When Did Arizona Become a State?

Arizona was the last state in the continental U.S. to be admitted to the Union. The history of the state of Arizona goes back to the middle of the 1500s. It has changed hands at least three times in that period. The original inhabitants of the area were the Indians. The early explorers met strong opposition from the Apache tribes of the area and decided that the region was not hospitable for settlers. The final acquisition of Arizona as a state in the Union in 1912 was to fulfill the idea of Manifest Destiny. It connected the Union from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean in an unbroken expanse.

In 1863, the Arizona territory was officially declared a territory of the United States of America; however, due to violence in the region, Arizona did not become a state until 1912.

Following the inception of Arizona as a territory, the region experienced some of the worst violence and troubles that had ever occurred. The gunfight at the OK Corral in Tombstone was one the most famous events. The region was also plagued with fights between the Apaches and the settlers as well as range wars between the cattle owners and sheep farmers.

Violence in Arizona

The area was also faced with the violence of the Apache Indians fighting back against the settlers for taking their land. The attacks finally started the Apache Wars in the region in and around Arizona. Cochise and Geronimo were two of the chiefs responsible for much of the bloodshed and attacks.

The Apache had once controlled the entire region from southern California through western Texas and from north Arizona down into Mexico. Their attacks began due to settlers taking their land. During the Mexican-American War, the Apache fought on the side of the Mexicans against the U.S.

The majority of the conflicts prior to 1875 were due to land disputes and stolen property. After 1875 however, the reasons for battles were primarily to keep the Apache confined in their reservations. Many battles were against Apache Indians that had left the reservation. There were small bands of renegades that still existed up through the 1900s.The official end of the Apache War came with the surrender of Geronimo in 1886.

Arizona Becomes a State

Arizona achieved statehood on February 14, 1912. Since that time, it has become the fastest growing state in the Union. The population growth surpassed the previous leader of Nevada in 2006.

Arizona is the home to two of the most significant geographical sites in the world. The Grand Canyon is along the Northern border, and the Barringer Meteorite Crater is in the northeastern corner of the state. This is the largest and best preserved meteorite impact in the world.

History of Arizona

During the later part of the 1500s, Spanish explorers came into the region searching for the fabled seven cities of gold. The first to arrive was a Friar named de Niza. His search for gold was unsuccessful. In the following years, a conquistador named Coronado came searching for those cities and also had no luck. The land was claimed as a Spanish colony around 1600.

Building the City

The first fortified city in Arizona was built in 1752. Its name was Tubuc. Following the cities construction, a Presidio was erected in Tucson in 1775. Over the next 50 years or so, things were relatively calm, but in 1821 Mexico declared its independence from Spain and laid claim to Arizona. By the late 1820’s the Spanish had deserted most of their outposts and the American settlers started to pour in.

Wars and Arizona

The Mexican-American War was fought during the 1840s and ended in Mexico deeding the area of Arizona north of the Gila River to the United States. Mexico retained the region south of the Gila River.

During outbreak of the Civil War, the territory of Arizona supported the south and declared itself as part of the Confederacy. During the war, Federal troops reasserted rule over the territory and brought it back into the union. The southern part of Arizona, below the Gila River, was purchased from Mexico through the Gadsden Purchase in 1853. The region of Arizona had changed hands once more.