Location of the state of Arizona in the United States of America

The state of Arizona has numerous symbols, many of which are officially recognized after a law passed by the state legislature, and were adopted in the 20th century. The first symbol was the motto, which was made official in 1864 for the Arizona Territory. Arizona became the second state to adopt a "state firearm" after Utah adopted the Browning M1911.[1]

Insignia

Further information: List of U.S. state, district, and territorial insignia
Type Symbol Description Year Image
Flag The flag of Arizona The flag of Arizona does not contain a state seal but consists of 13 rays of red and gold (the conquistador colors of the flag of Spain) on the top half, representing the original 13 American colonies, as well as symbolizing Arizona's picturesque sunsets. There is a copper colored star in the center representing Arizona's copper-mining industry. The rest of the flag is colored blue, representing liberty.[2] 1917 Arizona flag
Seal The seal of Arizona The Great Seal of the State of Arizona is ringed by the words "Great Seal of the State of Arizona" on the top, and 1912 the year of Arizona's statehood, on the bottom. The motto Ditat Deus (Latin: "God Enriches"), lies in the center of the seal. In the background is a range of mountains with the sun rising behind the peaks 1911[3] Arizona State Seal

Mottoes and nickname

Type Symbol Year Image
Motto Latin: Ditat Deus
(God enriches) 		1864[4] Arizona State Seal
Nickname The Grand Canyon State[5][a] Traditional

Plant

Type Symbol Year Image
Flower Saguaro cactus blossom
(Carnegiea gigantea) 		1931[6] Saguaro blossom
Tree Palo verde
(Parkinsonia florida) 		1954[7] Blue palo verde

Animal

Type Symbol Year Image
Amphibian Arizona tree frog
(Hyla eximia)[b] 		1986[8] Arizona tree frog
Bird Cactus wren
(Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) 		1973[9] Cactus wren
Butterfly Two-tailed swallowtail
(Papilio multicaudata) 		2001[10] Two-tailed swallowtail
Dinosaur Sonorasaurus
(Sonorasaurus thompsoni) 		2018[11][12] Sonorasaurus
Fish Apache trout
(Oncorhynchus gilae apache)[c] 		1986[7][8] Apache Trout
Mammal Ring-tailed cat
(Bassariscus astutus)[d] 		1986[13][8] Ring-tailed cat
Reptile Arizona ridge-nosed rattlesnake
(Crotalus willardi willardi)[e] 		1986[8] Arizona ridge-nosed rattlesnake

Geology

Type Symbol Year Image
Fossil Petrified wood 1988[14] Petrified Araucarioxylon arizonicum
Gemstone Turquoise 1974[15][16] Turquoise
Metal Copper 2015[17][18] Copper
Mineral Wulfenite 2017[19][20] Wulfenite
Soil Casa Grande N/A[21]

Culture

Type Symbol Year Image
Colors Blue and old gold[22] 1915[23]
Firearm Colt Single Action Army 2011[1] Colt Single Action Army
Neckwear Bolo tie 1973[24] Bolo tie
Songs "Arizona March Song"
"Arizona" 		1919[25]
1982[26]
Drink Lemonade 2019[27][28] Lemonade

Other

Type Symbol Year Image
Planet Pluto 2024[29] Pluto

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Unofficial nicknames include: the Apache State, the Aztec State, the Baby State, the Copper State, the Valentine State, Italy of America, the Sand Hill State, and the Sunset State.[citation needed]
  2. ^ The Arizona treefrog was chosen by students around Arizona. The students studied 800 species in an effort to select four finalists for every category. Three other amphibians were considered: the Colorado River toad, red-spotted toad, and the spadefoot toad.
  3. ^ The Apache trout was chosen by students around Arizona. The students studied 800 species in an effort to select four finalists for every category. Three other fish were considered: the Colorado River squawfish, the desert pupfish, and the bonytail chub.
  4. ^ The ring-tailed cat was chosen by students around Arizona. The students studied 800 species in an effort to select four finalists for every category. Three other mammals were considered: the whitetail deer, the desert bighorn sheep, and the javelina.
  5. ^ The Arizona ridge-nosed rattlesnake was chosen by students around Arizona. The students studied 800 species in an effort to select four finalists for every category. Three other reptiles were considered: the Gila monster, the desert tortoise, and the regal horned lizard.

References

  1. ^ a b "Arizona governor makes Colt revolver official state gun". Reuters. April 28, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2011.
  2. ^ "State of Arizona Flag". Arizona Almanac. Arizona State library. Archived from the original on 2016-09-21. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  3. ^ "History of the Great Seal of the State of Arizona". Arizona Secretary of State. Archived from the original on 2009-02-11. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
  4. ^ "Arizona Symbols, State Motto". SHG Resources. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
  5. ^ "41-860.01. State nickname", Arizona Revised Statutes, retrieved 2019-05-24
  6. ^ "Arizona State Flower". 50 States. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
  7. ^ a b "Arizona's State Symbols". Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records. Retrieved 2017-01-17.
  8. ^ a b c d "41-859. State Animals", Arizona Revised Statutes, retrieved 2019-05-24
  9. ^ "State Bird of Arizona". 50 states. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
  10. ^ "Arizona State Butterfly". State Symbols USA. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
  11. ^ "41-860.05. State dinosaur", Arizona Revised Statutes, retrieved 2019-05-25
  12. ^ "Sonorasaurus officially named Arizona's state dinosaur", KTAR.com, April 11, 2008, retrieved 2019-05-25
  13. ^ "So keep your big ol' Grizzly Bear". Gateway to Sedona. Archived from the original on 2007-12-18. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
  14. ^ "Arizona State Fossil". State Symbols USA. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
  15. ^ "41-858. State gemstone", Arizona Revised Statutes, retrieved 2019-05-25
  16. ^ Arizona Facts, Office of the Governor, retrieved 2019-12-19
  17. ^ "41-860.03. State metal", Arizona Revised Statutes, retrieved 2019-05-25
  18. ^ State metal, Arizona State Library, Archives, & Public Records, retrieved 2019-05-25
  19. ^ "41-860.04. State mineral", Arizona Revised Statutes, retrieved 2019-05-25
  20. ^ Ascarza, William (February 11, 2019), "Wulfenite, Arizona's state mineral, is theme for current Tucson gem show", Arizona Daily Star, retrieved 2019-05-25
  21. ^ "Casa Grande -- Arizona State Soil" (PDF). U.S. Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2008-05-27.[permanent dead link]
  22. ^ "Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 41, Section 851". Arizona State Legislature. Archived from the original on May 31, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  23. ^ "Session laws, State of Arizona, 1915, Second Legislature, Regular Session, First and Second Special Sessions". Arizona Memory Project. Archived from the original on May 31, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  24. ^ "Arizona State Neckwear". State Symbols USA. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
  25. ^ "Arizona State Anthem". NETSTATE.COM. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
  26. ^ Kirkeby, Nora (2006). "AZ State Symbols". Class Brain. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
  27. ^ "It's official: Lemonade is Arizona's state drink", ktar.com, May 13, 2019, retrieved May 14, 2019
  28. ^ "41-860.06. State drink", Arizona Revised Statutes, Arizona State Legislature, retrieved 2020-01-29
  29. ^ Fischer, Howard (March 29, 2024). "Pluto is now Arizona's 'official planet' - whether a 'dwarf' or not". tucson.com. Retrieved 4 April 2024.

External links

State of Arizona
U.S. state symbols by state
Categories