Early Indigenous Civilizations
Long before Europeans set foot in the Southwest, Arizona was home to thriving Native American societies. The Hohokam, renowned for their engineering skills, built an extensive network of canals to irrigate farmland in the central valleys. To the north, the Ancestral Puebloans (often called the Anasazi) crafted intricate cliff dwellings and multi-storied pueblos. Other groups, such as the Mogollon and Sinagua, also left behind rich cultural legacies before their decline by the 1500s.
Spanish Exploration and Mexican Control
The arrival of Europeans began in the 16th century, when explorers like Francisco Vásquez de Coronado journeyed through the region in search of mythical riches. By the late 1600s, missionary Eusebio Francisco Kino established missions aimed at converting Native peoples and expanding Spanish influence. After Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821, Arizona became part of Mexican territory, though it remained lightly populated.Becoming Part of the United States
Most of Arizona was ceded to the United States after the Mexican-American War in 1848, with additional land secured through the Gadsden Purchase of 1853. The Arizona Territory was formally organized in 1863. Its early decades were marked by conflicts with the Apache and the lawless reputation of the “Wild West.” Over time, the region’s economy came to rely on the “five C’s”: copper, cattle, cotton, citrus, and climate. Finally, on February 14, 1912, Arizona achieved statehood as the 48th member of the Union.
