Arizona
The Grand Canyon State was the last of the 48 contiguous states to join the union, admitted in 1912. Arizona was carved from the western side of New Mexico during the Civil War in 1863, becoming a territory then and until statehood.
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Massachusetts ranks as the best state in the U.S. It has the No. 1 education system and ranks near the top for healthcare, economy and crime & corrections. (Keith Bedford/Boston Globe/Gett)
New Hampshire ranks second among the U.S. states. It ranks first for opportunity and has the least poverty, and nears the top for education and healthcare. (Jose Azel/Getty Images)
Minnesota ranks No. 3 among the U.S. states overall, with the third-best best health care and some of the best infrastructure and opportunity in the nation. (Getty Images)
North Dakota ranks fourth among the U.S. states, with the second best economy, the sixth best infrastructure and the seventh best government efficiency. (Brett Ziegler for USN&WR)
Washington ranks fifth among the U.S. states. It nears the top in multiple categories, including education, healthcare, government and infrastructure. (George Rose/Getty Images)
Iowa, which grows one-fifth of the nation's corn, ranks 6th overall and fifth for healthcare among U.S. states. It ranks highly for education and opportunity. (Jim Lo Scalzo for USN&WR)
Utah, the youngest state, ranks seventh in the U.S. It nears the top in many categories, including economy, infrastructure, government efficiency and education. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Maryland ranks as the eighth best state in the U.S. It also ranks near the top for education and opportunity, with the highest median household income. (Matt McClain/Washington Post/Getty Images)
Colorado ranks as the 9th best state in the U.S. It has the best economy in the U.S. and is experiencing the most growth, which includes GDP and population. (Brennan Linsley/AP)
Vermont ranks tenth among the U.S. states. It ranks as the safest state and places first for crime & corrections. It's also near the top for healthcare. (Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images)
Virginia ranks 11th among the U.S. states. It places second for government efficiency and nears the top for education, crime & corrections and public safety. (Jim Lo Scalzo for USN&WR)
Connecticut ranks as the 12th best state in the U.S. It is the 7th safest state and ranks near the top for education, with one of the most educated populations. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Nebraska ranks 13th among the U.S. states. It is one of the best states for infrastructure and education, with the second highest high school graduation rate. (Larry Mayer/Getty Images)
New Jersey ranks second among the states for education, with high test scores and high school graduation rates. It's also near the top for healthcare. (Mel Evans/AP)
South Dakota ranks 15th overall and eighth for infrastructure in the U.S. It has some of the lowest income inequality and ranks seventh for higher education. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
Wisconsin ranks 16th among the U.S. states overall and fifth for government efficiency and transparency. It ranks among the best states for crime & corrections. (Getty Images)
New York ranks 17th among the U.S. states overall and fifth for crime & corrections. It has one of the best prison systems and is the fourth healthiest state. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Maine ranks 18th among the U.S. states and ranks third for opportunity. It ranks second for crime & corrections and has the lowest incarceration rate. (Charlie Archambault for USN&WR)
Oregon has the best infrastructure in the U.S., ranking high in energy and transportation. It ranks 10th for equal opportunity with high employment equality. (Getty Images)
Delaware ranks among the top U.S. states for economy and opportunity. It is one of the fastest-growing states and has the highest employment equality, by race. (Getty Images)
Rhode Island ranks third in the U.S. for crime & corrections and 10th for healthcare, with some of the best healthcare access and the best medicare quality. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images)
Indiana ranks first for government efficiency among U.S. states. It is also one of the most affordable states and has some of the most equal opportunity. (Getty Images)
California, with the largest population, has the No. 3 economy in the U.S. and ranks first for business environment. It has one of the healthiest populations. (Getty Images)
Florida has the 7th best economy in the U.S. and is the second-fastest growing state. Its government ranks near the top, especially in terms of transparency. (Jim Lo Scalzo for USN&WR)
North Carolina ranks 25th among the U.S. States. It ranks fourth for government efficiency and has one of the highest college graduation rates in the nation. (Andrew Krech/News & Record/AP)
Wyoming ranks 26th among the U.S. states overall and ninth for opportunity. It has one of the lowest poverty levels and infant mortality rates in the nation. (Jeff R. Clow/Getty Images)
Hawaii ranks first for healthcare, with one of the healthiest populations, some of the best healthcare access and the lowest mortality rate in the U.S. (Getty Images)
Kansas ranks eighth among the U.S. states for affordability, with some of the lowest-cost housing. It also ranks among the best states for Medicare quality. (Getty Images)
