 2004, Arizona voters passed Proposition 200, requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.

2004: Discovery of Q biotype whitefly

In 2004, the Q biotype of the whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) was first found in Arizona, also on poinsettia.

2005: Native American languages spoken in Arizona

As of 2005, more than 85,000 individuals reported speaking Navajo, and 10,403 people reported Apache, as a language spoken at home in Arizona.

2005: School District Redistricting Commission Established

In 2005, a School District Redistricting Commission was established in Arizona with the goal of combining and consolidating many of the state's local school districts.

2006: Arizona rejects Prop 107

In 2006, Arizona became the first state in the United States to reject a proposition, Prop 107, that would have banned same-sex marriage and civil unions.

2006: Arizona rejects same-sex marriage ban

In 2006, Arizona voters rejected a same-sex marriage ban in a referendum.

July 5, 2007: Record high temperature at Lake Havasu City

On July 5, 2007, the all-time record high temperature of 128 °F (53 °C) was recorded at Lake Havasu City.

2007: Jordin Sparks Wins American Idol

In 2007, Jordin Sparks, an Arizona singer, won American Idol.

Loading Video...

2007: 2007 BCS National Championship Game

In 2007, University of Phoenix Stadium hosted the BCS National Championship Game.

March 4, 2008: John McCain clinches Republican nomination

On March 4, 2008, Senator John McCain clinched the Republican nomination for president.

November 4, 2008: Arizona Proposition 102 Approved

On November 4, 2008, Arizona Proposition 102, also known as the Marriage Protection Amendment, was approved by Arizona voters with a 56–43% margin. This amendment to the Arizona Constitution defined marriage as between one man and one woman.

December 2008: Completion of Valley Metro Rail

In December 2008, the Valley Metro Rail system was completed, connecting Central Phoenix with Mesa and Tempe.

2008: Arizona approves Prop 102

In 2008, Arizona voters approved of Prop 102, a constitutional amendment that prohibited same-sex marriage but not other unions.

2009: Emergence of Desert Rock Scene

Around 2009, Phoenix began hosting a burgeoning desert rock and sludge metal underground, similar to Kyuss in 1990s California, led by bands like Wolves of Winter, Asimov, and Dead Canyon.

2009: Jan Brewer assumes office

In 2009, Jan Brewer became governor of Arizona after Janet Napolitano's confirmation as Secretary of Homeland Security.

2010: Arizona population

According to the 2010 United States census, Arizona had a population of 6,392,017.

2010: Languages spoken in Arizona

As of 2010, 73% of Arizona residents age five and older spoke only English at home, while 21% spoke Spanish.

2010: Population of Metropolitan Phoenix and Tucson

As of the 2010 census, Metropolitan Phoenix (4.7 million) and Tucson (1.0 million) were home to about five-sixths of Arizona's people.

2010: Arizona enacts SB 1070

In 2010, Arizona enacted SB 1070, requiring all immigrants to carry immigration papers at all times.

2010: Arizona gains a ninth seat

In 2010, Arizona gained a ninth seat in the House of Representatives due to redistricting based on the United States census.

2010: Hinduism becomes largest non-Christian religion

In 2010, Hinduism became the largest non-Christian religion in Arizona, with over 32,000 adherents, surpassing Judaism and Buddhism.

2010: Religious groups in Arizona

In 2010, The Catholic Church had the highest number of adherents in Arizona (at 930,001), followed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with 392,918 members and then non-denominational Evangelical Protestant churches, reporting 281,105 adherents.

2010: Fifteen largest denominations

In 2010, a study recorded the fifteen largest denominations by number of adherents.

2010: Largest Native American tribes in Arizona

The 2010 census data lists the largest Native American tribes residing in Arizona.

2010: 2010 United States census

The 2020 census reported Arizona's population had increased 12% since the 2010 United States census.

January 8, 2011: Shooting of Gabby Giffords

On January 8, 2011, a gunman shot congresswoman Gabby Giffords and 18 others at a gathering in Tucson.

November 2011: Public Opinion on Same-Sex Marriage

In November 2011, a Public Policy Polling survey revealed that 44% of Arizona voters supported the legalization of same-sex marriage, while 45% opposed it. The same survey indicated that 72% of respondents supported legal recognition of same-sex couples, with varying levels of support for marriage and civil unions.

2011: Arizona's children under age one.

As of 2011, 61% of Arizona's children under age one belonged to racial groups of color.

2011: 2011 BCS National Championship Game

In 2011, University of Phoenix Stadium hosted the BCS National Championship Game.

2011: Mention of fire

In 2011, it was mentioned that in 2002, the Rodeo–Chediski Fire had been the worst fire in state history.

2012: Supreme Court invalidates parts of SB 1070

In 2012, the Supreme Court invalidated parts of SB 1070 in Arizona v. United States.

2013: Bisbee approves civil unions

In 2013, The City of Bisbee approved of civil unions after Bisbee amended the ordinance.

