Arizona became a U.S. state on February 14, 1912, as the 48th state in the Union, and the last of the contiguous states to be admitted.

Quick Scoop: Arizona Statehood

  • Statehood date: February 14, 1912 (Valentine’s Day).
  • Order of admission: 48th state, and last of the contiguous states to join.
  • Former status: Part of the U.S. Territory of New Mexico before becoming the Arizona Territory in 1863.
  • First state governor: George W. P. Hunt.

Arizona’s “birthday” is still celebrated every year on February 14 as Statehood Day.

Bit of story behind it

Before 1912, Arizona spent decades as a territory, with its capital bouncing between Prescott, Tucson, and finally Phoenix as different regions vied for influence and growth. Residents had long pushed for full statehood and even rejected a plan to be combined with New Mexico as a single state, preferring their own separate identity. When President William Howard Taft finally signed the proclamation in 1912, Arizonans reportedly celebrated loudly and proudly, marking the end of a very long road to becoming a full state.

TL;DR: Arizona became a state on February 14, 1912, stepping in as the 48th star on the U.S. flag after a long and sometimes contentious journey from territory to statehood.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.