Illinois ranks 10th for infrastructure and is among the top states for gender equality. It also has one of the best Internet speeds and lowest suicide rates. (Kiichiro Sato/AP)
Pennsylvania ranks among the best states for college readiness and as the 11th safest state in the nation. It also ranks 12th for housing affordability. (Avi Gupta for USN&WR)
Montana ranks 29th among the U.S. states and is among the top states for economic growth. It also has one of the lowest obesity and hospital readmission rates. (Ben Pierce/Bozeman Chronicle/AP)
Idaho ranks third in the U.S. for business environment and fourth for public safety. It ranks among the top states for its economy and crime & corrections. (Brett Ziegler for USN&WR)
Michigan ranks as the second most affordable state in the U.S., with one of the lowest costs of living. It also ties for the most transparent government. (Getty Images)
Arizona ranks 5th for the lowest graduate debt and is also one of the best states for equality, which includes gender equality and employment equality. (Miladen Antonov/AFP/Getty Images)
Ohio is the most affordable state, with the best housing affordability and one of the lowest costs of living. It also ties for the most transparent government. (Getty Images)
Georgia ranks 14th out of the U.S. states for its economy and 15th for government efficiency. It ranks highly for job growth, new businesses and GDP growth. (David Goldman/AP)
Missouri ranks 37th among the U.S. states. It's government ties for the best use of technology, and the state ranks 10th for its high school graduation rate. (Getty Images)
Texas ranks sixth for its economy among the U.S. states. It ranks third for economic growth, with the most GDP growth and some of the most job growth. (David J. Phillip/AP)
Tennessee ranks 39th overall among the U.S. states. It ranks as one of the best states for government efficiency, low cost of living and transportation. (Getty Images)
Nevada ranks 40th among the U.S. states. It also ranks as one of the best states for infrastructure, with the best transportation system in the nation. (Jim Lo Scalzo for USN&WR)
West Virginia is the 10th most affordable state in the U.S. and ranks third for equal opportunity, scoring especially high in education equality, by race. (Brett Ziegler for USN&WR)
Kentucky | Fields of canola bloom extend into the horizon in Oak Grove as a man looks under the hood of a 1949 Pontiac at his salvage yard. (David Goldman/AP)
Alaska ranks 43th among the U.S. states, but has the best healthcare quality, one of the lowest poverty rates and one of the shortest average commute times. (Getty Images)
Oklahoma ranks 44th among the U.S. states. It is one of the most affordable states and ranks 11th for commute time and 16th for government transparency. (Getty Images)
South Carolina ranks 45th among the U.S. states overall and 50th for education. It ranks the highest for its economy and has some of the most population growth. (Jim Lo Scalzo for USN&WR)
New Mexico ranks 46th among the U.S. states. It ranks among the best states for disability employment equality and for lowest tuition and graduate debt. (Jim Lo Scalzo for USN&WR)
Alabama ranks 47th overall and for education among the states, but offers the fourth lowest cost of living and some of the best safeguards against corruption. (Albert Cesare/Montgomery Advert/AP)
Arkansas ranks 48th among the states, 50th for healthcare and 45th for public safety. It also ranks 12th for affordability and 14th for lowest graduate debt. (Getty Images)
Mississippi ranks 49th among the U.S. states overall, 44th for government and 50th opportunity. It ranks as one of the best states for disability equality. (Tim Graham/Getty Images)
Louisiana ranks 50th among the U.S. states. It has one of the most transparent governments and it's also one of the states with the lowest graduate debt. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Massachusetts ranks as the best state in the U.S. It has the No. 1 education system and ranks near the top for healthcare, economy and crime & corrections. (Keith Bedford/Boston Globe/Gett)
New Hampshire ranks second among the U.S. states. It ranks first for opportunity and has the least poverty, and nears the top for education and healthcare. (Jose Azel/Getty Images)
Minnesota ranks No. 3 among the U.S. states overall, with the third-best best health care and some of the best infrastructure and opportunity in the nation. (Getty Images)
North Dakota ranks fourth among the U.S. states, with the second best economy, the sixth best infrastructure and the seventh best government efficiency. (Brett Ziegler for USN&WR)
Washington ranks fifth among the U.S. states. It nears the top in multiple categories, including education, healthcare, government and infrastructure. (George Rose/Getty Images)
Iowa, which grows one-fifth of the nation's corn, ranks 6th overall and fifth for healthcare among U.S. states. It ranks highly for education and opportunity. (Jim Lo Scalzo for USN&WR)
Utah, the youngest state, ranks seventh in the U.S. It nears the top in many categories, including economy, infrastructure, government efficiency and education. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Maryland ranks as the eighth best state in the U.S. It also ranks near the top for education and opportunity, with the highest median household income. (Matt McClain/Washington Post/Getty Images)