2013: Supreme Court strikes down Proposition 200 restriction

In 2013, the Supreme Court of the United States struck down the restriction imposed by Proposition 200.

July 2014: Launch of Sun Link streetcar system

In July 2014, the Sun Link streetcar system launched in Tucson, connecting the University of Arizona campus with Mercado San Agustin.

October 17, 2014: Arizona Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage

On October 17, 2014, Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne announced that his office would no longer object to same-sex marriage, following a U.S. District Court Ruling on Arizona Proposition 102. As a result, county clerks began issuing same-sex marriage licenses, making Arizona the 31st state to legalize same-sex marriage on that day.

2014: Christianity in Arizona

In 2014, a Pew Research Center study indicated that 67% of Arizona's population identified as Christian.

2016: Largest Private Employer

In 2016, Banner Health was the largest private employer in Arizona, employing over 39,000 people.

2016: Arizona supports Republican presidential candidates

Until 2016, Arizona continued to support Republican presidential candidates by solid margins.

2017: NCAA Final Four in Arizona

In 2017, State Farm Stadium hosted the Final Four of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.

2018: Top countries of origin for Arizona's immigrant population

As of 2018, the top countries of origin for Arizona's immigrant population were Mexico, Canada, India, the Philippines and China.

2018: West Virginia teachers' strike inspires Arizona teachers

In 2018, the West Virginia teachers' strike inspired teachers in other states, including Arizona, to take similar action.

2019: Largest private employers in Arizona

In 2019, The Arizona Republic reported on the largest private employers in the state.

August 2020: Arizona's Unemployment Rate

As of August 2020, Arizona's unemployment rate was 5.9%.

August 2020: Largest employment sectors in Arizona

In August 2020, the largest employment sectors in Arizona were identified based on nonfarm employment data.

December 2020: ProPublica and Rhodium Group study released

In December 2020, a study by ProPublica and Rhodium Group warned that six of Arizona's 15 counties could be uninhabitable by 2040-2060 due to climate change.

2020: Joe Biden wins Maricopa County

Before Joe Biden won Maricopa County in 2020, it had voted Republican in every presidential election since 1952.

2020: Christianity in Arizona

In 2020, a Public Religion Research Institute study found that 68% of Arizona's population identified as Christian. Additionally, another study determined Christianity as the dominant religion in the state, with a significant number of Catholic and non-denominational Christian adherents.

2020: Arizona population

In the 2020 census, Arizona's population was recorded as 7,151,502.

2021: Amtrak proposes restoration of rail service

As of 2021, Amtrak has proposed restoring rail service between Phoenix and Tucson.

2021: Legislative seats nearly equally divided

As of 2021, the Democratic Party had gained several legislative seats in recent elections, bringing both chambers one seat away from being equally divided.

November 8, 2022: Arizona voters approve lieutenant governor position

On November 8, 2022, Arizona voters approved Proposition 131, a constitutional amendment creating the position and office of the lieutenant governor.

2022: Homeless population in Arizona

According to HUD's 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, there were an estimated 13,553 homeless people living in Arizona.

2022: Arizona's largest ancestry groups

As of 2022, it was recorded what Arizona's largest ancestry groups were.

February 12, 2023: Super Bowl LVII Held in Arizona

On February 12, 2023, Arizona hosted Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium.

2023: Arizona's per capita and median household income

In 2023, Arizona's per capita income was $61,652, ranking 33rd in the U.S. The state's median household income was $74,568, ranking 19th nationally.

2023: Arizona's Gross State Product

In 2023, Arizona's total gross state product was $508 billion. Health care, transportation, and government were the largest sectors in the state's moderately diverse economy.

2023: Majority Support for Same-Sex Marriage

In 2023, the American Values Atlas by Public Religion Research Institute found that an overwhelming majority of Arizona residents support same-sex marriage.

2024: Arizona codifies abortion rights

In 2024, Arizona voters passed a constitutional amendment recognizing abortion access within the Arizona state constitution.

2024: Compensation equivalent to $545,134,615.38 paid to the Republic of Mexico.

In 2024, the equivalent of $545,134,615.38 compensation was paid to the Republic of Mexico after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed.

2024: Donald Trump won Maricopa County

In the 2024 General Election, former president Donald Trump won Maricopa County by 71,515 votes and won the state of Arizona by 187,382 votes.

2024: NCAA Final Four Scheduled for Arizona

State Farm Stadium is scheduled to host the Final Four of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament again in 2024.

2026: Lieutenant Governor elections

Beginning with the 2026 elections, the Lieutenant Governor position will be elected on a joint ticket with the governor.

2040: Six of Arizona counties projected to be uninhabitable

A December 2020 study released by ProPublica and Rhodium Group projected that six of Arizona's 15 counties would be uninhabitable due to climate change by the year 2040.

2060: Six of Arizona counties projected to be uninhabitable

A December 2020 study released by ProPublica and Rhodium Group projected that six of Arizona's 15 counties would be uninhabitable due to climate change by the year 2060.