27-01-2025
Yes, Arizona is the Grand Canyon State. But do you know these other state nicknames?
Everyone knows Arizona is nicknamed the Grand Canyon State.
But did you know it's also been called the Baby State or the Sweetheart State at various points in history?
Arizona didn't have an official state nickname on the books until the 2000s when lawmakers pushed a bill cementing the Grand Canyon State nickname which was already being used on license plate and trinkets for tourists.
However, there are a handful of other nicknames associated with the state that highlight its other stunning features, unique historical points of pride, geographic details and more.
Here's everything to know about Arizona's official state nickname and other names that are commonly used.
The official nickname for Arizona is the Grand Canyon State.
The Grand Canyon is considered one of the natural wonders of the world.
People have long trekked from faraway places to see its majestic sunsets, hike into its core, learn its history and generally revel in the awe of its grandeur. In fact, the Grand Canyon National Park saw more than 4.7 million visitors in 2023.
At the Grand Canyon, visitors can see and touch millions of years of history as they descend into the canyon, which was carved by the Colorado River starting 6 million years ago.
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The Grand Canyon was also home to some of the earliest Arizonans, though the state was thousands of years from being named that. The oldest human artifacts found in or near the canyon are more than 12,000 years old, according to the National Park Service.
On Feb. 26, 1919, the Grand Canyon National Park officially joined the young park program as the 14th park. Years prior as tourism to the canyon began, President Theodore Roosevelt visited and was stirred by the sight.
'Man cannot improve on it; not a bit,' he said in a planned speech. 'The ages have been at work on it and man can only mar it. What you can do is to keep it for your children and your children's children and for all who come after you, as one of the great sights which every American, if he can travel at all, should see.'
While the Grand Canyon State may be Arizona's official nickname, there are other unofficial nicknames commonly used. These include:
Valentine's State: Arizona became a state on Valentine's Day in 1912, cementing this special nickname.
Sweetheart State: This one is also tied to Arizona's statehood day on Feb. 14.
Baby State: Arizona was called the Baby State for years after it was made a state because it was the youngest state in the country. Alaska was admitted to the U.S. 47 years later in 1959 making the name less accurate.
Sunset State: While Oregon has also been called the Sunset State, Arizona is known for its stunning sunsets. Historian Marshall Trimble told the Arizona Daily Star in 2009 that the state has been called the Sunset State among other nicknames
Copper State: Arizona has long been known for its abundance of copper, which was heavily mined in the 1800s but was used long before by Arizona's Indigenous people. In fact, copper is one of the 5 C's, which are Arizona's selling points that all students learn in elementary school. The others are cotton, citrus, climate and cattle.
Sand Hill State: This moniker was used on a Starbucks mug representing Arizona a few years back. It could refer to the common sandhill cranes that migrate through the state each year or the sandy hills in the desert. Trimble said this reference may come from Yuma County in his interview with the Daily Star.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What is Arizona's state nickname? What to know