Colorado ranks as the 9th best state in the U.S. It has the best economy in the U.S. and is experiencing the most growth, which includes GDP and population. (Brennan Linsley/AP)
Vermont ranks tenth among the U.S. states. It ranks as the safest state and places first for crime & corrections. It's also near the top for healthcare. (Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images)
Virginia ranks 11th among the U.S. states. It places second for government efficiency and nears the top for education, crime & corrections and public safety. (Jim Lo Scalzo for USN&WR)
Connecticut ranks as the 12th best state in the U.S. It is the 7th safest state and ranks near the top for education, with one of the most educated populations. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Nebraska ranks 13th among the U.S. states. It is one of the best states for infrastructure and education, with the second highest high school graduation rate. (Larry Mayer/Getty Images)
New Jersey ranks second among the states for education, with high test scores and high school graduation rates. It's also near the top for healthcare. (Mel Evans/AP)
South Dakota ranks 15th overall and eighth for infrastructure in the U.S. It has some of the lowest income inequality and ranks seventh for higher education. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
Wisconsin ranks 16th among the U.S. states overall and fifth for government efficiency and transparency. It ranks among the best states for crime & corrections. (Getty Images)
New York ranks 17th among the U.S. states overall and fifth for crime & corrections. It has one of the best prison systems and is the fourth healthiest state. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Maine ranks 18th among the U.S. states and ranks third for opportunity. It ranks second for crime & corrections and has the lowest incarceration rate. (Charlie Archambault for USN&WR)
Oregon has the best infrastructure in the U.S., ranking high in energy and transportation. It ranks 10th for equal opportunity with high employment equality. (Getty Images)
Delaware ranks among the top U.S. states for economy and opportunity. It is one of the fastest-growing states and has the highest employment equality, by race. (Getty Images)
Rhode Island ranks third in the U.S. for crime & corrections and 10th for healthcare, with some of the best healthcare access and the best medicare quality. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images)
Indiana ranks first for government efficiency among U.S. states. It is also one of the most affordable states and has some of the most equal opportunity. (Getty Images)
California, with the largest population, has the No. 3 economy in the U.S. and ranks first for business environment. It has one of the healthiest populations. (Getty Images)
Florida has the 7th best economy in the U.S. and is the second-fastest growing state. Its government ranks near the top, especially in terms of transparency. (Jim Lo Scalzo for USN&WR)
North Carolina ranks 25th among the U.S. States. It ranks fourth for government efficiency and has one of the highest college graduation rates in the nation. (Andrew Krech/News & Record/AP)
Wyoming ranks 26th among the U.S. states overall and ninth for opportunity. It has one of the lowest poverty levels and infant mortality rates in the nation. (Jeff R. Clow/Getty Images)
Hawaii ranks first for healthcare, with one of the healthiest populations, some of the best healthcare access and the lowest mortality rate in the U.S. (Getty Images)
Kansas ranks eighth among the U.S. states for affordability, with some of the lowest-cost housing. It also ranks among the best states for Medicare quality. (Getty Images)
Illinois ranks 10th for infrastructure and is among the top states for gender equality. It also has one of the best Internet speeds and lowest suicide rates. (Kiichiro Sato/AP)
Pennsylvania ranks among the best states for college readiness and as the 11th safest state in the nation. It also ranks 12th for housing affordability. (Avi Gupta for USN&WR)
Montana ranks 29th among the U.S. states and is among the top states for economic growth. It also has one of the lowest obesity and hospital readmission rates. (Ben Pierce/Bozeman Chronicle/AP)
Idaho ranks third in the U.S. for business environment and fourth for public safety. It ranks among the top states for its economy and crime & corrections. (Brett Ziegler for USN&WR)
Michigan ranks as the second most affordable state in the U.S., with one of the lowest costs of living. It also ties for the most transparent government. (Getty Images)
Arizona ranks 5th for the lowest graduate debt and is also one of the best states for equality, which includes gender equality and employment equality. (Miladen Antonov/AFP/Getty Images)
Ohio is the most affordable state, with the best housing affordability and one of the lowest costs of living. It also ties for the most transparent government. (Getty Images)
Georgia ranks 14th out of the U.S. states for its economy and 15th for government efficiency. It ranks highly for job growth, new businesses and GDP growth. (David Goldman/AP)
Missouri ranks 37th among the U.S. states. It's government ties for the best use of technology, and the state ranks 10th for its high school graduation rate. (Getty Images)
Texas ranks sixth for its economy among the U.S. states. It ranks third for economic growth, with the most GDP growth and some of the most job growth. (David J. Phillip/AP)
