b'L ocaal ArLoc l AreaeaGrand Canyon National Park,NPS (Photo by W. Tyson Joye)HISTORY The economy was boosted by completion of the Santa Fe Arizonas first inhabitants were Native Americans who manyand the Southern Pacific railroads in the late 1800s. A Wild anthropologists believe migrated to the area 12,000 years agoWest period descended on Arizona when outlaw gangs and across the land bridge that once connected Alaska to Russia.renegade Natives roamed the territory. Public shootouts in When they were the only inhabitants of the area, they lived inplaces like Tombstone were common; the Gunfight at the O.K. elaborate adobe dwellings, often as tall as a 10-story building.Corral between the Earps and Clantons typifies the violenceMany tribes, including the Apache, Hopi, Navajo, Tohonoof the period. Oodham, Pima and several other small groups resided nearThe Arizona Rangers eventually restored order around the what is now Phoenix. turn of the century. Since becoming the 48th state in 1912, Spaniards sent from Mexico in the early 1500s exploredArizona has maintained its proud heritage while attracting and claimed Arizona. When Mexico declared independencethousands of new residents each year. In 1940, the population from Spain in 1821, Arizona flew the flag of Mexico until thewas less than 500,000. Its now more than 7 million.A pleasant climate, sweeping natural beauty and a strong United States acquired most of the land now known as Neweconomic base make Arizona an attractive place to live and work.Mexico and Arizona in the $10 million Gadsden Purchase.Arizona rapidly expanded after 1853 as ranchers and minersGEOGRAPHYfought the Native Americans who were challenged by westernArizona is strikingly beautiful. Deserts predominate in the expansion. Disputes between settlers and Natives worsenedsouth and breathtaking mountain ranges rise from the desert year by year, and by the 1880s, 20 percent of the U.S. Armyfloor in the center of the state. Northern Arizona has its own was stationed in Arizona. mountains, high deserts and scenic canyons.After Geronimo surrendered in 1886, the Apache WarsFrom the top of 12,633-foot Mount Humphreys near Flagstaff ended. Today, Arizona is home to 22 Native American tribesto the Colorado River in Yuma County, Arizona has much to and many reservations. offer virtually everyone. Popular sites include the Grand Canyon, 58 LUKE AIR FORCE BASE THE EPICENTER OF AIRPOWER'