Arizona, the 48th and final contiguous state admitted to the Union, was America’s Valentine’s Day gift to itself on February 14, 1912. The state plays host to Major League Baseball’s spring training and its Cactus League is the only league outside of Florida’s Grapefruit League to do so. Major league teams competing in the Cactus League include the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, and the hometown Arizona Diamondbacks, winners of an impressive three division titles and one World Series in their first five seasons of existence.
America’s second-fastest growing state, the Grand Canyon State became much more hospitable in summer following the development of affordable home air conditioning units. Fully 17,343 of its 6,500,180 residents are employed by Wal-Mart, though the state government is Arizona’s largest employer. Collectively known as the “Five Cs”, cotton, cattle, citrus, and climate power the Arizona economy. Climate makes the list due to its power to draw tourists. If it were an independent country, Arizona would have the 61st largest economy in the world.
Roads
Interstate 8: On its trek from San Diego to Casa Grande, Arizona, I-8 passes through the Arizona towns of Sentinel, Yuma and Wellton.
Interstate 10: Also known as the Christopher Columbus Transcontinental Highway, I-10 is the main east-west link for America’s south. Spanning the distance from Santa Monica, California to Jacksonville, Florida, 1-10 passes through Phoenix and Tucson in Arizona.
Interstate 17: Contained completely within the state of Arizona, I-17 was the first freeway segment built in the Phoenix area. Its146 miles include its beginning at I-10 in Phoenix and its ending at I-40 in Flagstaff.
Interstate 18: Like I-17 above, I-19 is contained completely within Arizona. It runs from Nogales at the Mexican border to Tucson.
Interstate 40: From California to North Carolina, I-40 spans the east-west girth of America. In Arizona it passes through Kingman, Flagstaff, Holbrook and Lupton.