Tennessee ranks 39th overall among the U.S. states. It ranks as one of the best states for government efficiency, low cost of living and transportation. (Getty Images)
Nevada ranks 40th among the U.S. states. It also ranks as one of the best states for infrastructure, with the best transportation system in the nation. (Jim Lo Scalzo for USN&WR)
West Virginia is the 10th most affordable state in the U.S. and ranks third for equal opportunity, scoring especially high in education equality, by race. (Brett Ziegler for USN&WR)
Kentucky | Fields of canola bloom extend into the horizon in Oak Grove as a man looks under the hood of a 1949 Pontiac at his salvage yard. (David Goldman/AP)
Alaska ranks 43th among the U.S. states, but has the best healthcare quality, one of the lowest poverty rates and one of the shortest average commute times. (Getty Images)
Oklahoma ranks 44th among the U.S. states. It is one of the most affordable states and ranks 11th for commute time and 16th for government transparency. (Getty Images)
South Carolina ranks 45th among the U.S. states overall and 50th for education. It ranks the highest for its economy and has some of the most population growth. (Jim Lo Scalzo for USN&WR)
New Mexico ranks 46th among the U.S. states. It ranks among the best states for disability employment equality and for lowest tuition and graduate debt. (Jim Lo Scalzo for USN&WR)
Alabama ranks 47th overall and for education among the states, but offers the fourth lowest cost of living and some of the best safeguards against corruption. (Albert Cesare/Montgomery Advert/AP)
Arkansas ranks 48th among the states, 50th for healthcare and 45th for public safety. It also ranks 12th for affordability and 14th for lowest graduate debt. (Getty Images)
Mississippi ranks 49th among the U.S. states overall, 44th for government and 50th opportunity. It ranks as one of the best states for disability equality. (Tim Graham/Getty Images)
Louisiana ranks 50th among the U.S. states. It has one of the most transparent governments and it's also one of the states with the lowest graduate debt. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Mining became a major industry after the Gadsden Purchase of 1853, which granted U.S. possession of southern Arizona, and remained a strong contributor to region’s economy through the 1950s. The arrival of railroads in the 1880s only heightened the copper boom, and thousands of people flocked to the Wild West of Arizona's mining towns.
Copper mining and cotton farming, another important industry, suffered during the Great Depression. Tourism became a huge driver of growth, with steadily more visitors attracted by the Grand Canyon each year, a trend that continues today.
During World War II, Arizona served as a site for German prisoner of war camps and Japanese-American internment camps. Many Native Americans from Arizona fought during the war, and advocated for their civil rights upon returning home. Today, about a quarter of the state is made up of Native American reservations, including the Navajo Nation Reservation.
Following the war, the increasingly widespread use of air conditioning resulted in massive population and business growth in the state. Phoenix, the state capital, shot from around 65,000 residents to more than 1 million by 1991. Today, the "Valley of the Sun" is the largest state capital in the country, with 1.6 million residents – the only capital with more than 1 million people. It ranks in the top 50 U.S. News' Best Places to Live.
Arizona's population growth is among the highest in the country – it recorded 1.6 percent growth from 2016 to 2017, tying with Florida and falling behind only four other states.
Two-thirds of Arizona's foreign-born population comes from Latin America and another 21 percent comes from Asia. While the state's foreign-born population numbers are generally on par with the country's, more people in Arizona speak a language other than English at home.
A number of well-known companies are headquartered in Arizona, including Best Western, Cold Stone Creamery, GoDaddy, P.F. Chang's and U-Haul. Arizona's top industries include agriculture, mining, manufacturing and tourism.
The median household income in Arizona, $53,558 in 2016, was lower than the national average of $57,617, and the poverty rate was slightly higher, at 16.4 percent. The cost of living in Arizona is relatively low.
Arizona is the sixth largest state physically and is perhaps best known for its weather and geography. Southern Arizona features a hot desert climate, while northern Arizona is full of forests, mountain ranges and canyons. There are several national parks, monuments and forests in the state, including the Grand Canyon.
Arizona is one of the Four Corners states, sharing a border with New Mexico, Utah and Nevada. The Four Corners is the only place in the U.S. where four states meet. Arizona also shares its border with Mexico, California and Colorado.
Compared with the country, slightly fewer Arizona residents have at least a bachelor's degree. The University of Arizona ranks among the 60 best public schools in U.S. News' Best Colleges rankings. Other ranked universities include Arizona State University and the private Prescott College.
Though the state has long been considered a Republican stronghold, the number of Democrat and Independent registered voters has been creeping up on the GOP in recent years, fueled in part by the controversy of the 2016 election and the Democrat push for Latinos to vote.
