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With over 6,166,318 people, Arizona ranks 16th in population among the United States. The largest
cities in the Grand Canyon State are Phoenix,
with over 1.4 million, Tucson, with
over 515,000, and Mesa, with over
440,000; as well as Glendale, Chandler, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Tempe, Peoria, and Yuma.
Arizona’s economy matches its landscape as one of diversity. The Grand Canyon State boasts a broad
spectrum of important resources and commodities. Perhaps most famously, Arizona is known for its
remarkable mineral wealth. Arizona leads the nation in copper production, giving it another nickname,
the "Copper State"; even the state flag has a copper star in its center. The state is also the
national leader in molybdenum production, and is a top producer of gemstones, sand and gravel, silver,
perlite, zeolites, pumice, iron oxide, and bentonite.
Agricultural products hailing from Arizona include cattle, cotton, seeds, vegetables (particularly
lettuce), nursery stock, hay, and wheat.
Other important industries in the Grand Canyon State include the manufacture of electric equipment,
transportation equipment, printing and publishing, and increasingly, tourism. Arizona is also poised
to become a center for the biotechnology and life science industry, ensuring a continuation of
economic diversity.
With regards to Arizona’s cost of living, in 2005 the Grand Canyon State had a median household
income of $44,282 and a per capita personal income (PCPI) of $30,019. The average annual growth rate
of PCPI between 1995 and 2005 was 4.2 percent, compared to the average annual rate of 4.1 percent for
the nation. Arizona boasts a home ownership rate of 71.1 percent. The unemployment rate is 4.6
percent. Arizona levies a sales tax of 5.6 percent, with food and prescription drugs exempt; the
upper bracket of personal income tax is at 4.79 percent.
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