On February 14, 1912 Arizona territory became the 48th state in the union. The first Governor of the new state was George W.P. Hunt.
Arizonans wanted statehood long before 1912, but rejected a proposal from the U.S. Senate that Arizona and New Mexico territories combine and be admitted as one state. Arizonans were jubilant when President Taft's signature made statehood official and the celebrations were reportedly quite loud.
Arizona's centennial was celebrated on February 14, 2012.
Sources:
Arizona's Chronology, opens a new window | Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records
Bommersbach, Jana. "How Arizona almost didn't become a state" | The Arizona Republic. May 10, 2017
Find the information you need by calling the library's Infoline at 520-791-4010 or by sending your question to Ask a librarian.
