In recent years, manufacturing has become the most profitable and pivotal industry for the economy of the State of Arizona. If you’ve bought a roll of copper wire at some point over the past several years, there’s a really good chance that the raw materials it’s made of came from the Grand Canyon State. In fact, over 50% of the nation’s supply of copper is produced in Arizona.
Copper isn’t the only thing being manufactured in the Valentine State. Other manufactured products which have an essential place in the economy of the state include aerospace and aeronautical parts and products, communications devices, and electrical wiring. Arizona is a prime contributor to many different industries which need these devices, and the manufacturing of these materials has boosted the job market in the state.
Agricultural goods are another important part of the Arizona economy. Because of Arizona’s large size and giant swaths of farmland in certain areas, cattle ranching means big bucks for the Grand Canyon state. Both beef and dairy products are produced in large quantities in the state, cashing in profits both within the state and as exports to other states and countries. Arizona also has a very strong cotton industry and contributes a good amount to the national cotton supply.
One of the most naturally breathtaking and beautiful states in the Union, Arizona banks on its splendor for major tourism dollars. One huge tourist attraction which comes to the state every year is Major League Baseball’s version of a preseason, Spring Training. Half of Major League Baseball’s 30 teams descend on the State of Arizona from late February to the end of March, bringing droves of fans from all over the country to watch games and also experience everything else Arizona has to offer.
And good gracious, does Arizona have plenty to offer to tourists. The most famous tourist attraction in the Grand Canyon State is in the name. The Grand Canyon is a wonder among wonders, a geographical phenomenon which attracts thousands upon thousands of tourists each year. Until you experience it for yourself, see its size and all of the beauty surround it, you really haven’t experienced Arizona. It’s a must for anyone visiting the state, and it’s a definite must for anyone moving there.
Other tourist attractions worth circling on your Arizona to-do list include the Painted Desert, Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, the Petrified Forest, Fort Apache, and London Bridge at Lake Havasu City. London Bridge has been restored to its former glory and it’s a photo opportunity that is simply Instagram worthy.
While there is a light rail system which spans from Central Phoenix to outlying cities like Mesa and Tempe, along with a very consistent bus system in areas around the state, traveling by car or truck is still the easiest way to get around the Grand Canyon State. Many main thoroughfares and highways run through Arizona, serving as paths to many different amazing attractions within the state and to other states as well.
And while you’re on the road, you’re probably going to get hungry. Lucky for you, Arizona food culture takes the best flavors of the desert and turns them into some extraordinary dishes. Melding traditional Mexican cuisine, Tex-Mex fusion, and local food elements such as Saguaro and prickly pear cactus, eating in Arizona is an absolute joy. If you’ve never had a grilled cactus taco, find one right away.
That’s not the only food available in Arizona, however. This is especially true in the Phoenix Metropolitan area which has one of the most diverse populations in the United States. With that diversity comes an amalgam of all sorts of different cultures and food traditions. Some of the best Indian food in the United States is smack dab in the middle of Phoenix. And that’s the same for several other different regional cuisines.
You know what goes great with great food? Sports! We talked about Major League Baseball’s Spring Training earlier, but that’s far from the only source of sporting entertainment in the Grand Canyon State. Arizona is home to four professional sports teams in the four major American sports – the Arizona Coyotes (National Hockey League), Arizona Cardinals (National Football League), Phoenix Suns (National Basketball Association), and Arizona Diamondbacks (Major League Baseball).
This doesn’t even count the other semi-professional teams in the state, professional teams for other sports, and the significant collegiate sports imprint created by some of Arizona’s most beloved universities. In addition, the state-of-the-art State Farm Stadium in Glendale is regularly used for major sporting events such as college football’s National Championship Game. Throw in all the outdoor recreational opportunities you can think of (biking, hiking, hunting, etc.), and Arizona is a sports lover’s paradise.
And if you’re looking to pursue higher education in the Grand Canyon State, you have tons of options at your disposal. Arizona has a large amount of two-year trade schools, private colleges, community colleges, and for-profit institutions. It also has three major public universities for you to choose from – the University of Arizona in Tucson, Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, and Arizona State University in Tempe. All three of these schools also have satellite campus in cities like Sierra Vista, Flagstaff, and Lake Havasu.
Now that we’ve given you an inside look at what makes Arizona tick, it’s time to beef up your trivia knowledge about the Grand Canyon State. Let’s start with a look at some of the official living and inanimate symbols of Arizona:
That’s not the only trivia we have to offer for the sprawling desert oasis that is Arizona. Here’s a sampling of some really cool and unusual facts about the Grand Canyon State:
Did you know that only just over one-sixth of the land in Arizona is privately owned? The rest is covered by public lands, Native American reservations, state-owned parks and recreational areas, and forests.
Shipping your van, car, or truck to Arizona will open up the many different wonders of the state for you and your family to experience. Need Arizona car transport, California residents? Looking to see what the Grand Canyon State has to offer, Florida folks? Your vehicle is the easiest and most effective way of seeing everything there is to see in Arizona. And boy, is there a lot to see!
