Arizona is considered one of the Four Corners states as it borders Nevada, California, New Mexico, and Utah. It is most famously known for the Grand Canyon, one of the wonders of the world and is considered "The Grand Canyon State" due to the location of the attraction. Indian reservations are heavily prevalent within the state, as one quarter of the territory is Federal Trust Land.The state's three main religious denomination groups include Catholics, Evangelical Protestant, and Mainline Protestants. The 2006 Gross Domestic product was $232 billion with the 61st largest economy within the world market. Arizona's deficit reached $1.7 billion in 2009 and the per capita income is $40,828 with a median income rate at $50,958. Arizona's state government and Wal-Mart are the two largest employment providers with a statewide unemployment rate of 9.6%. Political preferences almost always lean Republican or Conservative within the state, so taxation is constantly a hot topic.
Climate within the state is varied drastically between very cold and extremely hot. In the lowest elevation points within the state, there is occasion frost and freezing water. The lowest temperature recorded in the state was at Hawley Lake in 1971 of -40 degrees. Arizona is best known though for the vast desert, dry heat, and hot summers. November to February generally is the coldest time in the state. March is considered the most comfortable climate in the year within Arizona. June through September usually boasts the hottest temperature throughout the year, with a record breaking temperature of 128 degrees recorded at Lake Havasu City in late June of 1994 and in early July of 2007.According to the 2010 national census, the state has a current population of just over 6 million residents. As 7.9% of the population is considered illegal immigrants; there is national attention regarding new laws and regulations concerning different ethnic groups and potential racial profiling. Unfortunately, the staggering population statistics do not help the argument that Arizona is culturally diverse as there is currently a white population of over 71%, with 23% Hispanic and only 3% black, 2% American Indian, and 1% Asian.
Written by Lyndsey Morgan
