There are various nicknames and slogans associated with Phoenix and Arizona. Here are a few you may have heard, and an interpretation of them.
Valley of the sun
The Greater Phoenix area is known as the Valley of the Sun, primarily in tourism marketing materials. No one would deny that it is descriptive, since the Sonoran desert, where Phoenix is located, is a very sunny place with little rain during the year, and the cities and towns of the Phoenix area are actually in a valley, the Rio Valley. Salty
Phoenix generally receives between 4 and 12 inches of rain per year, averaging about 8 inches per year. The United States average is about 36 inches per year. In other parts of Arizona, you will find many places that receive more than 20 inches of rain per year, usually at higher elevations.
There are four deserts in Arizona: Mohave (Lake Havasu City, for example), Great Basin Desert (Grand Canyon, for example), Chihuahuan Desert (a small part of southeastern AZ) and the Sonoran Desert (Phoenix and Scottsdale, for example ). )
The nickname “Valley of the Sun” is appropriate in the sense that the Great Phoenix experiences nearly 300 days a year, either fully sunny or partially sunny days.
Valley of the Sun certainly sounds more attractive than Valley of the Excruciating Heat!
Let’s explore more Arizona slogans, official and otherwise.
The Grand Canyon State
Due to its proximity to that state, some people believe that the Grand Canyon is in Nevada. It’s not. The Grand Canyon is Arizona’s most famous natural feature, recognized as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and less than a four-hour drive from Phoenix. Millions of people visit it every year.
The nickname Grand Canyon State is the one you’ll see on Arizona license plates. It is not listed on the state seal, but is prominently displayed in the Arizona State Quarter.
The state of copper
The Copper State was a popular nickname for Arizona due to its rich mining history. Copper is still very important in Arizona. According to the Arizona Mining Association, Arizona produces more than 65% of American copper (2011). The gemstone of the state of Arizona is turquoise.
The state of Valentine
Arizona was declared a state on February 14, 1912. So on Valentine’s Day, we also celebrate Statehood Day.
What are the 5 Cs?
Every kid who went to school a couple of decades ago learned about Arizona’s 5 C’s as the backbone of the state economy: copper, cattle, cotton, citrus, and weather. It’s not that they’re no longer important to Arizona. It’s just that other major industries evolved into technology and tourism.
God enriches
Most Arizonans couldn’t tell you what the state’s motto is, but it’s Ditat Deus. It appears on the Great Seal of the State of Arizona and means God Enriches .
Unofficial slogans
There are certain phrases that people who live in the Phoenix area hear all the time. If you say this to a resident, hopefully you will only get a smile and a nod.
- It is a dry heat. Why do people say that? It’s not that it’s not true, it’s just that residents hear it all the time, even when it’s 115 ° F. Dry or not, it’s really hot.
- You don’t have to shovel sunlight. Yes, this is also true. Your friends and family who live in the north and east of the United States really don’t want to hear it every winter.
