#119 Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA

On the Stamp: With this Arizona Statehood (Forever®) stamp, the U.S. Postal Service commemorates the 100th anniversary of one of America's last frontiers. Arizona became the 48th state in the Union on February 14, 1912. The Grand Canyon State is home to 21 Native American tribes with ancient connections to a land known for its stunning beauty and abundant natural resources.

The 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the U.S. - Mexican War, resulted in the United States acquiring most of the land that makes up present-day Arizona. Although Congress made Arizona a U.S. territory in 1863, achieving statehood would take nearly 50 years. Mineral riches and large federal irrigation projects helped transform the desert region into something closer to an economic oasis. Today, more than six million people live in Arizona. Phoenix, the state capital, is the largest city with approximately 1.5 million residents, followed by Tucson, which has a population of more than a half-million residents. Approximately one quarter of the state is set aside for Indian reservations, including the Navajo Reservation, the largest in the United States. Hispanics, part of the region's ethnic makeup since the 17th century, currently comprise 30 percent of the state's population.
Issue Date: February 14, 2012

Thank you, Meeli and Katrina !

Sent on: August 8, 2012

Received on: August 14, 2012