List of Arizona state symbols

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Location of the State of Arizona in the United States of America
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 Two-tailed Swallowtail, assigned in 2001. Arizona is the only state with official neckware.[1] Fifteen of the state symbols are on display on the Arizona Capitol Museum.[A][2]

Contents

[edit] 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 13 counties 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[3] Arizona flag
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[4] Arizona State Seal


[edit] Mottos, slogan, and nickname

Type Symbol Year Image
Motto Latin:Ditat Deus
(God enriches)		 1864[5] Maryland State Seal
Nicknames[B] The Grand Canyon State[6]

The Copper State[7]
Apache State

 Traditional Arizone license plate with nickname

[edit] Flora

Type Symbol Year Image
Flower Saguaro blossom
(Carnegiea gigantea)		 1931[8] Saguaro blossom
Tree Blue Palo Verde
(Parkinsonia florida)		 1954[9] Blue Palo Verde

[edit] Fauna

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

[edit] Geology

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

[edit] Culture

Type Symbol Year Image
Colors Blue and old gold 1915[20]
Neckwear Bolo tie 1973[21] Bolo tie
Songs Arizona March Song
Arizona		 1919[22]
1982[23]

[edit] Other

Route markers of Arizona State quarter for Arizona USS Arizona (BB-39)

[edit] See also

Arizona Portal

[edit] 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.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Arizona State Official Neckware. Hualapai West, Inc. Retrieved on 2008-06-12.
  2. ^ ARIZONA'S STATE SYMBOLS. Talking Book News. Retrieved on 2008-06-12.
  3. ^ Arizona State Flag Story. Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records. Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  4. ^ History of the Great Seal of the State of Arizona. Arizona Secretary of State. Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  5. ^ Arizona Symbols, State Motto. SHG Resources. Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  6. ^ Arizona State Nickname:. State Symbols USA. Retrieved on 2008-06-13.
  7. ^ THE NICKNAME:. NETSTATE.COM. Retrieved on 2008-06-13.
  8. ^ Arizona State Flower. 50 States. Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  9. ^ Arizona's State Symbols. Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records. Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  10. ^ Official State Amphibian. NETSTATE.COM. Retrieved on 2008-05-27.
  11. ^ State Bird of Arizona. 50 states. Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  12. ^ Arizona State Butterfly. State Symbols USA. Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  13. ^ Arizona's State Symbols. Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records. Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  14. ^ So keep your big ol' Grizzly Bear. Gateway to Sedona. Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  15. ^ Arizona State Reptile. State Symbols USA. Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  16. ^ Arizona State Fossil:. State Symbols USA. Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  17. ^ Arizona State Gemstone. State Symbols USA. Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  18. ^ Arizona Symbols, Mineral: Fire Agate. SHG Resources. Retrieved on 2008-05-27.
  19. ^ Casa Grande -- Arizona State Soil. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Retrieved on 2008-05-27.
  20. ^ STATE COLORS. NETSTATE.COM. Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  21. ^ Arizona State Neckwear. State Symbols USA. Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  22. ^ Arizona State Anthem. NETSTATE.COM. Retrieved on 2008-06-13.
  23. ^ Kirkeby, Nora (2006). AZ State Symbols. Class Brain. Retrieved on 2008-05-27.

[edit] External links


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