List of Arizona state symbols

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

The following is a list of symbols of the U.S. state of Arizona. The majority of the items in the list are officially recognized after a law passed by the state legislature. Most of the symbols were adopted in the 20th century. The first symbol was the motto, which was made official in 1864 for the Arizona Territory. The newest adopted symbol of Arizona is the Colt Single Action Army in 2011.[1] Arizona became the second state to adopt a "state firearm" after Utah adopted the Browning M1911.[2] Fifteen of the state symbols are on display on the Arizona Capitol Museum.[A][3]

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 and of the flag of Spain) on the top half, representing the original 13 oripeaks colonies

of Arizona, 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.

 1917[4]
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[5]

Mottos, slogan, and nickname

Type Symbol Year Image
Motto Latin: Ditat Deus
(God enriches)		 1864[6]
Nicknames[B] The Grand Canyon State[7]
The Copper State[8]
Apache State[8]		 Traditional

Flora

Type Symbol Year Image
Flower Saguaro cactus blossom
(Carnegiea gigantea)		 1931[9]
Tree Blue Palo Verde
(Parkinsonia florida)		 1954[10]

Fauna

Type Symbol Year Image
Amphibian Arizona tree frog
(Hyla eximia)[C]		 1986[11]
Bird Cactus wren
(Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)		 1973[12]
Butterfly Two-tailed swallowtail
(Papilio multicaudata)		 2001[13]
Fish Apache trout
(Oncorhynchus gilae apache)[D]		 1986[10]
Mammal Ring-tailed cat
(Bassariscus astutus)[E]		 1986[14]
Reptile Arizona ridge-nosed rattlesnake
(Crotalus willardi willardi)[F]		 1986[15]

Geology

Type Symbol Year Image
Fossil Araucarioxylon arizonicum 1988[16]
Gem Turquoise 1974[17]
Mineral Fire agate Unofficial[18]
Soil Casa Grande N/A[19]

Culture

Type Symbol Year Image
Colors Federal Blue and old gold 1915[20]
Firearm Colt Single Action Army 2011[1]
Neckwear Bolo tie 1973[21]
Songs "Arizona March Song"
"Arizona"		 1919[22]
1982[23]

Other

See also

Notes

A These 15 symbols were passed into law by the state legislature: the state seal, state colors, state flag, state songs, state bird, state flower, state tree, state neckwear, state gemstone, state fish, state mammal, state reptile, state fossil, and the state butterfly. The state mineral is unofficial.
B Other nicknames include: the Aztec State, the Baby State, the Valentine State, Italy of America, the Sand Hill State, and the Sunset State.
C 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.
D 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.
E 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.
F 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. 1 2 "Arizona governor makes Coltcom/article/2011/04/29/us-arizona-colt-idUSTRE73S05920110429". Reuters. 28 April 2011.
  2. ↑ "Arizona governor makes Colt revolver official state gun". Reuters. April 28, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2011.
  3. ↑ "ARIZONA'S STATE SYMBOLS". Retrieved 2008-06-12.
  4. ↑ "Arizona State Flag Story". Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
  5. ↑ "History of the Great Seal of the State of Arizona". Arizona Secretary of State. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
  6. ↑ "Arizona Symbols, State Motto". SHG Resources. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
  7. ↑ "Arizona State Nickname:". State Symbols USA. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
  8. 1 2 "THE NICKNAME:". NETSTATE.COM. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
  9. ↑ "Arizona State Flower". 50 States. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
  10. 1 2 "Arizona's State Symbols". Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
  11. ↑ "Official State Amphibian". NETSTATE.COM. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
  12. ↑ "State Bird of Arizona". 50 states. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
  13. ↑ "Arizona State Butterfly". State Symbols USA. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
  14. ↑ "So keep your big ol' Grizzly Bear". Gateway to Sedona. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
  15. ↑ "Arizona State Reptile". State Symbols USA. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
  16. ↑ "Arizona State Fossil:". State Symbols USA. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
  17. ↑ "Arizona State Gemstone". State Symbols USA. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
  18. ↑ "Arizona Symbols, Mineral: Fire Agate". SHG Resources. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
  19. ↑ "Casa Grande -- Arizona State Soil" (PDF). U.S. Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
  20. ↑ "STATE COLORS". NETSTATE.COM. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
  21. ↑ "Arizona State Neckwear". State Symbols USA. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
  22. ↑ "Arizona State Anthem". NETSTATE.COM. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
  23. ↑ Kirkeby, Nora (2006). "AZ State Symbols". Class Brain. Retrieved 2008-05-27.

External links

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