Happy Birthday AZ
Every February 14th, while the rest of the country celebrates Valentine’s Day, Arizona has an extra reason to party. On February 14, 1912, Arizona became the 48th state to join the United States, making it one of the youngest states in the nation. This year marks 113 years of statehood, and there’s plenty to celebrate about the Grand Canyon State. Arizona is massive, stretching across 113,990 square miles of diverse terrain. From the soaring peaks of the San Francisco Mountains in Flagstaff to the low deserts of Yuma, the state’s geography includes everything from pine forests to cacti-studded valleys. The Colorado River carved out the Grand Canyon over millions of years, creating one of the world’s most spectacular natural wonders right in Arizona’s backyard. The state chose symbols that reflect its unique character. The saguaro cactus blossom serves as the
official state flower, blooming white and waxy on those iconic giant cacti that can live over 200 years. The cactus wren, a small brown bird that builds nests in cholla and saguaro cacti, became the state bird. Arizona’s state tree is the palo verde, which bursts into brilliant yellow blooms each spring and stays green year-round thanks to chlorophyll in its bark. Kids learning about Arizona discover fascinating geography facts. The state contains parts of four major deserts: the Sonoran, Mojave, Chihuahuan, and Great Basin. Despite its desert reputation, Arizona also has the largest ponderosa pine forest in the United States. The state experiences extreme elevation changes, from just 70 feet above sea level along the Colorado River to 12,633 feet at Humphreys Peak. Arizona’s nickname, the Grand Canyon State, honors its most famous landmark, but the state flag tells its own story. The copper star represents Arizona’s mining heritage, while the red and yellow rays symbolize the state’s spectacular sunsets and Spanish colonial history. As Arizona celebrates another birthday this February, families across the state can take pride in calling this geographically diverse, naturally beautiful, and historically rich place home.
Happy birthday, Arizona!
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20 Estrella Publishing - Up The Hill magazine
February 2026
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