The Desert Southwest in Tucson, Arizona

Nickname- The Grand Canyon State
Flower- Saguaro Blossom
Bird- Cactus Wren
Tree- Palo Verde
Motto- Ditat Deus - "God Enriches"

Year of Statehood- Feb. 14, 1912
General Population- 5,939,292

- Tucson's first inhabitants roamed the area hunting mammoth and bison between 12,500 and 6,000 B.C.

- Following them were the Cochise culture, who built pit houses and used stone tools, and the Hohokam, who began farming the valley floor in 300 A.D.

- In 1692, Spanish missionaries, looking for souls to convert and subjects for the King, arrived in the valley to find the Pima Indian village of S-tukson ("black base"). It comes from the word "schookson", meaning "spring at the foot of a black mountain".

- In 1775, Hugo O'Connor establishes the Tucson Presidio. This year marks the official birthdate of the City of Tucson.

- Looking for a southern rail route, the U.S. negotiated the Gadsden Purchase with Mexico in 1854 and Arizona became a U.S. territory.

- Between 1867 and 1877, Tucson holds the title of territorial capitol.

- Arizona becomes the 48th state in the Union in 1912.

Out Where the West Begins

Out where the handclasp's a little stronger,
Out where the smile dwells a little longer,
That's where the West begins;

Out where the sun is a little brighter,
Where the snows that fall are a trifle whiter,
Where the bonds of home are a wee bit tighter,
That's where the West begins.

Out where the skies are a trifle bluer,
Out where the friendship's a little truer,
That's where the West begins;

Out where a fresher breeze is blowing,
Where there's laughter in every streamlet flowing,
Where there's more of reaping and less of sowing,
That's where the West begins.

Out where the world is in the making,
Where fewer hearts with despair are aching,
That's where the West begins;

Where there's more of singing and less of sighing,
Where there's more of giving and less of buying,
And a man makes friends without half trying,
That's where the West begins.