Although Arizona's nickname is the Grand Canyon State, we're probably best known for the sunny desert climate that gives the Phoenix area an average annual low of 59.3 and an average annual high of 85.9. As our nickname indicates, we are home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, as well as: A vibrant metropolitan culture in Phoenix, the fifth largest city in the country, and its surrounding areas Three world-renowned state universities and more than a dozen other high-quality advanced degree institutions Cactus League Baseball (15 of the 30 MLB teams train here each spring) Tons of festivals, art, and culture, from Southwestern art to the Heard Museum to the Chinese Cultural Center A plethora of restaurants that feature cuisines from around the world 200+ golf courses that were designed by the game's legends, people like Robert Trent Jones, Jack Nicklaus, and Arnold Palmer A strong economic sector, focused around aerospace, electronics, and semiconductor manufacturing; printing and publishing; food processing; transportation and tourism; high-tech research and development; business services; back-office operations; agriculture and mining; building, construction and real estate;  and government     Arizona typifies the Southwest, its history is rich in the legends of the Old West. The great Indian chiefs Geronimo and Cochise lead their peoples against the frontiersmen here, and Tombstone remains the site of the West's most famous shootout – the gunfight at the OK Corral. Today, Arizona has one of the largest Native American populations, with more than 14 tribes represented, blended with a powerful Spanish heritage and influence. SpanishConquistadors established settlements near the current city of Tucson as far back as 1539, but it's our history as a cattle-producing state that makes Arizona conjure images of that famous American icon, the cowboy. The climate across Arizona varies considerably, from the stark beauty of the warm, dry Sonoran desert to the high, cool mountains in the northern part of state. The elevation shifts dramatically, from 70 feet along the Colorado River south of Yuma, to 12,633 feet at the San Francisco Peaks, north of Flagstaff. In Arizona you can literally water ski one day and snow ski the next. Arizona is bordered to the north by Utah, to the east by New Mexico, and to the south Mexico, and, across the Colorado River, Nevada and California. Statistics and Specifics Area: 113,909 square miles (295,024 square kilometers) Population: (2006) 6,166,318 Capital and Largest City: Phoenix Nicknames: Grand Canyon State, Copper State Motto: Ditat Deus [God Enriches] State Bird: Cactus wren State Flower: Saguaro cactus blossom State Tree: Palo verde Principle Crops: Cotton, lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, and sorghum. Major Farm Products: Cattle and dairy goods Minerals and Natural Resources: Copper, molybdenum, sand, gravel, and cement Military Facilities: Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Luke Air Force Base, Fort Huachuca Army base, and Yuma Proving Ground Between 1940 and 1960, Arizona's population increased more than 100%, and growth has only continued since then. By the 2000 Census, the cumulative increase since 1940 amounted to more than 1000 percent, and Arizona was ranked among the fastest growing states in the nation. The mountainous north, however, while continuing to grow, has not shared the level of population growth of the southern sections of the state.